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Rifle Scopes Shooting paper groups out to 600yds with .223

Hawk45

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 29, 2002
1,360
2
51
Ohio
What is a good magnification for shooting target groups out to 600 with .223? Most will be between 100-300yds. Just looking for good magnification range at this time.

Thanks,
Hawk
 
Re: Shooting paper groups out to 600yds with .223

Are you trying to spot .224 bullet holes in paper at 600 or are they going to be filled with markers.

If the range you shoot at marks the targets for you with plugs then I'd say anything in the 10x to 16x power range would be enough.

If you need to spot your hits on your own then at least 20x to be safe. I wouldn't go higher than 24x or 25x.

Just my opinion.
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Re: Shooting paper groups out to 600yds with .223

I would say it depends on your target and accuracy required and to some extent the firearm. The more precision needed, the higher I would go on the magnification. If you are just trying to put decent groups together or engage the target, go with less magnification in about the 10X range.
 
Re: Shooting paper groups out to 600yds with .223

I have two ranges I shoot at.. one about 15 mins away that has a max 100yd range. I do my load development and testing there. Thne I have my other range that is a little over an hour away.. they have 50-300yd benchrest range and a 200-600yd prone range with targets that can be marked. Only problem is that 95% of the time I'm solo so I'll need to spot my my own shots.
 
Re: Shooting paper groups out to 600yds with .223

For magnification I use 10x and 17x at those ranges. But, I am shooting for hits mainly. I shoot my development and groups at half that range. The higher the better if you are thinking smallest groups possible at long range but you may end up with a dedicated BR set up vs a real usable field gun.
 
Re: Shooting paper groups out to 600yds with .223

Yeah.. I don't want this to be a BR gun as the rifle it is going on is light and compact so I'd like a good powered optic that's not overly honking huge. This is mainly to be a fun gun.. but fun=small groups.. well, smaller than my buddies.

Price wise.. I was looking at some of the Vortex Vipers at around $400. But I think my max I want to spend on this setup is $700. I've heard good things about the Bushnell Elite 4200/6200, Sightrons and Weavers. I'd like to keep it variable for closer ranges. I'm even open to used optics and will look in the forum for sale section as well once I decide on a good magnification range.

Thanks for all the help so far!
 
Re: Shooting paper groups out to 600yds with .223

SS 3-9, SS 10x, bushnell 3-12/6-24 ffp, Vortex Viper, nikon 4.5-14/6-18 monarch/buckmasters. If you can stand a lower or fixed power scope the super sniper offerings are probably the best, if you want higher magnification for 300ish the only ones I can recommend are the nikons.

I am in the process of building an AR for similar shooting as you describe and I am going to get the 3-9 super sniper.
 
Re: Shooting paper groups out to 600yds with .223

10x is plenty. That's what I use for F-Class when shooting the AR-15. I might gain 2 or 3 more points with a higher magnification, but my 2.5-10x24 is a great choice for a wide variety of activities. I do use a 24x fixed on my dedicated target rifle: never felt the need for more.

Here's a data point for you. I know a few shooters (really good shooters) that shoot just as well with match iron sights as they do with a scope. That should tell you something about the need for a scope to shoot small groups at distance. So, what is the benefit of a scope? The ability to shoot faster, much faster at long range (not true at short range :). Just don't buy into the hype that you need a hubble telescope to shoot tight groups.
 
Re: Shooting paper groups out to 600yds with .223

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hawk45</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have two ranges I shoot at.. one about 15 mins away that has a max 100yd range. I do my load development and testing there. Thne I have my other range that is a little over an hour away.. they have 50-300yd benchrest range and a 200-600yd prone range with targets that can be marked. Only problem is that 95% of the time I'm solo so I'll need to spot my my own shots. </div></div>

don't need more than 10-12x... and buy a spotting scope
 
Re: Shooting paper groups out to 600yds with .223

Depends on the glass. 15x with excellent glass will let you see a lot more than 30x of not-so-excellent glass. Having said that, I think you're going to have a difficult time finding any rifle-portable scope that will let you see 223's at 600. My 22x Nightforce won't.

But if you have someone marking your shots 10x is all you need
 
Re: Shooting paper groups out to 600yds with .223

One more time... 10-12x and a spotting scope. Rifle scopes aren't designed to spot hits and you'll get better results this route than trying to toss more glass on your rifle, which unless you're willing to fork out the $$, the clarity will be for crap.
 
Re: Shooting paper groups out to 600yds with .223

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DP425</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One more time... 10-12x and a spotting scope. Rifle scopes aren't designed to spot hits and you'll get better results this route than trying to toss more glass on your rifle, which unless you're willing to fork out the $$, the clarity will be for crap. </div></div>
+1
 
Re: Shooting paper groups out to 600yds with .223

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: c1steve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What about the SWFA 16x and 20x? Are they near the quality of the SWFA 3-9? </div></div>

I have a 10X regular SS and two of the 3-9 SS. The 3-9 glass is better. I would recomend it and a spotting scope. That way your not carrying more glass than you need and you have a spotter scope for the times you have a person who can spot for you. These groups were shot using a 3-9 SS on a LMT MWS. Yellow is 500 yards, white is rapid at 300 yards and paper was at 100 yards. The SS are the best value out there.
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Re: Shooting paper groups out to 600yds with .223

I ended up pulling the trigger on a Vortex Viper 6-20x44 mil-dot. It may be a bit more than I need, but the reviews are good and the extra power is there if I need it. I can mil at 14x so that should be a good magnification for most all of my shooting. Kind of best of both worlds.

I also picked stand for my spotting scope. Had a Kona knock-off for few years but never used it b/c didn't have a stand.. so now I can use the spotter for longer ranges.

Thanks for all the help.
 
Re: Shooting paper groups out to 600yds with .223

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DP425</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One more time... 10-12x and a spotting scope. Rifle scopes aren't designed to spot hits </div></div>

ya im a big fan of lower magnification. I shoot 600 yd. f-class and especially at the longer ranges (5-600 yd.) I rarely have my scope much past 8-8.5x