Hi all,
I'm a relatively new member and have been reading a lot and learning from everyone here. This is my first post. I appreciate everyone's experience-based knowledge sharing on this site. I'd especially like to thank LowLight and Dark Lord of Optics. I have watched several of their videos and read their blogs and posts and it's great to get so much objective knowledge from them.
I am planning on purchasing my first bolt action file. This will be a max 500 yard rifle (because that's the max range distance I have access to). While I'll be using this rifle to build my marksmanship skills, I'd also like it to play a practical/all-around role. I have chosen the Tikka T3X CTR 6.5CM w/ 20" barrel. Now I need to choose an optic. After a great deal of reading and learning, I have narrowed my choices down to these:
Now, the only 2 of these scopes that I've been able to look through are the Vortex and the NF. While they both seem excellent, that was in a big-box store which isn't much help. I know the Vortex is a very popular scope that has many followers. The NF is quality too, but to me the eye box seemed smaller than the Vortex. Now, the others on this list come straight from Dark Lord of Optics highly-valued recommendations.
The Steiner is a proven brand that just seems to "fit" the Tikka. I really like the reticle and it's low-light capabilities are great. I realize that it's discontinued, but I'm sure I could find one somewhere. The Meopta is another quality brand, a good reticle designed by DLO and has a wider mag range. The dark horse in this list is the Brownell's scope. I would not have normally considered this due to it being new and unproven but DLO speaks very highly of it. I like the reticle very much, especially the double horizontal lines making it more visible at lower magnification as well as the vertical hash marks on the tree. They make sense to my eyes. Lastly, the SWFA has a long track record of being pretty-much bomb proof with quality glass at a good price.
So that's where I am. I'm eager to make a choice, and get out and shoot. That's where the real learning happens. Hopefully I've given you enough information about my goals such that you can provide some insights and recommendations based on your own experience. In addition to specific optics, if you have recommendations on what specific features to look for in an optic that would help as well. I look forward to your replies.
Chris
I'm a relatively new member and have been reading a lot and learning from everyone here. This is my first post. I appreciate everyone's experience-based knowledge sharing on this site. I'd especially like to thank LowLight and Dark Lord of Optics. I have watched several of their videos and read their blogs and posts and it's great to get so much objective knowledge from them.
I am planning on purchasing my first bolt action file. This will be a max 500 yard rifle (because that's the max range distance I have access to). While I'll be using this rifle to build my marksmanship skills, I'd also like it to play a practical/all-around role. I have chosen the Tikka T3X CTR 6.5CM w/ 20" barrel. Now I need to choose an optic. After a great deal of reading and learning, I have narrowed my choices down to these:
- Vortex Viper PST 2 3-15x44 EBR-7C MRAD
- Nightforce SHV 4-14X50 F1 Mil-R
- Steiner P4Xi 4-16x56 SCR Mil
- Brownell's MPO 3-18x50 N-OMR
- Meopta Optika6 3-18x50 FFP MRAD
- SWFA SS 3.5-15x42 Mil
Now, the only 2 of these scopes that I've been able to look through are the Vortex and the NF. While they both seem excellent, that was in a big-box store which isn't much help. I know the Vortex is a very popular scope that has many followers. The NF is quality too, but to me the eye box seemed smaller than the Vortex. Now, the others on this list come straight from Dark Lord of Optics highly-valued recommendations.
The Steiner is a proven brand that just seems to "fit" the Tikka. I really like the reticle and it's low-light capabilities are great. I realize that it's discontinued, but I'm sure I could find one somewhere. The Meopta is another quality brand, a good reticle designed by DLO and has a wider mag range. The dark horse in this list is the Brownell's scope. I would not have normally considered this due to it being new and unproven but DLO speaks very highly of it. I like the reticle very much, especially the double horizontal lines making it more visible at lower magnification as well as the vertical hash marks on the tree. They make sense to my eyes. Lastly, the SWFA has a long track record of being pretty-much bomb proof with quality glass at a good price.
So that's where I am. I'm eager to make a choice, and get out and shoot. That's where the real learning happens. Hopefully I've given you enough information about my goals such that you can provide some insights and recommendations based on your own experience. In addition to specific optics, if you have recommendations on what specific features to look for in an optic that would help as well. I look forward to your replies.
Chris
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