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Load development scope recommendation

Dimner

I do believe in Captain Crunch.
So I'm in need of a scope recommendation.

I need a scope that can bounce around from rifle to rifle for load development. I generally do load development form a bench with ladders at 300 and groups at 200. So something in the range of 24x to 36x would be ideal.

I don't need the most fancy glass in the world, but I need something I can depend on to hold it's stinking zero. I got burned this year by a S2 36x sightron. Vast amounts time, components and sanity wasted trying to tune loads with that scope. Even after sightron said it was good to go.

If I have my wish I only would like to pay around 500 bucks, 750 max. Here are the details I'm looking for.
  • Glass needs to be good enough to finish up my groups when the first twilight starts setting in. The glass on the S2 was ok enough for it.
  • It needs adjustable parallax
  • Fixed or variable is fine as long as it's clear at my preferred magnification.
  • No illumination needed
  • Probably stay away from extra large objective lenses. I like to shoot with a cheek weld of some sort. So no 60mms
  • Reticle is not all that important. I don't like Christmas trees, but I know that isn't always possible. It does need to have a very small center aim point for groups.
  • Don't care about if it's FFP or SFP
  • Needs lifetime warranty
I know some of you guys can list scope and glass specs as if they were your own children. Rattle them off like a gearhead can talk about different engines of the 1970s. That's what I am looking for.

Just need to be steered in the right direction. There are so many scope companies with so many marketing claims about their products it's hard for me to figure out what is what.
 
Since you don’t like sightron, I’d be looking at an 8-32 NF NXS on the used market. A 5-30 Zeiss V6 also comes to mind. I’ve only used the 3-18 though.

I do have to ask something, respectfully and out of curiosity. If your (and my) ability to shoot itty bitty at 300 is tied to a high power optic, why not do the load development with whatever optic belongs on the rifle, as that’s going to be the limiting factor anyway. It seems to me that some of the extra fine tuning is nullified the second you swap out the optic for its permanent replacement.
 
Since you don’t like sightron, I’d be looking at an 8-32 NF NXS on the used market. A 5-30 Zeiss V6 also comes to mind. I’ve only used the 3-18 though.

I do have to ask something, respectfully and out of curiosity. If your (and my) ability to shoot itty bitty at 300 is tied to a high power optic, why not do the load development with whatever optic belongs on the rifle, as that’s going to be the limiting factor anyway. It seems to me that some of the extra fine tuning is nullified the second you swap out the optic for its permanent replacement.
^^^^^^^ This 100% agree.
 
Since you don’t like sightron, I’d be looking at an 8-32 NF NXS on the used market. A 5-30 Zeiss V6 also comes to mind. I’ve only used the 3-18 though.

I do have to ask something, respectfully and out of curiosity. If your (and my) ability to shoot itty bitty at 300 is tied to a high power optic, why not do the load development with whatever optic belongs on the rifle, as that’s going to be the limiting factor anyway. It seems to me that some of the extra fine tuning is nullified the second you swap out the optic for its permanent replacement.
I totally get your point. Most of my rifles use a 12x max in the field. But I really like to use 24 or 36x for load dev.

It might just come down to OCD or FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). Like how my one of my vintage hunting rifles wears a weaver K4 post reticle. But if I did my load development with it and got a 1moa group, is that the load or is that my limit with the scope? I don't want to leave anything on the table. However, I'm not OCD enough to worry about my groups at 40+ magnification.

I also don't always have a scope on every rifle, I can't afford it sometimes... but I still like to make loads for them.
 
@Dimner I sure understand not having a scope on every rifle all the time. I sold off all my lower end optics a long time ago and have one Z8i and an ATACR. Both are in Seekins lows and migrate frequently. Hoping to add another Swarovski when the economy turns around. Already got my coffee can piggy bank started!
 
While the Weaver 36T is a good scope, they are no longer made, so you would be buying from the secondary market. I think I paid $335 shipped when I bought mine new.
Leopold 36 BR is another option, but they're also no longer made but available on the used market.
Athlon, Arken could be possibly what you're looking for, but I have no experience with either.
For me I'd look for a used NF BR in 12-42 56. You'll spend a bit more $900-$1200 but IMHO you'll be more than happy with them.
 
Since you don’t like sightron, I’d be looking at an 8-32 NF NXS on the used market. A 5-30 Zeiss V6 also comes to mind. I’ve only used the 3-18 though.

I do have to ask something, respectfully and out of curiosity. If your (and my) ability to shoot itty bitty at 300 is tied to a high power optic, why not do the load development with whatever optic belongs on the rifle, as that’s going to be the limiting factor anyway. It seems to me that some of the extra fine tuning is nullified the second you swap out the optic for its permanent replacement.
If you see a NF or Ziess for 500 - 700 bucks, I’ll buy it.
An additional thought being that a perfect sight picture isn’t required to develop great ammunition, long range shooters do it all the time.
 
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Since you don’t like sightron, I’d be looking at an 8-32 NF NXS on the used market. A 5-30 Zeiss V6 also comes to mind. I’ve only used the 3-18 though.

I do have to ask something, respectfully and out of curiosity. If your (and my) ability to shoot itty bitty at 300 is tied to a high power optic, why not do the load development with whatever optic belongs on the rifle, as that’s going to be the limiting factor anyway. It seems to me that some of the extra fine tuning is nullified the second you swap out the optic for its permanent replacement.
Please help me to understand here, I must be missing something. But if I used, lets say a 24 to 36x scope to ring every bit of accuracy out of the load I decide to use, shouldn't that be a plus? It's kind of like saying since I'm only using a 10x scope to hunt with, I'll stop load development at 3/4 MOA since I am unlikely to shoot anything past 400? It would seem like knowing you have the best load (within a shooter's reloading capability) would add a great deal to the hunter's confidence. I'm also would think the reloader would get some reasonable amount of practice when he switches optics.
 
Please help me to understand here, I must be missing something. But if I used, lets say a 24 to 36x scope to ring every bit of accuracy out of the load I decide to use, shouldn't that be a plus? It's kind of like saying since I'm only using a 10x scope to hunt with, I'll stop load development at 3/4 MOA since I am unlikely to shoot anything past 400? It would seem like knowing you have the best load (within a shooter's reloading capability) would add a great deal to the hunter's confidence. I'm also would think the reloader would get some reasonable amount of practice when he switches optics.
Would be difficult to expect the rifle to group the same with swapping out scopes and not checking to see how the swap was working out. If for no other reason the two scopes are most likely not gonna weigh the same. Changes in scope weight will alter the weight ratio between above and below the center of the bore and most likely cause a different harmonic vibration.

Ref. Believe the Target - Tim Sellars

 
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Too bad your soured on the Sightron. They are a really good scope for the money.
A SIII 8x32 would fit your options.
I wouldn't go for a fixed power.
And down the road you will end up buying a scope for every rifle. lol
Remember, the more you usually spend the better the scope.
 
I am curious how you determined It was the scope after it was checked and determined ok.
I can show pics of all the targets, the short story is I bought a used scope. Picked the S2 36x based on all the great reviews . Seemed like the perfect scope to bounce from rifle to rifle.

Seller sold it with documentation of a clean bill of health from sightron. Their warranty service said that it was just fine. This was because it had some scope ring torque too type tight marks. I did load dev with it for 4-6 months with mediocre to dismal success. On 4 different rifles. Two of them I tried various bullets, primers, powders, tuning techniques and rifle rest equipment. I even rebedded one of the rifles. The groups were always on the verge of showing promise.

Getting frustrated and nervous about upcoming hunting season, I put on my tract 4-16x hunting scope. I had decided I'll hunt with a pretty meh load and just limit my distance. Then...The load that had been shooting 1.25 or worse moa was now 5/8 moa or even better with some groups. So Then I tried out my 5HD 14x Leupold and a EPL4 arken 24x and got the same results (arken actually did a little better).

Now I have to go back through a half year of notes and figure out where the scope had may have been to blame.

I will say it's my fault for not giving up on the scope sooner. I was being stubborn. Going back through my notes I can see it's clear that the scope was not great to start with but really got worse as time and shots went on.

I was not abusive to the scope, I baby my equipment. I'm not really sour on Sightron, more sour about the loss of components, time, and wasted brain power. Well, also sour that the warranty department said it was ok as is often done in that industry.
 
Would be difficult to expect the rifle to group the same with swapping out scopes and not checking to see how the swap was working out. If for no other reason the two scopes are most likely not gonna weigh the same. Changes in scope weight will alter the weight ratio between above and below the center of the bore and most likely cause a different harmonic vibration.

Ref. Believe the Target - Tim Sellars

I don't have good enough of equipment or shooting skills to see those harmonic variations. These were hunting rifles with acceptable accuracy goals around 1/2 to 5/8 moa.
 
Dinner, thanks for the answer. Sounds like you tracked it down. It would be interesting to send the scope back again and see if you get the same answer. Mail it to me, I will do it for you if you don't want to bother.
 

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