considering shooting bench-rest and prone out to 600 yds what is the preferred magnification for this range? Retired have to watch my budget.
600yd scope preferences
- Thread starter richard_123
- Start date
If you're on a really tight budget, Weaver T-36 fixed power for $400. Otherwise Sightron SIII 10-50x60 for under $900 (try giving Liberty Optics a call or email for the best price). Or also look for used. Both have decent reticles and repeatable 1/8 moa clicks. I think the Sightron is a best buy... not the perfect scope, but its flaws relative to a Nightforce BR are tolerable, and the price can't be beat.
I've ran a 6.5-20X50 Sightron Big Sky at 600 and it worked very well for me. I did find that the crosshair was too thick and I wanted more magnification after a while though. I ended up buying a 36X fixed Big Sky and the thing's insane. I'm worried about mirage next Summer but we'll see how it goes.
Wayne
Wayne
For shooting at 600yds or further, a 20X is my minumum now (age). I've never had a 36X but I bet I would like it. The biggest advantage to me for the higher powers was being able to catch conditions changing after getting off the spotting scope and settling down behind the rifle scope. I do recommend a barrel mirage band though, to keep barrel heat mirage from confusing things. I also like a good long sunshade. It can help when shooting into an afternoon or evening sun if you can get an angle so that the scope doesn't flare too bad.
In good conditions, a fine crosshair is great, but in poor conditions, it may disappear. I like the thickness of most mil-dot reticles.
I have heard nothing but good about the Sightrons, but if I can ever afford it, I'll get a Leupold Mk 4.
Good shooting, Tom
In good conditions, a fine crosshair is great, but in poor conditions, it may disappear. I like the thickness of most mil-dot reticles.
I have heard nothing but good about the Sightrons, but if I can ever afford it, I'll get a Leupold Mk 4.
Good shooting, Tom
I was under the impression that NF's warranty was only to the original purchaser? However I will take Fdshuster's word for it. Great guy and if he isn't sure about something he want post it!
I have one NF BR 12x42x56 2DD rec. I bought this one new from Sinclair with their promotional code during Black Friday. Got it for $1235 shipped to my door! It is worth every penny! The NXS is nice too! I may try one once the NXS with 1/8 clicks hit the market. To be honest that is still in question. There is about a $500 difference between the the BR model and the NXS. The only thing I can see different is the side focus and the tacticle turret knobs. IMO the BR is a little more clear than the NXS.
If you don't want to fork out the money for a NF my sec choice would be a Leupold! I know for a fact that you can buy a use Leupold and if it's not right they will fix it for no cost, and no questions asked. I bought a VXIII LR 4.5x14x50 used for $300. The guy told me it wouldn't track right. I made him a offer and he took it. Sent the scope back to Leupold and got it back in about 2 weeks. Cost was $9.42 to ship it to them and It tracks perfect now. I have used this scope on a 257 Web. Mag. 300win mag and currently a 270wsm. I've had it for about 4 years and it has never not tracked right since I got it back from Leupold. Leupold scopes are great scopes and they will back them 100% It's what i use on all my hunting rifles. My comp rifles only get NF! Like (Fdshuster) said in his first post! Buy once cry once! You want regret it!!
I have one NF BR 12x42x56 2DD rec. I bought this one new from Sinclair with their promotional code during Black Friday. Got it for $1235 shipped to my door! It is worth every penny! The NXS is nice too! I may try one once the NXS with 1/8 clicks hit the market. To be honest that is still in question. There is about a $500 difference between the the BR model and the NXS. The only thing I can see different is the side focus and the tacticle turret knobs. IMO the BR is a little more clear than the NXS.
If you don't want to fork out the money for a NF my sec choice would be a Leupold! I know for a fact that you can buy a use Leupold and if it's not right they will fix it for no cost, and no questions asked. I bought a VXIII LR 4.5x14x50 used for $300. The guy told me it wouldn't track right. I made him a offer and he took it. Sent the scope back to Leupold and got it back in about 2 weeks. Cost was $9.42 to ship it to them and It tracks perfect now. I have used this scope on a 257 Web. Mag. 300win mag and currently a 270wsm. I've had it for about 4 years and it has never not tracked right since I got it back from Leupold. Leupold scopes are great scopes and they will back them 100% It's what i use on all my hunting rifles. My comp rifles only get NF! Like (Fdshuster) said in his first post! Buy once cry once! You want regret it!!
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
Frank,
I have read Marks thoughts on the BR NF and value his thoughts as usual but I would like your take on it as well. Money is always an object with anyone but $500 one way or the other doesn't matter that much to me but quality does. There is a forum member I have dealt with before (stuff is top notch) that has the same scope you are using for sale. My Question is what is the difference's in the BR and NSX is one better than the other and why? and if money was no object which one would you buy? I have a 5.5-22x56nsx w/varmint retical that I just love, anyway your thoughts would be appreciated. I only live 80 miles or so from Orofino Id where the NF is made I guess I could just drive up there but I prefer your guy's thoughts,Thanks.
Wayne.
I have read Marks thoughts on the BR NF and value his thoughts as usual but I would like your take on it as well. Money is always an object with anyone but $500 one way or the other doesn't matter that much to me but quality does. There is a forum member I have dealt with before (stuff is top notch) that has the same scope you are using for sale. My Question is what is the difference's in the BR and NSX is one better than the other and why? and if money was no object which one would you buy? I have a 5.5-22x56nsx w/varmint retical that I just love, anyway your thoughts would be appreciated. I only live 80 miles or so from Orofino Id where the NF is made I guess I could just drive up there but I prefer your guy's thoughts,Thanks.
Wayne.
I prefer more than 20x and do not need more than 30x. If my money tree would ever decide to grow, I would have that March 80x or S&B, but you did mention a budget. You should be able to find something between $300 used and $800 new to fit the ticket.
For shooting prone, it's a long reach to the objective lens for us decrepits.
Jim
For shooting prone, it's a long reach to the objective lens for us decrepits.
Jim
Wayne: I bought my first NF BR used from a well respected member on this forum, and I was hooked. Followed that one with 2 more that I bought new. I was fortunate in having 5 or 6 Leupold's and 2 Unertl's that I was not using anymore, so was able to sell them at fair prices to finance the NF's. The Benchrest models have everything I prefer: screw-on lens caps, screw-on turret covers, 1/8 moa click adjustments. Side focus is nice, I admit, but in my case it's not worth the additional $400/$500 cost. There is also some talk that the Benchrest models are slightly clearer as opposed to the NSX with the side focus. I cannot comment on that since I've never been able to compare them side by side. The 12-42x is my favorite, although I also have one 8-32x. I seldom have the need to go above 35x, and when the mirage is bad enough 35x will be the maximum I can use, sometimes having to go down to 30x. But, it is nice to be able to crank it up to 42x when weather conditions are good, and for spotting bullet holes at 500 yds./meters. With the 8-32x I sometimes have to rely on the Nikon Fieldscope 82mm to find bullet holes at distances beyond 300 yd. The funds to buy the NF's are long gone, and forgotten, but the scopes remain, and when I am forced to sell, they will retain a good portion of their cost. For me, and my requirements, a win-win situation. 
Wayne,
Frank pretty much said everything I was going to say. As for a Quality difference I can't say this is a fact, but I do believe Both the NXS & BR are pretty much equal as to duriblity and a Quality product. I have talked to several that say the NXS is better and some say the BR is. Actually I think the closer truth would be it comes down to one person's preference. I have looked threw both side by side, and I did think that the BR was a little bit more clear. Some say its not and some say it is. I say yes I can see a difference, but again it could be my eyes being better than someone that says they can't tell a difference or not? I was torn between the two myself for a while. I went with the BR model just because it is worth it to me to spend the $500 dollar difference on bullets, primers, and powder. I don't have a problem reaching up to the bell to adjust the focus. Even when laying prone I am able to do this with ezz. Now I actually just got of the phone with a friend and we were discussing the difference. My friend is not fat, but much larger framed than I. The side focus works better for him. He has to get completly out of position to adjust the AO lens where I don't have too, and both of us agree it's due to the fact that I'm smaller framed and younger than he is. Basicly I think it comes down more too one person's preference and where they put their vaule for their dollar more than witch is actually better. My Friend is very much hoping that the NXS with 1/8 clicks will hit the market soon. He likes the NXS, but at times wishes he had 1/8 clicks. It is my understanding that you can have NF change the NXS to 1/8 clicks, but only with elevation and not the windage at this time. I don't understand that myself, but it is what I hear from a very good soruce. So I would think that this romor is true. Then again it is a romor. I like the BR better only because it soots my needs better, and I don't have to pay the extra $500. Like I said tho. the Extra $500 may be worth it to someone else.
Mark
Frank pretty much said everything I was going to say. As for a Quality difference I can't say this is a fact, but I do believe Both the NXS & BR are pretty much equal as to duriblity and a Quality product. I have talked to several that say the NXS is better and some say the BR is. Actually I think the closer truth would be it comes down to one person's preference. I have looked threw both side by side, and I did think that the BR was a little bit more clear. Some say its not and some say it is. I say yes I can see a difference, but again it could be my eyes being better than someone that says they can't tell a difference or not? I was torn between the two myself for a while. I went with the BR model just because it is worth it to me to spend the $500 dollar difference on bullets, primers, and powder. I don't have a problem reaching up to the bell to adjust the focus. Even when laying prone I am able to do this with ezz. Now I actually just got of the phone with a friend and we were discussing the difference. My friend is not fat, but much larger framed than I. The side focus works better for him. He has to get completly out of position to adjust the AO lens where I don't have too, and both of us agree it's due to the fact that I'm smaller framed and younger than he is. Basicly I think it comes down more too one person's preference and where they put their vaule for their dollar more than witch is actually better. My Friend is very much hoping that the NXS with 1/8 clicks will hit the market soon. He likes the NXS, but at times wishes he had 1/8 clicks. It is my understanding that you can have NF change the NXS to 1/8 clicks, but only with elevation and not the windage at this time. I don't understand that myself, but it is what I hear from a very good soruce. So I would think that this romor is true. Then again it is a romor. I like the BR better only because it soots my needs better, and I don't have to pay the extra $500. Like I said tho. the Extra $500 may be worth it to someone else.
Mark
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
Frank,and Mark,
Thank you for your thoughts, I am rather large myself but I am not shooting prone so I don't think AO adjustment on the bell would be a factor, heck until just a few years ago that's all we had anyway. I bought a rifle and reloading equipment from this member that has the 12-42 Br scope and all his other stuff is top notch. I like the simple non-busy NP 2DD recital and Mark your right I could use the $500 to upgrade from my Caldwell front rest to something better or bullets
I think I will PM him tonight and say I'll take it ;D Thanks guys.
Richard123,
sorry did not mean to steal your thread and I know your on a budget but if you get a chance look through a NF BR scope with the NP 2DD recital I think you will like it. I don't know if they still have them but Bruno's had Nitrex scopes on a heck of a sale I had one and for a inexpensive scope it was clear, 1/8 moa clicks and fine xhairs. I had it on a .264wm and it always held zero.
Wayne.
Thank you for your thoughts, I am rather large myself but I am not shooting prone so I don't think AO adjustment on the bell would be a factor, heck until just a few years ago that's all we had anyway. I bought a rifle and reloading equipment from this member that has the 12-42 Br scope and all his other stuff is top notch. I like the simple non-busy NP 2DD recital and Mark your right I could use the $500 to upgrade from my Caldwell front rest to something better or bullets
I think I will PM him tonight and say I'll take it ;D Thanks guys.
Richard123,
sorry did not mean to steal your thread and I know your on a budget but if you get a chance look through a NF BR scope with the NP 2DD recital I think you will like it. I don't know if they still have them but Bruno's had Nitrex scopes on a heck of a sale I had one and for a inexpensive scope it was clear, 1/8 moa clicks and fine xhairs. I had it on a .264wm and it always held zero.
Wayne.
Richard,it depends on lots of things.I shot with a large fixed power scope until our club changed to a smaller X-ring and we quit using spotters.I switched to a large varable power after that.The fixed(45X) worked fine except when the mirage was really bad.If you can swing it,the NF BR 12-42 would be a great choice.I also shoot with some guys who have the 36X Weaver,and they do well in our matches.Keep watch on the classified ads on this site,you may find what you want without paying full new price. Lightman
I have sightrons and bushnells and leupolds.I like the bushnell 4200's.They are clear and track nicely.I also have an older baush& lomb 36x,I will never sell it.Paid 280.00 for it and a 4-16 sidefocus bushnell that is nice but I feel with the adjustable objective it focuses more precise. The weaver 36x is great and you can pick them up for about 325.00 used.The sightron sII in 36x you can buy used for about he same,very clear and lifetime warranty.The 8-32x burris black diamond I have is very clear but the focus rings are real tight on them. Make your choice and buy one,most of the afformentioned brands are great and a weaver would be a good one to start with.
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
Richard123,
I made a mistake, I did some resurch and it was Natchez not Brunos that have the scopes on sale. I understand the nitrex is being phased out but there owned and built by Weaver as I understand it. I have the Weaver version of this scoppe and like it a lot for what it is,it tracks right on.
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=WE94530&src=tpCtg
Wayne.
I made a mistake, I did some resurch and it was Natchez not Brunos that have the scopes on sale. I understand the nitrex is being phased out but there owned and built by Weaver as I understand it. I have the Weaver version of this scoppe and like it a lot for what it is,it tracks right on.
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=WE94530&src=tpCtg
Wayne.
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