Any suggestions for a 700 5R scope?

[Jon Riley]

Hello everyone,

I’m looking to purchase my first piece of glass and was hoping to get some suggestions. I searched the forum, but couldn’t seem to find a thread related to this topic. I am new to the forum, so perhaps I missed it.

I’m looking to get the best possible scope for long range target shooting and tough enough to go hunting. I’m considering the NightForce scope. Either the NX8 4-32X50 F1, B.E.A.S.T. 5-25X56 F1, or ATACR 7-35×56 F1. I realize that these may be over kill, but I’d rather have a scope that I can grow into and use on future rifle set ups.

thanks for any help you could provide.

 

[JFrank]

Vortex Viper might be worth considering.
Never hurts to save a grand

 

[Dub]

What Caliber you shooting and what distances do you plan to shoot?

 

[palo]

What rifle and calibre will you be using ?
What distances are you planning to shoot at ?
What type of hunting will you be doing ?
The more information you give the better.

 

[Jon Riley]

What rifle and calibre will you be using ?
What distances are you planning to shoot at ?
What type of hunting will you be doing ?
The more information you give the better.

Yeah. Sorry about leaving out the pertinent info. The scope will be for a Remington 700 5R mil-spec .308 with a threaded 20 inch barrel. As far as distance, I’m new to this so I’m sure the rifle will be able to shoot further than me for awhile. I’m attempting to set up the rifle as close to an m24 as possible since they both use the 5r barrel. It will primarily be used for target shooting, with the hopes of someday being able to go 850 - 1000 feet.

I know that’s asking a lot, but I would be happy just having a setup capable of that. If and when I go hunting I plan on starting out with deer and moving on to other game depending on my knowledge and skill. So basically I’m looking to have a setup and scope as similar to the m24 platform as possible, so I have something to grow into and use to develop long range shooting skills.

The Nightforce keeps coming up as top brand and I also like that it has an illuminated reticle. I just don’t want to use a scope that is overkill for the maximum effective range of the rifle, which I believe is 850 or possibly up to 1000 yards under ideal conditions.

Thanks for the help and if I am mistaking about any of the above please let me know, as I am trying to learn all I can.

 

[FarmerDave]

You might check out the Tract Toric. I have one on my 308 target rifle, and does fine by me out to 600 yards. I also have the 7x35 ATACR which does have better glass, but again it's in a different tier of scopes'
Don't get to caught up in the overkill thing. If it works, and your happy with the results, then it's a good buy.

Also, big deal here, if using for hunting, watch the weight. ATACR is heavy!

 

[Jon Riley]

FarmerDave

I hear you. When I got the 5R it was with the intend of making an M24 rifle. I thought that it would be good for hunting, but like you said weight is going to be an issue.

I think the best option right now is for me to use this rifle for target shooting, practicing/learning long distance and over all shooting skills, and for fun. For hunting I think it would be best to get another rifle/scope better suited for that purpose.

All that said, do you think the 7x35 ATACR is the best choice if you were setting up the rifle similar to the platform used in the military. I don’t mind spending the money on top tier scopes as long as it would suit that purpose. I hope that clarifies things without sounding too much like the new guy I am

 

[Kracken McGraw]

FarmerDave

I hear you. When I got the 5R it was with the intend of making an M24 rifle. I thought that it would be good for hunting, but like you said weight is going to be an issue.

I think the best option right now is for me to use this rifle for target shooting, practicing/learning long distance and over all shooting skills, and for fun. For hunting I think it would be best to get another rifle/scope better suited for that purpose.

All that said, do you think the 7x35 ATACR is the best choice if you were setting up the rifle similar to the platform used in the military. I don’t mind spending the money on top tier scopes as long as it would suit that purpose. I hope that clarifies things without sounding too much like the new guy I am

I would look hard at a Sightron SIII 6-24x50 since they went on sale today. You can find your choice of second foal or first focal plane. Also illuminated or not.

 

[Jon Riley]

McGraw

Thanks bud I appreciate it. I’ll check it out. By the why, not sure if you can help with this, but whenever I go to reply it says, “the content you want to post is not allowed”. I can only reply if I remove them quote of the post I’m replying to. do you know why that is?

 

[Terry_M]

What terrain are you hunting in? I had a bad experience with a 6-24 scope and having a spike bull stand up at 10yds. Even on 6 power when you look at an animal at 10yds all you see is fur.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

FarmerDave

I hear you. When I got the 5R it was with the intend of making an M24 rifle. I thought that it would be good for hunting, but like you said weight is going to be an issue.

I think the best option right now is for me to use this rifle for target shooting, practicing/learning long distance and over all shooting skills, and for fun. For hunting I think it would be best to get another rifle/scope better suited for that purpose.

All that said, do you think the 7x35 ATACR is the best choice if you were setting up the rifle similar to the platform used in the military. I don’t mind spending the money on top tier scopes as long as it would suit that purpose. I hope that clarifies things without sounding too much like the new guy I am

Being "a new guy" is not an impediment, you're doing quite well in explaining your purposes and goals.

Now, I'm not familiar with the M24 rifle except to know that it's a bolt .308 issued with a 10X scope. I'm somewhat familiar with the .308 cartridge and its ballistics.

I would like to suggest a scope that you may have overlooked, which I think would suit the capabilities of your rifle and meet all your requirements. This is the March 2.5-25X with either a 42 or 52mm objective and is an SFP design. This will give you all the magnification that you can use with that rifle, starting at 2.5X, which makes it eminently suitable for hunting, should you get into that. The 10X zoom ratio comes in a 30mm tube with 100MOA of elevation travel. It will take your 20 inch .308 to 1000 yards, if ever you want to try that. The March scope focuses at 10 yards all the way to infinity. The thing is 12 inches long and weighs less than a pound and a half, 24 ounces for the illuminated models. It has a choice of illuminated reticles and you can have it in MIL or MOA.

https://marchscopes.com/scopes/d25v42ti/

Now, if you decide that you would rather have an FFP scope, the same scope can be had in the March-F 3-24X 42 or 52mm objective. It's the same length and weight as the one I just mentioned but it's a first focal plane design with an 8X ratio. It also comes in a choice of illuminated reticles and either MIL or MOA.

https://marchscopes.com/scopes/d24v52fiml/

These small compact scopes have a tremendous magnification range, which makes them extremely versatile.

 

[afret]

Looks like you have a big budget so you might look into these:

https://www.zcompoptic.com/products

 

[davidjoe]

If you’re building in the spirit of an M24, I’d pick a scope that has been used on that rifle. You are probably aware already but Remington’s 5R barreled actions sold as a unit aren’t mil spec. I don’t know if that is what your starting point is or not. The M24 was convertible by intention to the 300 win mag so the Army did not pick the short action even for .308 use, and the Remington barreled action is a police 700 profile barrel not the heavier military profile. I have those barreled actions and they are fine values.

M24’s used tactical Leupolds. Some could probably have been found with U.S. Optics scopes. USO and S&B stand out in my mind as undiluted among tactical scope makers because they have ignored the recreational rifle market and never offered an entry level product line.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

If you’re building in the spirit of an M24, I’d pick a scope that has been used on that rifle. You are probably aware already but Remington’s 5R barreled actions sold as a unit aren’t mil spec. I don’t know if that is what your starting point is or not. The M24 was convertible by intention to the 300 win mag so the Army did not pick the short action even for .308 use, and the Remington barreled action is a police 700 profile barrel not the heavier military profile. I have those barreled actions and they are fine values.

M24’s used tactical Leupolds. Some could probably have been found with U.S. Optics scopes. USO and S&B stand out in my mind as undiluted among tactical scope makers because they have ignored the recreational rifle market and never offered an entry level product line.

I wouldn't. The scopes used on that rifle were, shall we say, barely adequate especially compared to what is available today. I will point out the rifle in question here has a 20 inch barrel whereas the M24 had a 24 inch barrel.

Spirit is nice, but more efficient is better. Don't you agree?

 

[davidjoe]

I wouldn't. The scopes used on that rifle were, shall we say, barely adequate especially compared to what is available today. I will point out the rifle in question here has a 20 inch barrel whereas the M24 had a 24 inch barrel.

Spirit is nice, but more efficient is better. Don't you agree?

Scope improvements leapfrogged those of rifles, over the lifetime of a senior shooter. An example would be one of those Winchester 52’s we see time to time with those long, ungainly scopes externally adjustable with little magnification.

That particular discontinued target .22 LR remains to this day a threat to win matches 75 years later, but the scope it wore has been eclipsed.

Yeah, for the OP and “first glass” probably an “all around” quality scope makes the best sense. An M24 used a thick MIL dot reticle that covered small targets. Coarse adjustments and low power too. On a correct tribute rifle, or a retired service M-24 brought to a match, it’s truly impressive to see it and how it shoots as deployed, like a classic car with the original engine.

But for a practical shooter rifle, yeah, I have favored the view through the scope over the view of the scope.

 

[Baer45]

Whatever you decide, buy the best glass you can afford and then some....

 

[Siko12]

I would suggest that you get a variable scope from around 4 to 14 power. Leupold makes what I think is called a Vari x III with a side focal adjustment. They come in both 1" and 30MM. I would opt for the 30MM. It should cost about $700.00 for a new one. I would not be afraid to buy even a scratch up used one because Leupold will replace the main tube and refinish the scope for about $175.00 and it will come back looking like new.

 

[troupe]

I noticed that Tract has been mentioned, but you will get world class optics for half the price of comparable scopes. No middleman saves a lot of money and you will be shocked at the glass quality and performance.

 

[CharlieNC]

My buddy has a 5R that he setup with a Leopold Mark 4 that is xx to 14 power and it is an excellent steel shooter out to 1100 yards, and it is his hunter too. I'm always amazed when we go long range. He shoots 175 SMK and 178 Amax with a moderate load of 4895.

 

[Mr.Knowit all]

LOL... I don't think it will matter much on your action and barrel rifling. A scope that works with a 700 5R??? You must be new or worded that question very badly. How about the caliber? That is what most guys use (depending on the application)when picking out a scope. If you are new you are at the right place a lot of guys on here with A LOT of valuable intel on this forum. Learn what you can, when you can. Beware of idiots and guys that just can't wait to show you how much they know. JM0