Benchrest Scopes

[JohnW...ski]

I would like some advice from anyone who actually shoots benchrest.

I have been participating in 200 and 300 yard benchrest type matches at local clubs. My two rifles are both heavy varmint rifles with T-36 scopes, one a 6 mm PPC the other a .20 Vartarg. I have been very happy with my choice of scope at 200 yards but find them lacking at 300 under certain conditions. I am thinking of upgrading to a March scope, my preference is the straight 50X scope but the 35-60X variable is not out of the question.

Anyone have one or have used one?

Any recommendations?

Thanks,

John

 

[BartsBullets]

John,

March makes good scopes. I've got a 50x power March with a crosshair if you're looking for a good used scope. You can PM me if interested.

Bart

 

[Shynloco]

John,
IMHO, and considering what Bart wrote, you are comparing extremes when you are talking about a Weaver T-36 compared to the March Scope Bart mentioned. By "extremes" I mean the quality of the optics with Weaver's at the low end and the March more toward the upper end. I have and use T36's (4) and one Leupold 35X Competition and the clarity between those is even remarkable. But I could have bought 3/T36's (a few yrs back) for what the one Leupold cost. I'm not here to trash nor am I implying that Weaver T36's aren't good scopes. They are fine scopes but aren't fairly matched to the quality of a Leupold, which is somewhere in between a Weaver and a March. Sometimes our wallet defines what we buy and use. But if you want to talk about having an edge in competition, something as simple as the quality of your scope has a definite impact on edge. I proved that for myself when I switched from the T36 to the Leupold 35X in competition. Imagine what that March could possibly do as long as a shooter does his part. Just my .02 worth.

Alex

 

[Judd]

Look around at the matches you shoot and see what your competitors are using. I'd be willing to bet the majority are Nightforce with March and Leupold mixed in and Vortex has a new GoldenEagle. Ask the folks you're shooting against if you can look through their scopes...I've never been told no on something like that, guys love showing their stuff off and enjoy helping others in the sport.

 

[JRS]

The 2015 Super Shoot equipment list shows March and Leupold scopes leading the pack. There is one Nightforce listed in the top twenty shooters in both LV and HV.

 

[JohnW...ski]

Look around at the matches you shoot and see what your competitors are using. I'd be willing to bet the majority are Nightforce with March and Leupold mixed in and Vortex has a new GoldenEagle. Ask the folks you're shooting against if you can look through their scopes...I've never been told no on something like that, guys love showing their stuff off and enjoy helping others in the sport.

Thanks to all who have replied, the matches I shoot are kind of informal, so the equipment could be anything. There are quite a few Nightforce scopes on the line and a lesser number of Leupold. I have looked through a few Nightforce scopes and they seem like good scopes. I got interested in March scopes because of their rating by 6mm BR.com and their apparent popularity in the benchrest results. The March is probably overkill for my use but one of my rifles is really surprising me with its accuracy and I think a higher quality scope can only help. I think my only concern is if a straight 50X scope is the way to go.

Thank,

John

 

[BartsBullets]

Thanks to all who have replied, the matches I shoot are kind of informal, so the equipment could be anything. There are quite a few Nightforce scopes on the line and a lesser number of Leupold. I have looked through a few Nightforce scopes and they seem like good scopes. I got interested in March scopes because of their rating by 6mm BR.com and their apparent popularity in the benchrest results. The March is probably overkill for my use but one of my rifles is really surprising me with its accuracy and I think a higher quality scope can only help. I think my only concern is if a straight 50X scope is the way to go.

Thank,

John

John,

As far as an accurate scope, the Valdada 36X are hard to beat. I've shot mine out to 1000 yards with no problem and several 600 yard matches. The clarity of the glass is second to none and they aren't that hard on the pocket book. I've switched completely over to them as well as several of the guys that shoot the benchrest circuit. My shooting buddy won the Super Shoot with one this year.

That's another option to consider.

Bart

 

[knguyen]

Mr. Bart, I shoother varment for score, 100-300 yard,
One rifle is 6PPC
Other rifle 30BR
My concern is at 300 yards, with my aging eyes, with the 36x scope will I be able to see bullet hits clearly for 6PPC or 30BR?
Thank you
Khanh

 

[BartsBullets]

Mr. Bart, I shoother varment for score, 100-300 yard,
One rifle is 6PPC
Other rifle 30BR
My concern is at 300 yards, with my aging eyes, with the 36x scope will I be able to see bullet hits clearly for 6PPC or 30BR?
Thank you
Khanh

My 55 year old eyes have seen bullet holes at 600 yards with one. 300 should not be a stretch. Shooting in heavy mirage is where it really shines. At st louis this last weekend mirage was horrible! Mike Conry and I looked though several scopes on the line from leupold to March. I had no idea how bad the mirage was until I looked through the other scopes. Nothing was even close to The Valdada in handling the mirage!

 

[knguyen]

Thank you for your reply, I will begin saving funds for next scope purchase,
Khanh

 

[tenring]

I have all of the scopes mentioned above. Most are variable power. I prefer a variable, because I can reduce the power slightly when mirage runs fast, and it helps. Of course, this does not work with a fixed power scope.