Can a scope be too good?

[charlie54]

Hello all, I’ve been hanging around a while, but this is my first post. I really enjoy this forum, I’ve been getting a lot of great information from the posts.

I’m building a long range gun, and trying to decide on a scope. It’ll be chambered to a 6.5-284 with a 30 inch Krieger barrel, and used only for target. The scope I’ve been looking at is the NF 15-55x52 competition, but I’m not sure if the 55 power scope would actually be useable. The reason I say that is because I have a another rifle with a Zeiss Conquest HD5 5 - 25 x 50, and at half the power of the NF, it’s hard to see through the mirage at times, and is clearer if I turn the power down on those wavy days.
So my question is; do you think it’s worth spending the money on a high magnification, or is a guy better off taking the money and spending it on better glass…?
Thanks in advance, Charlie

 

[Raythemanroe]

Are you gonna be trying to make weight? I think you should go to a shoot and look through a couple, everyone's eyes are different

 

[gunnermhr]

You can always turn the power down on a 15x55, you can never turn the power more than max on anything lesser. I like the 55 and use it more set on 55 than I do on anything less.

 

[charlie54]

Yes, I want to make weight.
After not shooting for a while, I’ve only been back at it for about the past year, and have never done match shooting. This stuff has really gotten technical since then, and I’m having a blast catching up!!!
If I understand right, F-Class rules say I have to stay under 22 lbs. I’m waiting for my bolt assembly, but everything else is here and ready for the gun smith. My McMillan A5, and Heavy Palma together weigh about 10.5 lbs, so I should be underweight with any scope I pick, right?

The problem with going to a shoot and looking at other peoples scopes is they might not like me twisting on the adjustments so I can get a good look. I’ve looked through NF scopes, and really like the glass in them, but I wanted to hear what ya’ll thought of how the mirage affects these high power scopes, shooting between 300 and 1000 yards?

 

[Raythemanroe]

I don't have a competition model, I looked through one at there booth and thought the window was very critical.. I have an easier time with the BR and NSX models..

 

[SDDasher]

I would recommend you purchase a good mirage shield for your barrel before you decide on any scope. Too many people mis understand the heat waves rising from a barrel warming up during a fast string as mirage down range. The shield will help dampen/eliminate this part of the problem.
Having said that I shoot the 12x42 NF BR on ranges in the south (FL, GA, LA) mostly with loads of mirage. I am usually able to shoot near max power on most days. It is nice to be able to see those rings when holding off for wind changes without guessing.
There are days you have to power down to get a clearer sight picture and with a quality scope like the NF Competition/Bench Rest you can usually dial down to a higher power without loss of clarity. Just my two cents worth.

 

[Warren Dean]

I shoot at Ben Avery regularly and the mirage there can be pretty hairy. I leave my NF Competition scope cranked up to 45X all the time. I just center up in the "dancing blob" and have at it. Dropping the power doesn't do anything for me except make the target smaller....and my head doesn't like that.

 

[lawrence97]

I run my March at 60 power most of the time and just deal with the mirage... With time you will learn how the bouncing or what you are looking at affects your poi and then you just compensate.

 

[broncman]

i dont have a ton of matches under my belt, but i Have a NightForce BR model and like has been said, you can always turn it down, but not up!

I like to turn mine till I just see mirage at no wind. Just to the edge of mirage so to speak. Since I do not use a spotting scope(yet) while shooting, I like to be able to see the mirage and which direction it is washing.

 

[dkhunt14]

I totally agree with raythemanroe. Every ones eyes are different and what looks good to one person might not to the next. I have 8.5x25 Leupolds and can shoot most of the time on top power. I have 8x32 Nightforce BR and NXS and can shoot most of the time on highest power. I have a 15x55 Nightforce and can use the Highest of the power most times. I think a lot depends on your eyes and ability to focus the scope to your eye. Matt

 

[NateHaler]

this belongs in the Optics forum, whether the scope is going on a BB gun or a .577 T-rex.

 

[charlie54]

this belongs in the Optics forum, whether the scope is going on a BB gun or a .577 T-rex.

My Bad :-[, screwed up on my first post

 

[dragman]

go for the competition. I love mine can't see you being disappointed in it. like others said it's easier to make weight and you can always crank the power up if the conditions allow.

 

[243Mendoza]

this belongs in the Optics forum, whether the scope is going on a BB gun or a .577 T-rex.

Hardly anyone posts on that forum although it's the proper forum. It's too far down the list for people to notice it.

 

[DennisH]

IMO it's hard to beat the NightForce. I used 12x42 BR until the 15x55 BR's came out.

I have shot on a few days where 22 power was the max power I could shoot. But I love that 3" spotter that looks like a pie plate on 55 power, 600 yards.

Like someone stated above, all eyes are different. I have used my 15x55 on 40 power plus, and have used it at 55 power many times. It's great to use it when you can.

There is nothing wrong with the 12x42 power NF BenchRest model.

My eyes: I can only focus using a Zeiss, Swaroski, and a "BenchRest" NightForce. I bought a NXS NF and sold it. My eyes just didn't like it.

I have also used March and US Optics. Great scopes, lot's more $$$$, but the NightForce does the job for me and my budget.

Dennis

 

[jsthntn247]

I have a 10-50 Sightron and during the last match the mirage got so bad I couldn't see the 10 ring, let alone the x even when I backed the power down. Fella on the line was using a 12-50 Smidt and Bender and could see both of them fine on 50 power. I looked through his scope after the string and could see them allot better also. Get the best optics you can afford.

 

[Grimstod]

Mirage blurs the image. So do bad optics. You cannot do anything about mirage but you can get better optics.

 

[M14AMU]

Can you have too much money??

 

[Grimstod]

Lee if I ever meet someone who says they have enough money I will let you know. maybe they will even give some of it to you and me. ;D