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F-class glass

I am thinking of trying F class, trying to put an estimate together. I have a price for everything I think to get started except the scope. Is everyone using NF? I have Leupold's but I would probably need more X. Is 20X a good starting point for the high end of a variable ? Thank you
 
At least 20 and above.I have a fixed 36 on mine and some go all the way to 50 power which will drive you crazy with your heart beat.
 
Have a T36 on one and a Sightron 36x42 on one, both do an excellent job at 600yds. If light is ok and mirage low can see 6mm holes at 600 on a white background, either scope, coin toss on best one. For about 390-425 your set.
 
I wanted to get back into reloading and shooting and at the time didn't want to get too much money in a gun and found a good deal on a Savage FLCP-K in 308win..also bought a WOTAC scope...well the bug came back and still have the Savage but sold the WOTAC scope to a friend and bought a NF 8-32 NXS w/NP-2DD rec. Now I'm looking to build a gun. I don't know If I'll shoot F-Class or what. The NF is such a great scope that it's just have gotin me more interested in shooting. A couple weeks ago I finially desided to put it to some test that I never did and that was to run it straight 7 shots from 8X to 32X and see how I and the scope/gun could do...well I covered all the shots with a nickle at 100yds. Don't know if I can do it again but the NF sure gives me a secure feeling, wont sell it for anything..we just like oneanother. Don't think I'd want a 12-42 because here in Texas mirage really messes with my old eyes. Maybe if I lived back in Upstae NY I'd have one...so with that said I've found my scope that I'll have for alog time...hope you find yours.
 

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Another vote for the NF 8-32x56 NXS. More elevation than the BR and the side-focus is nice. NP-2DD reticle works great in F-Class.
 
I started F-Class this year knowing only what I could read on this site and others. I didn't know what kinda scope that I would want or need, but knew where my price limits were so I bought a Nikon Buckmasters 6x18x40mm with a target dot. Good scope kept track well and I shot decent with it. I wish that I had spent the money though, on a Weaver T-36 or a Sightron fixed 36. At 18 power I can just see the ten ring but not the X because the target dot damn near covers it up. That being said I spent a little more money on my next rifle and bought a Sightron SIII 10X50X60mm--should be able to see now!
 
The Weaver T36 and Sightron Series II 36X42 are both superb scopes (I own three of them in total) and have the advantage of only around a pound weight when putting an F/TR rifle together with its 8.25kg overall allowed weight i/c scope & bi-pod.

You are however limited with a 36X fixed power scope if the mirage is heavy, or the conditions are very dark - the latter more of an issue in the UK over the last few summers.

For my Savage PT action based .223 Rem long-range F/TR rifle, I decided to go for a lighter barrel profile and a heavier scope employing a Sightron 8-32X I already had, but was using on another rifle.

Finances had ruled out an NF NXS or similar at the time I bought this scope and I got hold of a very early production model Sightron Series III 8-32X56 LR target scope at a very advantageous (read bargain!) price after reading reviews on this site. The Sightron is a truly remarkable scope for the money and I've never regretted buying it. It has since been improved marginally with a smaller central reticle dot and more pronounced turret 'clicks'.

Since then, I've acquired a Nightforce 8-32X56 NF and S&B 12-50X56 PMII (a huge, heavy bruiser!), both superb scopes, but the Sightron gives nothing away to them at all in any performance area, and is a lot cheaper than them in the UK. I'm so pleased with my existing two Sightron fixed powers and the 8-32 that I have a second 8-32X56 set aside for me and ready for collection by our importer / distributor Aim Field Sports, but one in the new Tactical Mil-Dot range.

So far as the fixed powers go both the T24/T36 and Sightron equivalents are really good models. I'm not 100% sure about the Weaver turret knob markings now though after a couple of seasons of long-range F Class shooting with them. For those unfamiliar with the system, the markings go in MOA / eighth-MOA sub-divisions, as a plus or minus half way round the knob, so as you turn one it reads + 1 MOA (or Right 1-MOA), then half way round a full turn at 5 or 6 MOA (I can't remember the exact figure), you get the same value a second time and it now decreases back to 0 by one MOA with each additional eight clicks, so what starts being shown as right wind becomes a reducing amount of left wind as you read it on the knob! You can reset the knobs easily to 0 at the start of a match so you can quickly and easily read your changes from zero made as the match progresses - providing you don't get more than the five or six minutes of wind that sees you beyond half a full turn when adding wind becomes a reducing figure so far as the knob markings are concerned. It then becomes very easy to get 'lost'. I think it's an excellent system for short-range shooting, but has drawbacks for long-range F especially in F/TR where you may have 10 or more minutes wind on. I like having a scope where I get an accurate 100yd wind zero at 100yd and the markings are such I can always return to it at any time.

So, my recommendations for what they are worth is Sightron, and if you can afford both the money and an extra pound weight penalty, go for the variable Series III side-focus target model. Even though I use mine more or less permanently on 32 power, it is really useful to be able to turn the power down if the conditions demand it, and equally vitally when setting the rifle up at the start of a match and you want to be sure you're aiming at the right target! (You can also turn the power down during a match to see what the wind has done to other other targets / hits down the line - not an issue so much in the USA with string shooting, but an advantage here in the UK sometimes as we shoot alternately, sometimes even three to a target.)

Laurie,
York, England
 
I use a Weaver T-24 and think it is a better choice in a fixed power scope because it provides enough magnification to work very well at any yardage and , unlike the T-36, continues to work under heavy mirage. A variable power scope can be dialed down in heavy mirage, a fixed power cannot. Therefore, my choice is the T-24.
 
Another vote for the 10-50X Sightron, good optics and tracking, all the elevation adjustments you will need out to 1000yds or more, slightly lighter than the NF. You can crank it down to 10X to check other targets as laurie said, then crank it up to 50X is there is no or little mirage.
 
Can someone tell me the amount of elevation available in a Weaver T-36 and the Sightron SIII 8-32X?
 
This is not so much a comment on NF as on magnification. I have always used a 10x NF scope on my AR when using it in F-class. I recently decided to throw a NF 8-32x56 NP-2DD benchrest on it and shot 14 points higher than my previous record. That is quite a testament to NF and also to the fact that 22X magnification (what I used) is a lot better than 10X for F-class. :)
 
FWIW - use the highest power you can get you hands [read wallet] on

BUT, make it a variable power scope. side focus is great, but not necessary.

you'll find all types of reticles on the line. for me, the smaller the better. you can really pick your point of aim. i use a NF CH-3 floating dot. 1/16 MOA @ 42X. [now out o0f production].
a fine crosshair works well as does the np-2dd with 1/10th dot @42x.

use the highest power you can when shooting. turn it down when the mirage increases. a 'lite' yellow filter [#3] also works extremely well.

don't forget to adjust your reticle focus till it's really sharp [for those who don't know - the reticle focus is the rear eye piece adjusted in or out] word to the wise - when adjusting, don't look into the scope for long periods as your eyes will play tricks on you.

habu
 
Laurie.
I am also thinking of buying a 8x32x56 sightron for my 308 and trying my hand at F/TR shooting.
Which model and reticule do you recommend ?
 
My brother uses a 8-32x56 with the 1/8MOA target dot on his FTR rifle, I will be purchasing the same thing when funds become available. I love that reticle, especially since the turrets are only 1/4 clicks. They are supposed to be coming out with 1/8MOA clicks and hopefully are out by the time I am ready to buy one.
 
I also looked through his scope and a 12-42x56 NF BR scope side by side and could not tell the difference, if anything I thought the Sightron was slightly better...Well worth the money in my opinion
 

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