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F-class scope suggestions

Have been across the course shooter for past 20 years and mid range (600 yard) shooter also...thinking about shooting some f-class. My question is how big is the x and 10 ring at 600 and 1000 yards..I know it is pretty small compared to NRA targets.. my question is what kind of power scope do you really need to see the 10 and x rings at these distances (600-1000 yards). Don't want to make the mistake as when I first started shooting 20 years ago when I bought something that was OK only to rebuy the right equipment 1-2 years later...Any suggestions welcome
 
600yd. 10ring=6" x ring=3". 1000yd. 10 ring=10" x ring=5". A lot of f-open shooters use a nightforce 12-42br or nxs.I find that my sightron siii 8-32 works fine for less money. I shoot f-tr so overall wieght plays a big roll.
 
I started shooting F-class this past spring. I made the mistake of buying an 18X scope but once the shooting started and I got to look through some of the other guys gear...I realized my error. I switched to a Sightron SIII 10-50x60mm. It is so much better now that I can actually see the X ring.
 
ripley,

you don't say whether you're shooting F Class or F/TR - same targets but different allowed rifle weights. F Class (ie Open class) sees a lot of Nightforce BR scopes, some Schmidt 12-50 PMIIs and increasingly March and similar optics - but weight is barely an issue with 22lb allowed all up.

F/TR is limited to 18lb 2 oz and that includes the bi-pod. While that seems a huge amount to play with you find you can't have a stiff solid bottom action, quality stock, heavy varmint / target profile 30" barrel and a 3lb scope + mounts. Some people opt for the weight in the metal bits (action / barrel / bi-pod) and use a Weaver T24 or T36, Sightron SII 36X42 BR scope; others regard an 8-32 Nightforce NXS or Sightron Series III Long-Range as essential and lose weight on the barrel and bi-pod.

I started with a Weaver T36 and in my next build went for a Sightron 8-32 plus slimmer barrel and that's what I would advise now. Over here in the UK the NXS is more common, but Sightron is fast catching up - much cheaper and a bit lighter than the Nightforce. 32 power is fine in my view, but some people really do like the higher power numbers. Apart from eyesight and personal preference, it's also about whether you intend to click the turrets or aim off for wind changes. If you go down the 'average wind setting + aim-off' route, the larger your sight picture of the target centre, the more accurately you can judge the amount of aim-off applied. I prefer to use a centre hold and change turret settings as per iron sight sling shooters for which 32 power is more than enough. Just make sure you choose a sufficiently fine reticle that doesn't clutter the target centre up - it is a white aiming mark so a fine reticle and small dot show up clearly.
 
I use the Nightforce 12x42 benchrest. IMO the Nightforce is the best scope on the market for the price. I've looked through a number of high end scopes that were more than double the price of the Nightforce and haven't been convinced they are any better. If you can afford a Nightforce I don't believe you will be disappointed. Good shooting, Brian.
 
I use the Nightforce 12x42 benchrest. IMO the Nightforce is the best scope on the market for the price. [fullerson]

Great scope - I love them (have two), but they are heavy. You hardly see the Benchrest model in F/TR for this reason.
 
I should clarify a little. I shoot benchrest so I'm not familiar with the weight requirements of F/TR. My opinion is strictly based on the quality of the scope and not giving any consideration to the other factors of that class. They are heavy scopes.

Laurie, Thanks for that I would hate to steer some one in the wrong direction especially when the direction is rather expensive.
 
As Laurie states there are two distinct classes with two different weight limits. I am running a NXS 12-42x56 at 34 ounces its one heavy scope, but the clarity and reliablity of the scope still amazes me, I particularly like being able to adjust the parallax on the side. Because of the weight of the scope, I run the lightest rings and base possible and the lightest bipod, even though it only weighs about 9 ounces more than the 8-32 and 5 ounces more than the 10-50 Sightron.
 
I will add, that I am using the Centershot bipod by John Weil and titanium rings and bases from Murphy Precision, these I think really make up some of the weight difference.
 
I'm using a Leupold BR36 and sometimes a Leupold BR24 and am just making weight with a heavy Palma barrel and a Rempel Bipod. (more details here http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/2011/09/equipment-tubegun-in-f-class-part-1.html )

I have a Nightforce NXS but there is no way I could ever make weight with it on this rifle. It would take a lighter barrel and perhaps a few other items to bring that in under 8.25 kilos. I might be able to do that with my BAT 3L with a medium Palma contour, but the thing to be aware of is that you're always watching weight in F-TR.

The best way to lose a pound is to find 16 places to lose an ounce.
 
May I respectively say that although the Rempel is a fine piece of Canadian engineering at 54 ounces its a real heavyweight in the weight conscious F/TR. The Centershot at 18 1/2 allowed me to keep the NXS, but I totally agree that saving an ounce anywhere is an advantage and one of the reasons why I am using Murphy rings and bases. Mr Salazar may I add that I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your articles in The Rifleman's journal over the years and have learned an immense amount from them.
Martin
 
+1 on the Nightforce 12-42X BR. I like the NP2DD. I had an 8-32x but found I could really use the magnification when the mirage was low, so I traded (up?- both were awesome scopes) at 1000yds even 600 w low mirage I can crank it all the way to 42x and it allows me to aim/ kentucky windage very precisely
 
I use the Nightforce 12x42 benchrest. IMO the Nightforce is the best scope on the market for the price. I've looked through a number of high end scopes that were more than double the price of the Nightforce and haven't been convinced they are any better. If you can afford a Nightforce I don't believe you will be disappointed.

Totally agree with the above, I only use the higher power when the mirage allows it. Otherwise, myself and may more shoot using around 22 Power, but with the high humidity in south Louisiana, it's hard to use the highest power level. You learn to shoot at a lower power and consider it a blessing when you can use around 35 to 40. I have two of the 36 power NF's and rarely used them maxed out.

I too like the NP2DD reticle and don't have to use my corrective glasses with these or Swarovski scopes! These are the only two scopes that allow me to shoot without my glasses, I can adjust both and get a crystal clear picture, of couse I use shooting protective glasses, but that's it!

Just try to imagine bad vision, high humidity, and "mirage"! This is where a good scope comes in handy! Most in my area use NF.

Most that use some of the above mentioned (even Leoupold) scopes have good vision and have no problem with the them. I have bought them and had to sell them just because of my eyesight! I do have one Vortex I am happy with.

But again, only in South Louisiana!
 
Martin, I agree that the Rempel is heavy, it's probably the heaviest bipod out there for F-Class, but I like how sturdy it is. That's part of the fun of working within limitations like a weight ceiling, we each have to decide wher to allocate the available weight. One of my friends has the Centershop bipod on order, I'm looking forward to checking it out in person.

I'm glad the RJ website has been fun and useful for you, thanks for the kind words.
 
I see a lot of F-Class shooters with high (e.g., 12x42) power scopes and most of them do the majority of shooting in the 20x range.

I find that at 22x, my Nightforce NXS is just about right, but when the mirage is running it is better dialed back to around 18x.
 
I'm a rookie F-T/R shooter so not an expert by any means. I started with Leupold VXIII with max of 10x, that didn't work so well even at mid-range. I didn't want to make a second bad decision so did a lot of reading and looking. Ended up with Sightron 8x32 with long range dot. A lot of people recommended long range target dot but the dot and cross hairs were just to small/fine for me. I also considered NF and looked at a couple that others were using. I couldn't justify the cost difference.
 

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