F-Class scopes..what to buy ?

[weedhopper]

I'm looking at 2 scopes for my 6br F-class rifle.
The one I'm leaning towards is the Leupold Competition 35x Br scope with 1/8 dot. What I like about this scope is the weight and the fixed power.
I hold off for lite winds and click for bigger moves if i need more than a 1 moa move..Will this scope work for this style of shooting ?
Or should I buy a Nightforce Br 12x42 with the NP-2DD ? Do people with this scope turn the power down for mirage ? Something I cant do with the Leupold.
Will I be OK shooting with mirage at 35x on the Leupold if im not bothered by mirage in a scope as it can help with reading wind.
My old Leupold 6.5 x20 is not cutting it in F-class like it did in sling shooting so im up for a new scope.
Thanks for any help.
Bill

 

[ShootDots]

The BEST scope to buy is the Schmidt and Bender 12-50 with the reticle set in the focal plane that does NOT increase the size of the reticle. Then there are numerous others like March, Premier, and NightForce. The determining factors are usually $$$$$'s... Most people opt for either a NightForce or a Sightron III... If you go to the Nightforce you then have 2 options: 1.) The NXS and 2.) The BR... The NSX has something I like and something I don't like. It has 10M.O.A. turrets>>>I like that>>>If you change power, the ENTIRE Ocular lens system turns with it>>>I don't like that. You can get the NSX in either 0.250 or 0.125 click adjustments>>>get the 0.125>>The BR has only 0.125. The BR has 6 M.O.A. turrets>>>I don't particularly care for that>>>other than that, I can see no difference.
......................If I were you and you have the $$$$'s >> get the S&B>>If you go less>>get either of the NightForce scopes>>> your preference.. But with either of the NightForce, IMHO>>the 12-42 is the way to go.. I hope this helps..

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

The BEST scope to buy is the Schmidt and Bender 12-50

Hey Ben, going to have to disagree. There are 4 of these owned by guys at Bayou, and I personally have seen three of them fail, and have to be shipped back to Germany.

Schmidt may have their act together with their other scopes, not these 12-50s... At least not yet.

That being said, I have seen a March fail, and a few NFs, so, nothing is 100%.

The most two commonly used scopes are NF BRs, and NF NXS now that the 1/8s are available. Given the numbers in use, the NF BR would appear to be the most reliable long term of the NF, that only being because the NXS with the 1/8s are new to the market and have little history at this point.

 

[ShootDots]

Hey Mark>>> I did not know there was trouble with the S&B's! Although I have got to say, there are NO BETTER optics and do you think the recoil on a 6BR would cause the scope to break.. On the other hand, why then buy a $3200.00 scope if there is a question of it's durability.. Thanks Mark..

 

[Ed333]

If you want to try a fixed power scope without spending a bucket of cash, the Weaver T-36 is the one which was recommended to me. As a newbie, my budget for the year just couldn't handle a Nightforce, on top of new rifle, front and rear rests, re-loading gear, etc. Our course goes to 600 yards, the weaver has done fine, I paid around $400 or a little less, from Killough. If you can afford it, the Nightforce would be the way to go from all the advice I have received (and seeing what the other shooters in my club are using).

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

Hey Mark>>> I did not know there was trouble with the S&B's! Although I have got to say, there are NO BETTER optics and do you think the recoil on a 6BR would cause the scope to break.. On the other hand, why then buy a $3200.00 scope if there is a question of it's durability.. Thanks Mark..

The guys have the scopes back and they have not had issues since, but to your point, $3200 and a trip right back to the shop - uh no. The rifles these were on should not have caused them to fail, no way. I'll certainly agree, the glass itself is awesome.

I looked through a March X out in Raton, and the glass in it was damn good also. When I saw the March take a dump in Raton two years ago, they were all over getting it repaired and back fast, which helped ease any concerns about March. Kelblys service is just unbeatable!

 

[ShootDots]

I have never looked thru a March>>>But their "upper-end" of the powder structure would indicate to me that a 34MM tube should be mandatory, however, they are still in the 30mm tube corral! I know that when power exceeds 50-60 and March now has an 80, I would not want to say they NEED a larger diameter, however, it would seem the logical step. Lenses, no matter how good, need light to pass thru them>>>at 60 or 80 power, it would SEEM to me that a 30mm tube would be a bit on the "dark" side! I don't know>>I have never peered thru one. But I heard they track second to none!

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

The "X" series 5-50 and 8-80 do have the 34mm tubes..

They are AWESOME.

 

[ShootDots]

WOW! If they have the 34mm tubes>>>I would rather have them than a 12-42 NXS! How much does a 5-50 cost w/ 34mm tubes>>>are they approaching the U.S.Optics scale??

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

WOW! If they have the 34mm tubes>>>I would rather have them than a 12-42 NXS! How much does a 5-50 cost w/ 34mm tubes>>>are they approaching the U.S.Optics scale??

$3100-$3250 or thereabouts. I'd buy one of these before the S & B, given what I have seen so far...

http://www.deon.co.jp/march/March-X.htm

 

[ShootDots]

Maybe with income tax return I will get one! I have heard only praise for them!!

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

Ben, I 'd be jealous!

The the OP, sorry for the hijack there. Of the Luep or the NF BR, hands down get the NF. You can turn it down if you need to, can't do that with a Luep.

The other scope in that price range to consider is the Sightron 10-50. I am seeing more and more people with these, and they are all speaking favorably of them.

 

[sdeal5]

Mark--- I'm with you on the march " x" series. I had a couple of other march's with 30mm tubes, and personally liked my nf's better, especially for the diff in $$, buuut, when I got my 5-50 march---whoa!!!--- different animal!! I love it.

 

[abishai]

I love my 12-42 NF BR. I went with the np-r2 reticle because my eyes arent as good as they used to be. I figure if I cant win with it, I cant win with anything ! If u dont like it, a good condition nf will go for close to the new price

 

[Steve Blair]

I shoot a Nightforce 12-42 BR FCH on my 6BR and NF NXS 12-42 NP-R1 1/8 MOA on the .284. For F-Class or any known-distance shooting, the turrets are somewhat unimportant except for 1/8 MOA. I don't move mine very much. The FCH works fine in Mid Range where I shoot the 6BR. The NP-R1 has been helpful in holding as well as severe mirage conditions, something we experience often at Camp Pendleton. [br]
Like Mark, I took a look through the March at Raton and found the optics impressive. But, when I do not shoot a clean Long Range target, it is rarely if ever the fault of either the rifle or Nightforce scope. [br]
I'm going to have to start beating Mark before I think I need a better scope.

 

[ShootDots]

Hey Steve>>>I shoot against Mark at Bayou Rifles just about every month.. Mark is a EXCELLENT shot. I do not believe I have EVER beat him there! At long distance, I leave a lot to be desired>>> I have seen Mark shoot beyond belief >>>If you can compete with him>>>you are already an awesome shot! And as Curly Bill Brocious would say "And I ain't kiddin' neither"!! LOL!!

 

[Steve Blair]

Ben,
I started shooting Long Range F-Open in November 2011. I finished seven points behind Mark at the Berger SW Nationals in February and four points behind at Raton. At this rate, I should be able to tie him sometime in 2014.

 

[ShootDots]

Hey Steve, you must be one of those "naturals".. I know a guy who is the "club pro" at his golf country club. He told me that for YEARS he practices and plays golf everyday, just to try and get to the point where he could join the pro-tour. He said he has never been able to qualify and falls short by a mere 3-4 strokes. He told me that that was the difference between someone who works very hard and someone who works hard but has a NATURAL affinity for golf. I think that that is also in every sport>>> "ours" included! So Steve, my hat is off to you!! I doubt I will reach that degree of skill>>>but nevertheless I have fun trying!! If you can start beating Mark on a fairly regular basis, you have achieved what many will never! Great going!!

 

[bholcomb]

Best bang for the buck IMO is the nightforce br 12-42. Very clear and several good reticles to choose from. You can also put an optical booster on it as well and make the scope near 60X. They're good for overcast days otherwise the mirage will negate the usefulness of it.

 

[XTR]

I shoot a 12-42NSX, it replaced an 8-32BR on my TR rifle.

I think the Sightron 10-50 may be the best bang for the buck, I wanted to get one but decided that it was worth it for me to pay the extra for the Nightforce and keep my NP-2DD reticle.

If the NF ever comes off it will be for a March.


Look on the line at a major F class event and 9 out of 10 will be NF 42s of either the NSX or BR variety, a few have made the transition to March (big $$ is the only stopper) The March is about 10oz lighter than the NF, that leaves more room for barrel and stock and still get in under 18.1 lbs.