I need a new scope....

[minnesotamulisha]

I shot my first organized event last weekend. It was a 300 yard bench rest shoot. It was small with only about a dozen guys, but it was an absolute blast and I can't wait to do it again next month.

Anyways, I have a 5-25x50 Falcon Menace scope on my rifle, which is a Model 12 F T/R in 308. After looking through another guy's Weaver T36, I realized the Falcon isn't quite what I need for a bench gun.

There is another match not too far from me that is 600 yards and other than that, I don't have access to anything farther.

I'm in the process of selling some stuff to fund a new scope purchase. I have been
looking at the fixed power Weavers, at least the T36, and also the Leupold Competition line.

I need help deciding what I should purchase. I don't want to spend more than $1,000 and I can easily pick up a Leupold Competion (used of course) in that range, but then there are some Leupolds like the BR 36x that can be had for around $5-600.
And then there is the Weaver which I can find for less than $400 all day.

I know a lot of guys are going to say "Buy once, cry once," which is why I'm leaning toward the Leupold Competition, but then there are three different magnifications and two different reticules.

Any advice from the experienced guys? Do I need 45x for a 600 yard shoot? I would love to take the rifle out farther, but I just don't have the access. Is there such thing as too much magnification?

Any help would be appreciated.

Adam

 

[jghoghunter]

Its like you said "buy once cry once". The other one is "you can't hit what you can't see". I use night force and I use 42 power 98% of the time. BUT I can dial it down if I need or want to. If you watch some of them are coming up for sale at really good prices lately. Something else you mite want to consider is a Sightron SIII in the 10-50 or a 8-32. This past winter I bought 2 SIII 8-32 for $675 and $650 shipped. Both are excellent. I've used a lot of fixed power scopes over the years and still do use them. But all my bench guns now have variables it just gives you more options with the mirage. The only reason I would go back to a fix on a bench gun is to make weight.
Just my .02!!

 

[Terry]

Used 8-32 or 12-42 Nightforce BR scopes can be bought in that range. I shot a 8-32 Double dot all last year and loved it. I have more powerful scopes, but it works well. Paid $750.

 

[minnesotamulisha]

Terry, you paid $750 for a Nightforce? Score! If I could find one for that, I would hop right on it but everything I've seen lately is $1200-1400.

And Jg, you mentioned mirage being an issue, does the adjustable magnification help to reduce it?

 

[Terry]

Keep looking, a lot of guys bought the new Nightforce scope there are a lot of BRs avainable. I bought one off this site and one from a friend. I usually see them at 600 and 1,000 yard BR matches.

 

[jghoghunter]

Same here keep watchin I've been seeing the br's selling for $850-1200. As for the mirage its a simple, turn the power down and you can't see the mirage as well. Sometime it helps to keep the x-ring from moving in such a big circle. But the mirage is still there you just can't see it as well. As for do you need 40+ power to shoot a 1000 yds? No, I have used a 8.5-25 leupold to shoot 1k but you are aiming for the center of the circle but with the 42x you are aiming for the X in the x ring on the 1k BR targets .

 

[DennisH]

Benchrest NightForce scopes are the only way to go, quality and price wise.

3 years ago after buying my first one, I sold every other scope I had and bought NF's, BenchRest models only. I have never regretted it.

Dennis

 

[minnesotamulisha]

Thats what I'm afraid of, Dennis!

The reason I was leaning toward the Leupold is because they have the 30mm tubes. Do the NF Benchrest scopes have 30mm tubes?

What about the older Leupolds that are fixed but with the focus on the front of the tube, the AO I believe it is. Are these scopes decent? Would it be worth buying one and spending the rest of my scope funds on ammo?

 

[jghoghunter]

All nf have at least 30 mm tubes. There is nothing wrong with the leupolds fixed or variable i just believe you will be happier with the nf. I was in your boat 10 years ago and i stepped up from leupold to nf and never looked back.

This is my opinion we all know everyone has one. For the money :
1 used nf br
2 used sightron S lll
3 leupold basiclly because with the other 2 you get more magnification for just alittle more money and the new high power scopes are more than you or i want to pay

 

[DennisH]

Thats what I'm afraid of, Dennis!

The reason I was leaning toward the Leupold is because they have the 30mm tubes. Do the NF Benchrest scopes have 30mm tubes?

What about the older Leupolds that are fixed but with the focus on the front of the tube, the AO I believe it is. Are these scopes decent? Would it be worth buying one and spending the rest of my scope funds on ammo?

Most of my new NF's have 30mm tubes. They are the best in my book. I also own one March Scope as well, but I will take my NF mainly because I have a few and are use to them. Not too much difference with the March which is a very good scope.

Dennis

 

[minnesotamulisha]

Thanks for all the info guys. However, I need to ask another question. Which reticle do you prefer? I don't have access to any of these scopes so it is tough for me to actually look through them to get an idea.

 

[jghoghunter]

I have 2 nf np-2d basically 2 dots on the vertical and the center one floats in between tapered cross hairs. One is a cross hair with a floating dot. The other one is a crosshair with a dot. I like the floating dot the best then the np-2d and I really don't care for the crosshair and dot

The sightrons are LRMOA, a couple of hash marks on each line. I really like this one for groundhog hunting. The other one is a target dot.

Each of their websites will show you there reticles.

 

[DennisH]

Thanks for all the info guys. However, I need to ask another question. Which reticle do you prefer? I don't have access to any of these scopes so it is tough for me to actually look through them to get an idea.

I believe: NP2-DD there is no part number close to this, if you need to know exactly, I will check the box in my shop. The others are like: CD1-1, something like that, again, not even close.

I love the NP2-DD from the first day I picked up on to this day.

Dennis

 

[jghoghunter]

NP-2DD
CTR-2 crosshair with dot
CTR-3 plain crosshair
I don't see the floating dot in the crosshair even in the discontinued section. These came from NF website. For some reason I figure out how to post the pics of the reticles for these NF scopes.

These 2 are from the sightron website
dot is the LRTD
has marks is the LRMOA. It says MOA2 in the pic below but on the website all it says is LRMOA

 

[minnesotamulisha]

I bought a scope. It isn't a Night force or a Leupold, but a Weaver. I know that no one suggested a Weaver, but I will have a lot of funds leftover to buy bullets, brass and powders. Once I start placing in the upper tiers of the local matches, then I may upgrade.

I just wanted to thank you guys for your input.

 

[huffmanite]

Well good for you buying the Weaver T36. My benchrest shooting buddy with around 5 of them and a smaller number of T24s, on centerfire rifles, would say you made a good decision.