Load development scope recommendation

[DLT]

I can show pics of all the targets, the short story is I bought a used scope. Picked the S2 36x based on all the great reviews . Seemed like the perfect scope to bounce from rifle to rifle.

Seller sold it with documentation of a clean bill of health from sightron. Their warranty service said that it was just fine. This was because it had some scope ring torque too type tight marks. I did load dev with it for 4-6 months with mediocre to dismal success. On 4 different rifles. Two of them I tried various bullets, primers, powders, tuning techniques and rifle rest equipment. I even rebedded one of the rifles. The groups were always on the verge of showing promise.

Getting frustrated and nervous about upcoming hunting season, I put on my tract 4-16x hunting scope. I had decided I'll hunt with a pretty meh load and just limit my distance. Then...The load that had been shooting 1.25 or worse moa was now 5/8 moa or even better with some groups. So Then I tried out my 5HD 14x Leupold and a EPL4 arken 24x and got the same results (arken actually did a little better).

Now I have to go back through a half year of notes and figure out where the scope had may have been to blame.

I will say it's my fault for not giving up on the scope sooner. I was being stubborn. Going back through my notes I can see it's clear that the scope was not great to start with but really got worse as time and shots went on.

I was not abusive to the scope, I baby my equipment. I'm not really sour on Sightron, more sour about the loss of components, time, and wasted brain power. Well, also sour that the warranty department said it was ok as is often done in that industry.

Haven’t made it through the rest of the thread yet but I wouldn’t think twice to send it back to sightron Even though I had a little hiccup with their warranty dept once

 

[Bill Norris]

Haven’t made it through the rest of the thread yet but I wouldn’t think twice to send it back to sightron Even though I had a little hiccup with their warranty dept once

Yea, I would have to give it back to them one more time to make sure they did not miss something.

 

[K22]

I don't have good enough of equipment or shooting skills to see those harmonic variations. These were hunting rifles with acceptable accuracy goals around 1/2 to 5/8 moa.

I consider this accuracy requirement varmint level accuracy which matches my standards for varmint and predator hunting. I have been hunting big game and varmints for a very long time and have learned a few things along the way.

I do not wish to insult any member, but in the interest of trying help you, I believe you are over complicating this issue in the extreme.

I will cut it short - get a Leupold VX5 HD 3 x 15, develop a load, go to the range and practice in manner you intend to hunt in the field then go hunting.

I know this scope is more than your budget but the amount you will save from swapping scopes, re-sight in costs, time, frustration with changing things which is never optimum, the extra nominal costs will pay for itself. Also the costs and time of chasing a few .1's group size reduction would be better served in honing your field shooting skills. And in my humble opinion, be a lot more fun. Go out and test yourself in real world shooting condition and you'll learn a lot plus gain a confidence.

This scope will do everything you need from a hunting perspective. I have two and they serve me well.

 

[rebs]

Yeah the two that are shooting the best are both Tikka actions with aftermarket barrels and after market stocks good bedding. I should add this is 1/2 to 5/8 moa at 200 yards. I did not test groups any further. No need, thats better than I can hold in the field currently.

However for hunting, it's important to me that I have confidence in the rifles being able to shoot better than me in the field.

I fully plan to send the Sightron in. But unless they send back a different scope, it won't matter what they say they did to the scope and I won't have confidence in the one I have been using. And I won't sell to some poor dude even with a letter from sightron. I have a feeling the previous owner had a hunch it might have been bum.

what afterr market barrels do ytou have on your Tikka's

 

[Dimner]

what afterr market barrels do ytou have on your Tikka's

I have a Douglas and a McGowan. Both shoot great, however the McGowan has something going on with the chambering job that causes the ever so slight scratching of the case when full sized. After about 50 or 60 cases resized I'll notice a smudge of brass and lube gunk on the bottom of the dies.

If I were to do it over again, I'd probably go douglas only

 

[Dimner]

I consider this accuracy requirement varmint level accuracy which matches my standards for varmint and predator hunting. I have been hunting big game and varmints for a very long time and have learned a few things along the way.

I do not wish to insult any member, but in the interest of trying help you, I believe you are over complicating this issue in the extreme.

I will cut it short - get a Leupold VX5 HD 3 x 15, develop a load, go to the range and practice in manner you intend to hunt in the field then go hunting.

I know this scope is more than your budget but the amount you will save from swapping scopes, re-sight in costs, time, frustration with changing things which is never optimum, the extra nominal costs will pay for itself. Also the costs and time of chasing a few .1's group size reduction would be better served in honing your field shooting skills. And in my humble opinion, be a lot more fun. Go out and test yourself in real world shooting condition and you'll learn a lot plus gain a confidence.

This scope will do everything you need from a hunting perspective. I have two and they serve me well.

That is great advice, however, respectfully it's not a correct read on my situation or intended uses.

The video linked was about how a scope change can cause harmonic variances. In my opinion I shooter will not see that unless they are shooting for extreme accuracy from a bench with a full Benchrest rifle and rest setup. You could see those variations if you are shooting .3s but I doubt you would see that variation at .5 or .6 and certainly wouldn't see it on hunting rifles. So thus I provided my comment about not having the shooting skills or the equipment to see those harmonic variations. Well, I can't say for sure I don't have the skills. I've never used a competition Benchrest setup. Maybe I'm a natural!

So my needs are completely different. The situation is that I want a 24x or 36x ish magnification scope to bounce around from rifle to rifle for load development on non competition setups that I have. And if I'm again being honest, I probably do more load development that I need to. It is very rewarding in my view and it's how wind down and get away from the grind of normal life (except when the load dev goes into the toilet). Spending a few hours at the range concentrating on a single goal and having that focus is something I look forward to.

Now back to your advice.... It's great advice. At least I know so because I have a rifle that I use when I can get up north for some true field shooting at 250, 350 and 500 yards. You will probably be able to guess what scope it has. A Leupold VX-5HD CDS-ZL2 3-15x 44mm.

 

[K22]

That is great advice, however, respectfully it's not a correct read on my situation or intended uses.

The video linked was about how a scope change can cause harmonic variances. In my opinion I shooter will not see that unless they are shooting for extreme accuracy from a bench with a full Benchrest rifle and rest setup. You could see those variations if you are shooting .3s but I doubt you would see that variation at .5 or .6 and certainly wouldn't see it on hunting rifles. So thus I provided my comment about not having the shooting skills or the equipment to see those harmonic variations. Well, I can't say for sure I don't have the skills. I've never used a competition Benchrest setup. Maybe I'm a natural!

So my needs are completely different. The situation is that I want a 24x or 36x ish magnification scope to bounce around from rifle to rifle for load development on non competition setups that I have. And if I'm again being honest, I probably do more load development that I need to. It is very rewarding in my view and it's how wind down and get away from the grind of normal life (except when the load dev goes into the toilet). Spending a few hours at the range concentrating on a single goal and having that focus is something I look forward to.

Now back to your advice.... It's great advice. At least I know so because I have a rifle that I use when I can get up north for some true field shooting at 250, 350 and 500 yards. You will probably be able to guess what scope it has. A Leupold VX-5HD CDS-ZL2 3-15x 44mm.

It's a hobby and you're the boss of your hobby. So, always evaluate advice with respect to your goals and approach to this sport. The old adage, "add and subtract" when it comes to advice applies to the different needs and approaches to this sport.

Best wishes on your shooting goals.

 

[Dimner]

I ended up getting a Burris XTR III Illuminated 5.5-30x56mm scope over at Europtic for $899 a little more than I wanted to spend, but by all reports and excellent scope and great glass. I think the price i got it was a pretty good discount. At least based on my research.

Thanks for everyone's help!!

 

[CharlieNC]

Give Sightron a call to discuss the issue, they are easy to deal with and prompt service.

 

[Sniperhandle]

Some may not like these, But A lot of benchresters used these scopes. It's a Tasco Japan fixed power scope, I buy them when I find them cheap. I bought this one last week, It's New old stock made in Japan, Never used. I have used ones too. I also have every Model of the Taiwan made Tasco Target scopes which I have had zero issues with and have excellent glass, It's really hard to believe how clear they are. These old Japanese Tasco's were every bit as good as the Leupolds of the same time.

The super snipers mentioned earlier are also very good scopes, These were also Tasco's before SWFA started having them produced under their brand.

You can find these for 2 to 300.00 usually.

The Taiwan Tasco target scopes have the same design as the Super Sniper scopes but are 1 inch tubes and variable power. It's pretty well accepted that fixed power scopes are more durable and reliable than variable power scopes.

Tasco, World Class Target Scope, 24x44 mm, dot Crosshair Reticle New in Box | eBay

TASCO World Class 24x44 mm Target Scope. The Scope is new in box. I bought it in the early 90's. It has been in a gun closet for many years, and rediscovered just days ago. It is brand new, so never mounted or handled.

www.ebay.com

 

[ATFIV]

Valdada 36, seems to hold poi very well.

So I'm in need of a scope recommendation.

I need a scope that can bounce around from rifle to rifle for load development. I generally do load development form a bench with ladders at 300 and groups at 200. So something in the range of 24x to 36x would be ideal.

I don't need the most fancy glass in the world, but I need something I can depend on to hold it's stinking zero. I got burned this year by a S2 36x sightron. Vast amounts time, components and sanity wasted trying to tune loads with that scope. Even after sightron said it was good to go.

If I have my wish I only would like to pay around 500 bucks, 750 max. Here are the details I'm looking for.

• Glass needs to be good enough to finish up my groups when the first twilight starts setting in. The glass on the S2 was ok enough for it.
• It needs adjustable parallax
• Fixed or variable is fine as long as it's clear at my preferred magnification.
• No illumination needed
• Probably stay away from extra large objective lenses. I like to shoot with a cheek weld of some sort. So no 60mms
• Reticle is not all that important. I don't like Christmas trees, but I know that isn't always possible. It does need to have a very small center aim point for groups.
• Don't care about if it's FFP or SFP
• Needs lifetime warranty

I know some of you guys can list scope and glass specs as if they were your own children. Rattle them off like a gearhead can talk about different engines of the 1970s. That's what I am looking for.

Just need to be steered in the right direction. There are so many scope companies with so many marketing claims about their products it's hard for me to figure out what is what.