Recommendations Please: Hold Over Scopes

[redrockranger]

Super Sniper mil-radian reticle. 6x 10x 12x 16x and 20x. $300 @ SWFA.

 

[timeout]

My father shot a straight 6 power weaver wide field scope for over 25 years. No such thing as ballistic reticles or target knobs on sportsmens hunting rifle scopes back in the early 80s. He had that 6x weaver on a Ruger M77 tang 300 win mag that he bought back when nobody had really even heard of that cartridge (1982). It was the only high power rifle he used for hunting and he knew that gun like the back of his hand.

He has records of many shots made on game from 400-600 yards by just "knowing where to hold". And the one longest shot was made on a mule deer buck. First shot went about 1.5- 2 ft over the bedded buck's back. When he stood up from the noise of the bullet flying overhead, we noticed he was right in the path of the first shot. My father fired again using the same exact hold, and down the buck went. We paced it off because nobody had range finders back then. It was 690 paces to the edge of the small ravine that was in front of the buck. Then we figured it was about another 80 to 90 yards accross the ravin where he was lying dead on the ground I swear on my life he made that 770-780 yrd shot with a straight 6x scope. I was there.

Point is, if you know you're equipment well enough, you should be very deadly out to 500-600 yards with any scope that holds zero. Ballistic reticle or not, target turrets or not, range finder or not.

That's why they have the old saying "Beware the man with one rifle"

Oh the "Good 'Ol Days". I had a Leupold M8 6X on my .243 for years. I must admit however that I only had it figured out to 400 yards. Your Pa had my shooting beat by a mile.

 

[wapiti25]

I hunt with the Leupold VX-III 4.5X14 LR using the Boone & Crockett reticle. It matches my 7mm Rem mag close enough to 400 yds. I zero the rifle at 400 and then I'm not too far off to 600yds. The Boone & Crockett reticle is a "one size fit's all" for the bullet drop. That means it is not correct except for a very limited number of loads. The best would be if the reticle was calibrated to your rifle and loads. NightForce will put a reticle that matches your ammo but they are more expensive than you want to spend. One of my hunting buddies has the NightForce 5.5X22 using the turrets that are cal'd to his load, the scope is great except for the weight and the price.

 

[wapiti25]

I have never looked at Vortex rifle scopes but did TRY to use their spotting scopes at a long range shooting school, they were JUNK. We had 5.5X22 NightForce on the rifles and they were better for spotting. I had brought my Zeizz and another student had his Swarovski, so we used our own spotting scopes. The school had 5 Vortex and 2 of them were junk, I don't know about the other 3. I have a 70's Redfield spotting scope that is better than the Vortex we tried. Be carefull before you buy Vortex.

 

[farmboy]

Hello Adam,

Just noticed you post. From prior communications with you and the type of hunting/shooting you do I would highly recomend the Leupold varmint-hunter reticle. I don't know if the custom shop can install this on what scopes but I am also holding of on a needed scope purchase until I can afford one with this reticle.

The stock I purchased from you is working out great.
God Bless you my friend

 

[its only light]

I would have to say a vortex viper not PST just the plain viper with the dead hold bdc. It's in your price range and is an excellent scope for the money

 

[steve123]

I normally would recommend getting a more expensive scope like the PST's or the Bushnell tacticals but you are on a tight budget.

I like to use holdovers myself and have as of late bought 2 BSA tactical 4-14x44 mil/mil scopes. They are FFP, a mil is a mil on any magnification, holdover, holdoff, lead, range without worrying about what power the scope is on. They go for $250 and have a good warranty through Midway USA.

The best holdover reticle by far are the Horus reticles. It's easy to see .1 mil in the reticle. I've hit steel over a mile away without dialing using them. If you are lucky you might be able to find a Horus Hawk 3-12 for $400 used.

 

[joemax]

+1 for the vortex viper. I have had one for about 3 years used on guns from .204 ruger, 243 .260, 7-08, 6.5-284 and 30-06with no problems or complaints. Great tracking, nice glass, able to dial out all observable parallax, and holds zero. Vortex has a reputation of having some of the best customer service in the industry if you do have a problem.

 

[fourpower]

spend the money and get a shepherd! hold dead on out to 1000 yds. i have a 1000yd range at my home and have yet to be beat on first 3 shots.i have had this scope on for 22 years and never had too rezero. longest shot with combo is a deer at 904yds. just put a new one on a 300rum and killed a elk at a lazered 953yds.