I'm a Leupold guy & lean toward the Gerry Blair school of optics, less is better. A 4-12 is plenty for me. However I have a few customers that swear by NF products.
Scope choice for long range hunting rifle
- Thread starter JLDavid
- Start date
Normally i'd say the Sightron, but i recently found out about the TS line from US Optics.
With the right base, 20 MOA, any of the scopes mentioned, and then some should do 500-1,000 yards no problem.
I make do with lower end scopes that are within my budget. I've shot all out to 1,000 yards.
Vortex Crossfire II 4-12X42
Redfield Revenge 4-12X40.
Sightron Field Target 4-12X40
Sightron STAC 4-20X50.
With the right base, 20 MOA, any of the scopes mentioned, and then some should do 500-1,000 yards no problem.
I make do with lower end scopes that are within my budget. I've shot all out to 1,000 yards.
Vortex Crossfire II 4-12X42
Redfield Revenge 4-12X40.
Sightron Field Target 4-12X40
Sightron STAC 4-20X50.
urbanrifleman
Site $$ Sponsor
I have three Leupold Lrp 6.5x20 FFP 60 MOA RETICLE.
Opticsplanet sold me the last two for under 800 bucks. I love my LRP scopes, and I have three of them now. FFP and a drop reticle is the way to go in my opinion. So much easier than turning knobs. If you know your accurate yardage and the wind solution (maybe consider a kestrel) you find the correct dot and pull the trigger.
The glass in my Leupolds are ever bit as good as my Nightforce scopes, and I would be shocked if my Nightforce is one bit tougher.
Opticsplanet sold me the last two for under 800 bucks. I love my LRP scopes, and I have three of them now. FFP and a drop reticle is the way to go in my opinion. So much easier than turning knobs. If you know your accurate yardage and the wind solution (maybe consider a kestrel) you find the correct dot and pull the trigger.
The glass in my Leupolds are ever bit as good as my Nightforce scopes, and I would be shocked if my Nightforce is one bit tougher.
CaptainMal
Silver $$ Contributor
Well at the start you really do not define "long range". Not much about the conditions you might want to hunt and size of rifle. Anyhow back in the 1950's most all if not all variables were Front Focal Plane (FFP). Today most all variable scopes are Second Focal Plane. Not getting technical but 2nd Focal Plane means that if you use marks on the reticle to do "hold"over" for longer hunting shots without playing with the scope adjustments ( fast for hunting) then you also must know what power setting you need to have that scope at when you did your testing or calibration for holdover.
To me that is what I did for decades. Using many rifles my scopes all had to be set for a power and tested at various ranges to see just where I should hold. First thing I did upon seeing a hunting target was figure range and then immediately look at power setting. Then I had to look at what reticle mark I needed for that range, used it and shot.
Couple years ago I bought a FFP Vortex 4-16X for one of my 260 Ackley rifles. Reminded me of being "back in the days" except this reticle stayed centered in the field of view, unlike many I used back in the 1950's that kind of shrunk into a side area view of the scope. Another reminder it was FFP was the reticle is fine at low power and gets "thicker" at higher powers. That is opposite what 2nd focal plane scopes do. Made me think it was a real bad thing.
Wrong. My Vortex is fine at low power but has think parts around so you can instantly see where to shoot. At closer ranges, no real need to get a careful sighting, just center and shoot. I want fast shooting before the target moves off. It works, even if you cannot see the exact marks clearly. First deer I killed with it this year was maybe 90 yards. AT four power it was an instant point and shoot. YES!
Couple days later I got another shot about 320 yards. Quickly I checked a chart I have taped on the stock. Let's say it said 300 yards was the 4 MOA cross mark. Any power with that scope is on will have the SAME DISTANCE to that drop mark. You do not have to worry that you are on the correct power. I grabbed the power ring, twisted it, found the right mark at later turned out to be around 10 power. One shot and DRT.
Fast and simple for hunting is the FFP. You can skip the intermediate step of getting the scope on the exact power so you have the correct holdover.
D21F0453-900B-428F-B538-186F4745F445 by Larry Malinoski, on Flickr
Look closely at the picture. That is the scope and the rifle. See the little tag pasted on the buttstock - upside down so you can read it from above? Look, pick any power you want, find the correct mark and shoot. No fussing around with scope adjustments, setting correct power for hold-over...just shoot.
FFP is an option for hunting, not target. With hunting the target moves around, unlike paper or steel shooting. No time to fuss around. The "old fashioned" Front Focal Plane has a place when hunting for many informed hunters.
***For those looking to criticize because of the two empty cases in the buttstock carrier, I had killed another deer with one shot just before this longer range one. Two cases - two dead deer. Georgia - I killed three does and a 9 pt. with rifle and one muzzleloader this past season but you are allowed 10 does and 2 bucks.
To me that is what I did for decades. Using many rifles my scopes all had to be set for a power and tested at various ranges to see just where I should hold. First thing I did upon seeing a hunting target was figure range and then immediately look at power setting. Then I had to look at what reticle mark I needed for that range, used it and shot.
Couple years ago I bought a FFP Vortex 4-16X for one of my 260 Ackley rifles. Reminded me of being "back in the days" except this reticle stayed centered in the field of view, unlike many I used back in the 1950's that kind of shrunk into a side area view of the scope. Another reminder it was FFP was the reticle is fine at low power and gets "thicker" at higher powers. That is opposite what 2nd focal plane scopes do. Made me think it was a real bad thing.
Wrong. My Vortex is fine at low power but has think parts around so you can instantly see where to shoot. At closer ranges, no real need to get a careful sighting, just center and shoot. I want fast shooting before the target moves off. It works, even if you cannot see the exact marks clearly. First deer I killed with it this year was maybe 90 yards. AT four power it was an instant point and shoot. YES!
Couple days later I got another shot about 320 yards. Quickly I checked a chart I have taped on the stock. Let's say it said 300 yards was the 4 MOA cross mark. Any power with that scope is on will have the SAME DISTANCE to that drop mark. You do not have to worry that you are on the correct power. I grabbed the power ring, twisted it, found the right mark at later turned out to be around 10 power. One shot and DRT.
Fast and simple for hunting is the FFP. You can skip the intermediate step of getting the scope on the exact power so you have the correct holdover.
D21F0453-900B-428F-B538-186F4745F445 by Larry Malinoski, on FlickrLook closely at the picture. That is the scope and the rifle. See the little tag pasted on the buttstock - upside down so you can read it from above? Look, pick any power you want, find the correct mark and shoot. No fussing around with scope adjustments, setting correct power for hold-over...just shoot.
FFP is an option for hunting, not target. With hunting the target moves around, unlike paper or steel shooting. No time to fuss around. The "old fashioned" Front Focal Plane has a place when hunting for many informed hunters.
***For those looking to criticize because of the two empty cases in the buttstock carrier, I had killed another deer with one shot just before this longer range one. Two cases - two dead deer. Georgia - I killed three does and a 9 pt. with rifle and one muzzleloader this past season but you are allowed 10 does and 2 bucks.
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CaptainMal
Silver $$ Contributor
Most always shoot does early-on for my personal meat. Muzzleloader is the best time and fun. This year I took one but the week was horrible with rain and misery. Usually the wife and I ride motorcycle all around Georgia and Alabama during that time. Hauled up a Harley and it sat under my carport there ALL WEEK. Hideous weather. Took one doe and waited for rifle to start. Took two one day and another on another day. Most always try to take jus one deer with a rifle and then I switch the fun.
Passed up 13 bucks through the season 6 pt or larger. Mega many smaller bucks and does were also passed. Multiple real big ones on camera and had three chances but could not get off a good shot. At the end of the season went back and immediately spotted a decent 9 pt. Shot him at 180 yards before I thought much about it. Gave it away to a guy from Atlanta. Fun season but not trophy rewarding.
The front focal plane scope has merit for hunting if you do not want to take much time getting off a shot at longer ranges fussing with scope adjustments.
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