SCOPE FOR SHORT RANGE COMPS.

[rjtfroggy]

Not 100% sure where to post this so I put it here.
I am in the process of building a short range BR gun and I am down to the final item - a scope. The gun is a 243 CBI 26" barrel, a Savage PTA, Kelby base & rings,and a Shehane BR stock(laminate). All I'm waiting on is the barrel so it is time to decide on optics.
I've looked through the higher fixed powers and on sunny days the mirage even at 100 yards is very noticeable and you can't dial it out. Then with some of the variables the cross hairs are too thick, and what power range 6-25, 8-32, ???.
I am getting older and so is my once 20/15 eye sight(those days are over).
What I am looking for is something in the $500-600 range with fine cross hairs with or without a dot.
I am not a big fan of Leupold(always found them dark to look through) so any other suggestions are more than welcome and appreciated.
One last thing needs to be 1" tube because of rings.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Weaver 36x

 

[eric32]

Weaver 24x as well

 

[Dgd6mm]

There is a Weaver 36X in the classifieds right now.

 

[LHSmith]

Going to a lower power magnification does not make the mirage go away.......it will still send your bullet to where you didn't think it should go......whether shooting 6x or 36x. Mirage is wind condition that you can see. The competitors that win in short range BR have learned to deal with it and use mirage to their advantage.......a local competitor does quite well in the Score game using a 60 x racking up 250/ 24x aggs shoot after shoot.
Also, a .243 chambering is a rather poor choice to be used for "short range BR" ...unless your just competing against yourself.

 

[Rem6br]

A 6 ppc or 6br would defiantly be better suited for short range comp. for optics
I would say for 100 yard shoots the 12x would get the job done. At what ranges do you plan to shoot?

 

[aj300mag]

I would say for 100 yard shoots the 12x would get the job done. At what ranges do you plan to shoot?

I'm thinking you've never shot in a benchrest match.

24X would be minimum, I'd feel handicapped with it.

 

[Rem6br]

Sure 24x would better but 12x would get the job done of course each to his own

 

[aj300mag]

How would he see his hold-offs with s 12X?

 

[vtmarmot]

I shoot 100 and 200 yard benchrest. My minimum is a 36X Sightron and I also use a 45X Leupold. I do not see anything under 36X except for the hunter class. I see some scopes of 50 and even 60 power. Nobody talks about dialing out mirage, and on some days we have plenty. These are good to excellent shooters, some in the BR Hall of Fame. When I bought my Leupold, Brunos told me to go with the 45X because it was the most popular and the resale was highest. I have the 1/8 dot in mine. I have not regretted it a bit. I do have a 24X that came on an old Remington 40XBR and I immediately put a Gene Davis optical enhancer on it to boost the power to mid-thirties. Don't minimize the mirage, read it and learn.

 

[GSPV]

Weaver T-36. But, if you think the Leupold is too dark, you're not going to be very happy with too many scopes at the magnification that you need for 100-300 yard Benchrest.

I put "Benchrest" with a capital "B" because there is "Benchrest", meaning benchrest competition and there is "benchrest" meaning shooting off a bench rest. They *can* be completely different animals.

I have a Leupold 45x LCS and a NightForce 12-42.

+1 on the opinion that you're handicapping yourself with the 243. You also will not like your barrel life with it. If I was starting someone out and they were not shooting in registered competition, I'd start them on a 222 Remington. Just my $0.02.

 

[aj300mag]

Got to agree with you on the .243 Greg. His rifle would fit in our "Custom" class (non-registered matches). I've got a handful of competitors shooting Savage .223 Rem in our Factory class. Some of those guns are accurate!

 

[rjtfroggy]

I have a 223 with a 6-25 that shoots very well at 100 in factory class and a 308 custom with a 8-32 that I am still working on loads for,it shoots all right just not quite where I want it.
The reason for the 243 is purely economics I have the bullets and probably 375 cases and the dies, so rather than going with a 6 or 30 BR I decided to work with what I have and see how I do.
My problem is I can't decide on a 36x fixed or another variable.I was looking for suggestions on the optics not the caliber.Not that I don't appreciate it but that part of the equation is already decided.

 

[aj300mag]

Either a Sightron or a Weaver 36X. The Weaver is slightly clearer to my eyes. Dot or FCH would be a personal preference for you to choose.

 

[BoydAllen]

+1

 

[GSPV]

You'll think the 243 is a cheaper till you burn out the first barrel and the 30 BR shoots for 4,000 more.

 

[articmp]

Am I correct in thinking that the 243 could be formed to 6br? I went with 6.5 284 for my first 1k bench build. After weighing barrel and component cost, my rebarrel may be a br, a 47, or 6.5 55 swede. It all adds up. Wish I would have saved for a sightron or NF and been done with it, but the burris 8-32 is working for now. Buy once, cry once.

 

[LHSmith]

So, I take it your building a dedicated SR BR (capital "B") rig to shoot in Score? Group ? IBS ? NBRSA? Competition. Give us some more specs on the build, bbl. contour? , anticipated weight ? These details are important in order to advise on the optics. Also what bullets are you intending to use? what's the twist rate? neck diameter? What make brass? All new brass?

 

[rjtfroggy]

Criterrion 26" 8 twist bull barrel, IBS score 1&200 yard,Bullets 105 or 107 sierra's,almost all brass is new/old stock win.. As for weight I won't know until it is all put together.Powder will be IMR 4350 but will be trying a few others. Seating depth find out when I start working up the loads.
Not worried about barrel life right now only shoot 5-7 comps a year locally.

 

[LHSmith]

There is a 13.5 # weight limit (Heavy Varmint Class) in that game...sights included.....until you know how much weight you have to spare for a scope, it would be difficult to advise you on a scope.