Scope Magnification for 600 and 1,000 yard F-class ?

[Hammer]

Have gotten a rifle suitable for F-class competition.

Now ready to get the scope.

Have read the pros and cons on various makes, models, and reticles.

But fill me in a little on proper scope magnification.

In times past in 100 and 200 yard benchrest, we used 20X Lymans and 24X Leupolds with our sleeved Remington 222. Now those folks have gone up to 45X and frown on the triple duece.

Past 20X (and sometimes past 12X), all I see is mirage.

Yet, I have received recommendations for scopes in the 15X - 55X magnification zoom range.

So obviously mirage is thought of differently than in ancient days when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Are y'all using the scope magnification as a replacement for wind flags ?

Appreciate all your advice and counsel for scope magnification for 600 and 1,000 yard F-class.

 

[sfldiver]

I use a 50X Sightron (SIII 10-50X60). Yes, when the mirage is strong, I must dial it down. At today's 600yd match, I had to dial it down to 30X at one point. However, Most of the match, I was between 40X - 50X's. I use a spotting scope with a long eye relief eyepiece to read the mirage, so my scope is dedicated to aiming/holding over. If I could get 100X power, I would, as long as it was adjustable so I can dial down when needed.

Not sure of your budget, but the sightron SIII, Vortex Golden Eagle, and the Nightforce Competition seem to the most popular scopes for F Class shooting, with a few more exotic makes/models also being used.

BTW, at today's match I was using an aperture reducer (http://www.kreativ-solutions.com/mirage-caps.html) on my scope, which appears to help "A BIT" with the mirage.

 

[Shynloco]

Hammer,
If I may, something I've found over the years, is that various people will recommend different scopes. And those recommendations are based upon their experiences and their eyesight. Therefore, I've come to believe that a scope is as important as the rifle you are using, simply because you can't hit what you can't see. High magnification has both pluses and minuses. Go look through other shooters scopes and find out which works best for you. When you get into the price range of the scopes mentioned above, you'll be spending a good deal of money so you'd best get it right. And the reticle matters as I've looked through some very impressive and high dollar scopes, only to be disappointed by the reticle. But I think it safe to say that Leupold, Nightforce and March would make for some fine choices, that of course if you can't afford a Schmidt & Bender. Just my .02 worth.

Alex

 

[Average joe]

I would say about 42x minimum,,,,,,,,you can't zoom up if your scope doesn't have it. You can learn technique, you can learn the wind, but you cannot learn another 20 power of magnification. And I'd venture to say, your eyes aren't getting better, as neither are mine.

 

[lawman29]

A good discussion on choosing a scope:

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/march-scope-review.3862731/#post-36507204

 

[BT1]

Hammer, you did not mention if you are going the FTR route or open. If the FTR route weight will be a big part of your decision. Limited to about #18 with the rest attached. In F-Open you have more room to go with a heavier scope, but there too weight will be a factor. NF, March and Sightron would be good places to look.

Welcome to the sport. Like others have said, just go to a match with what you have. Ask around and many will be happy to let you get behind their rifle. I have seen some of the best shooter dial down the magnification when the mirage gets going. 15x55 scopes shot at 20x.

Steve

 

[BP1]

I really like my vortex GE,but you could call me a fan boy.My son has the sightron 111 10x50 lrtd and it is also a nice scope for the price.

 

[Travelor]

Last weekend I shot my first 1000 yard F-Class Open match using my Vortex Golden Eagle (15x60 power with the ecr-1 reticle). The gun is a BAT action with a HEAVY Krieger barrel with McMillan stock 'smithed by Mr. Gary O'Cock.

I initially used 60X and as the mirage came up reduced the power, ending up at 35X. The added power and clarity of the scope was a real plus as I was able to see well enough to adjust my hold in 1" increments at 60 power as the wind changed. Total was 587- 23X and was my best 1000 yard scope so far as I an normally a terrible wind reader.

Something that really caught my attention was that this is the only scope I have ever had that when bore sighting I womanly had to more the windage 2 MOA and the evaluation 1 MOA.

I am a real fan of the higher power scope and especially this scope.

So for me the scope was wonderful - better than my Nightforce 12-42X as the sight picture was more clear at the same powers. Just an aside - I put the objective reducing ring on the scope for the third relay and all it did for me was reduce the brightness of the scope, so off it went.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Last weekend I shot my first 1000 yard F-Class Open match using my Vortex Golden Eagle (15x60 power with the ecr-1 reticle). The gun is a BAT action with a HEAVY Krieger barrel with McMillan stock 'smithed by Mr. Gary O'Cock.

See, because of the way you butchered the name of the scope, I had to go look it up. I just didn't think you would use a 10X scope in F-Open. Especially in light of your next sentence. The problem is, I didn't wind a Vortex Golden Eagle 10-50Xsomething.

So I'm guessing you meant the 15-60X52 Golden Eagle HD.

I initially used 60X and as the mirage came up reduced the power, ending up at 35X. The added power and clarity of the scope was a real plus as I was able to see well enough to adjust my hold in 1" increments at 60 power as the wind changed. Total was 587- 23X and was my best 1000 yard scope so far as I an normally a terrible wind reader.

Something that really caught my attention was that this is the only scope I have ever had that when bore sighting I womanly had to more the windage 2 MOA and the evaluation 1 MOA.

I don't know what that means. If you have autocorrect enabled on your PC or phone, you should turn that off.

I am a real fan of the higher power scope and especially this scope.

So for me the scope was wonderful - better than my Nightforce 12-42X as the sight picture was more clear at the same powers. Just an aside - I put the objective reducing ring on the scope for the third relay and all it did for me was reduce the brightness of the scope, so off it went.

These NFs are not noted for their excellent light transmission. I'm betting that your NF is a 12-42X56 but not sure if it's the NXS or the BR; either way, they are both easily outclassed in the light transmission department and the HD elements in your Vortex contributed to a clearer picture, even with the smaller objective of the Golden Eagle.

 

[mac86951]

I'm a believer of getting to the line and seeing the parts first hand; and picking a scope can be a bear. I found a Weaver t-36 adequate to get me started and kind competitors were nice enough to let me look through their scopes so that I could make a better decision.

-Mac

 

[brxbrad]

I've had several scopes on my guns and have been shooting f-open competitively for about 10 yrs now. Here is what I've found to be important to me. Not necessarily in this order.

1. Reliable and repeatable
2. Wide objective
3. Extremely clear optics
4. 1/8 moa clicks (1/4 clicks make it more difficult to dial in the X ring)
5. +/- 10 x 50 zoom
6. Lifetime no questions warranty
7. Zero stop (a good option)
8. Fine line reticle
9, Parallax adjustment
10 Comfortable eye-relief
11 Keeps its value and is resalable

You can spend a little or a lot but in optics you usually get what you pay for. I use a
nightforce 12-42x56 precision benchrest illuminated reticle npr2 on my 1000 yd gun and a Burris Black Diamond 8-32x50 with fine plex reticle on my 600yd gun. I own Vortex scopes and know the high end Vortex scopes are extremely good as well. I've looked through them and others have told me they are very happy with their purchase. I purchased my nightforce before the Vortex HD's came out. It would have been a tough decision. Average pricing for most precision BR type scopes is typically $1200-$1500.

Two cents

 

[SWRichmond]

I have a Night Force Competition 15-55 with the FCR reticle. I shoot in heavy mirage nearly all the time so the scope is above 45x infrequently (mornings), but the wide range is very useful, as is the 1/8 moa and rock solid repeatability. When I turn it an eighth, I get an eighth.

When the target looks like a t shirt hanging on a clothesline on a windy day, it's time to turn the scope power down.

P.S. The zero stop has saved my ass more than once.

 

[Travelor]

Guys, I have new computer keyboard and it is giving me fits with typos. Yes I know it is not the keyboard, but rather my interface with it.

Concerning the term I used "Vortex Golden Eagle" butchering the actual name of the scope - there is only one Vortex scope with the name golden Eagle as far as I know.

The term I posted "womenly had to more" was a total error on my part for not proof reading my post, it should have been "only had to move".

Sorry for the errors on my part.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Travelor, I was just teasing you about the typos, but you must admit they made your post a little confusing and also quite funny in parts. Autocorrect can be disastrously funny, which is why I turned it off a long time ago. Spellcheck is fine; show me the error, but don't correct it for me.

Yes, after going to the Vortex web site and looking up the golden eagle, I discovered that it was indeed the only one by that name. My point was and remains, that I should not have to go to the Vortex website to find out the diameter of the objective lens of the riflescope you are talking about in your post. The objective lens size is a important in the name as the magnification range to know what you are talking about. If I want to find out more about the scope, such as tube diameter, weight, etc, then I can go to the appropriate website and find that out.

 

[dcali]

At 600 I set it at about 35-40 - whatever allows me to see the number board. I have never found mirage to be a factor in choosing magnification. More maginfication is almost always better in my experience.

 

[Ringostar]

Travelor, I was just teasing you about the typos, but you must admit they made your post a little confusing and also quite funny in parts. Autocorrect can be disastrously funny, which is why I turned it off a long time ago. Spellcheck is fine; show me the error, but don't correct it for me.

Yes, after going to the Vortex web site and looking up the golden eagle, I discovered that it was indeed the only one by that name. My point was and remains, that I should not have to go to the Vortex website to find out the diameter of the objective lens of the riflescope you are talking about in your post. The objective lens size is a important in the name as the magnification range to know what you are talking about. If I want to find out more about the scope, such as tube diameter, weight, etc, then I can go to the appropriate website and find that out.

Denys, "lens size is a important in the name" How's that spellcheck working?

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Denys, "lens size is a important in the name" How's that spellcheck working?

It's working fine. There were no misspellings in my post.

 

[kohai133]

spell check seems fine, grammar check is off.

 

[swd]

Taking about scopes is a hell of a lot more interesting than this pissing Match about spelling

 

[kohai133]

swd, you are correct, back to OP.

Figure out your price point for a scope, then get to the line and look through as many scopes in that price point and see if you can live with what you are seeing. Most competitors are very helpful in this and also with the pros and cons of a given set-up. This may require more than one trip and try viewing through different condition, bright, windy, overcast, etc. Hit the long-ragne bench rest matches also as most of the equipment crosses over.

If you are only missing a scope but really wanting to get out there, throw your best hunting scope on it and have a go of it. Just make sure it is a 600 or maybe a 1000 yard match, NOT a Palma. reason being, adjusting all of that elevation between the yard lines in a Palma using a coin in the turrets sucks.

Cheers,
Jim