Scope suggestion for 50 BMG...

[Danattherock]

Armalite AR-50 BMG that has only 150 rounds through it. My interest has been rekindled after looking at the gun as an art piece for 7 years.

Just took Burris Black Diamond 8-32 off and gun is naked. The Burris had 1/8 clicks and I'm looking for mil or 1/4 MOA clicks. Has 30 mm rings and 15 MOA base from Armalite and would like to keep 30 mm rings as they were about $200.

New range opening in my area with 1,000 yard range, a rarity here. Looking for a good long range scope without breaking the bank. Under $1,000 ideally. Thought about just throwing a fixed 10 power SWFA SS on it, but a higher magnification variable is more inline with my current thoughts.

Something I can ring some steel at 1,000 regularly. It's a sub MOA gun with military ball and I will soon load 750 Amax, so a decent scope is worthwhile. Any suggestions appreciated.


Dan

 

[rminut]

I honestly know nothing about shooting .50 cal's but I believe the Army originally put the 16x Leupold & Stevens Ultra model scope on them because it had an etched glass reticle due to the recoil. I cannot see many of the lower end scopes lasting, so why bother. I have an Ultra 16x and it was less than $1k by a good bit. They are available with a little hunting around. something like this:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=470057809

Or a Unertl MST-150. priced well north of your budget but it will stand up to the recoil AND look COOL!

 

[JamesnTN]

Being that I own 2 50 BMG rifles I'll tell you now you won't find a scope under a grand that'll hold up with the recoil. I've shaken many sope internals apart in a test many years back. So far the only scope I have found that will hold up are the NF NXS scopes. I've never tried any of the higher end scopes such as U.S. optics Hendsolts and S&B, the last scope I had on mine before switching over to the NF was a Leupold Mark 4 16x and when I removed it it sounded like everything inside was broken.

 

[jonbearman]

I have a friend with an m82A1 the earlier model semi auto and he put a weaver KT-15 on it and it still is on there. He also tried one of the swfa fixed 20 powers that is supposedly able to take the 50bmg and it worked on his single shot till he finally sold it. I forgot my other friend built a single shot and is using(are you ready for this) a simmons pro hunter 6.5x20x40 on it and it is working now for almost 2 years.

 

[people]

I had a NF on mine and the new owner runs a NF. You could try to find a old one. The price does come down for older models.

With that being said any good scope should hold up on your AR-50.

 

[kmon]

No issues with the Bushnell 6500 that has been on my Anzio Iron Works 50 since I bought it. Have the 2.5-15 on it but the 5-30 would probably be better.

 

[Sniper338]

Id personally do the higher end SWFA. They are rated for 50 cals. I own 2 swfa fixed 10x scopes and love em... i have heard the higher magnification fixed powers are as clear... but id go with the variable power HD one... its 5-20 or 25x...

 

[Sniper338]

Or a vortex viper pst... lifetime warrenty if it did break... no experiance with it but its the best warrenty in the business...

 

[Danattherock]

Thanks guys. Hands in many cookie jars so I won't be putting a nightforce on this gun. Also, it's not a gun I shoot that often. Read countless reports of the SWFA 10x holding up remarkably well on 50 BMG's.

I'm skeptical, but there are many folks using them and raving about them. I notice some models of the SS have side focus and are mil/mil, which interests me at only $100 more than the normal $299 price. If going SWFA, would you guys suggest 10x or 16x?

My concern is being able to accurately hit 18" targets at 1,000 yards with a fixed 10x or 16x. My vision isn't good as it used to be, and I'm quite naive to boot as I've never engaged a target that far out.

I did recently set up a 300 Wby Vanguard ($450 Walmart gun 15 years old) with Bushnell Elite 10x mil/mil ($179 Midway scope), adjustable comb, versapod, 20 MOA EGW base, and filled butt with split shot and put slip on Kick-eez on it. After sighting in new scope with a box of factory fodder of unknown velocity, my buddy and I both nailed an 8" plate at 600 yards with ease.

So maybe I'm putting too much stock in needing a high mag variable to shoot out to 1,000 yards. In either case, this scope needs to be under $1,000. I don't know anything about Vortex, Sightron, or IOR Valdada, but they seem within reach. If there is any specific model of these scopes you might suggest, please tell me why, features, etc. I am not at all familiar with their product lines or reputations.

One thing I could use some clarification on. I had been led to believe 1/8 clicks were bad on long distance scopes. Not exactly sure why, aside from clicking 4,234 up and 1,234 right. Hah. Is it about total elevation in MOA? I see lots of long distance scopes are in fact 1/8 click. Is that for folks shooting 1,000 benchrest only, a known and unchanging target distance? Whatever the reason, I thought a good long distance target scope needed mil or 1/4 MOA, even heard a few examples of 1/2 MOA Leupold scopes. What am I failing to grasp here. It's the reason I just yanked the Burris Black Diamond 8-32 (1/8 click) off my Armalite 50 BMG in the first place.

Thanks for any further suggestions.


Dan

 

[slm9s]

I'm on my second fifty. I started with an old Leupold 6.5-20, worked great except small elevation. Switched to a NF NXS 5.5-22, perfect scope for a 50. Got short on cash and sold it and replaced it with a 20x SS. So far so good.

 

[dantiff2]

You don't want to overlook the most well used scope for the BMG! The Super Sniper from SWFA. I was told by Daren at Advanced Long Rage Rifles that the super sniper is the number one choice if you couldn't afforad a NF. The fixed power is what made these scopes so reliable. This was the toughest scope on the market and at only a three hundred dollar price point. They are amazingly clear! And have 150 MOA of internal adjustment. He told me he never saw one (SS) go bad on a fifty and he is a NF dealer



http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-16x42-Tactical-Riflescope-P53715.aspx


Dan

 

[dkhunt14]

Go to the 50 cal caliber forums and see what the match shooters are using. I bet most are using Mark4 Leupolds and Nightforce. It talks a lot to hold up to a clamshell Brake or constant pounding of a 50. Matt

 

[ohearchai]

OP, as mentioned above the Vortex Viper PST either 4-16 or 6-24, they are rated up to .50 cal and the company has an excellent reputation.

 

[boltgunluvr]

Weaver, Vortex and SS are tough and easy on wallet.

 

[abishai]

I would rather have a NF without a rifle than a rifle without a NF

 

[Blaster-37]

Many years ago I competed nationally with the 50 at 1000 yards. The only scopes that would hold up for me were the Nightforce and Mark 4 Leopold. I turned some lesser scopes into jello.
By the way, stick with the borerider technology.
Greg

 

[Danattherock]

Thanks guys. My lack of insights into the efficacy of 1/8 clicks on long range scopes is crippling me. On one hand I want to buy a scope tonight. On the other, I want to put the Burris Black Diamond 8-32 1/8 click back on my 50 BMG and use the money I was buying a scope with to fund my 50 BMG reloading gear. I have a 15 MOA base. Will the Burris be good for shooting 1000 yards, assuming that's all I use it for? Is the value in mils or 1/4 clicks for shooting targets at varying distances! I need this answer badly. Anyone willing to help.



Dan

 

[mr45man]

Not having experience with other scopes mentioned here ,
But having shot competitively with the 50, and have shot/ walked the line at Raton , i noticed about 90% of the scopes were NF.
A few Leupold,and a few others brands that some times did not
make it through the 2 day match.

The clam shell brakes just slam the scopes in two different directions in milliseconds and its hard on them.
John H.

 

[ARW]

Take a look at the NF SHV models, they are right at a grand or slightly over, without the illuminated reticle.

Alan

 

[stacy]

LEUPOLD 8.5X25X50 TMR SHE WILL WORK WITH NO WORRIES