Target Scope - Variable or Fixed?

[beeker77]

I plan to install a target scope on a .22 Remington 37 or 513T, strictly for "Any Sight" smallbore competitions at 50 and 100 yards. I have narrowed the candidate scopes to either a 24X44 fixed, or a 4-16X40 AO variable.

Any thoughts or recommendations to help with my decision?

 

[Forum Boss]

Is this match shot from the bench,with bags) or prone? If from bench, you'll want at LEAST 24x. 36x is not too much, even at 50 yards.

However, if you're shooting on the ground with sling, the 4-16 or a 6-20x might be better. The larger exit pupil and reduced magnification will make it easier to keep the target in view.

 

[Asa_Yam]

Sorry Paul, I can't agree with you on this one.
Smallbore prone shooters have been known to use 36x scopes. Rimfire silhouette shooters have been known to use boosted 20x scopes for shooting offhand.

Beeker,
Issues to concern yourself with are,in order):
- Repeatability of elevation and windage adjustments; Weaver's T-series scopes have a deserved reputation for reliable tracking. Other scope brands have varying degrees of success with tracking reliably.
- Minimum focus distance. This is important if shooting on indoor,50 foot) ranges - most scopes won't focus at the shorter distances. Leupold offers lenses that allow their scopes to focus at shorter distances;
- Optical quality. Some of the most renowned target scopes,i.e., Weaver T series, Unertl, Redfield 3200/6400) had everything except clear optics. The optical picture may have been relatively free of distortion, but the picture was dark - coated optics weren't common on riflescopes until about 25 years ago.

On an outdoor range, a variable scope can be dialed up and down to reduce the effects of mirage. On the down side, a variable scope has more parts that can fail or shift out of alignment, and optical quality isusually not as good as with a fixed power scope.

 

[beeker77]

Thanks for the input!

It will be all from prone with sling.

 

[Forum Boss]

I'll defer to Asa re the silhouette game. Regarding magnification levels and prone shooting with sling--it comes down to shooter skill--how steady ARE you. I have real trouble running much more than 15x and trying to hold on the tiny x-ring of a rimfire target with a sling. Better shooters can do it.

Exit pupil however is a real factor. With like-size objectives, the more power, the smaller the exit pupil. With a very tiny exit pupil,as you'll get with a Weaver 36x), eye and head position is absolutely critical. Move your head just a tiny bit and your scope goes from white to black.

Again, shooter skill comes into play. If your position is rock-solid and repeatable, you can use that extra magnification. If you're in the "weekend warrior" category like me, I don't shoot that much prone with sling and I found it much easier to dial down the power. Now that won't help you aim the gun any better,you still have to hold steady), but it will lessen the chance the scope blacks out on you when you move your head slightly. Also the overall field of vision is larger with less power. This may help you watch wind signs,dust, moving grass) near the target.

Maybe a good compromise would be a leupold 6-20 EFR,extended focus range). This is what I have on my scoped 22LR.

 

[jdavis62]

At our club we shoot 50 foot indoor in the winter and 50yds.
to 200 in the summer.22lr all off hand.l use a 16x weaver,
two guys use 61/2 to 20 two use 24x and two use 36x we had
1 shooter who used a 45 for 50-200yds.but he stopped shooting.
we like our setups...hope this helps...

 

[GermanS1]

Beeker, the 24 fixed is probably the most widely used scope in Smallbore prone, the 36X also gets some use. Lower power scopes aren't often seen. A 6.5 x 20 isn't bad, you'll have it set on 20X all the time, might as well get a 24. Leupolds are my favorite, the new Weaver 24X are also very good.
German Salazar