Time for a 600 yard scope upgrade. Leopold or Nightforce?

[dkhunt14]

I like the Leupold Mark 4 LRT 8.5x25. With the TMR reticle. The TMR rteicle is open in the middle and doesn't cover up anything on small targets at long range. I have shot 1000 yard records with this scope. I like Niteforce but can't make weight with them on my gun at 17lbs. On Saturday i had 9 shots in a row at 3.3 inches at 1000 yards so you aim precisely and they are dependable. Matt

 

[mikecr]

Does your MK4 go dark at the edges at full power (25.1 X)?

My optic edge does reduce from 100% to I don't know -99.5% right at the last couple Xs in power.

I never noticed it. What does this mean?

 

[Steve Wilson]

OK. Well, I have been doing a little research on reticles and weights of the suggested Nightforce and Sightrons. And it has caused me to go back to square one because I have been wanting a Tracker stock forever. I just weighed my current stock and it is right at 5 pounds, including the couple of pounds of lead shot in the butt. I looked at Tracker's web site yesterday and I think read that they weigh about 3 pounds, 3 ounces but can be made down to 3 pounds, with holes in the butt and forearm. But in looking at the site again right now, I can't find any mention of weights.

At any rate, it seems that a Tracker would save me most of 2 pounds. That would allow for any of the scopes being considered.....even the 36 ounce Nightforce and still make weight at 17 pounds. If I were to go with the 12-42x56 BR, at $1428 that would leave me almost enough money to buy a Tracker....compared to the $2000 for an NSX scope alone.

A new scope AND stock would be ever so sweet. I will phone Bill Shehane's place later this morning and start asking some of the all important questions, and go from there. I don't need to be in any all fired hurry here but I don't want to dally either. My next 600 yard BR match isn't until August, but August isn't all that far away.

I will keep you posted and if you have more ideas or suggestions, please feel free to shout out.

Thanks again,

Edit: Found it. The weights are on the price page. The ST-1000 weighs 3 pounds, 14 ounces but can be down to 3 pounds with the holes in the butt and forearm.

 

[Steve Wilson]

I bit the bullet...bullets, actually. I ordered a new Nightforce 12-42x56 BR from Bill Shehane as well as one of his Tracker ST-1000 Obeche stocks in French Walnut. Plus a set of Nightforce rings. The scope and rings are shipping today, the stock is a 4 week item.

God.....the money.

 

[Steve Wilson]

I am fairly certain I didn't say what I am shooting, early in the thread. It is a long action Remington 700, now barreled with a Broughton, 8 twist, heavy 30 inch, 6 Dasher. I placed 25 out of 60 in Light Gun for group, in our March 600 yard BR match. With the same set up, I finished 11 out of 48 in our 600 yard match last weekend. And shot my first sub two inch group, 1.820. Finished Light Gun with a 2.880 agg.

I'm getting 5 shots for record off in about a 35 second average. OK for speed but not sparkling. It doesn't matter how fast you can blast them off if they aren't accurate. I think I can work that down into the 20 second range. Maybe, but certainly less than 30 seconds.

I am figuring that I might have taken the 700 as far as I am able to. First step is a better scope. Second step was maybe a better stock. We have two more matches this year; another regional in August, followed by the National Championship in September. By then I should have some idea if my "improved" Remington and I can stand the competition.

I finished 11 this last time. Good by me or just plain luck? I have no clue yet. I am not ready to bite the big bullet yet.....meaning to put out for a full blown bench gun. While I would love to own a Bat, I'm not sure how well it would improve my standings yet, or if any. I won't know until I am certain that I have wrung all that is possible from my lowly Remington. Come September, I should have a good idea.

Anyway, I spent a pretty good amount of money today in an effort to see if I can improve my current set up.

Fingers crossed.

 

[DJ111]

What is the current stock on your gun?

What are you using for a front rest and rear bag set up?

 

[sniper15545]

Both you mentioned are great but the Sightron sIII 8x32x56 is a great scope for about $800.00 I have 2 of them and love em. I have been a leupold person my whole life but for the money difference the Sightron SIII is a better scope.


Doug

 

[Rustystud]

I have all Leupold, Nightforce, Sightron. I use to be a Leupold man. Then I was a Nightforce man. Now I am a Sightron man. The reason is the Sightron in a target shooting enviroment will do everything the Nightforce will do and at $600.00 less.
I now own two 3.5 X 44mm illuminated mil rad Sightrons, two 6 X 24 X 50 illuminated mil rad Sightrons, two 8 X 32 X 60 1/8 min dot Sightrons, and two 10 X 50 X 60 1/8 Mil dot Sightrons. I have been very pleased with each of them. The first two are on deer rifles, the second two are on predator/varmint rifles, and the final four are on Target rifles that I shoot from 600 to 1000 yards.
Nat Lambeth

 

[Steve Wilson]

Sniper and Rusty,

Thank you for your comments. I guess I will live with my decision now. It seems there was more support for Nightforce than Sightrons earlier in the discussion.


DJ,

Front is a Farley Gen 2 with a 3 inch Edgewood bag, rear is an Edgewood Gator filled with heavy sand.

 

[Leaddog]

Steve-
I think you made a good choice. You'll be happy.

I shoot F T/R now, but I am moving over to the 'dark side'. I have a 6 Dasher being built for light gun as well as F Open. I've decided to go with Mcmillans carbon fiber EDGE for light gun, but am still undecided about which stock I'll use for F Open. Probably go with another Master Class stock since it has worked so well for F T/R. I am going with two barrels and one BAT action. Lots of barrel changing during the shooting season. I'll use my March scope for both.

Good shooting!

 

[M14AMU]

I used Leo's for 55 years....UNTIL I bought a NF!!