Which scope?

[jorgy25]

I just purchased a custom bench rest .22 and want some advice on adding the scope. I was looking at the Nightforce 12-42 Benchrest and the Sightron 10-50. I know that these are large, heavy scopes, but since it is to be strictly bench rest, the weight doesn't really matter. If you have any suggestions or preferences, I would really appreciate your advice.

 

[Cort]

Call Dan Killough at Killough Shooting Sports in Winters, Texas. Dan will give you great advice. His number is 325-754-5771.

Cort

 

[Shynloco]

jorgy,
PRESUMABLY, you'll be shooting at 50 yds. To that extent, I'd recommend using a Fixed Power Scope and not a Variable Power Scope. I shoot Benchrest both Rimfire and Centerfire. I no longer compete in Rimifre as in the past, but IMHO most successful shooter use Fixed Power and at 50 yds and anything over 36X is overkill and creates issues. Personally, I settled on a Leupold 35X Competition scope, although I recently took that scope off my Anschutz and replaced it with a Weaver 36T which works equally as well, although doesn't provide the extreme clarity the Leupold did. I did test a 45X Leupold, but that felt to be too much and the 35X worked just fine, which by the way several serious competitors use. Just my take on your post.

Alex

P.S. +1 on Cort's suggestion. Dan Killough is a super good guy with lots of experience in Rimfire rifles. He is an Anschutz, Weaver and Eley dealer, plus last I heard, was still the Southern Region VP for the American Rimfire Association. He's definitely in the know and one heck of a good guy! Might want to check out his website
www.killoughshootingsports.com .

 

[Fotheringill]

+1 on Dan.

I have an Anschutz 1913a and shoot BR at 50 yards, non competitively except in my own mind.

I second the thought on a fixed power scope.

I have both the Weaver T-36 and a Leupold 45x45. Leupold also has a 35 and 40 power.

As said, Weaver's line of scopes does not have the clarity of the Leupolds or Sightrons, for that matter. There is really poor eye relief on the Weaver T-36.

Overkill? It is up to the shooter. I can affirmatively state that the "size" of the target bulls and rings through the Leupold 45 is the same as looking through the scope and then looking down at a similar target on my bench. I like that.

 

[Lesloan]

Another scope you might want to consider is the Sightron SII Big Sky 36X. I bought one of these a few months ago and it's brilliant. More pricey than, say, a Weaver T36, but far less than the 2 scopes you're currently considering.

 

[dickn52]

Weaver T24 or 36. I know, the eye relief isn't 83 inches, but it is sufficient. Clarity at 50 yards is excellent. If you can stand the hit, Unertl 24 or Redfield 2400 will work as well.

 

[thekriebles]

A used Weaver T-24 or T-36 and use the savings towards the match ammo.

 

[thekriebles]

There's a used Weaver CT-36 for only $250 that posted for sale on this site:

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3846670.0

 

[sirius27c]

I have an Anchutz 64 I shoot at 200 yards. I started with a Tasco 6-24x42 Varmint, which was fair. I went to a Leupold Mark AR 6-18 which was very good, but my old eyes couldn't see the holes at 200 yards unless the sunlight was directly on the target. The Weaver T36 on there now works great from 50-200 yards, I can see holes, it adjusts well, is close to the Leupold in optical quality, and a cheaper date to boot.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have a new T36 in the box waiting to be used, just don't know what to use it for. But that's another topic all in it's self.

 

[searcher]

I'll throw this into the mix; Where I shoot, it is done at 100 yards, and sometimes 50. Always 90+ degrees in the summer - often 100. I had a .22 benchrest rifle built and had a March variable that goes up to 80x on the bench that was WAY more than I liked using on a high power application that it was purchased for. I mounted it to the .22 to see how the rifle shot. I have not, nor will I likely ever take it off. I can see the .22's trail going to the target. I can see the holes crystal clear and , surprisingly, have little to no mirage problems as I did when shooting further out with the high power rifles the scope was previously mounted on. My point is not so much in recommending the March (unless you are willing to part with some big bucks and have to wait six months - unless you can find a used one), but rather to state that a 45 leupold or such woud do you quite well indeed - and not be worried of overpower. When shooting at 50 yards, I dial the March down to 60x only because I get better parralax adjustment. If you are a serious shooter, I'd ask others that use the higher power scopes for their opinions as well. You are more likely to want for more power rather than less - All the guys I shoot with have moved up in power from where they had started. Some individuals may find they like the lower power..

 

[searcher]

I should have added that I own both of the scopes you are looking at and I don't think you can go wrong with either one. I use the Sightron III 10x50 on two different varmint rifles and the nightforce on an F-Class rifle. I would strongly suggest looking through a sightron with the reticle you are interested in. One of mine has the 1 m.o.a. dot and it is SMALL

 

[searcher]

The Other Sightron has the 2 m.o.a. and it is too big of a dot and obscures too much of the aiming point. The Nightforce fine cross hair is great for targets, as is the small dot. The only thing I don't like about the Sightron is that the side focus knob is difficult to turn. Not a deal breaker for me as I bought another - but I don't like it. Note that BOTH of these scopes weigh considerably more than, say the Leupold 45X competition - which I also have and like very much. It is priced about the same or maybe a hundred more than the Sightron and hundreds less than the Nightforce. Decisions, decisions

 

[Discoveror]

Without spending more than a rifle ( ), it seems like some folks like Weaver (e.g. T36); others like Sightron (e.g. SII 36X42 BRD).

Between (only) those two, which would you choose? ... and why?

Is the optical clarity noticeably better with Weaver vs. Sightron ... or visa-versa?

Thanks ... in advance - for the education.

 

[Bigfish8]

I shoot competitve Rimfire Benchrest and this subject comes up frequently in the Forums. No doubt about it, the Weaver T36 offers a lot of value for the money but I don't think any of the best shooters have one mounted on their rifles. I don't own one but the most common scope on the winning rifles are the Leupold Competition Series.

I have a Sightron 10-50 X 60MM on my heavy rifle. With the big objective it is a bright scope and you can easily reduce the magnification if mirage becomes an issue. I think the scope is a great value.

Today, a truly competitive rimfire rifle will run you $3000.00 plus. Don't plan to skimp on the optics if you truly want to be competitive.