Scope Question

[Lycidas Janwor]

I've spent a pretty penny on my latest rifle. It's a LaRue .308. Now I have to put a scope on it and I want a good scope. It's an expensive rifle and it deserves a quality scope.

I have been offered a brand new $2500.00 Trijicon ACOG (6x48 for a .308) for a discounted price of $1700.00. The thing is, I don't really want an ACOG. It's not really a game hunting scope per say. I want excellent magnification for long range hunting, this is a military scope for military applications. I mean, yes, this ACOG is supposedly accurate out to 1200 meters (when I looked through it, the optics were nice but the magnification power did not appear sufficient for long range hunting) but at that distance, and with its magnification, I'd have a hard time seeing the target at 1200 meters. The target would be nothing but a spec in the reticle. I mean, the cross hairs would obscure the target, the target would be very small IMHO.

The other thing about this fancy ACOG is that it's not exactly light. This rifle is not really light and if I throw on this big ACOG and try to go hunting with it, will I just be wasting my time (heavy rifle with heavy scope not made for hunting)? Sure, if an elk or deer gets within a reasonable distance I'm sure this scope will be excellent. But we're talking about maybe 150 meters or so.

But for that kind of a discount, should I just buy it? I mean, it's a very nice ACOG, and it's brand new, and I can get it at an $800 discount.

Thanks for any and all advice!

 

[gamestalker]

Take a look at Leupold's web site. They will have what your looking for, and it shouldn't cost $1700 to get the quality and magnification you desire for long range hunting. I've been using Leupold glass for several decades, I've taken game at better than 600 yards with their glass, top notch optics. And their warranty is some of the best in the industry, more so the standard by which others have trended.

GS

 

[ugaarguy]

The ACOG doesn't do what you need it to do, so it's never going to be worth the price. If you want a scope of commensurate quality to your Larue rifle I strongly recommend NightForce.

 

[wleggart]

I have a question that bears on this discussion: I have been shooting a .300 Win Mag with 180 Gr. factory and reloads. I have zero at 200 yards using a bottom of the bull hold. It is very accurate. We have a pipeline running thru our deer lease and food plots about 300 yards apart. With my shooting bench set up I have a gong at 450 yards, and one at 850 yards. They are approx. 18"w x 24" long. They have a 6-8" bull spray painted on them. The 450 yard gong you can shoot with hold over of 24" i.e. two feet above the target with hit the gong. So, it would take 30 clicks of my Leupold VX11 3 x 9 x 40 for zero hold (29.6" drop with 200 zero is 30 clicks elevation 1Click is 1" at 400 yards). What I can't imagine is the 850 yard gong is 195" drop or 86 clicks? I don't think that I have that kind of adjustment in my scope. I seem to remember when I centered the reticules to mount the scope there were 72 clicks total available? So, I would have to mount my VXIII 4.5 x 14 AO with target turrets to get enough adjustment. That would work, but that scope would never be considered a hunting scope. A prairrie dog killer on my .220 swift, but not a carry rifle.

 

[urbaneruralite]

I used a 4.5-14x AO for years. Killed a lot of deer at all ranges. Anyhow, you may need a canted base.

 

[OpticsPlanet]

I would go with a Nightforce scope:



http://www.opticsplanet.com/nightforce-shv-5-20x56mm-riflescope-30mm.html

Nightforce has high quality glass without getting crazy expensive.

Tim G.

 

[Gordon]

boy that is a great deal on that Night Force= $1250 for illumination with a huge lens for dim light! I have a NightForce 3.5-15 x50 these last 5 years on my .308 and am stoked still to this day. That one for sale on Optics Planet is very tempting.

 

[Sniper66]

That ACOG is NOT a good deal. There are numerous ways to get discounts on really nice scopes. If you are willing to spend $1700, you can buy a fantastic scope. Nightforce is a good option and check out Swarovski. I entered your criteria (price) on GunsAmerica and it gave me a list of Nightforce and Swarovski. I have no experience with NF, but Swarovski is a superb scope.

 

[jehu]

Get the Nightforce with zero stop, you will never regret it it. I shoot 300 win mag 180gr winchester silvertips out of two differant Sako's and at 850yrds the drop is -215 which is 24.3 clicks on my Nightforce.

 

[g.willikers]

A good discount on something you don't want or need doesn't sound like much of a deal.
Kind of like a really good price on a horse to someone who doesn't ride horses.

 

[jlr1962]

I would go with a Nightforce scope:



http://www.opticsplanet.com/nightforce-shv-5-20x56mm-riflescope-30mm.html

Nightforce has high quality glass without getting crazy expensive.

Tim G.

Opticsplanet, do you charge sale tax if you ship to Texas?

Any freebies for orders over a certain price point?

Nightforce scope with ffp reticle starting price point? Model?

Availability of Vortex Viper PST ffp 6x24 with ebr-2 reticle? Best price?

 

[HexHead]

A deal's not a deal if you can't use it. I'd go with a Zeiss with an RZ-800 reticle.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

The ACOG isn't a deal if it doesn't suit your purpose. There are many good scope manufacturers out there. For hunting, I've used fixed 2.5x, fixed 4x, 2-7, and 3-9. The 2.5x I've shot a lot out to 200 yards and am confident with it. For hunting, I'm of the opinion that less magnification is better than more. As for brands, there are many good ones out there. I settled on Leupold myself. I knew many who had them and liked them and had great customer service experience when they did bone headed things such as dropping rifles from 10+ foot heights.

A book I read several years ago called Paradox of Choice completely changed the way I shop. I no longer look for the best as it results in lots of frustration and buyers remorse. If you wanna be happy, look for something that is good (not the best). I have done this for firearms and accessories, cars, and even the home we live in. I have never been happier. I have rarely found something that has had such a positive impact on my satisfaction as this book. I highly recommend it.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

I like the acog for a hunting scope but most of my normal deer hunting is at short range. Bagged a nice 8 pointer this year with a 4x acog on my 50beo. That said if you need more magnification the make the accupoint too. Ive got a 1x4 and it has excellent optics. Mayb3 a 3x9 accupoint would serve you well.

 

[gamestalker]

Take a look at Leupold, they'll have something that will suit your needs, and like said, it won't cost you $1700 either.

GS

 

[Ks5shooter]

Leupold X2 that's all I put on every firearm I own.

 

[suprane]

I have had many scopes, but do not have the extensive field shooting as some here. I have enjoyed Leupolds, old Burris, Nikons, and Pentax. But the glass really got good with my first Zeiss, then Sarovski, another Zeiss and now my last scope on my last rifle, a Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x42 IHR reticle, zero stop, illuminated, side parallax 11.9 " 19 oz. I just loved the one I looked through one at a sports shop in Abilene. (mine on the way from Eurooptics) Never had an illuminated cross hairs before, but am going to love it being older, worse eyes. Many good ones, I vote for NF. I was going to switch to SHV instead of NXS, but wanted that illum. Ret.

 

[suprane]

Sheepdog1968 you hit it on the head with that philosophy. I was born poor, put myself thru school, made some money and elevated my buying quality. Never did elevate my enjoyment. I have went fairly expensive with last rifle, Winchester 70 Featherweight Comapct and NightForce, but will it bring me more happiness than a cheaper rifle and scope, naw, just a want. Good advice for picking out anything. Right on.

 

[Skylerbone]

LJ, you asked for any and all advice so here's a bit from a longtime duffer;

1. Define clearly for us your intended game. You mentioned "long range hunting" as the rifle's purpose and you mentioned targets being obscured by crosshairs at 1,200 meters. Yikes! So...

2. Give us an idea of your maximum range. How far are you comfortable shooting in the field? High magnification is a blessing for target work if you have the means to keep it steady but for hunting there's only so much you really need.

3. You've got an AR pattern rife. Aesthetics may or may not be important to you when it comes to the scope and this is a minor point to me but my preference would be for a more compact style scope. Your maximum budget will determine what is possible here as something like a Leupold Mark 6 3-18X 44 can set you back more than 2k.

4. Do you have a preference for reticle? It's dizzying looking through specs for all of the styles now available. Some require a fair amount of study to unlock their potential while others are basic in use and features.

Rather than me rambling on, if you could provide a bit more info it might help those who have done what you intend to do point you in the right direction and save you from an expensive mistake.