Which scope for the new rifle?

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LoonWulf

LoonWulf

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So thanks to some good reviews from folks I trust, and my own curiosity, I burned up the last of my gun credit and some of my year-end bonus to order a Sako S20.

A new gun always deserves a new scope right? Or maybe a new guns a good excuse to buy a new scope......probably the later.....

Anyway, I ordered an Athlong Midas HMR 2.5-15x50 (over a Meopta Optika5, on the advice of someone I trust) and a set of rings for my new rifle.
About two days later I ran across a Meopta/Cabelas HTR 6.5-20x50, which I bid on and won.
(I have the Meopro version of the scope on my .280AI, and had one of the Cabelas one on my old 28Nos)

That leaves me in a bit of quandary as to which to drop on the new gun, and which to move over to my swap barrel build.

The HMR has a more traditional power range (albeit wider) for a hunting scope, has a much wider adjustment range, has covered turrets which are really nice(I have not run a tracking test on one of these yet), and is illuminated.

Its also heavier by a bit, and slightly bulkier with its 30mm tube.



The Meopta has a noticeably higher max power, while still being at about the min I turn my scopes down to, Its got slightly (and I do mean slightly) better glass to my eye, is lighter, has a covered windage turret and a Kenton vertical. I found the one I have (with normal meopta target turrets) on my 280AI to be very capable at dialing and returning to zero.

The downsides are that its a very long scope (which shouldnt be a big deal on the long action S20, but it looked kinda funny on my short action 6.5), and the Vertical adjustment is only like 30MOA total (the one I had on my 28Nosler Xbolt burned up 24 of that in zeroing at 100yds).
I really don't see myself doing a ton of long distance shooting with this rifle, or that limited vertical travel would be a major issue.


So which scope would you put on a brand new (relatively heavy already) 7mm Remington Magnum turn bolt hunting gun?
 
Couldn't say without both in had to compare and see what id like. Did you get both stock sets, if so see what one you want to use one of the other scope may work better on different stock setup.
The s20 is kinda in that weird weight where once you go little bit heavy what's a extra pound anyway, trying to keep light is difficult. Being a magnum it's not so bad being a bit chunky, have to feel the gun and how it handles may make the scope choice easier.
 
Gun just hit island today, I gotta get the serial and a bill of sale before the end of the month, but yeah planning on getting both stocks sets.

I figure 10lbs or so otd no matter which scope set I choose. The HMRs going to be about 1/3lb heavier tho....I got the Athlon tactical rings for it, and I have a set of Warnes I can use for the Meopta.
Optically they are both really bloody nice, far nicer than I really need for anything I do with a hunting rifle.

Of note, the HMR has a graduated reticle on both Axis, the HTR has a the Windrift reticle, which has horizontal hold offs.
 
I'd see how each looks at dusk or dawn, not sure if you hunt much when light is low seems you don't have many places during the day that is dark like in heavy forest. But may help see any difference in the glass you may not see in the day time. How's the eye relief and eye box between the 2.
 
troy fairweather said:
I'd see how each looks at dusk or dawn, not sure if you hunt much when light is low seems you don't have many places during the day that is dark like in heavy forest. But may help see any difference in the glass you may not see in the daytime. How's the eye relief and eye box between the 2.
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Ive compared them right at dark, and ill admit im hard-pressed to see much if any difference.
There's only a couple of places Im likely to hunt where Its dark after sunrise or before sunset....One in particular Ive shot a few animals when I could only see well enough to shoot thru an optic and honestly Id rather not have to climb thru a mangrove forest in the dark again....probably leave that area alone unless I get really desperate.

In terms of eye box both are pretty forgiving compared to some of my other scopes....id honestly call them average with my better ones (in this regard) I havent had the HMR mounted on anything yet, but I can wiggle around pretty good behind the HTR without having any issues. I'll have to check this a little more closely tho, as It's not something I can qualify yet.
 
Just based on the information you provided and not having looked through either (and being a relative cheapskate in optics :D), my vote would be the Meopta.

Main reason being you said the bottom end is about as low as you turn scopes down to anyway. With that being the case, with the higher top end magnification I'd always prefer to have that option and not turn it up that high, than wish I had the option and not be able to.
 
Ya know, I have always considered scopes to be portable. Put one on your new gun and try it. Then remove it and put the other one on and try that. Then make an informed decision. I personally have no problem moving scopes around. All it takes is a little time.
 
HowieG said:
Ya know, I have always considered scopes to be portable. Put one on your new gun and try it. Then remove it and put the other one on and try that. Then make an informed decision. I personally have no problem moving scopes around. All it takes is a little time.
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I tend to shift them around to some degree, usually when I find one that I really dont like in a particular application, but for the most part once they are on there, they stay untill I have something I think will work better.
Tho that does bring up a good point tho, If the thing dosent work the way I want I can always move it to something else.
 
troy fairweather said:
Couldn't say without both in had to compare and see what id like. Did you get both stock sets, if so see what one you want to use one of the other scope may work better on different stock setup.
The s20 is kinda in that weird weight where once you go little bit heavy what's a extra pound anyway, trying to keep light is difficult. Being a magnum it's not so bad being a bit chunky, have to feel the gun and how it handles may make the scope choice easier.
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Do you have one of these scopes?
 
LoonWulf said:
I tend to shift them around to some degree, usually when I find one that I really dont like in a particular application, but for the most part once they are on there, they stay untill I have something I think will work better.
Tho that does bring up a good point tho, If the thing dosent work the way I want I can always move it to something else.
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Yep! Funny thing about those scopes is the installation does NOT call for epoxy on the tube, so they are easily removeable. I do so for various reasons. Scope goes bad, remove it for warranty and stick something else on temporarily or semi permanently. If I buy a new scope, that may result in me moving scopes around on 3 or 4 rifles to get the combo I want. I consider it all part of the fun.
 
HowieG said:
Yep! Funny thing about those scopes is the installation does NOT call for epoxy on the tube, so they are easily removeable. I do so for various reasons. Scope goes bad, remove it for warranty and stick something else on temporarily or semi permanently. If I buy a new scope, that may result in me moving scopes around on 3 or 4 rifles to get the combo I want. I consider it all part of the fun.
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I used to do the scope hula alot, Ive been known to get down to one sighted rifle in the safe at a time (usually the .375 lol). I havent been doing it as much lately tho.
 
Gold ring!

index.php


Tho it was really more of a red semicircle.......

8.25lb .375 with 270s at 2850...... I put that Leopold on there specifically to avoid that situation. The GPO there was on there originally was optically better, but would come back and touch me every time I fired the gun..... I believe it had 3" or 3.5" and with its short tube you had lean way forward over the stock to get a decent picture.
 
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troy fairweather said:
I'm surprised during the weatherby craze no one made and sold a eye brow Frowny face bandaid lol.
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Cuz for the most part I don't think people like to admit they got punched in the face by their gun...... Much less when it happens to three people right in a row, which is about the best I've ever heard of.

I'll also say this about Leopold's, when they get you they mess you up good with that hard narrow ring on the ocular bell
 
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LoonWulf said:
Cuz for the most part I don't think people like to admit they got punched in the face by their gun...... Much less when it happens to three people right in a row, which is about the best I've ever heard of.

I'll also say this about Leopold's, when they get you they mess you up good with that hard narrow ring on the ocular bell
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Ya there usually thin, so we're the steel tubes. I've been lucky to never getting scoped. Did get a peep sight wap me one time, 93 mauser bolt head cocking over the thumb form a Pierced primer was fun.
 
Of the two scopes you listed I would go with the HMR 2.5-15 × 50. You mentioned that you seldom turn down the scope below 6.5. Will you turn the scope up more than 15?

I hunt woods to open area with my 7mm Rem Mag topped with a 3.5-10 × 40 VX3. I have considered updating/upgrading the current Leopold with something that has more top end, but don't want more than 4 magnification on the bottom end.
 
I’d vote HTR if you’re gonna dial holdover but I can see the practicality of capped turrets for a field rifle. My manchild side says put it on there because who could resist running that Sako at the range EVERY time, at long range where it could be dialed frequently. I wouldn’t sweat the eye relief for what you’re running.

Only bite I ever took, and it never left a mark, was a Nikon on a .50 cal muzzleloader running 150gr. of 777 under a 300gr. PowerBelt. Was my first shot, I wasn’t braced for it, and I didn’t repeat that oops again.
 
Much as I like Meopta’s that’s way too much illumination for me on a hunting rifle and I don’t do any target shooting. So I’d go Athlon.
HowieG said:
Uh huh. Sure. When it says magnum on the barrel, it better say Leupold on the scope to make me happy.
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I have no problem with Meopta on hard recoiling rifles. I own more Leupold scopes(3) than anything else with second most being Meopta(2). Since Leupold has discontinued all three models I have I’ll be buying Meopta in the future unless things change at Leupold.
 
troy fairweather said:
a sub seven pound 308 will probably kick more, 7rm are pretty mild I. Recoil not much more then a 3006, his rifle will be 10 pounds.
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Oh boy, physics time.

9 lb rifle, 7mm mag, 150 grain bullet at 3100fps, free recoil energy 19.2 ft lbs, recoil velocity 12.1 fps.
7.5 lb rifle, 308 Win, 150 grain bullet at 2800fps, free recoil energy 15.8 ft lbs, recoil velocity 11.7 fps.

If you bump that 7mm Mag up over 11 lbs in weight, then recoil gets down into the range of the 308. Keep in mind that the favorite loads in the 7mm Mag for heavy game (elk, etc.) involve the use of 160 and 175 grain bullets. Recoil for a 160 bullet in that 9lb rifle is over 20 ft lbs. Recoil for the 175 is 21.7 ft lbs.

The British military considers recoil for an effective battle rifle to be under 15 ft lbs and most of the world's militaries would agree judging that most use something along the lines of 5.56mm NATO (3.9 ft lbs). Per Chuck Hawks, the majority of authorities say most average shooters will tend to develop a flinch at recoils over 20 ft lbs. If you are of sufficient body mass and shape to lighten the felt recoil, more power to you. Having shot 7mm Mag a fair amount, and owning a medium weight 300 WSM, I don't personally consider either one to be on the pleasant side. I have trained myself to cope, but I am not going to sit around and fire off 40 rounds in a session.

An added item of consideration is that new modern squishy recoil pads come into play when talking about scopes. When a magnum rifle comes back at you fast, it compresses the squishy pad and decreases felt recoil. At the same time, it increases the need for adequate eye relief because the scope comes back a bit farther.
 
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