When to upgrade my scope?

When do I upgrade the scope on my plinking rifle

  • Right now, the scope you have now isn't worth using, period.

    Votes: 1 6.3%

  • When your groups stop shrinking due to load development.

    Votes: 1 6.3%

  • If you're happy with the groups you are getting, why fix it?

    Votes: 13 81.3%

  • When the scope breaks.

    Votes: 1 6.3%
  • Total voters
    16
  • Poll closed .
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scythefwd

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Joined
Mar 13, 2008
Messages
3,603
Location
Manassas Park, VA
Here's the situation:
I only have access to 50 and 100 yard ranges right now.
I'm in the middle of load work up for this particular rifle.
It's wearing a bushy sportsman 4x
It's not my hunting rifle, just for plinking (not serious competition).
It's a .308 win, so fairly mild kick.
 
Upgrade when you have a reason to.

It sounds like its serving its purpose.

On the other hand, if you want a new scope, go buy it ( assuming you have the money for it ), and lay the nice bright reliable fixed four aside for another day and another gun
 
I dont' know how accurate the rifle is, but for me when groups get close to 1 inch I need a minimum of 9x to know for sure whether its me or the rifle/ammo that isn't shooting.
 
I hope you keep it as long, as it keeps you happy. The only reason I would say get a new one is because I would put a .308 in to consideration and say to myself "4x just isn't far enough". Besides the fact you only have 100 Yards of land to shoot across.
 
Norrick - I'm not a moa shooter myself so far as I know. I can't hold a 9x steady... 4x is about my limit. I can still see the holes in the target at 4x.

newfal - the only thing I don't have scoped right now is my Garand (sacrelig :) ) and my shotgun. My target 22 has peeps on it worth more than what I'd be willing to pay for a scope (upwards of 300)
 
I'm all about having quality glass but really see no pressing reason for you to upgrade. Unless you just want to.
 
Honestly, I am of the when it breaks or when shot groups stop shrinking via load development mindset myself. I just wanted to see how many scope snobs that would chime in saying that scope isn't worth mounting... It is a bottom of the line scope for bushy you know :)
 
If you were planning on hunting with the rifle, particularly hunting away from your home state, then I would be one of those scope snobs. Why? Not because I'm stuck up but because I've had enough cheap scopes fail to have learned that lesson. Not to be soon forgot.
 
I agree with CraigC.
If it was a once-in-a-decade kind of hunt to another part of the country, then I would seriously consider something like what I would typically consider a great scope (Leupold Vari-X-III).

HOWEVER, I would only buy that IF I had the cash to buy it (along with a great mount and set of rings).

I would also only do it IF I had the time before heading to the great hunt of a lifetime, to spend lots of time at the range to perfect my loads and get really used to the scope and the setup on my particular gun! If I did not have the $$$ OR, if I did not have the TIME to set it up RIGHT, I would not even consider changing!

YMMV

VVVVVVV -AS USUAL- VVVVVVV
 
Craig - I'm cheap... no once in a lifetime hunts for me as the cost money. I might get a 3day license for IL and hunt my old mans farm. Children of the corn living there, free room and board. I don't even have to bring the gun if I don't want to (he has several shotguns I can do well enough with). It'd still cost me a couple hundred including gas and license. Hunting round here... 50-60 for muzzle loader and rifle/shotgun (my closest wma is shotgun/bp only, next closest is rifle as well).
 
scythefwd said:
newfal - the only thing I don't have scoped right now is my Garand (sacrelig :) ) and my shotgun. My target 22 has peeps on it worth more than what I'd be willing to pay for a scope (upwards of 300)
Click to expand...


of course, unless you plan to never buy another rifle:what::what: :confused: :( , eventually there will be a gun to put it on..... :D
 
newfal - I am a minimalist. I have a rifle that is capable out to 300y (my .308 win... I would upgrade the scope if I hunted at that distance), I have a shotgun for clays (not trap... it's a single), but primarily hunting, I have a milsurp that I inherited and I won't get rid of (the garand), and I have a BP rifle for ML season. I have troubles thinking of anything else I'd want to do. I'm pretty happy with what I have.. they fill my needs and wants. Pretty much same thing for handguns...matter of fact I have 1 that I could get rid of and never miss (and it's not in production anymore so it's not like I can just go out and get another).

The next rifle I get will be a custom or highly accurized, stupidly accurate, bench gun... which the sportsman scope won't do for.

Hell, I only have a scope for this because it didn't come with irons and I got the scope free with the purchase of my Bushy Trophy for my BP gun (my hunting guns will have scopes)
 
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