Should I do a scope swap?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Armored farmer

Armored farmer

Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2010
Messages
12,123
Location
South Eastern Illinois
My newly acquired Ruger American Ranch in 7.62x39 is almost formally dialed in with a new Nikon 3x9BDC. It shoots good, the scope is great but big and rather heavy on this lightweight rifle. I also expect to limit my range to about 200 yards with this carbine. I feel like I may have more scope than necessary on this one.
20190117_085208.jpg
***part 2***
My Ruger SR 556 is my general purpose, back door gun. It is fully capable with offset irons set for 20 yards, and a Nikon p223 3x fixed BDC.
I feel like this gun is capable of heavy varmint work out to 400 yds and beyond. I also feel that I run out of scope at that range.
20181120_065645.jpg 15480026292023188101381425194794.jpg
So, my question to the rifle and scope savvy members of THR:
Should I swap scopes on these two rifles? Or leave them alone?
I am reluctant because they are both set and dialed in. I would have to start over on both rifles. (Which is fun anyway)
Let me hear your thoughts.
 
If I were in your situation I would switch. Of my three rifles in .223 all wear 3 x 9x 40 fixed parallax scopes. They are basically coyote guns although a prairiedog or jackrabbit isn't safe if spotted and the rifles benefit from the additional magnification. I don't see the 7.62 as a long range caliber. I'm sure some will dispute that but so be it. In the long run it's what satisfies you. It shouldn't take much to re-sight them and like you said, shooting is fun.

I'm sitting around with two pistols and three rifles that need new to them sights adjusted right now. I'm looking forward to it now that my local range is open again after the annual lock change.
 
Being an inveterate switcher/experimenter, I'd switch. What more fun is there than to see if you can improve on something that already works. More than once, I'll admit, I switched back.
I'm right now waiting on the weather to break to see if I made the right choice with my 10-22 match, 10-22 sporter and my Contender Carbine 223 to see if the three way scope swap was correct. (couple scopes waiting in the wings as replacements.)
 
I'm gonna be a fly in the ointment. What about a nice 4-16x for the Ruger SR 556?
"I feel like this gun is capable of heavy varmint work out to 400 yds and beyond. I also feel that I run out of scope at that range."
If the rifle is just that good, maybe you should explore it s potential with a really nice scope.
If that's not an option, I'd switch them. :thumbup:
 
This is a great who cares thread lol. Something to debate about because the weather is crap and most hunting is done. Put them where you want. Both scopes will do an adequate job on either rifle. You can always move them back. For fun maybe you can add a third rifle or scope into the mix. At times I have done a lot of scope swapping. Buy a bore sighting system and something to level your cross hairs. Believe me th money you save in ammo will pay for your scope mounting stuff. My Burris fullfield is probably going to end up on my 30/06 where it started 25 years ago. It has been on 5 different rifles at least. Swapping it and other scopes never did give me any real advantage when it came to hunting. Doesn't mean I have stopped doing it.
 
Why not? It’s not like you can’t switch back if you don’t like it.

I move optics around quite often because I am cheap and it only takes a few minutes to rezero.
 
Another vote for doing the switch. That's more glass than needed for the 7.62x39, and the 3-9 would add some varmint popping yardage to the SR 556. As for Jeff G's idea-it also has merit, but as long as you already have the 3-9, I'd try that first since you already have it handy, and if the accuracy is really there, a 4-16 would be a great idea.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

C
  • Locked
Scope for MP15 & Ruger 10/22
Replies
3
Views
608
fireflyfather
F
C
  • Locked
Scope for S&W MP15 and Ruger 10/22
Replies
2
Views
481
gotigers
G
H
  • Locked
nikon p223 scope
Replies
15
Views
951
The Hound
The Hound
If1HitU
  • Locked
Made scope adds to my Ruger rifles.
Replies
14
Views
873
Walkalong
Walkalong
F
  • Locked
Swap Scopes?
Replies
1
Views
414
.41Dave
4
Back
Top