Help! I'm drowning...

[10 Ring Tao]

I'm falling into a pit of despair. At every turn it gets deeper.

Drowning in options that is.

I just got a new M1A, and while the irons are great, I'm going to scope it.

The vast majority of my shooting will be done between 75 and 300m, and of that, mostly between 100 and 200m. Maybe some hunting, and mostly informal target shooting. If needed, I'd like to be able to consistently ring a gong at 300m.

So I set off into the intarwebs to find me a suitable scope.

This is where I started to drown. The options are absolutely endless, especially for someone with limited scoped rifle experience where this is going to be the gun/scope they learn on.

After reading article after article, and knowing myself based on the little bit of scoped shooting I've done, I think I would get the most out of a 6x fixed power scope with an adjustable objective. I like to keep things simple, so a fixed power appeals to me, in addition to being less expensive than variable power, and less resistant to light.

The 4x I have lying around doesn't seem to be quite enough, and a 10x would be way more scope than I need. Seems like 6x would serve my stated needs well.

At first, I started looking at the Super Sniper scopes. They were highly recommended, and are right at my desired price point. Like I said though, 10x is way more scope than I need. Everything I read says that newbies always try to use more magnification than they need.

The problem I'm having, is that I'm having a hard time finding a 6x42 AO. I get frustrated while searching, and then start to look at variable powers, and I'm back where I started.

Two things:

-Recommend scopes for my stated needs that would be good for an M1A. Fixed or variable, although I might need to be convinced a variable is worth the extra money and hassle.

-Give me ideas on where to find a quality 6x42 AO.

Thanks much!

 

[Caimlas]

How experienced are you with (different) scopes? That's kind of an important factor in your selection criteria, for a number of reasons.

For instance: my neighbor is a good shot with irons, but when he's shooting with a scope, he's got the hardest time keeping things steady enough and generally can't hit the broad side of a barn (due to over magnification, for the most part), and because the ~3" eye relief makes him really uncomfortable due to a number of unfortunate (but predictable) situations where the rifle kicked when he was too close, leaving a scar on his forehead (same problem for me, actually). So he's a bit scope shy, and has a difficult time using them simply because he's unable to focus on his target at all and because the scope crowds him.

I can't really answer your question, but something which might fit your criteria is the Bushnell Trophy 2-6x32, which has an 18" eye relief. You can mount it in a "scout scope" arrangement, if that fits your fancy. It's pretty cheap at under $200, and it's on my list of things "to get".

http://www.pyramydair.com/cgi-bin/accessory.pl?accessory_id=994

Also, I should note that shooting small groups at those ranges is, IMO, difficult without a higher magnification. 4x isn't enough for 200 yard shots in my limited experience - not for 1" groups, at least. But if you're steady, there's no reason 4x wouldn't be sufficient to hit a gong at 300m, either...

I think your criteria of 6x is a good choice; my 3-9x on my hunting rifle usually stays between 3 and 6- and it's nice to have the lower magnification if I'm hunting in closer brush.

 

[10 Ring Tao]

I'm not scope shy at all, and very comfortable behind any long gun I've shot. I've got enough experience to know not to get knocked in the face by the scope.

 

[dakotasin]

leupold 6x36 and 6x42 are good choices.

cabela's has a cabela's-brand 6x42 that is pretty good, and less expensive.

 

[Bwana John]

The scope aint goin to be the problem, the mount is.

Heres a life ring for ya- just enjoy shooting the best iron sights in the world, spend the cash you save on ammo.

 

[Stinger]

I'm not scope shy at all, and very comfortable behind any long gun I've shot. I've got enough experience to know not to get knocked in the face by the scope.

I wish I had a nickle for everytime I've heard that.

 

[glockman19]

I scoped my M1A with the 3rd Gen SA mount and a Bushnell Elite 4200 6x24x40 scope. I'm consistently hitting 18" targets @ 500-600 yards. Paid $485 for hte scope @ opticsplanet.com and have had NO issues with the SA 3rd Gen mount. The mount still allows for use of Iron sights.

 

[Mr. Cuts]

Man that was a good find. I am also in SE Michigan and would have loved to pull that one out from under you... but I digress.

Would you mind telling us where you found this ad? Was it a local paper or a gun specific publication?

 

[colt.45]

i like the burris fullfield tactical II series. i have a 2-7 on my bushmaster and have shot out to 400 yards with it, the price is right too.

 

[geekWithA.45]

I like Burris scopes: 85%+ the value of a Leupold, 50+/-% of the spendy.

 

[10 Ring Tao]

I like Burris scopes: 85%+ the value of a Leupold, 50+/-% of the spendy.

Great suggestion. I had looked at burris scopes, and hadn't seen any fixed power products I that interested me. I took another look, and found a 6x with target knobs and AO, that looks like it is made to directly compete with the leupold 6x/target knobs/AO. Except it retails for about $150 less.

So it looks like my choices have narrowed down to a used leupold, or new burris.


Cuts- That deal was found right here on the THR classifieds.

Dakotasin- Thanks for the heads up on the cabelas scopes. They would be perfect, except no AO.

I wish I had a nickle for everytime I've heard that.

Well, I never came close to getting whacked when I was first learning, so I don't expect it to happen from here on out.

The scope aint goin to be the problem, the mount is.

If the sadlak mount I got is good enough for shooting hadji in iraq, I think it'll be fine for me.