Help with a scope

[realmswalker]

Help with a scope suggestion

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Hello,

Due to a bet I will be winning on my 30th birthday, I am going to come up 1000 richer. What I want to do is spend about 400 on a scope. 500 MAX. Here are my conditions.

I have a remington model 721 in .270 win, glass bedded, and a savage model 111 in 30-06.


If you were going to scope one of these guns for the conditions I am about to state, which one would you scope?

And which scope would you consider? I do not want to go above 400 so please nothing above 400 Unless that 100 jump to 500 will give me a much better scope.

I will be using this gun strictly for target shooting to out to no more than 1000 yards maximum, most likely 400-600 regularly, and 100-300 a little more than regularly.

I do not care about paralux<---(Did I spell that right?) adjustment. I do not care about the light gathering properties as I rarely shoot at dawn or dusk and will not be using this gun for hunting at all.

I am looking for something that will hold it's zero and something that has as much zoom as possible. I'm young, I have fairly good vision so super great glass is not a must.

I have some crappy binocs, and I have some a leica 1200 laser rangefinder and my spotting scope is a leupold, so I know the difference between decent glass and cheap glass, and it doesn't make enough difference to me to justify the cost for that ultra clear glass.

I do care about having enough MOA adjustments to adjust for the 1000 yard metal target dinging. But if those extra adjustments are going to bump me up in price past 500,then I will stick with the 600 yard range adjustments and use hold over for the farther shots.

As for a reticle, Whichever one is best for target shooting.

I prefer one click for 1/4 adjustment.

So what are your scope suggestions and which gun should I scope? I really love my .270 but I believe my model 111 may be the more accurate gun for the longer ranges.

Thank you for your time.

I have it narrowed down to about three scopes they are

http://www.swfa.com/p-9138-nikon-65-20x44-monarch-ucc-riflescope.aspx

Or do you think this one would be worth the extra 100 dollars?

http://cgi.ebay.com/NIKON-MONARCH-6...ryZ31714QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Or this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BUSHNELL-ELITE-...ryZ31714QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Or if you can think of a scope that I have not thought of in the $500 range

 

[rangerruck]

you took the words out of my mouth; the bushy and the nikon, I will also add
in the burris, and the super sniper.

 

[308sc]

Bushnell elite, scope the 30-06

 

[MIL-DOT]

Don't mean to dash your hopes.....but all of those scopes have (side focus) PARALLAX adjustments, as will almost any quality scope with the magnification level you're interested in. Besides, though you said you weren't interested in parallax adjutability......you should be. Also, if you're not interested in low light shooting, why the 50mm. objective lens? That's what they're made for. The large bell also makes the scope heavy, less well balanced, can have an adverse affect on cheek weld, and usually costs lots more than the same scope in 40mm.Other than looking cool, there's really no upside.
Also, why do you want the huge magnification ? You ever look through a scope at 1000 yards, cranked up to 15 or 20 or 25x ? They're almost unusable.Again, the huge (overkill) magnification level isn't usually practical, and adds to the cost.
Nikons are great scopes, but from what i've read their customer service sucks. I just got a replacement scope upgrade from Bushnell ( a 3200 Elite) after a cheaper scope screwed up,so a good customer service like Bushnells or Leupolds should be a factor.
As stated above, also consider Burris. FWIW, i'm going to recommend a Bushnell Elite 4200, just not the one you're looking at, besides, weren't those scopes well outside your maximum $400 limit ?

edit : If you're still not worried about parallax adjustment, this is a dynamite scope, especially for this kinda money.
http://www.swfa.com/pc-7280-185-bushnell-3-9x40-elite-4200-rifle-scope.aspx

 

[realmswalker]

MIL-DOT you bring up some good points. But I am curious as to why the scopes are almost unsuseable?

I didn't know up to 500$ would get me parallax adjustment, i just didn't want to spend over my 500 max to get it. I know I can get it now in my price range.

I didn't know the 50mm lens was made specifically for low light shooting, I think I will go with a 40mm if that is the case.

Based on what points you have made I have another scope in mind which is here. Do you think this one is more suited for what I want?

I do wan't at least up to 16 magnification, I may not use it much But I would like the option.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bushnell-Elite-...ryZ31714QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Or this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nikon-MONARCH-4...ryZ31714QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Art Eatman]

Not a recommendation; just an example: I have a 500-yard range here at my house. Back in 1997, Cheaper Than Dirt had Simmons 44Mag 3x10x40 at $99. I stuck one on my pet '06. Regular duplex crosshairs.

I had no trouble holding inside one MOA at 500.

Opinion: If you're going to vary your shooting distance with any frequency in a given shooting session, quality of the adjustments becomes important. Repeatability and reliability. 40mm is plenty-nuff lens. Maybe 4.5-14 if you're going variable.

If you're serious about 1,000 yards, and DON'T want to do holdover, you likely have a problem finding a scope with enough range in its adjustments. I dunno; maybe shim the front mount, zero for close range with the adjustments low inside the body? Just guessing.

 

[rc109a]

Have you considered fixed power vice vari?

 

[MIL-DOT]

Hey realmswalker.......both of those a great scopes, and should work well for you. One big difference in the two is the reticle, the 4200 has the multi-X, which i believe is their least expensive ( though i'm sure it's fine) and the Nikon has the mil-dot, which is my favorite, and is often noticably more expensive. You're call. If it was me, i'd go with the 4200, though i wouldn't turn my nose up at that Nikon,either. I almost bought that identical 4200 last week. I sent a Bushnell banner back for repairs and they gave me the option of upgrading instead of replacing, and i could have gotten that same 4200 for $260 !!! But as it's only going back on my Beeman R9 pellet rifle, and i was a little budget conscious, i went with the Elite 3200 tactical ( mil-dot & target knobs), for $178 (still a smokin' deal). I'm happy.But enough about my toys.....
The parallax feature isn't so much a scope-cost issue as a magnification issue. My 4-12X Banner had it, and it was only a $100 scope. Most scopes under 10x don't seem to have parallax adjustability.Any 16 power should.
The problem with using very high nagnification at distance is that it magnifies the heat waves coming off the ground, i think it's called a "mirage effect". I used to shoot at 500-1000 some, and i kept my Leupold MK1V at around 10 x, but never maxed out at 14x.
Also, Art makes a good point about distance shooting, and having a scope with enough range adjustments. A scope with a 30 mm. main tube, instead of the common standard 1 inch tube, gives that extra internal adjustment range.
But if you don't expect to do much 1000 yard shooting, stick with the 1".
Again, those two scopes you're considering a great, but i'd go with the 4200. Besides, if it malfunctions and you had to return it, Bushnell will let you upgrade for way less than 1/2 of retail, then you could get the 6500, cheap !!!!!

 

[realmswalker]

Thank you for all your advice. I am really leaning toward the Bushnell elite 4200 4-16 I think I am going to get that one.

If i ever want to change the reticle, is it possible in that scope?

 

[MIL-DOT]

Not sure, call Bushnell direct, they usually answer their phones quickly. I'd recommend researching and deciding what you really want, then buying the scope with that reticle, they make it with more than one. Check Bushnells webpage for options available.

 

[rc109a]

Did you consider one of those Super Sniper scopes? I know of a few guys who hit steel at 1k yards and love them.

 

[realmswalker]

I have considered the super sniper scopes. How long have they been around, and do they have a pretty good track record?

 

[skinewmexico]

I don't know what kind of target shooting you're wanting to do @ 1000, but all of the scopes you've picked look like the reticule crosshairs are too think for precision (score) target shooting at 1000. Hard to hit a bullseye when your crosshairs are wider than the target. Now if you're just shooting big steel plates, you're OK. My 4200 is the nicest scope I've looked thru. It has the fine crosshairs with a 1/8 dot.

I haven't run the ballistics, but I doubt you can get either of those calibers to 1000 without a 20 MOA base. And a 30 MM tube with lots of adjustment. Probably easiest just to buy Burris Signature Zee rings, and use their offset inserts to gain some MOA. I do know my 4200 only has about 40 MOA of adjustment. With a 20 MOA base, the scope adjust bottoms out, and I have a 300 yard zero.

What would be really cool is to buy a Shilen Supermatch barrel for your Savage, in 6.5x47 Lapua or 6mmBR. It would cost you about $300, and take 30 minutes to install.

 

[Strongbad]

+1 for the Burris Fullfied. Solid, reliable scope. Good customer service. Umpteen models available (including Tactical).

The only Super Sniper I've seen was a POS, and the friend I know that had it, sold it promptly and got a Nikon. The Nikon is 10x more scope.

 

[rc109a]

We used the SS scope for a few years in an adviser role with some clients that were really hard on gear. They worked just fine. Like everything else you will find a bad one now and then. I know of a bad Burris, but I would not call them a POS. I own three of them still.

 

[jwkeene]

Buy the best Leupold your budget will allow. These are, in my opinion, the best scopes in their price range. You have to spend a heck of a lot more to get a better scope.

As for the 30-06 v 270 I like both cartridges. For the 1000 yard shooting however, you are going to need match mullets and I don't think that there is a .270 match bullet out there. On the other hand every bullet manufacturer makes 30 cal match bullets in various weights.

Jim

 

[skinewmexico]

Berger just introduced a 270 bullet, but I don't know anything about it.

 

[cpttango30]

Bushnell elite 6500. they offer 6x zoom range.

Although these are way out of your price range. Smallest I would go with is a 6.5x20 power. The 6-24x40mm Bushnell elite 4200 is a downright crazy good scope. I got mine for $250 on amazon.com but normaly they run for around $400 to $450.

 

[jpwilly]

Nikon Buckmaster 6-18x40 mil dot SF on sale at Midway USA for $299.

 

[realmswalker]

You think the buckmaster is better than the monarch?

 

[MIL-DOT]

I believe the Monarchs are a little higher up on the scale than the Buckmasters.