Long Range Riflescope

[444]

I am getting ready to put together a rifle for long range shooting. The rifle will be somewhat general purpose, but I want to be able to compete in our local 1000 yard matches (if I could ever get off work to do it).
The first thing I am going to buy is the scope.
At present, I am thinking of getting a LEUPOLD MARK 4, 8.5X-25X 50MM LR M1 MATTE from Premier Reticle with their Gen 2 Mil-Dots.

I would appreciate any comments pro or con along with any suggestions.

Obviously, one of the reasons for this scope from Premier is that the mil dots are in the 1st focal plane.

 

[Zak Smith]

I posted this here, but the thread is old now. Here's the direct link.

http://demigod.org/optics

In the same price range, a Nightforce would be comparable to that Leu.

 

[waterhouse]

I think the scope you are looking at is a fine choice. I have an Leup. M3 with the gen II reticle and it's really nice. I used to have a nightforce but sold it to get something with a front focal plane. (I'm not knocking the nightforce, they are great scopes with fantactic glass) Also check out the Xotic scope (over at riflescopes.com). I don't have one, but it's on my "to buy" list based on its reviews.

Plus read Zak's article. Well written and very infomative.

 

[AlleninAlaska]

When I owned my AMAX 5100 LRS 50 BMG I had nothing more than a Burris Black Diamond 3X12x50 with Mil-Dots mounted on it. You don't really need an 8.5X25X50 scope to see things at 1000 yards.

 

[444]

I suppose that depends on how much detail you are willing to accept. I can see the target with my naked eye at 1000 yards. Anything beyond that is better. Here in the desert southwest, you often can't shoot a variable scope on high magnification because of the mirage. But that doesn't mean it isn't a valuable thing to have.
There is a guy that occasionally shoots the 1000 yard practice session using a greasy old Mauser with iron sights. That doesn't mean it is the best thing out there for the job. It also doesn't mean that you absolutely need anything else. Word around the campfire is, he was hitting paper.

 

[USSR]

444,

I have been shooting 1,000 yard F Class competition for 3 years now. My one F Class rifle is currently wearing a Leupold 6.5-20x50LR M1 scope, and I would recommend this scope over the 8.5-25x50LR M1 scope that you are considering. As you noted, mirage will eat your shorts at high power settings, and 16-20 power will be all that you need and can effectively use on most occasions. Just MHO.

Don

 

[Jim Watson]

You will also benefit from a 20 MOA "tapered" scope base so the elevation required to get to 1000 yards won't run you out of scope adjustment or even bring it so close to the edge that performance will be affected.

I am told that running the elevation way, way up will reduce the available windage and that you can lose clarity of image away from the optical axis of all the lenses. I don't know for sure because I have not tried it, I am using a 1" tube scope that I already had so as to get into F-class at less cost, and it has to have the tapered base to get me to 1000. 35 to 40 MOA from a 100 yard start, depending on caliber and load.

 

[El Tejon]

444, excellent choice. IMO/E, I would check out the S und B scopes as well. Make sure you specify the target towers on whatever scope.

Best wishes.

 

[444]

Thanks for the replies.

Zak, I read your article when you previously posted it. Buying that US Optics scope is tough to swollow. I spend money pretty freely on guns and junk but that scope is causing even me to balk.

 

[Zak Smith]

1000 yard matches are a different task than the generalized "practical long range shooting" whch I had in mind when writing that article, but it just contained a lot of background. The Leupold is a good choice.

 

[USSR]

Jim Watson brings up a good point when shooting long range. Unless you are using a scope with over 100 MOA of elevation adjustment, be sure to mount a 20 MOA base on your rifle. All my rifles wear Badger rails, and this makes switching scopes between rifles extremely easy.

Don