Magnification for working up loads

[BigMacMI]

I enjoy working up my .223 loads for (somewhat) accuracy.

Standard 16" AR platform... so not a competition precision shooter.

With my RDS 1x and a good few sand bags, i can get some groups down to about 1.75" at 100 yards. I try to use a very specific spot on the dot to choose my POA.

At this level I do notice accuracy differences between loads and have found a couple I am happy with.

I am considering an entry level scope. Many come in 1-4 or 3-9.

I do shoot 3 gun, but will use the RDS non-magnified for classification reasons. I don' think i can use a 1-4 on 1x and get away with the bottom class.

I test my loads at 100 yards, and shoot steel out to 2/300 with the current RDS. If I am using primarily for this purpose, should i stick to 1-4 or is the overlap stupid, and I should just go 3-9.

Cabelas does have some cheap(ish) 3-9. I also saw a Nikon BCD specifically for 223.
15% chance i'll take it coyote hunting. Have a buddy who wants me to go with him.

 

[eastbank]

to test loads i mount a 12 x AO target leupold scope that has proven to have accurte adjustments in the past. for normal hunting i prefer the leupold 2.5x8 verix-111 38mm scope that i have two of. eastbank.

 

[Jim Watson]

For load testing off a rest, the more the merrier. 3-9X scopes are not expensive and not bulky. If a cheap one, you might get better clarity stopping at 8X instead of running it all the way up.

 

[Catpop]

I'm using a 6x20 i bought used at the lgs on my mini 14 to experiment with barrel rigidity and work up loads. Weird looking but it's works.

 

[LoonWulf]

I use a 3-9x for testing loads on guns that have lower power scopes. I figgure im not likely to shoot anything with a 4x or lower scope outside of 2-300 yards, so i just test loads at 100 and 9s plenty for that imo.

 

[Grumulkin]

9x is plenty for even 300 yards.

 

[greyling22]

9x is plenty for even 300 yards.

Not if you want to see the holes. ;-)

 

[Hookeye]

One can shoot some nice groups with less power, but to minimize aiming errors, a 12X with AO is what I use for load testing at 100 yds.
You need to be extremely repeatable in aiming.
Shots should NOT hit your aiming point.
You're after a small group.........you can adjust your impacts to your aiming point after you pick out the accurate load.

 

[macgrumpy]

For load development use the greatest magnification that you can afford, for 3 gun, stick to iron sights or low magnification. Like the old saying, aim small - miss small. With high magnification you can aim more consistently which gives you better control over your point of aim and you can see your impacts better. I have a SOCOM 16 (M1A in .308) that I have a rail on and I use 2.5-8x for target shooting and load development but I use my iron sights or an EOTech for any other use.

 

[Grumulkin]

Not if you want to see the holes. ;-)

I shot a crow at a little over 300 yards with a scope set on 7x. When I walked up to the crow I WAS able to see the hole even though I had used a lowish power scope.

 

[cdb1]

I have 2-7's on my AR's.

 

[cougar1717]

Load development and competition would probably need different optics. The best I could ever consistently get with a 1x RDS in 223 was about a 1.5-2moa group, with an occasional, totally not reproducible, lightning strike 1moa group. And that's using the not-so-secret eotech trick of setting the brightness to slightly starburst to help your aiming advantage. It's just hard to tell if one load is better than another with a RDS when they are all 1.5-2.5". It's much easier with a 3-9x. Depending on the color of your targets, you should be able to see .224" bullet holes at 100yds on 9x. It may be better to shoot groups at 5-6x to aim small, miss small on the Xring. A 1-4x scope is good, but I would want more magnification. 12x is great, but sometimes you can't always have one just sitting around for that specific purpose. You can almost always find the best deals on 3-9x.

 

[BigMacMI]

Thanks everyone. There are some good deals on Vortex Crossfire (2-7?) locally. Cabelas has the standard 3-9x40 for maybe 150

 

[cdb1]

IMO the Crossfire just isn't a good scope. For around $150.00 you can get a Burris Fullfield II 2-7x35 which is a really good scope. Cabela's carries both scopes so if you can, go to a store and look through both.

 

[Bart B.]

Some people work up super accurate loads shooting only an aperture rear and post front sight. That's what was done with all the service semiauto rifles used in competition. They knew what to use to get 2/3 MOA loads at 600 yards. Some replaced the post front sight with an aperture one. Not a problem as aperture sights have enabled groups on bullseye targets only about 10% bigger than 20X scope sights do. Groups shot with a post front sight, at best, are about 20% bigger than with a scope.

 

[eastbank]

i agree reciever sights are accurate, and shoot great groups at long distances, but large targets are used and 6 o-clock holds are a must as the front sight blade-post will cover up a lot of the target at longer ranges. and realy fall down at longer ranges shooting at game in the field and then there is the light issue if you don,t have the right apature screwed into the sight. i have peep sights on some of my rifles and enjoy shooting them, but they do have their limitations eastbank.

 

[kingmt]

Personally I need about 14x to see 224 holes @ 100 yards. I might get by with 12x for 7mm holes. I use max magnification every chance I get. I rarely turn mine down.