new glass conundrum

[MondronT]

Over the past few years I've been tweaking every once (MOA) out of a savage edge (axis) in 7mm-08 and a vanguard sporter in .223. The 7-08 with my 120 NBT/H4895 loads can typically do 1/2" -5/8 groups at 100yds. the weatherby I can on a good day get 1 long hole. Have done this several times with 50 and 53 gr. vmax over LT-32. So I think I've about rung the best out the rifles so I thought about glass. Both wear Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40. I'm about tho join a club that has a 300 yard range so the wife bought me a BSA 36x on clearance. I know it's cheap Chinese junk but many reviews say they are decent for non-competition. I only shoot off the bench with sand bags and do not compete except with my tweaker's nature. **I also buy cheap guitars and tweak um to play and sound as good as my expensive ones. ANYWAYS... my problem is I can't decide whether to mount this new scope to the .223 or the 7mm-08 for 300 yards. Of course either will handle the distance easily. The 7 would buck the wind better but the 7 having a thin taper barrel heats up pretty good after just a few rounds. The .223 I can shoot 5 shot groups with just 10 minutes between for cool down without to much accuracy decline. My next rifle will surely have a heavy barrel but until that time, what do you guys think?

 

[mshootnit]

Whichever one you like the best as it is now, leave it alone.

I guess the book answer would be to leave the 3X9 on the 7mm.

 

[Sunray]

The scope just lets you see the target better. They have no effect whatsoever on accuracy.
36X is spotting scope power. Too much magnification for either cartridge. 9X is sufficient for 300 yards. Put the BSA on a tripod and use it for spotting.

 

[MondronT]

No the scope does not add to the rifles accuracy per si. it does add in the shooter seeing the target better and especially as the distance increase. Benchrest shooters typically shoot 24x and up. What I've read up on is that 36x is what many use. I know that 300 yards isn't considered long distance but at 200 I already start having trouble seeing the bull's eye with 9x. In my youth i never used a scope but my eye sight was so good my doctor told me he had no way of measuring how good it was.Years of reading and I.T. work has left me with glasses and a lot of squinting.

 

[jmr40]

The reason you're having trouble seeing the target at 9X is because you are using cheap glass. A cheap 36X scope isn't the answer. A better quality 9x scope is the answer.

Optics are one of those areas where price truly does mean better quality. You do reach a point where huge price increases yield only small increases though. But acceptable glass starts at about $200, you start getting into decent glass at the $300-$500 range. Most people will have a hard time telling the difference between a $500 scope and a $1,000 scope. But a $300-$400 scope is WAAAAY better than a sub-$200 scope.

 

[MondronT]

thanks for that tip jmr. It's been many years since I've had a good scope. Not sure the year but it was when the 7mm-08 was a brand new cartridge and I had a really nice B&L setting on a Ruger M77. Most have been in th e80's because it was just before kids. I need to ask to try some better scopes at the range. In the stores I couldn't see a big difference between my Nikons and some higher priced Leupold. I do believe there is, perhaps the lighting and/or the lack of distance inside the store.

 

[briansmithwins]

You'll see the biggest differences in glass at the margins: low light, poor contrast, clarity, resolution, and consistent image across the field of vision.

Reliability of seals and repeatability of adjustments are other benifits of better quality glass too.

BSW

 

[MondronT]

OK so I decided to stick the scope on my 7mm-08. I've been pretty happy getting this gun to shoot 5/8 inch groups with a few in the 1/2" range occasionally. Today I got out to the range and sighted in at 25 yards. 3 shots. Then out to 100 yards the first shoot was just off the target 1-1/2" high and about 4" left. I clicked in which was a lot of clicks due to the 1/8 instead of 1/4 I'm used to. I then shot a three shot group that is 1/4 inch. This gun has never shot a group this tight with the three other scopes I've had mounted. So I know many do not think the cheap glass in the BSA can help or the 36x magnification. But I know what I know and I'm very happy with the results.

 

[MondronT]

target

 

[MondronT]

a little better image