ACP
Member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2002
- Messages
- 1,334
So, I got a used, 2011-ish Remington 700 LTR in .308 for a great price -- $740 out the door with tax. It has the stock (non-X-Mark Pro) trigger that pulls 2 lbs. 4 ozs. on my Lyman digital trigger scale. The bore is bright and was apparently broken in well because it cleans up very quickly.
My first-time handloading has produced a five-shot group touching at 75 yards (longest I have shot it for groups). I am using 168-gr. SMK with Lapua brass, Winchester large rifle primers and 42 grains of Varget, set about 2.800 OAL.
My issue is the scope. I have no .308 scope with what I would consider to be a) proper magnification range or b) proper reticle for either dialing dope or holding for wind/drop at long distance (right now the LTR is wearing a Nikon EFR 3-9x40 made for my 22LR rimfire CZ 453).
Caveat: my range is 100 yards, may go to 200 yards in the near future. That's all I will be shooting! MY goal is to regularly hit 6-9" plates (or smaller) off a bipod and offhand at the 200 yard max. (I know this is no problem prone with a bipod.)
I am caught between two options:
1) the expensive option: an illuminated Nightforce 2-10x42 or 3-15x50, with a MOAR or Mil-R reticle, both of which approach $2,000. The 2-10 weight 21 ozs. and the 3-15 about 30 ozs. Buy once, cry once, my friends say. No doubt this would look pretty on the Sako TRG-22 I hope to buy someday. But I am having a hard time justifying spending 3x on glass what I paid for the rifle.
2) the more conservative option: Bushnell Tactical 2.6-16x42 w/mil-dot reticle
($830); Vortex Viper HS-T 4-16x44 w/VMR reticle ($570); Leupold VX-R Patrol 3-9x40 w/illuminated TMR ($600); Leupold Mk AR 3-9x40 w/illuminated TMR reticle ($450 -- but needs custom .308 dials, which cost another $60); or an SWFA 3-15x42 with mild-quad reticle ($700).
The SWFA is a first focal plane reticle, which I typically don't like; the Leupold Mk AR is a 1" tube; all the others are 30mm.
I've handled the VX-R and really like it; I wonder if 9x is enough. If it is, the Mark AR is less expensive and will be customized with the .308 turrets designed to my handload specs. The Leupolds are both 12-15 ozs., which is great, considering I do not want to bulk-up the LTR.
The Vortex and Bushnell seem pretty solid. They are about 21-22 ozs. each, 50% more weight than the Leupolds.
The SWFA has great reviews, but is 24 ozs., and -- again -- I don't care about an FFP.
So... Leupold?
And when I get really good, spring for the TRG with the Nightforce glass?
My first-time handloading has produced a five-shot group touching at 75 yards (longest I have shot it for groups). I am using 168-gr. SMK with Lapua brass, Winchester large rifle primers and 42 grains of Varget, set about 2.800 OAL.
My issue is the scope. I have no .308 scope with what I would consider to be a) proper magnification range or b) proper reticle for either dialing dope or holding for wind/drop at long distance (right now the LTR is wearing a Nikon EFR 3-9x40 made for my 22LR rimfire CZ 453).
Caveat: my range is 100 yards, may go to 200 yards in the near future. That's all I will be shooting! MY goal is to regularly hit 6-9" plates (or smaller) off a bipod and offhand at the 200 yard max. (I know this is no problem prone with a bipod.)
I am caught between two options:
1) the expensive option: an illuminated Nightforce 2-10x42 or 3-15x50, with a MOAR or Mil-R reticle, both of which approach $2,000. The 2-10 weight 21 ozs. and the 3-15 about 30 ozs. Buy once, cry once, my friends say. No doubt this would look pretty on the Sako TRG-22 I hope to buy someday. But I am having a hard time justifying spending 3x on glass what I paid for the rifle.
2) the more conservative option: Bushnell Tactical 2.6-16x42 w/mil-dot reticle
($830); Vortex Viper HS-T 4-16x44 w/VMR reticle ($570); Leupold VX-R Patrol 3-9x40 w/illuminated TMR ($600); Leupold Mk AR 3-9x40 w/illuminated TMR reticle ($450 -- but needs custom .308 dials, which cost another $60); or an SWFA 3-15x42 with mild-quad reticle ($700).
The SWFA is a first focal plane reticle, which I typically don't like; the Leupold Mk AR is a 1" tube; all the others are 30mm.
I've handled the VX-R and really like it; I wonder if 9x is enough. If it is, the Mark AR is less expensive and will be customized with the .308 turrets designed to my handload specs. The Leupolds are both 12-15 ozs., which is great, considering I do not want to bulk-up the LTR.
The Vortex and Bushnell seem pretty solid. They are about 21-22 ozs. each, 50% more weight than the Leupolds.
The SWFA has great reviews, but is 24 ozs., and -- again -- I don't care about an FFP.
So... Leupold?
And when I get really good, spring for the TRG with the Nightforce glass?