Primary Arms New 3-18x50mm First Focal Plane Scope?

[DougB]

I recently purchased a Tikka T3x CTR (Compact Tactical Rifle) in 6.5 Creedmoor with a 20" barrel. I need to get a scope for it. I will use this mostly for informal target shooting out to about 400 yards, but occasionally may shoot to 1,000 yards. I want it to also be practical as a deer/pig hunting rifle - though that will be an infrequent use. I bought the shorter rifle to keep it an easily manageable length, and to keep the weight down. I think I'll lose roughly 80-100 FPS buy not getting the 24" barreled version.

Anyway, one scope that seems very tempting is the Primary Arms 3-18x50. Its MSRP is just under $500, and I can get one for a bit less. One of the six or so versions is optimized for the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge. It has a pretty nice reticle with aiming points for ranges out to 1,000 yards, and also for wind correction (5-20MPH in 5 MPH increments). It also has target turrets if I want to adjust for range. It has an illuminated reticle, side parallax adjustment, 30mm tube, etc.

One thing that appeals to me about this scope is that it can be dialed down to 3x - which would be nice for any short ranger shooting (I would probably carry it on this power when hunting). Yet I can dial it up to 18x for really long range shooting. A friend who does a lot of long-range shooting says I should get a Vortex PST 6-24mm, but I'm concerned that 6x is high for a scope that might have to be used for a close shot when hunting. Would a 6x optic be usable for a quick 25 yard shot?

I am concerned that the bullet drop compensation reticle may be off because of the slightly lower velocity of my rifle (I'm guessing it is calibrated for a 24"-26" barrel). Would this be significant?

Also, I don't really know how good the quality (clarity, brightness, repeatability, etc.) is with these scopes. I've got some other Primary Arms scopes that I like, but they are 1-6x. I don't expect these to be equal to scopes costing several times more, but I do want to get the best for my money, so if you can recommend something else that you think is better in this general price range, please do.

 

[wally]

My main concern would be with the 6X zoom and a FFP scope the reticle is likely to be too thin at 3X for good visibility on "fast shots"'

I've several PA FFP 4-14X44 scopes and like them a lot, but I've no place to shoot much past 400 yards.

 

[captain awesome]

I like the 2-3 power on the low end maxing at about 15 for hunting scopes. Even 10 power is enough to get you way out there. Check out "tibosaurus rex sniper 101" he has as much good info on scopes as anywhere else i have seen and a great video on how to select the right scope for you, though his primary focus is long range field shooting or "Sniping" not hunting. Based largely on his info I selected a scope and was able to drop a bull elk at 509 yards first shot DRT last year with ease.

 

[Walkalong]

You would be better off with two scopes, 300 yard hunting and 1K shooting don't mix well.

 

[Skylerbone]

You would be better off with two scopes, 300 yard hunting and 1K shooting don't mix well.

Amen to that! Sometimes wish I could shake a few scope manufacturers into thinking things out before manufacturing. A nice heavy 2-7x #4 or even a post for hunting, and a reasonably simple to learn Christmas tree for target.

If you hunt from a point with a rest available then a 1-4x is more than useable but I wouldn’t choose a straight 6x for a quick 25 yard shot if avoidable. I don’t hunt pigs though, I just know that I’ve halted a few deer with a quick snort after they passed by at an inopportune moment. Maybe a pig’s instinct is to let out for the hills if he hears you.

 

[jmr40]

Here ya go

https://www.swfa.com/swfa-ss-6x42-tactical-30mm-riflescope-3.html?___SID=U

A VERY good tactical scope for all around use at a great price. 6X is pretty versatile for hunting shots from 25 yards to as far as you want to shoot. I have this scope on my 308 CTR and did this Thursday at 600 yards. The wind blew shot #1 to the right. After correcting for the wind the next 3 shots are in about a 4-5" group. It is impossible to say for sure, but that is pretty close. I can only calculate the entire group, not parts of it. Overall this was roughly an 18" " group. The wind stopped and I didn't notice, which left shot #5 to the left. My brother has the same scope on a Tikka T3 in 223. He shot a measured 4.3" group at 600 with his. That is .71 MOA @ 600 yards with a 6X scope.

Keep in mind the graphic below is not to scale. It is a computer simulation showing where on the target my bullets impacted. In the real world the 9 ring is 18" in diameter.

You don't need as many X's as most people think you need. They make the same scope in a 10X, 12X, 16X and 20X for the same price. If you just have to have a variable, it comes in a 3-15X42, but at $700 I'd buy 2 fixed powers. I caught mine on sale for $239.

 

[Walkalong]

6x is way more than I want for hunting around here where the shots are close (150 yards or closer most of the time). 1x to 2.5x max for the lower end, IMHO. I also don't want exposed turrets on a hunting scope, especially if they don't lock.

The two things the OP wants to do are too far apart to not compromise on one, or the other, or both, trying to make one scope wok for both.

 

[rc2500]

W

6x is way more than I want for hunting around here where the shots are close (150 yards or closer most of the time). 1x to 2.5x max for the lower end, IMHO. I also don't want exposed turrets on a hunting scope, especially if they don't lock.

The two things the OP wants to do are too far apart to not compromise on one, or the other, or both, trying to make one scope wok for both.

Do most of my hunting
using 1x to 10x and 1x8x for 150 plus yds and its enough power for me