Rifle Optic Questions

[TonyAngel]

nixdorf, I didn't see where you mentioned what your budget is.

I think that the Nightforce 2.5-10X32 is an excellent hunting scope. It's tough and the glass is good. You'll never have to worry about that scope losing or failing to hold a zero. It's also pretty compact for its power range.

 

[nixdorf]

Thanks for all the great responses.

After reading the responses in this thread, I ended up buying a Redfield 3-9x40mm scope. This is one of the new-production ones coming from Leupold's plant in Oregon. I picked it up off gunbroker.com for $155 (including shipping). I'd like to get a higher-end scope, but I won't have it in the budget for a while. From the reviews I found of the new Redfield scopes, this thing should be light-years ahead of the cheap Tasco that came with my rifle.

I'm also going to make a couple sandbags to shoot from. I never considered that the Lead Sled may be causing problems, as I've never had problems shooing my .22 LR off of it. Of course, recoil from a 30-06 is MUCH different than a .22.

Anyway, thanks again for all the info. I should be able to make it to the range this weekend. I'll post a follow up once I do.

 

[33rowdy]

I'm finding bad things about the lead slead also.

I'm also in the market of a quality scope with a miled budget. I'm tired of taking bad advice of sailsman on the otherside of the counter. You can't properly judge a scope at a climate controled gunshop. I also found the issue that FRIENDLY, DON'T FIRE mentioned above. QUOTE " somehow, INSTANTLY, whatever way I adjusted the scope, the bullet holes followed - suddenly, instead of wasting 20 to 40 rounds and still getting nowhere, after three strings of three rounds each I moved the target to the 100 yard range and it was about right on."
Quotes that people stated to me about buying a scope are; Spend a dollar per yard that you will shoot". Spend as much on a scope as you spend on the gun. Because the gun is as only as good as the scope you put on it". I believe thats all hog wash myself. My budget is the $250. neighborhood and, trying to get around a 15X for a 300 yard gun. As my own experence, I have found Japan scopes to be my need. But I'm still listining to advice in here.

 

[nixdorf]

RANGE UPDATE:

Wow, holy cow! I bought, mounted, and zeroed the Redfield 3-9x40mm scope. I picked up a front/rear pair of sand bags to try instead of the lead sled. Yikes, what a difference!

First, I shot some remaining loads I had laying around: 150g Sierra Gameking Spitzers with 51.0g of IMR 4320. These did okay with a 2.495" 5-shot group at 100 yards.

The second load I tried was the same bullets but with 51.0g of IMR 4064. The first 5-shot group was 1.994". The second brought it down to 1.693".

The last load I tried was the same bullets but with 51.1g of IMR 4064 (added 0.1g of powder). These two groups came in at 1.637" and 0.777". The larger of the two had an outlier, else it would have been closer to 1.0".

I'd say I found not only a great scope for $155, but also a load my rifle loves to eat. Thanks a ton for the help!

 

[35 Whelen]

Atta boy nix!
35W

 

[helotaxi]

For hunting, you'll probably find no need to ever replace that Redfield, either.

 

[Flatbush Harry]

+1 on Zeiss. I have 3-9x40 Conquests on two of my rifles and 3.5-10x44 Conquests on two. Wonderful clarity, durability and utility. I use them a top magnification of the bench and keep them on bottom magnification when hunting, adjusting up as necessary. Look at their website...great stuff.

FH

 

[Art Eatman]

Problem solved, looks like.