Scope Questions for Savage 10FP LE1

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wintermute76

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I'm planning on purchasing a Savage Model 10FP LE1 20" .308. It'll be mostly for target shooting, but I may do some hunting with it. 5-600 yards is going to probably be my max range, I think most ranges around here only go to 300 anyway.

I'm hung up on a scope, so far I'm thinking mil-dot reticle and up around 10x max.

Questions are, any advantage to fixed over variable power? I know a fixed will pretty much limit me to stationary targets.

In a variable, is Adjustable Objective good to have? advantages to it over a non AO variable?

My budget for a scope will be to try and stay under $400

So far I"ve been looking at Leupold VX-II , Burris Black diamond, Bushnell 3200 elite/4200 elite, SWFA Super Sniper in 10x and Sightron.
Sportsman's Warehouse has a Springfield Armory Gov't 6x with BDC reticle for 7.62 mm on clearance for 139.99, but I haven't read many good things about Springfield scopes.


I'm a bit of a newbie with scopes, I fell into a Rem 788 .22-250 that has a Tasco World Class 6-24x40, but haven't had a chance to sit down with it much. Looking at the .308 as a multipurpose rifle with a bit more reach out and touch someone.

Too many choices, any recommendation would be welcome. Thanks in advance :)
 
If it has to be a mildot, get the SWFA Super Sniper 10x.

I have the Bushnell Elite 3200 10x mildot, but I like the 30mm tube and the threaded objective of the Super Sniper is appealing.
 
It wouldn't need to be a mildot, but it seems it would be nice for quick holdovers without having to crank the turret.

I guess I am pretty much indifferent, as I really don't have the experience to tell.
 
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I just started looking for a quality scope on budget, and I had never heard of Super Sniper.
From what I've found so far, it looks like a great buy.
 
I acquired a Trashco SS 10x in a trade; it's more scope than I thought it'd be, and 'way better than the 'World Class'. Its' image is sharper and clearer.

I wouldn't have any hesitations to recommend the SS for the "under $300" range.
However, if 5-600 is your maximum distance, and you anticipate this as your 'only' other scope, I'd probably suggest focussing on the Black Diamond with the BalMil reticle. (a big stickler here--I don't know if you can find a new one for <$400, but the lifetime warranty follows the scope, not the owner, so a used one that hasn't got any tube imperfections could work out well) In my experience, the Black Diamond w/BalMil was an ideal rig for your specs. While the reticle seemed to be dead on for my .308 load out to ~500 yards, at 6, 7, and 800 yards, it was obvious that the inherent 'bullet drop compensator' was set up for a different (flatter) caliber than .308. In that sense, for my needs, the balmil reticle failed me, as most of my shooting was 700-1000yd with some play (30%) at shorter range.
 
take a look at the Weaver Grand Slam 4.5-14x.......really clear optics...no mil dots, but a really good scope.............$329 approximately.....
 
Ditto on the Tasco SS 10x mildot, it's a good match for the rifle. I've got one on an older Savage 10fp-the one without the new accutrigger.
 
Thanks for the recommendations, keep em coming, I need all the help I can get :eek:

Without mildot and all the other fancy stuff, do you just eyeball estimate range and crank the elevation knob? Say with just a standard duplex reticle?

Mildot just helps make life easier, right?
 
My 10fp .308 has a Tasco 6x24 TR ranging scope with BDC. It has an extra horizontal line under the reticle that you size up to the game in the field. Then look at a dial on the scope to read off the range. Seems to work pretty good. It came with 6 BDC insert rings for different loads.

The 12fv .223 sports a Vari-X III 4.5x14. I'm not too worried about long range with that rifle as most shots are 300 yds or less. I just want lots of clarity with that rig, if ya know what I mean....picture Bill Murray and the Gopher and that's what I'm talking about :D
 
wintermute76,

I have a Savage 110fp (long action) in .308. It is factory standard except the trigger has been worked over. It breaks like glass at 2lbs.

The scope is the Bushnell 3200 Elite 10 x 40 mil dot reticle in Leupold rings.
The mount is a Ferrell one piece.

Got the Bushnell from SWFA for $189.00 plus $12.00 S&H. It's glass is clear and bright out to the edge. The duplex reticle works well against various backgrounds. The turrets have 1/4" clicks which are CONSISTENTLY REPEATABLE. The clicks are both tactile and audible.

This is an economical, not cheap, medium range setup. It's not the equal of some other much more expensive rigs. It breaks clay pigeons at 500 yards with regularity. A miss cannot be blamed on the rig.

Whatever your choice good shooting.

flatdog.
 
Shalako, that sounds just like the Tasco on my .22-250. I really can't complain about it, I got the rifle and scope, dies, about 160 rounds of ammo and a sling for $250. Just haven't had much of a chance to see what she'll do tho.

Everyone else, thanks for the recommendations, they're backing up what I"ve been reading and looking at so far. Decsions, decsions..... :banghead:


As far as fixed power, will that be a problem trying to take it hunting? Seems to me like it would. Any hunting would probably be whitetail deer, I generally drag out the 788 for varmints.

Here's the (not so) short list so far in no particular order:

SWFA Super Sniper 10x42 299.99
Weaver Tactical 3-9x40 449.99
Weaver Classic V24 6-24x42 339.95
Nikon Monarch 3.3-10x44 389.99
Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24x40 468.99
Bushnell Elite 3200 10x40 198.99
Burris Fullfield II 6.5-20x50 429.95
Leupold Mk4 PR 3-9x40 449.95


So they run the gamut form 200 to 450, these are all mildot reticles. Only reason is that may be a bit more flexible for me, still not sure on that.
 
wintermute76,

If whitetail will be your primary quarry then I would forget the 10x scope. The smaller field of view makes it hard to pick the deer out of it's surroundings. Your more likely to see a patch on it and not be able to tell where on the deer that patch is. Plus 10x is about the level where small movements from breathing and a less than perfect stance become evident when looking through your scope.

Deer have a fairly large kill zone. You should be able to find a good compromise between 3 and 9 power that will give you minimal shake, good field of view for quick target acquisition and adequate magnification.

You don't say if you will hunt up close in dim thick cover. Or in the open in brighter light conditions at longer ranges. 3x9 is a good compromise over that range.

Picking a scope is highly subjective when it comes to lens brightness and clarity. Statistics don't tell it all. What is bright for one person may not be for you. Compare your candidates side by side outdoors if your able. You may not see a noticeable difference between a $200.00 and $400.00 scope. In fact the less expensive scope may have superior optics, but be less ruggedly constructed.

Just to make matters worse here's another choice that won't break the bank.

The Bushnell Elite 3200 3x9x40. It's just better than it's price would suggest. Good optics and rugged construction.

Don't go cheap on the base and rings. The best scope/rifle combination can't perform if the mount fails to keep the two in a strong consistent relationship. Take that money you saved on the scope and get a good set of rings and bases/mount.

I wouldn't think that mil dots will give you a significant advantage on deer under 300 yards over a duplex reticle. But that's just my opinion. Some shooters use the top of the lower post as an aim point for longer ranges.

.Good Luck.

flatdog.
 
I have 2 Shepherd scopes.....on my 7MM STW and my ar15.....these are one shot zero scopes and have circles for range finders out to 1000 yards..all you do is put the animal in the circle it fits and pull the trigger once you get it zeroed in at the range...............but they are $575 .....if you ever decide to come with me to the range, you can take a look at them and shoot the ar15 at least......
 
Thanks for the offer yet again jem, been really tied up all summer so far. Been shoting on the weekends and that's about it. haven't had any time during the week.

Mike, I think Gander Mtn is a Sightron dealer, I may have to look at those this weekend also.


So far I think I"m going to get a variable, just need to decide on a brand and model :confused:
 
I have a Sightron 4X16 on my Morrison Precision Savage 10FP. It is clear, tough, and easy to adjust. I plan to put another on my new 6.5X284 for a true thousand yard rifle. Yes, the 10FP does hit a thousand with 42 grains of 4064 driving a 175 grain BTHP/
 
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