Scope(s) for use in 600yrd Prone match (and another "sight system" related question)

[Detritus]

Since it is related to Optics and mounting them, this may belong in the "accessories" forum. but since it relates to gear to be used in a match i thought it best to ask here. mods let me know if i've goofed

Having decided that my next non-military centerfire rifle i get will be a .308 Savage 10FP, which will at least a few times a year be used to shoot the 3x600 prone match at my local range. i have the following questions regarding scoping said rifle (for you HP guys out there i'm not QUITE ready to try Service Rifle yet, that's a "probably next year" )

first off what type of magnifcation do i need to be looking for to adequately SEE the target at 600 (part of why SR is a step or two down on my list of things to try shootingwise is that 600 yards is damned intimidating with the naked eye) IS a 9-power scope good enough or do i need to be looking for something in the double digits?? not trying to compensate for poor vision or anything i simply want to be able to tell what i'm doing.

second i am wondering if there is a tip-off or other QD style of ring and base system out there that is repeatable enough that i could mount, boresight, and dial in a "600" as well as "normal use" scope for this rifle? It just seems that if such a system DOES exist and is readily available, that it would be better in the end to have a scope pre-dialed in to the at least approximate settings needed for shooting out to 600 yards. and then have a 100yard-zeroed "normal use" scope for the days when i'm NOT trying to hit a target that from the firing line looks like my pinkie nail. And be able to switch between the two as needed.

I may have more questions to ask afer these two have been answered but since those two are sort of linked to any others i might have, i'll leave it as is for now.

As always, thank you for your time, patience, and any information you can give me.

Sincerely,
Detritus

 

[Steve Smith]

Hmm, good quesitons. I dont' know about power, but I think the guys at the NM and FL forums could probably answer them. Seems to me that a 10X would work fine, and would be more "tactical" as you could get a good 10X with mil-dots and theoretically use it as a rangefinder as well (future use). Many "better" scopes will have enough "up" travel to get you from a 200 to a 500 yard zero easily. If you choose one with target knobs, then you're set. Just mark your preferred hunting zero with the knobs, then find your 600 yard zero and write down your clicks. Good scopes with target or "Tactical" knobs are built to be changed a lot, so its no big deal. Just like me moving my sights on my AR all the time.

If you really want two scopes, I can easily suggest the Swan (ARMS) Mil-spec Quick Detach rings. They are guaranteed to detach and re-attach with 1 MOA accuracy.

 

[Detritus]

If you really want two scopes, I can easily suggest the Swan (ARMS) Mil-spec Quick Detach rings. They are guaranteed to detach and re-attach with 1 MOA accuracy.

based on the above tidbit i went browsing through their product listings.... VERY good idea, unfortuately they do not seem to offer a rail that mount to the savage, though to cover my bases before i write that option off i HAVE sent a note to their tech/sales support folks asking if it's AR-only gear

as this is almost exactly the type of thing i'm looking for.

after i posted the original question i came across a listing for Badger Ordnance, and their 20 MOA scope base system, if i could find something close to this system designed to fit the savage (Badger only makes Rem. 700 compatible units) it would be PERFECT.

thanks for the input Steve gonna have to think this one over REAL good (got a good while before i can or even need to get started otn eh project in a more than "thinking about it" stage anyway)

fingers crossed and still looking for more info........

 

[lycanthrope]

1 MOA accuracy is fine at 100 but not at 600 on a competition rifle.

Get some good solid weaver style all steel mounts and then a quality scope from 10x to 20x (not necessarily a variable) with target knobs.

The less things to move around the better.

 

[Wiley]

Two suggestions:

Check out what the better shooters are using and get their recomendations.

Or, get an inexpesive variable power scope (BSA, Tasco, etc.). 3-9 x 30 to 50mm objective. Too much magnification will cause you problems. Once you have determined what power works for you, you could invest in a higher quality scope.

 

[Steve Smith]

lycanthrope, the 1 MOA part of that ring setup is just its return to zero guarantee. Take the scope off and put it back on at it will be within 1 MOA of where it was before. All you'd have to do is take two shots after you re-attach it and you'd be right back on the money. I agree, in a perfect world he'd never take his scope off the rifle, but if Detritus wants to run two scopes, that's the way to do it.

 

[J Calhoun]

Sending e-mail, it's clean.

Ken Farrell makes Savage 20 moa bases. You won't need it for 600.

A tactical style scope with target knobs will allow you to use one scope for many uses.

Get a good bi-pod. Preferably Harris.

 

[Detritus]

A tactical style scope with target knobs will allow you to use one scope for many uses

I've just about come to that conclusion, based on this and other threads (posted here and elsewhere) and information i've come across in the past few days. gonna have to do some SERIOUS scope research now (considering how [over]focused i tend to become when i do things like that the wife may strangle me....)

Get a good bi-pod. Preferably Harris

this is a given, on both counts. i wouldn't even think of not taking every legal advantage i could, AND well Harris is my last name, so i can't exactly USE any others now can I??

thanks for all the info and advice guys, this is VERY helpful