Target scope for load development

[BluegrassDan]

Is it common to use a dedicated target scope for working up loads in hunting rifles? Just wondering how many people put a target scope on their rifles for load development, find the best load, then replace the target scope with something more practical.

 

[Art Eatman]

Never occurred to me. Back when my eyes were young, I could get one MOA with a Weaver K2.5. Through the years, mostly 2-7 or 3-9. I can still get one MOA with a K4.

 

[rcmodel]

No!

I can still shoot 1/2 MOA groups with a 3-9x40 hunting scope.

Once I mount it, and sight it in?

I don't need to waste ammo sighting it in again after load testing loads & changing scopes for no good reason anyway.

rc

 

[Geno]

Is it common, perhaps not. However, this is the exact reason I use M1913 picatinny rails on my rifles: I can use my Nightforce 12-42X56 scope on any of my centerfire rifles for load development. Is it necessary? Heck no! As already stated, and I do agree, no it is not common, and not necessary.

This past year, I wanted to use my Weatherby Mark V, .300 Win Mag in deer season. My mounted my Trijicon 1-4 Accupoint, and zeroed it 2 inches high at 100 yards. My three-shot groups were consistently 1.0" to 1.25" at 100 yards. Would I use a 1-4 for load development?! Nope, I have a Nightforce 3.5-15X56, and a Nightforce 12-42X56 for that. Sorry...ramble.

Geno

 

[Savage99]

With the excellent variable power scopes made today we can have both.

Many of my hunting rifles have 3-9's and some 4.5-14's on them. I shoot them more at the range anyway and I like to turn the magnification up.

From the bottom of the picture the M70 300 WM has a 3-9 Conquest, the Kimber Montana 7mm WSM a 4.5-14 Leupold, the 30-06 Mauser a 3-9 Swarovski and the 270 Ruger a 2.5-8 Leupold.

 

[tuj]

I have a buddy who does this with his hunting rifles. Mounts a variable high-power scope to them, works up the load on the bench, then switches scopes and re-zeros. Higher power really does lead to more accuracy for most of us, especially from the bench.

 

[redneck2]

I've done that, but it depends on the firearm. If it's a 100 yard gun, most any decent scope may well be good enough. If it's a 400 yard gun, then to me it's worth going after the extra 1/2" - 1" improvement.

As for burning up ammo, you gotta do load development anyway. Might as well get the most from it. That's why I use really good rests and the best sighting system I can. How do you know how accurate the load is if you've introduced other variables?

YMMV

 

[witchhunter]

I use a Weaver 24X to work up loads. I don't want to have any outside influence on my scientific study of reloading and shooting groups! Once I get done, I put the scope I use on it and sight it in, shoot some groups at all ranges. I log my drops at those ranges and shoot it some more!

 

[d2wing]

I haven't in the past but plan on it with my AR. The scope I have on it really isn't precise enough to see how well it is shooting at ranges I want to shoot. A 3-9 used to be enough. Sadly not anymore.

 

[Legionnaire]

I don't use a higher power target scope. If your scope has fairly low magnification, address the issue by changing the target you are using. I can easily see a 1-inch target at 100 yards through a 9 or 10 power scope. But if I want to shoot at 200 yards, just make the target a 2-inch square. 2-inches at 200 will look like 1-inch at 100. All you really need is a clearly visible aiming point. Easy to accomplish with print-your-own targets.

 

[PapaG]

Years ago I used a fine Lyman scope when shooting Postal matches with my old M70 and cast bullets. Didn't matter that the gun was "out of hunting commission" because I couldn't hunt with it here in the Illinois Republik anyway. Still don't see the logic in that. I can shoot 50 cal jacketed bullets encased in sabots out of a rifled barrel (12 ga) at 2000 plus fps but can't hunt with a 30-30.
Oh, well.
Now I put a good scope on, sight it in and leave it on and sighted. (just wish I could remember what loads some of them were sighted in with way back when)

 

[Ar180shooter]

No. I find a scope in the 3-9 range is plenty for working up loads at 100 yards.