So thanks to some good reviews from folks I trust, and my own curiosity, I burned up the last of my gun credit and some of my year-end bonus to order a Sako S20.
A new gun always deserves a new scope right? Or maybe a new guns a good excuse to buy a new scope......probably the later.....
Anyway, I ordered an Athlong Midas HMR 2.5-15x50 (over a Meopta Optika5, on the advice of someone I trust) and a set of rings for my new rifle.
About two days later I ran across a Meopta/Cabelas HTR 6.5-20x50, which I bid on and won.
(I have the Meopro version of the scope on my .280AI, and had one of the Cabelas one on my old 28Nos)
That leaves me in a bit of quandary as to which to drop on the new gun, and which to move over to my swap barrel build.
The HMR has a more traditional power range (albeit wider) for a hunting scope, has a much wider adjustment range, has covered turrets which are really nice(I have not run a tracking test on one of these yet), and is illuminated.
Its also heavier by a bit, and slightly bulkier with its 30mm tube.
The Meopta has a noticeably higher max power, while still being at about the min I turn my scopes down to, Its got slightly (and I do mean slightly) better glass to my eye, is lighter, has a covered windage turret and a Kenton vertical. I found the one I have (with normal meopta target turrets) on my 280AI to be very capable at dialing and returning to zero.
The downsides are that its a very long scope (which shouldnt be a big deal on the long action S20, but it looked kinda funny on my short action 6.5), and the Vertical adjustment is only like 30MOA total (the one I had on my 28Nosler Xbolt burned up 24 of that in zeroing at 100yds).
I really don't see myself doing a ton of long distance shooting with this rifle, or that limited vertical travel would be a major issue.
So which scope would you put on a brand new (relatively heavy already) 7mm Remington Magnum turn bolt hunting gun?
A new gun always deserves a new scope right? Or maybe a new guns a good excuse to buy a new scope......probably the later.....
Anyway, I ordered an Athlong Midas HMR 2.5-15x50 (over a Meopta Optika5, on the advice of someone I trust) and a set of rings for my new rifle.
About two days later I ran across a Meopta/Cabelas HTR 6.5-20x50, which I bid on and won.
(I have the Meopro version of the scope on my .280AI, and had one of the Cabelas one on my old 28Nos)
That leaves me in a bit of quandary as to which to drop on the new gun, and which to move over to my swap barrel build.
The HMR has a more traditional power range (albeit wider) for a hunting scope, has a much wider adjustment range, has covered turrets which are really nice(I have not run a tracking test on one of these yet), and is illuminated.
Its also heavier by a bit, and slightly bulkier with its 30mm tube.
The Meopta has a noticeably higher max power, while still being at about the min I turn my scopes down to, Its got slightly (and I do mean slightly) better glass to my eye, is lighter, has a covered windage turret and a Kenton vertical. I found the one I have (with normal meopta target turrets) on my 280AI to be very capable at dialing and returning to zero.
The downsides are that its a very long scope (which shouldnt be a big deal on the long action S20, but it looked kinda funny on my short action 6.5), and the Vertical adjustment is only like 30MOA total (the one I had on my 28Nosler Xbolt burned up 24 of that in zeroing at 100yds).
I really don't see myself doing a ton of long distance shooting with this rifle, or that limited vertical travel would be a major issue.
So which scope would you put on a brand new (relatively heavy already) 7mm Remington Magnum turn bolt hunting gun?