Tweet
Experts, your help would be appreciated.
Backstory: I have an 18" Odin barrel and have successfully completed a 1K shooting class with it. Rifle functions great, mostly suppressed, reliability is great. I started the class with a Weaver Tactical 6-30X FFP scope (Natchez was clearing them out at $750, great glass, built like a tank, on a 34mm Aero SPR mount). Shot first day (pre-class, just messing around with instructors there to do wind calls) and got on an 8" gong at 1K yards over two big valleys with crazy wind (all due to instructor's wind calls). at 1K, the hold was around 13mils. I ran the Hornandy American Gunner 123gr rounds for the whole class and is what I shoot now.
Second day, I had the vertical turret stop working/fail. We verified that was the problem as the instructor loaned me his Bushnell Elite Tactical DMRII 3.5-21 scope on a LaRue standard QD mount. I finished the class with that scope and continued to make hits at 1K repeatedly. I sent the Bushnell back and my option was another one, or $750 credit to Natchez. I opted for the latter and hoped to put that towards the Bushnell HDMR. No dice since Natchez does/did not carry them. I opted for the Vortex PST Gen2 5-25X with EBR-2C reticle. I ran the Bushnell at 18-20X, so i figured this would be plenty. I had an Aero 30mm SPR mount hanging out, so am using that.
Fast forward to site-in with the AG 123gr (same ammo). I followed the instructions for the zero stop, got it all sited in. I then tried to dial up to see what is left on the dial - 8mils; not enough to go to 1K. I re-zeroed, same result. I then bought a 20MOA base from Weaver, mounted it, determined it messed up my cheek weld, added some foam, took it out to site in. Followed instructions again for zero stop. Bottomed out the turret as low as it will go, and at 75Y (as far as I could go that day), I was 12"+ above center. So, I cannot go "low" enough on the elevation to get a zero likely at 100Y and maybe not even 200Y (? - have not tried it, but prefer a 100Y).
I took off the 20MOA base, repeated zeroing, same deal, only 8mil left.
In hindsight, I definitely was able to dial 13mils on the Weaver and the Bushnell. I did not test to see how much more there was, but I know for a fact I did not run out of vertical on either scope.
I compared the specs of the Weaver to the Vortex for vertical adjustment (80MOA (~24MIL) for Weaver, 20MRAD for Vortex, 34MIL for Bushnell).
If my math is correct, the delta b/t the Weaver and Vortex is around 4MIL, which comes close but does not explain getting 13MIL on the Weaver. The Bushnell is self explanatory. The Weaver and Vortex were/are both using Aero SPR mounts, one in 34mm, the other 30mm. I guess I can just write it off as "whatever" since I don't have the Weaver any longer, but I would like to solve my issue with the Vortex (without 20MOA, stuck at 8 mil, with 20MOA base, i seemingly can't zero at 100Y and I have to add a foam spacer to get proper eye relief).
My choices appear to be:
1. live with 8MIL knowing that I won't get out to 1K that often, and I guess I can try to dial 8 and hold 5 in the reticle. Or similar. 8MIL, based on my dope chart gets me about 700Y give or take.
2. go with the 20MOA base and see what the shortest zero I can get is and figure out adjustments for less distance.
3. get rid of the vortex and find something with more vertical adjustment.
The reality is most shooting will be done inside 700Y, but like to get out to long range classes 1-2 times a year.
Would appreciate input; hopefully I am doing something stupid. Feel free to point it out! This is the first time I've used a 20MOA base, so who knows. I posted at AR15.com and yes, I am sure I don't have it on backwards and I am sure the rifle works properly having been to several long distance classes.
Thanks!
Backstory: I have an 18" Odin barrel and have successfully completed a 1K shooting class with it. Rifle functions great, mostly suppressed, reliability is great. I started the class with a Weaver Tactical 6-30X FFP scope (Natchez was clearing them out at $750, great glass, built like a tank, on a 34mm Aero SPR mount). Shot first day (pre-class, just messing around with instructors there to do wind calls) and got on an 8" gong at 1K yards over two big valleys with crazy wind (all due to instructor's wind calls). at 1K, the hold was around 13mils. I ran the Hornandy American Gunner 123gr rounds for the whole class and is what I shoot now.
Second day, I had the vertical turret stop working/fail. We verified that was the problem as the instructor loaned me his Bushnell Elite Tactical DMRII 3.5-21 scope on a LaRue standard QD mount. I finished the class with that scope and continued to make hits at 1K repeatedly. I sent the Bushnell back and my option was another one, or $750 credit to Natchez. I opted for the latter and hoped to put that towards the Bushnell HDMR. No dice since Natchez does/did not carry them. I opted for the Vortex PST Gen2 5-25X with EBR-2C reticle. I ran the Bushnell at 18-20X, so i figured this would be plenty. I had an Aero 30mm SPR mount hanging out, so am using that.
Fast forward to site-in with the AG 123gr (same ammo). I followed the instructions for the zero stop, got it all sited in. I then tried to dial up to see what is left on the dial - 8mils; not enough to go to 1K. I re-zeroed, same result. I then bought a 20MOA base from Weaver, mounted it, determined it messed up my cheek weld, added some foam, took it out to site in. Followed instructions again for zero stop. Bottomed out the turret as low as it will go, and at 75Y (as far as I could go that day), I was 12"+ above center. So, I cannot go "low" enough on the elevation to get a zero likely at 100Y and maybe not even 200Y (? - have not tried it, but prefer a 100Y).
I took off the 20MOA base, repeated zeroing, same deal, only 8mil left.
In hindsight, I definitely was able to dial 13mils on the Weaver and the Bushnell. I did not test to see how much more there was, but I know for a fact I did not run out of vertical on either scope.
I compared the specs of the Weaver to the Vortex for vertical adjustment (80MOA (~24MIL) for Weaver, 20MRAD for Vortex, 34MIL for Bushnell).
If my math is correct, the delta b/t the Weaver and Vortex is around 4MIL, which comes close but does not explain getting 13MIL on the Weaver. The Bushnell is self explanatory. The Weaver and Vortex were/are both using Aero SPR mounts, one in 34mm, the other 30mm. I guess I can just write it off as "whatever" since I don't have the Weaver any longer, but I would like to solve my issue with the Vortex (without 20MOA, stuck at 8 mil, with 20MOA base, i seemingly can't zero at 100Y and I have to add a foam spacer to get proper eye relief).
My choices appear to be:
1. live with 8MIL knowing that I won't get out to 1K that often, and I guess I can try to dial 8 and hold 5 in the reticle. Or similar. 8MIL, based on my dope chart gets me about 700Y give or take.
2. go with the 20MOA base and see what the shortest zero I can get is and figure out adjustments for less distance.
3. get rid of the vortex and find something with more vertical adjustment.
The reality is most shooting will be done inside 700Y, but like to get out to long range classes 1-2 times a year.
Would appreciate input; hopefully I am doing something stupid. Feel free to point it out! This is the first time I've used a 20MOA base, so who knows. I posted at AR15.com and yes, I am sure I don't have it on backwards and I am sure the rifle works properly having been to several long distance classes.
Thanks!
. I did it all backwards (bought the scope first and it worked for my needs, then used another one that "just worked." You confirmed my options (dial + hold with existing setup, fiddle around with base/zero, or new scope) and I appreciate it.
Comment