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+--- Thread: Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build (/showthread.php?tid=21000)
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Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - DL42 - 04-11-2020
Im looking for a good scope for a bench gun that will be used for shots on steel between 500 and 1500 yards. Every scope I like is either SFP only, or has terrible reticle options.
My ideal scope will meet the following criteria:
$800-1300
FFP (a must)
MOA
Christmas Tree type reticle, but not overly busy
Mag range roughly 6-24 or 5-25.
Good, Clear Glass
If Leupold made the VX6 HD in FFP that would be the winner. I would exceed the $1300 mark by a little bit if it was for the perfect scope. I currently have a Bushnell Forge 3-18 on my grendel AR which Ive used to shoot steel at 1000 yards, but I doubt the glass clarity would be good much past 1200 yards. Plus, I paid $350 for that scope. In my opinion, its not worth the $900 for the 4.5-27 version. Anyways, Im hoping you guys might me able to shed some light on some options I might have disregarded or overlooked.
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - grayfox - 04-11-2020
You didn't say what rifle it will go on... it's up to the task for shooting that far, yes? If it's your Grendel, that's not what I personally would take to a 1k line.
There are several guys on here with more distance experience than I have, who will chime in with S&B, Kahles, and scopes like that, all of which I'm sure are excellent. I have one Viper hs-t that I took to 1000 yds on a 6.5 CM, it did ok but was starting to get a bit hazy at 1k, it's more like 600 yd to me. If I were looking I'd probably look at their pst gen II 5-25x50 ffp, with the ebr-7c MOA reticle, for a grand on amazon. I have several vortex's and like 'em.
PA has a 6-30x56 for $1.5k but you need to get that newer athena reticle vice their deka...
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - Klem - 04-11-2020
For long range you have to pay to play. 1,500yds with a $1.3K scope you will end up throwing money downrange because it will be like looking through a Coke bottle and won't be repeatable enough to instill confidence. You will think it's everything else but the one thing you can't see; the scopes repeatability.
25x upper limit and four-times zoom ratios are becoming dated technology. 8-times for FFP and 10-times for SFP are the go now. Or at least a decent upper limit on the zoom range for the lower priced options.
Your Christmas tree might be wasted at long range and end up making the scope too busy.
The Nightforce Competition is a reasonably priced, repeatable scope with excellent glass. It is popular with long range shooters. 15-55*52, SFP (only) and comes in MOA. It has 0.125clicks. On a hot day you won't be able to use all of it but when it's cool it will let you see detail at long range. And when you crank it up you need good resolution or it defeats the purpose of having high magnification. This includes being able to see the mirage at the target to adjust for wind. You also won't be getting in your truck to check targets all the time. With decent glass you will be able to see holes at 500M but with cheaper scopes you won't.
What calibre are you thinking of using at 1,500yds?
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - Bigs28 - 04-11-2020
Start checking the ar15.com classified section. Some good deals come up their on used optics still in great to mint condition and you can get a better optic for the money.
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - FLshooter - 04-11-2020
I dont own a Nightforce competition .But I own a vortex razor 4.5 to 27 x 56 FFP. Built like a tank ,bullet proof ,crystal clear and tracks perfectly. Only problem is its twice as much as you want to spend.If you are willing to settle for SFP and lose a few features,you can get away with around $1300.
I have 2 Nightforce bench rest series 8-32X56.They worked well at 850 yards. Im sure I couldve stretched them out further. Not the quality glass of my razor. But I dont necessarily care for FFP and the NF BR glass is very clear. Which is why I bought two and would buy a third.
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - TNhuntsman - 04-11-2020
If you like Bushnell then CameralandNY has some good deals on their Elite Tactical line of scopes, these are made in Japan. https://cameralandny.com/shop/brands/bushnell/categories/Rifle-Scopes/5eb0346f-bcd4-4f1f-93df-d6f5a8428b8a
They also have the Athlon Ares ETR for a good price but is made in China if that's a concern.
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - grayfox - 04-11-2020
My eyes aren't near what they used to be, so beyond 300 yds I crank it up anyway... so SFP would be a non issue. Under 300 you can back down to an easy multiple, 1/2 max is 2 for 1, 2/3 max is 3 for 2...And with an app like strelok it makes those calcs for you in the reticle picture... so you can have a dope card to take to the field with you.
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - DL42 - 04-11-2020
This will likely be a 6.5CM Savage 110. My Grendel AR is good for up to 1000 yards, even with both head and crosswinds. It used to donn a Vortex HST, and I agree. That scope was good to 600 yards, but beyond 18x mag it started to get very hard to get a good sight pitcure. At 24x, it was worthless, and I have outstanding eyesight.
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - DL42 - 04-11-2020
Most likely 6.5 CM, and I would expect most shots to be in the 800-1200 yard range. However, the new Savage chassis rifles have no price difference between short action and long action, so I might end up just going for the 338 Lapua. Honestly, my Grendel is a blast for the 600-1000 yard shots, so whatever this rifle is will be to carry the torch past 1000. I love in Cali, so my opportunities to shoot extreme distance are scant, and if Im going to shell out 2K for glass for a rifle that wont be shot all that often, Im starting to think I might as well just go for gold. That, or settle for a C+ scope...
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - grayfox - 04-11-2020
I've got that 110 Savage, nice rig. Right now it has the gen 1 pst on it, got it on sale a few months ago. Haven't had a chance to go to 1000 yet.
There isn't any 1.5k range out here in my neck of the woods. If I can get better than 25% hit rate on steel at a grand I'd be happy!
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - centerfire - 04-11-2020
DL42 Wrote:Im looking for a good scope for a bench gun that will be used for shots on steel between 500 and 1500 yards. Every scope I like is either SFP only, or has terrible reticle options.
My ideal scope will meet the following criteria:
$800-1300
FFP (a must)
MOA
Christmas Tree type reticle, but not overly busy
Mag range roughly 6-24 or 5-25.
Good, Clear Glass
If Leupold made the VX6 HD in FFP that would be the winner. I would exceed the $1300 mark by a little bit if it was for the perfect scope. I currently have a Bushnell Forge 3-18 on my grendel AR which Ive used to shoot steel at 1000 yards, but I doubt the glass clarity would be good much past 1200 yards. Plus, I paid $350 for that scope. In my opinion, its not worth the $900 for the 4.5-27 version. Anyways, Im hoping you guys might me able to shed some light on some options I might have disregarded or overlooked.
The sooner you get away from MOA the better off you'll be. Nearly all of the scopes that fit your criteria are Mil and the ones that don't I wouldn't bother with. The world has changed and Mil won in the "tactical" space. If you switch to Mil the options really open up. With that said I'd probably look at a Viper if you want new or a Razor G2 if you're ok with used. Personally I don't like the Viper Gen2 glass too much but everyone sees differently so what looks good to me may not to you. The HST glass looks like a potato to me for whatever it is worth.
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - Klem - 04-12-2020
If you are contemplating 338LM then you can afford a decent scope. I used to own a Rem 338 and every time I pulled the trigger the dollar signs rang in my head - more painful than the recoil.
I use a March Mils/Mils for long range, 5-40*56 FFP. If I had my time again I'd probably go SFP but I convince myself I need it for short range hunting and touch-wood it never happens: end-of-days. With a laser range-finder that's one less reason to need FFP.
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - DL42 - 04-12-2020
Yeah, I can afford it, but Im frugaI. I dont mind spending good money, especially on something that will see frequent use. However, this rifle, whether 6.5CM or 338, would probably only be shot a couple times a year. My Grendel is fun for steel out to 1000 yards, so this new rifle is only for shots in excess of that. That means trips to the middle of nowhere. Cost per use of this is going to be very high, which is the only reason 338 is even being considered. If Im going to build a $4-5K setup, I might as well go for gold. This is the problem with my boredom in these times. I have no practical use for this gun I want, its purely a want.
If the Bushnell Forge had any better glass, I would go with that hands down. That fact has me looking at their Elite Tactical line of scopes, particularly the 3-21x, but there are more than a few reviews of less than adequate glass for that price point, which of course largely subjective. I wish I could look through them all, but that is a fantasy world...
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - Klem - 04-12-2020
Buy once, cry once. You won't regret it if you use it on both guns.
Shooting 1K yards with an AR Grendel is also extreme shooting so why not treat yourself to a decent scope and use it on both guns. On the Grendel most of the time and once a year swap it over.
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - DL42 - 04-13-2020
Anyone here have any experience with the Athlon Ares ETR? It appears to check all my boxes, but what cant be put on paper is the glass and turret quality...
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - just_john - 04-13-2020
I have 3 of the Athlon scopes on various rifles. They are better than my eyes are with or without my glasses. If I remember correctly, not quite a year ago some guys did a 2 mile "successful" shot and used an Athlon glass to do it. For the money, I have no heartburn with them. The Christmas tree reticle can seem a bit busy and if you aren't chasing the ranging aspect, there may be other reticles that are less confusing.
PS - my best ever group was shot with an Athlon - Ruger American 6mm CM @ 110 yds for a .117 group for 4 shots ( 5th a called flyer ) - factory ammo.
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - DL42 - 04-13-2020
Thats the thing, once I started shooting longer distances with FFP, I immediately preferred it. Thats the issue though... right now that scope is a Bushnell 3-18 and I usually keep it between 8 and 15. The glass is crystal clear until the scope is maxed out, and the reticl is perfect. On a FFP scope with a top end of 30, the crosshairs would have to be invisibly thin at low mag. I also hate how most SFP scopes require you to be at full magnification to use the subtensions. Unless youre buying a very nice scope, its hard to get a clear sight picture at full mag, and often, thats just too much zoom. Which Athlon scopes have you had and which common Vortex (or other common brand) would you compare them too? Ive heard many great things about Athlon, but is that because they really are that good of a value, or is that because the people writing the reviews are comparing them to junk? For example, I thought my Viper HST had clear glass until I tried something a little better.
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - TNhuntsman - 04-13-2020
I have Athlon Ares BTR gen 1 and 2 and like them for hunting, the ETR is supposed to be a good step up in glass, I just didn't want to hump the extra weight through the woods.
This is a pretty good review of the ETR: https://forum.snipershide.com/threads/brown-athlon-ares-etr-uhd-4-5-30x56-review.6990267/#post-8353382
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - centerfire - 04-13-2020
DL42 Wrote:Thats the thing, once I started shooting longer distances with FFP, I immediately preferred it. Thats the issue though... right now that scope is a Bushnell 3-18 and I usually keep it between 8 and 15. The glass is crystal clear until the scope is maxed out, and the reticl is perfect. On a FFP scope with a top end of 30, the crosshairs would have to be invisibly thin at low mag. I also hate how most SFP scopes require you to be at full magnification to use the subtensions. Unless youre buying a very nice scope, its hard to get a clear sight picture at full mag, and often, thats just too much zoom. Which Athlon scopes have you had and which common Vortex (or other common brand) would you compare them too? Ive heard many great things about Athlon, but is that because they really are that good of a value, or is that because the people writing the reviews are comparing them to junk? For example, I thought my Viper HST had clear glass until I tried something a little better.
Personally I think the 3-18 range (give or take) is pretty well suited to the Grendel and I've never felt like I needed more. I have an LRHSi 4.5-18 and it is a damn good scope for the money, I have used it extensively and feel like it is highly underrated. I also have a DMRi II and a XRS II. Compared to the Bushnell scopes, I think the LRHS/LRTS glass is probably better than the DMR and XRS. Matter of fact, I'd put the LRHS/LRTS up against a Vortex AMG, which I like quite a bit and I paid almost four times the money for. At the ranges I typically shoot the Grendel I have never found 18X to be too little magnification but I have found 30X to be almost worthless for anything but 100 yard load development groups.
As far as the scaled reticle being unusable on the low end of high magnification scopes, 3x for example. If you need to dial back to get the field of view necessary at 3X then you probably don't need the complex reticle in that instance. What is your max point blank range for your cartridge at your zero? Mine is greater than 300 yards which means holding center mass on an IPSC and still getting a vitals hit without dialing or holding; ie only crosshairs or dot necessary. However, if all you're shooting is static known distance you may as well just buy a SFP duplex scope of any magnification that works for you and build a range card for your load because none of this will matter at all.
Looking for a Scope for a Long Range Build - LRRPF52 - 04-23-2020
See if you can find a deal on a Gen I Vortex Razor 5-25X50.
You get a fine stadia tree, FFP, zero stop, TGT turrets, 35mm tube, HD glass.
![[Image: vtx_rfl_rzr-hd_5-20x50_25moa_fr_w.jpg?qu...as=578:338]](https://vortexoptics.com/media/catalog/product/v/t/vtx_rfl_rzr-hd_5-20x50_25moa_fr_w.jpg?quality=80&bg-color=255,255,255&fit=bounds&height=338&width=578&canvas=578:338)