which scope should i get?

[Garvo1]

what is preferred for the grendel 5.5- 22x or 8 -32x for long range shooting?

[RStewart]

First off, welcome to the horde.
This thread may help some:
http://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthrea...0r-1-8-moa

Also check out the Optics forum several others have asked a similar question before, so you may find some helpful info there.

I have both a Nightforce 12-42x56 and a 8-32x56. More is always better- IMHO
Rick

[RangerRick]

Welcome! It depends on your budget. In general it's better to save up and get the best glass you can afford, without buying cheaper scopes then stepping up.

At the high end Nightforce scopes are superb, but they are in the $1,800-$2,500 range. The Vortex Razors are great scopes in this price range, too, but don't have the rep of the Nightforce scopes.

In the $800-$900 range the Vortex Viper PST's (not the Viper, but the Viper PST) are a good value for the money, with lots of features of more expensive scopes and decent glass.

If you go below this price point consider getting a fixed focal length scope (non zooming). By taking out the zoom mechanism you can get good glass at a lower price. The Super Sniper 10x42 in the $300 range is a good example.

In the cheaper scopes they have to economize somewhere and they generally aren't very repeatable when zooming in or out, or when adjusting elevation and returning to zero. Particularly after getting hit with the recoil shock. They might work on a 22 long rifle, but not on much else. If it ain't going to work why buy it.

With a fixed focal length all the money can go into good glass and repeatable elevation ad windage mechanisms.

RR

[Garvo1]

Is there to much bullet drop after six hundred yards for a 12-42x56 scope?

[usmc1371]

bullet drop has no impact on your scope no matter on the type or power.

[usmc1371]

invest in good glass. the higher the mag to worse the mirage is and that can fustrate the hell out of you. the highest power of scope i have is 16x. the super sniper10x42 is a great scope. i have 2 of them.

[Rambozo]

bullet drop has no impact on your scope no matter on the type or power.

That's not true. Higher power scopes generally have less internal adjustment. A 10 power or 16 power super sniper wouldn't require an angled base like a higher power scope would. Scopes in those ranges tend to have adjustment ranges greater than 100 minutes, where as a typical 6-24 might have around 62.

I think the power of the scope should be more subject to the quality of the lenses. It's pointless to go with high magnification in a scope with sub par lenses. High magnification is good for long range shooting, but if you want any more than 24x, then expect to spend a lot more money on the lenses that can support it.

Look for something with good edge to edge clarity. Keep in mind that the scope is at it's optical best at the center of the lenses. That means that if your zero resides the center of the objective, and you don't have edge to edge clarity, then your image will degrade as you adjust out for distance.

I use a Vortex PST 6-24 FFP MOA, with a 30 moa angled base. The 30 moa base puts my 200 yard zero within only a couple minutes of the scopes upper most adjustment range. Being that my 155 .308 load drops about 30 minutes at 1000yds, that puts me in the dead center of my objective lense at 1000yds. It also allows me to use the turret counter as it should be, a natural zero stop, and I get the full use of my 60 +/- minutes of my adjustment range. None of the adjustment range is wasted.

[JPCTR02]

perhaps something in a Ziess or Swarofsky

[LRRPF52]

If your main focus is reaching out with the Grendel, I would lean towards a 4-16x50 or 56, or a 3-12x50 or 56. I think the Vortex Viper PST would be a great scope for this, as would a NF 3.5-15x50 if you're in the budget for one. Maybe a Bushnell Elite, but I recommend against reticles that don't match the turrets.

What's your budget, and what barrel do you have?

[mtn_shooter]

How far out will you normally shoot? What is the farthest range you intend to be able to shoot using max'd out elevation knob and reticle pattern? And what do you intend to be shooting at?

If you're going to stay within 1000yd, something in the 4-16x or 5-20x range is going to be fine. If you're going to stay within 600yd, even a 3-9x would work fine.

I run a 2.5-10x32mm NF NXS on my Grendel out to 1000yd and as long as whatever I'm shooting at is about 2MOA or bigger I do fine, although spotting hits (or misses) at that range is tough. I mostly listen for a "ding" on my steel plate. Within 600yd, however, it is excellent. Last time I was home I was popping water bottles at 450 and 560 yd.

I also ran a 3.5-15x50 NXS on my .308 for a while and it is great for 1000yd (now it has a fixed 10x42). It's much easier to see impacts. I think it may be because the bigger .308 bullets kick up more dust, however. LOL doesn't matter what I put on my .50bmg, impacts are clearly visible with the naked eye at 1000yd. I mostly shoot it at rocks/boulders because it destroys targets and stands.

[Garvo1]

22 in jp rifles barrel

[txgunner00]

Some of the best glass for the money is the Zeiss Conquest line of scopes. My Grendel wears a 4.5-14 x 50 I have no problem seeing 8" plates at nearly 1200 yds (I don't hit them often, but I can see them ). You will need a 20 moa mount for that distance though. I have a 10 MOA and depending on the density altitude I run out of adjustment somewhere between 1000 and 1100 yds. I know my hold over so I still can make the shot.

[usmc1371]

i should worded my thoughts better. no matter what glass you have. low end or high end glass, your bullet is effected my the atmosphere and gravity. i am not a comptiter. i just shoot long range on our lease and i us different scopes on different guns. trajectory is trajectory. and true the scope still limits how far you can shoot. if you look at ballistic software, there is no input of scope data. well no on my software. but i also have an older program.

[usmc1371]

i have hit steel out at 1000 with my 10x super sniper and i am using leopold rings and bases.

[hydrotech]

I just got the vortex viper 6.5x20x44 mounted and I'm impressed so far with its clarity at long distance for the price. I still want to get together with my buddy's and compare it side by side against leupold vx3 in same power at a 600 yard target