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Posted: 4/12/2020 11:28:58 PM EDT
I'm looking for a higher magnification scope for a .308. I am wanting something good for hitting steel silhouettes out to 600 yards. From my understanding of FFP vs SFP I believe I'd prefer SFP. I'd prefer not to spend over $800 unless it makes an extreme difference, spending less than $800 wouldn't upset me either of course but I feel like that is reasonable budget for my needs/desires. An illuminated reticle isn't needed but is okay. I strongly prefer a manufacturer with a lifetime warranty.
Some specs I definitely want are; -Matte finish -Tactical/open turrets -Mil reticle and turrets If there are any great deals, sales, or LE discounts available I'd love to know about them. |
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[Last Edit: WUPHF]
[#1]
Any particular reason you feel like you’d prefer SFP?
For what you’re wanting, there’s zero practical benefit to it aside from cost savings. As for LE discounts, pretty much every major optics manufacturers offers some type of .mil/.gov/LE discount program. Many do them through websites like Experticity. Some, like Nightforce and Leupold, are done direct through them (you can find details on their website). |
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[#2]
Get a Vortex PST II SFP 3-15 refurbished from www.aaoptics.com
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BD1a ~ "You put your eyepro back on and get back to raping!"
DK-Prof ~ "I don't think masturbating in public by itself is enough to be considered similar to an ancient greek philosopher." |
[Last Edit: Ogive]
[#3]
Nikon has some awesome scopes that fit your requirements. Their scope division is going bye bye, and there are some great deals on some great glass to be had right now. Warranty is still Nikon. I just picked up an FX1000. It's an awesome scope.Nikon Black FX1000
You have to shop around - but there are deals to be had. |
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[#4]
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[#5]
SWFA - Fixed 10X or 3-15X variable
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[Last Edit: jaqufrost]
[#6]
Originally Posted By Ogive: Nikon has some awesome scopes that fit your requirements. Their scope division is going bye bye, and there are some great deals on some great glass to be had right now. Warranty is still Nikon. I just picked up an FX1000. It's an awesome scope.Nikon Black FX1000 You have to shop around - but there are deals to be had. View Quote Europtic sometimes has them listed cheaper on Gunbroker/Ebay/Amazon/Scopelist. Check all five for the best delivered price. https://www.eurooptic.com/nikon-black-riflescopes.aspx |
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[Last Edit: Rob01]
[#7]
Originally Posted By reelserious: here View Quote MOA knobs and a mil reticle is never a good choice. OP why do you think SFP would be better for you? What exactly will you be doing with the steel to 600. Just plinking? How high a power you want? Is the .308 a semi or a bolt? ETA, OP watch the Nikon line as they are getting out of the scope business and now they state that they will cover them under warranty but who knows in the future. Good deals but just wanted you to know as you speak of a lifetime warranty being important to you. |
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[#8]
It's for recreational plinking (seeing how far I can consistently hit steel and how small of groups I can make) and it'll be on a semiauto.
I really don't know enough about the difference to choose FFP or SFP honestly, it seems like every time I research it the verdict is different. I do know I want mrad and not moa. The scope I have the most experience with is a Leupold 3x10 with a duplex reticle and I dislike the lack of range estimation or holdover aids. It is also very lacking past 200 yards in my experience which is why I'm looking for at least a x20 power. I have seen Nikon mentioned lately as being a candidate for deals but I'm not confident their warranty will actually be useful in 10 years if they're getting out of the scope business. Of course, a super price will lessen my concern with that. |
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[Last Edit: Another-Bill]
[#9]
Originally Posted By jaqufrost: These are great for the money. I just ordered my fifth. Zero stop is easy to use, glass is good for the price. I think for the money they beat the PST II line. Europtic sometimes has them listed cheaper on Gunbroker/Ebay/Amazon/Scopelist. Check all five for the best delivered price. https://www.eurooptic.com/nikon-black-riflescopes.aspx View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By jaqufrost: Originally Posted By Ogive: Nikon has some awesome scopes that fit your requirements. Their scope division is going bye bye, and there are some great deals on some great glass to be had right now. Warranty is still Nikon. I just picked up an FX1000. It's an awesome scope.Nikon Black FX1000 You have to shop around - but there are deals to be had. Europtic sometimes has them listed cheaper on Gunbroker/Ebay/Amazon/Scopelist. Check all five for the best delivered price. https://www.eurooptic.com/nikon-black-riflescopes.aspx My second one, another 4-16x50, is being delivered today, both from Europtic. They are FFP (first focal plane), but IMO FFP is useful in this type of shooting. |
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[#10]
Originally Posted By Mustang17: It's for recreational plinking (seeing how far I can consistently hit steel and how small of groups I can make) and it'll be on a semiauto. I really don't know enough about the difference to choose FFP or SFP honestly, it seems like every time I research it the verdict is different. I do know I want mrad and not moa. The scope I have the most experience with is a Leupold 3x10 with a duplex reticle and I dislike the lack of range estimation or holdover aids. It is also very lacking past 200 yards in my experience which is why I'm looking for at least a x20 power. I have seen Nikon mentioned lately as being a candidate for deals but I'm not confident their warranty will actually be useful in 10 years if they're getting out of the scope business. Of course, a super price will lessen my concern with that. View Quote With a Second Focal Plane optic, the reticle will stay the same size as you zoom, while the objects you are looking at will get bigger/smaller. Mil reticles are only correctly calibrated at the maximum zoom for the optic. With a First Focal Plane reticle, the reticle will change sizes as you zoom. With a FFP optic your mil grid is always correct for estimating distance or measuring impact changes to then dial into your optic. My preference is FFP for most shooting as I like to be able to measure with my reticle and immediately dial the changes without worrying about being at max magnification. Some target shooters prefer SFP because at max magnification the reticle will be smaller and that may be needed for really small targets that a FFP reticle may cover up. |
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[#11]
I really don't know enough about the difference to choose FFP or SFP honestly, it seems like every time I research it the verdict is different. View Quote When you zoom in and out, the image of the scene will grow and shrink. The reticle inside your scope is designed to be like a ruler - it has a very specific scale to all of its proportions (line thicknesses, hashmark sizes, distances between hashmarks or dots, etc) that can be measured in either MOA or MRAD. This scale is designed to work in relation to the image you are looking at through the scope and its size. In a SFP optic, the reticle is physically placed inside the scope behind all the magnifying lenses. Thus, the image gets magnified to whatever magnification you dial on the mag ring, and meets up with the reticle after all that has already happened. Because of this, when you change magnification, the reticle won't appear to change at all in size with the growing/shrinking image - it will appear to simply stay the same size. If one thing (Scene) is growing and shrinking and the other (Reticle), which was designed to have a very specific scale to the scene's size, isn't growing and shrinking with it - they won't match up until the image of the scene reaches a calibrated size at which they do have the proper scale to one another. This is often times the highest magnification in a scope's given magnification range. FFP optics have their reticle physically placed in front of all the magnifying lenses. Thus, both the image of the scene and the reticle go through together and are always magnified at the same exact rate. If you zoom in/out, both the image of the scene and reticle will grow and shrink at the same exact rate in perfect relation to one another the whole time. This means any of those lines, hashmarks or dots you might use for holdovers, ranging, spotting shots, etc. can be used to their intended scale on any magnification. It is also worth noting, the reticle will appear to be rather small on the lowest mag and rather big on the highest mag because it has to always be growing and shrinking with the image. False rumors: - SFP reticles literally can't be used at all unless you are on the highest magnification. - This is false because the center point of the reticle can always be used regardless of magnification or scale. It is a single point in space and always pointed at the same thing regardless of how much you zoom in/out. Thus, you can dial and shoot of the center crosshairs on any magnification regardless of whether you have FFP or SFP. - FFP isn't very precise because the reticle is too big and covers too much target on highest mag - This is false because the reticle is absolutely no bigger in relation to the image on the highest mag than it is on the lowest mag, even though the reticle *Appears* to be much larger. Both the image and the reticle grow and shrink together, so the reticle is not covering up any more/less of the target on any magnification as you change. It will, however, take up more of your field of view. For some this is an issue, but it in no way affects the ability to be precise. |
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[#12]
Originally Posted By jaqufrost: Some target shooters prefer SFP because at max magnification the reticle will be smaller and that may be needed for really small targets that a FFP reticle may cover up. View Quote That is not always true. It comes down to the reticle. Also with a lot of the new reticles with small dots and open centers it also negates this argument. OP, get a FFP optic. It is more useful in the end for holds. Range estimation is way down the list on why FFP is useful as most don't do it or practice it enough for it to be accurate. FFP is more useful for hold overs, unders, wind holds, mover holds, quick corrections etc. Take a look at the new Strike Eagle Vortex just came out with. It's just hitting the street but would do what you want and if you are LE/Mil/Vet/Fire you can get them at a good cost. They run about $650 if not but Sport optics has them for $609 now with their promo code. |
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[#13]
$500.....LOW Japan made, mil/mil, illuminated enhanced mil dot reticle, 3-15x.....buy it and be done with it. These are excellent and are what you’re looking for. Nothing else beats it at this price.
https://www.natchezss.com/weaver-tactical-rifle-scope-3-15x50mm-sf-illuminated-emdr-reticle-33-9-6-8-fov-3-98-er-black-matte.html |
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[#14]
Originally Posted By DodgeDakota: $500.....LOW Japan made, mil/mil, illuminated enhanced mil dot reticle, 3-15x.....buy it and be done with it. These are excellent and are what you're looking for. Nothing else beats it at this price. https://www.natchezss.com/weaver-tactical-rifle-scope-3-15x50mm-sf-illuminated-emdr-reticle-33-9-6-8-fov-3-98-er-black-matte.html View Quote Had one of those awhile back. IMO the Nikon FX1000 on clearance pricing are a better deal. Nikon FX1000 at regular pricing doesn't beat it. |
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[#15]
OP was looking for at least 20x on the top end.
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[#16]
Originally Posted By Rob01: OP was looking for at least 20x on the top end. View Quote https://www.natchezss.com/weaver-tactical-rifle-scope-4-20x50mm-sf-mil-dot-reticle-matte-black.html https://www.eurooptic.com/Nikon-BLACK-FX1000-Riflescope-6-24x50SF-Matte-IL-FX-MRAD-FFP-16516.aspx https://www.eurooptic.com/Vortex-Viper-PST-Gen-II-5-25x50%20EBR-7C-MRAD-Riflescope-PST-5259-Showroom-Demo.aspx https://www.eurooptic.com/Vortex-Strike-Eagle-FFP-5-25x56-EBR-7C-MRAD-Riflescope-SE-52504.aspx This is a pretty good deal as it comes with Seekins rings. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Weaver-6-30-x-56mm-scope-LOW-Japanese-glass-W-additions/174249930657?hash=item28921aefa1:g:c-MAAOSwdUBei4oA |
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[#17]
The Nikon definitely looks like a good deal. I don't know why I always forget about LE discounts from manufacturers, I'm going to check those out. Thanks for all of the recommendations so far.
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