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Posted: 2/20/2008 5:46:30 AM EDT
| Is a 20x overkill? I've already got an ACOG 4X and I'd like to get a long range scope keeping the price under $1000. I'll be mounting it on a M&P15T. Shooting up to 600 yards, mostly from no more than 400 yards. Which scope and mounting setup do you recommend? |
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I don't think so. One thing about a variable power scope is... it's adjustable. I like a high power scope for two main reasons, higher power rifle scopes allow you to see small bullet holes at long distances on targets without setting up a separate spotting scope. Another benefit is often small targets can be completely obscured by the cross hairs of lower powered scopes. While with just a twist to higher power allows the target to be clearly visible through the cross hairs. ETA: My choice and recommendation would be a Leupold 8x25x50 VXIII or a Zeiss 6.5x20x50 Conquest for the money you have. Only one mount, LaRue... SPR 104. |
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1) more mag x means less fov, so the targets better not be moving... 2) clarity matters, or all you see a bigger blur My Bushnell Elite 4200 6.5-24 mildot came cheap from a guy who needed more clicks for 1,000 shots, but clarity lets me see target grid lines on white at 200, and 22 holes on black in good light. Better than some cheap spotters at 45x. |
| I have a leupold vxiii 6.5-20x40 on my long ar. It is set up as a varminter. Something ot bear in mind is that sometimes when you are shooting at little critters at long distance you need that power to pick them out. a small groundhog at 400 yards is a might tiny little target. |
| The more magnification you have on the top end the higher your "minimum" magnification will be. This makes the scope less effective at longer ranges so that is something you should consider. Some of the pricier scopes have a pretty good magnification range though. |
| What are you shooting at? I prefer a fixed power somewhere between 6 and 10. I seem to group much better with my bolt guns at the lower magnification. I have a variable power IOR thats about 15 years old and I always leave it on the lower power until I want to get a peak at my group. Then back down for more shooting. |
After doing some reading and shopping around. For around $1500 I can get the Leupold 8.25.50 VXIII with Larue mount included. I'm really thinking about going for it. My goal is to have this work for me from 100 yards out to 600 yards. |
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my personal oppinion is that you would be happier with a 6.5-20x50. I would recommend any of these three http://www.opticsplanet.net/leupold-vari-x-iii-65-20x50mm-long-range-target-rifle-scope.html http://www.opticsplanet.net/leupold-mark-4-6-5-20x50mm-lr-t-m1-rifle-scope.html http://www.opticsplanet.net/leupold-mark-4-6-5-20x50mm-lr-t-m1-illuminated-reticle-rifle-scope.html |
I think you could do better buying them separately: A Leupold VXIII 8x25x50 (Comes with a 2-3" sun shade) goes for around $900 + Shipping. A LaRue mount is $195 + Shipping Leupold flip up scope covers $50 So for around $1,150 bucks you are into a very nice setup out to 600 yds and beyond. I have this exact set up on my RRA 20" Predator Pursuit upper. ETA: I don't know as I would recommend the Varmint Hunters Recticle, you can't get enough velocity out of a 20" or shorter barrel to make it work with the bullets Leupold lists. You will need at least a 22" barrel to get enough velocity to use it a advertised. I have one and it will work if you develop your own drop chart. If you do decide to go with the Varmint Hunters recticle an example of my drop chart for a 55 gr. bullet is as follows: 200 yd cross hair = 200 zero 300 yd line = 285 400 yd line = 375 500 yd line = 460 The windage dots are fairly close and are accurate enough to give a pretty good starting point for windage adjustment. Knowing what I know now I would have saved the $100 and went with the duplex recticle. |
I have the 6.5-20x50, i like it for seeing small squirrels and praire dogs and rock chucks, on 20x you can easyily see the hits with an AR platform rifle. |
They just advertised one with a Mil-Dot reticle too. Not sure if they're the good Phillipine models or a new Chinese version. |
I see they raised the price of the truplex to 109.99 and the new mildot is 124.99, still a great value for a nice quality scope with a lifetime warranty. |
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What mounting system did you use? Simmons 6.5-20x50 $99 Thsi thing is 90% of the Leupold for 10% of the cost, I love it! www.midwayusa.com/mediasvr.dll/highresimage?saleitemid=746570 They just advertised one with a Mil-Dot reticle too. Not sure if they're the good Phillipine models or a new Chinese version. I see they raised the price of the truplex to 109.99 and the new mildot is 124.99, still a great value for a nice quality scope with a lifetime warranty. |
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