Optics for short range competition...

T

thelongshot

Guest
I took the plunge and bought a 30br. It was recomended by the smith that I go with a Leupold 45x for competition. I am under a weight limit and that scope would fit the weight bill. Any reason to go with less than 45x? I know you battle the mirage more at 45x but is there some other opinions?
 
I've been very happy with my Leupold 45x and would buy another. I haven't found the mirage to be that much of a factor once I learned to deal with it (notice I didn't say read it as I am a LONG way from figuring out what it is telling me!). It does pick up more than a 36x, and if it seems like to too much maybe the 40x is a better choice. If you have a chance to get behind one before you buy it may help with your decision. The lifetime warranty is a great security factor if anything should go wrong, too.
Good luck with your 30br.
mike
 
Go over to the IBS website and look in the "results" for the equipment lists. The folks who shoot the two ranges I frequent are partial to 12x42 NF. I'm guessing close to 1/2 of us use them. But there are Luepolds, Weavers & a few March's. Some of us drive Chevy's, others Fords.

Rick
 
thelongshot said:
Any reason to go with less than 45x? I know you battle the mirage more at 45x but is there some other opinions?
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Ok personally I like even more power than a 45 but I will tell you I know of a couple very good score shooters that feel between the 45x Leupold and the 40x they prefer the 40 because of the bigger field of view so you can see flags better. This is definitely a valid consideration. BTW the only competition Leupold I own is a 45.

Dick
 
When you shoot with two purposes in mind, score and group, it's not wise to get too heavy a scope, thus taking you out of the LV game. The Leupold 40x or 45x will only cost you 23 ounces with rings. And if it is on your VFS gun and your LV scope takes a crap you can switch. A 36 ounce NF will not fit on many LV rifles.

Greyfox said:
Go over to the IBS website and look in the "results" for the equipment lists. The folks who shoot the two ranges I frequent are partial to 12x42 NF. I'm guessing close to 1/2 of us use them. But there are Luepolds, Weavers & a few March's. Some of us drive Chevy's, others Fords.

Rick
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Dick Grosbier said:
Most people shooting 12-42 NiteForce's simply have no interest in using it on a 10.5 pound rifle.
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That's true Dick and Paul, I shoot with two purposes in mind, I have added a weight under the action attached to my stock to make weight along with a NF scope to get to 13.5#, when shooting VFS. When I shoot group I take off the NF, weight and put my Weaver 36 power scope on = one gun two purposes. Of course now you have to own two scopes one for each purpose. With all that being said my 30br barrels are all in the lv contour much to my smith's dismay, he thinks I'm nuts I think.

Dan Honert
 
(much to my smith's dismay, he thinks I'm nuts I think.) LOL!!!

Thats funny! My wifes says the same thing, and i think she is correct!!!
 
OK, me being analyst:

Depends.

1. Are you going to shoot a LV for any matches? If not, you have the full 13.5 pounds available.

2. Do you shoot heads up, or look through the scope? If you shoot heads-up, you're looking at the wind flags that way, and a scope's field-of-view makes no difference.

3. Can you afford the variable power March? (Self-explanatory)

4. Does "thelongshot" mean you shoot long-range benchrest and might be tempted to borrow the scope for that purpose, esp. if you find you don't like formal VFS score?
 
Dick Grosbier said:
Most people shooting 12-42 NiteForce's simply have no interest in using it on a 10.5 pound rifle.
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very true Dick, But...

You're at a group match with 2 guns, a LV and an HV, The scope on the LV goes broke, grab the scope from the HV and use it... Oh you can't, it's 36 Friggen ounces.

The scopes on my LV, HV and VFS are all 20.3 ounces or under.
 
Ok do most shooters feel the NF is a better scope than the 45x leupold? I have both but im not sure one is any better than the other! The weight of the NF is a burden at times, that much i do know. Lee
 
So far I shoot through the scope. I do open my left eye to check wind from time to time but mostly its a cross hairs focus for me.

I have 1.5 lbs to work with since its a 12 lb gun.

Yes I would like to try my hand at 600 yd one day. Our 1000 yd range went under this last year in Iowa. So far I have been just shooting at 200 yd club matches in a VFS-like match.

At my home range I try to see how far I can hit the target, just thats just for fun. I have a heavy barrelled Savage 110FP with burris 8x32 on it for that dinking around.
 
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pbike said:
very true Dick, But...

You're at a group match with 2 guns, a LV and an HV, The scope on the LV goes broke, grab the scope from the HV and use it... Oh you can't, it's 36 Friggen ounces.

The scopes on my LV, HV and VFS are all 20.3 ounces or under.
Click to expand...

Paul, you Ass-U-Me that Dick thinks ahead in that manner. Oh my, did I say that?

David
 
thelongshot said:
I have 1.5 lbs to work with since its a 12 lb gun.
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So you have 24 ounces to play with, which takes out a number of scopes -- Nightforce, March variable, others. You're right at the limit of what a (new) Leupold will weigh, with rings. That's one option, the others are a frozen scope (probably using an old Leupold), or even one of the cheapies like Weaver or Sightron.

The Weaver or Leupold's can be sold if you change your mind.

Just how much magnification you want is up to you. I've never felt challenged by having "only" 36X. YMMV
 
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