Rifle Scopes Scope selection- Dual purpose?

[sic65stang]

Hello all, new poster here with a couple questions on scope selection. I have followed many, many posts on here before but none have answered all the questions I have when making a scope selection.

I am looking at a Vortex Viper PST 6-24X50 FFP or Leupold Mark 4 ER/T 6.5-20X50 M5 FFP. My main concern with the two of these is quality of glass comparably, and level of service and warranty. I do not want to spend a fair bit of money on something and feel I have to baby it to ensure its lifetime use.

Secondly, I am wondering if I should look at a lesser magnification in each line such as Vortex Viper PST 4-16X50 FFP or Leupold Mark 4 ER/T 4.5-14X50 M5 FFP.

This scope will live on a newly ordered GAP10 that will mainly be used at the range, however will see time as a hunting rifle on occasion. For the hunting I am concerned about having a minimum of 6X if a close shot presents itself. I only have availability to a setup range for 300YD, however would like to learn to go further so for that I am concerned about what magnification I would need to see that distance well. Would the 16 or 14 scopes respectfully mentioned above achieve distances of sub 1K yd? Does anyone else have a dual purpose setup like this?

Thank you all for any information and support you may have.

-Bob

 

[A14]

Re: Scope selection- Dual purpose?

I don't wanna blow your budget wide open or anything, but from what your describing the new S&B 3-20 is excellent. 3x for hunting, and a high magnification when needed from a benchrest. I don't have any experience with the two listed, but vortex is a great company and the viper pst is a great entry level scope!

 

[sawman556]

Re: Scope selection- Dual purpose?

http://www.bushnell.com/products/scopes/riflescopes/eliteTactical/Product/?n=11#!prettyPhoto

 

[sic65stang]

Re: Scope selection- Dual purpose?

I think I want to move to a FFP scope. My other concern with the above pictured scope and the Leupold is that I have never used a mil/mil. I am used to MOA, is it a big learning curve and to move to mil?

 

[Twitch2120]

Re: Scope selection- Dual purpose?

if you can count to 10 then you can learn mils. since it FFP you can read where POI vs POA and make the needed adjustments, not much learning curve to it.

 

[B3dlam]

Re: Scope selection- Dual purpose?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Robert Murphy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think I want to move to a FFP scope. My other concern with the above pictured scope and the Leupold is that I have never used a mil/mil. I am used to MOA, is it a big learning curve and to move to mil? </div></div>

I would say its not a huge learning curve its actually quite easy. The other great advantage to a Mil/MIl scope is its far easier to make adjustments makes sighting in a dream etc as you can just spot the bullet impact and measure with your reticule and dial that value into your turrets with no conversion.

Another I would look at is some of the great offerings from SWFA I just picked up the SS 5-20x50 and love it.

 

[ccoker]

Re: Scope selection- Dual purpose?

14-16X is PLENTY for banging steel at 1K

mil/mil is an easy change
once you get to using FFP and mil/mil you will love it
SO easy to work with

good glass trumps magnification

You mentioned: Leupold Mark 4 ER/T 4.5-14X50 M5 FFP.

this is a GREAT scope, I tested one last year

1K view at 18" plates
View of TMR reticle at 1K (note, this was on a SFP Mark 4 4.5-14×50)

 

[sic65stang]

Re: Scope selection- Dual purpose?

CC, thanks alot for that picture. I have seen some through the scope pictures but not really any that defined target size and distance. If that is 14x than I can clearly see it would work for my needs. Now how about comparison between the Leupold and the Vortex? Are the companies, warranties, quality, clarity, durability all the same? I know Vortex has alot of people who like them, but Leupold is a top optics company with years in the industry. Is the extra cost paying for a name, or is there a quality difference?

 

[42769vette]

Re: Scope selection- Dual purpose?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Robert Murphy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">CC, thanks alot for that picture. I have seen some through the scope pictures but not really any that defined target size and distance. If that is 14x than I can clearly see it would work for my needs. Now how about comparison between the Leupold and the Vortex? Are the companies, warranties, quality, clarity, durability all the same? I know Vortex has alot of people who like them, but Leupold is a top optics company with years in the industry. Is the extra cost paying for a name, or is there a quality difference? </div></div>

best

warrenty vortex
overall quality equal
clairty leupold
durability equal
features vortex
customer service vortex
price vortex

from my experiance dealing with both companies i think with leupold you are paying a few hundred extra for the name

 

[The_FNG]

Re: Scope selection- Dual purpose?

If it's a dual purpose scope what about a Premier hunter? Still FFP, nice choice of reticles, low profile turrets so you dont knock them hunting and VERY reasonably priced.