PRS Talk choosing an optic's magnification

[jsmythe]

I am looking to get started into the precision rifle competitions. I have decided to start out with the Ruger PRS in 6.5 creedmoor. i have decided a nightforce ATACR optic with the Mil-c reticle. I have been using Nightforce for a while and have no issues, plus I am comfortable with the optics. My question is should I go with the 5-25x or the 7-35x magnification. I'm looking to get some feedback from what everyone else is using for competitions. I know the Mil-c reticle hasn't been released yet for the 7-35x, but the company states that is will be soon. I doubt i will be buying this rifle and optic very soon, so i don't mind the waiting for the reticle to be released. What kind of magnification is everyone else using?

 

[jsimonh]

I use a 5-25 SB. Higher magnification would be nice sometimes, but nearly all my shooting is done from 15-20 power. Positional and stages where you engage multiple distance targets don't play well with high mag. That being said, just because it goes to 35x doesn't mean you have to use it there.

 

[silhouette]

I use a 3-12x for out to 600m. Beyond that to about 1km, I have a 21x that I rarely use above 18x.
I'm past that "bigger is better" stage, as it never made me a better shooter.

 

[bab029]

So far, most of my shooting with the Razor 2 is at 12-15x. I'll only really crank it up for dot drills, or similar. It's pretty hard for me to spot for myself at more than 15-18x.

 

[skulldragr17]

A couple of our team shooters switched over to the 7-35x. In PRS, there are rarely scenarios in which the extra magnification would be advantageous, but everyone is liking the parallax on the 7-35x much better than the 5-25x; supposedly it's a bit more forgiving. I run the 5-25x and am 100% content with it. I don't think you will go wrong either way.

 

[Gil P.]

Oftentimes you will have to engage multiple targets that are over 800 yards away, where the targets are not close together, spread out around the terrain. I've never needed more than 15x on my 5-25. I would do just as well with a 3-15 or 4-16.

I don't think you would lose anything going with the 7-35. The mil c reticle is .033 mils thick. I've got a reticle that is .035 mils thick and it's only useful after 10x.

 

[TheOE800]

7-35x ATACR isn't available with MIL-C at the moment so that narrows down your choices today. Who knows what the future holds though.

 

[6AYoteHunter]

MIL-C will show up sometime next year I believe