Rifle Scopes Do I need an MOA base?

[muchacho]

I have a 223 Howa 1500 ordered and have a Nikon 4.5-14x40 SF Mil Dot scope that has 50 moa of adjustment. I plan on shooting 50gr or 55gr BT's probably no further than 400 yards. My Nosler reloading book says I will get -26" to -30" drop at 400 yards with a 100 yard zero.

Will the Nikon's 50moa handle this amount of bullet drop?

I hate to spend $60 on an EGW 20 MOA base. Another consideration would be Burris Zee rings with inserts.

This rifle is for target and varmint work.

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: Do I need an MOA base?

No. A zero cant base would not be needed. Standard bases and rings would work fine.

 

[BobinNC]

Re: Do I need an MOA base?

Ummm Yes. to correct for 27.2" of drop @ 400 yds requires only 6.5 MOA to be dialed on your scope, and you should have a total of around 25 MOA of up available.

Do the Math your self:

27.2" / 1.047" = 25.98 MOA

25.98 MOA / 4 = 6.5 MOA (cause 1 MOA is 4.188" @ 400 yds)

With a 0 MOA base you should be good to about 700 yds or so, with that scope and that load.

 

[bcrich]

Re: Do I need an MOA base?

EGW 20 moa base is $39.00 You should get one and be able to shoot even further, you'll be glad you did when you find yourself lobbing rounds waaaay out fully taking advantage of the usable scope travel!

 

[bama110]

Re: Do I need an MOA base?

+1 for 20moa base you have to buy a base any way and the scope will easily handle it why not.

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: Do I need an MOA base?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bama110</div><div class="ubbcode-body">+1 for 20moa base you have to buy a base any way and the scope will easily handle it why not. </div></div>

+1 here. Just makes sense. Buy a 20MOA now and cry once.

 

[vman]

Re: Do I need an MOA base?

Muchacho.

I vote for a zero moa base.

Having seen first hand, issues with scopes on 20moa bases not giving 100 yard zeros...

This is all hypothetical but just imagine... your scope comes with around 25 moa up and 25 moa down, so its either in the middle or somewhere near. You then add a base that forces you to use some of your down elevation (20moa). This leaves you with around 5moa at 100 yards to get your rifle on zero. If it gets there then your lucky and will have a whole 45 moa of upwards elevation.

If not your stuck like my mate, who now has to buy a zero or 10moa base.

It might not happen, but it might.

 

[bailey1474]

Re: Do I need an MOA base?

I wouldn't recommend a 20 moa base on that setup. What you sometimes run into is not enough moa to zero the scope. I've seen it happen several times.

 

[HoboHunter]

Re: Do I need an MOA base?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bcrich</div><div class="ubbcode-body">EGW 20 moa base is $39.00 You should get one and be able to shoot even further, you'll be glad you did when you find yourself lobbing rounds waaaay out fully taking advantage of the usable scope travel! </div></div>

Not for a Howa... Unfortunately an EGW one piece 0 or 20 MOA base for a Howa is only available through Legacy Sports International, and they make the best of that fact to the tune of $69.00 + shipping.

For the ranges you anticipate shooting I would say 0 MOA is just fine with the caveat that I always use 20 MOA... A product of personal preference, caliber, and distances that I am shooting.

 

[muchacho]

Re: Do I need an MOA base?

Thanks guys. Midway has the base for $59 but I'll go without it for now.

 

[kentactic]

Re: Do I need an MOA base?

some say you might end up with not enough down to run a 20MOA base and have a 100 yard zero. in that case id say just zero at 400 and call it. but the same can be said for UP.. if it zero's high then you run out of UP and wish you had the 20MOA base. my scope on a 20 MOA base zero'd right in the middle. so without it it would have zero'd at the very top of its travel with only 45MOA total travel. id have only maybe 5MOA left..

so you COULD get screwed either way... just roll the dice and do it.

if it matters my vote is for the 20MOA base.

 

[WYcoyote]

Re: Do I need an MOA base?

I'm doing a 6.5-.284 build and I went the Burris Signature Zee ring route. I should be able to get the scope to zero at the lower end of the adjustments by mix matching the inserts and have the bulk left over for longer range elevation.
I know these aren't as sturdy as some of the kick ass tactical mounts but if the truth be known I am more of a casual hunter and plinker than a serious sniper. (and kind of a cheap bastard)