Rifle Scopes Fixed power scope

[Spartan6]

Hey guys I’m new here...I was wondering if anyone shooting competitions is or has used a fixed power scope? I’m interested in shooting the gas gun series and I’m trying to decide on scopes. I have a lot of experience with a fixed 10 power...both on bolt guns (m24) and auto loaders(m-14), granted they were both 30 cal. But I have been using one on my 5.56 ar platform and have been very happy for the most part, I haven’t shot passed 800m with it but that’s mostly because of the caliber not the scope. I have engaged area targets at 1650m with the same scope...so yeah that’s all I got. Any suggestions?

 

[Spartan6]

Really no opinions?

 

[Trigger Monkey]

Or people have been out all day shooting matches, spending time with family, or performing other necessary life functions...damn son, no response in 11 hours doesn't mean people don't give a shit, they're just busy. Now on to your question, you can get by on a fixed 10X optic but my recommendation is to get a variable power optic, preferably first focal plane, with a magnification range of 3-12, 3-15, or 4-16, tons of options out there within that range. Here's why, 10X will work but it's not ideal, the variable power optics will give you the ability to dial it down when necessary for transitions from target to target but ramp it up if you have to go long range. There have been times when that little extra magnification helped me spot the little bit of splash of a .223 off the target and make the necessary correction, I'm not sure I could've done that with a fixed 10X. In addition to that, sometimes the targets during a match are pretty small and/or shot up so all the paint is gone and it's nothing but a grey blob in the shadows so some extra power helps.

 

[308pirate]

Plus when you're trying to transition between targets, sometimes 10X is just too much. Knocking it down to 5 or 6 makes finding shit quickly much easier.

 

[Spartan6]

Lol ok monkey thanks...I appreciate it man.

 

[Spartan6]

You too pirate...appreciate it bro

 

[Spartan6]

I’m proficient at range estimation with the previously mentioned 10x...is there a difference in range estimation with a variable power scope?

 

[Spartan6]

And is range estimation required at the matches? I would think yes obviously but I could be wrong...although it would be a first.

 

[J!m]

The FFP variable keeps the scale of the reticle as you change focal length (magnification) so Assuming you are ranging with mil dots you have zero learning curve there.

 

[Trigger Monkey]

Well mark this day on the calendar because ranging with the reticle is pretty much a non-starter at any match these days, there are just too many people with too little time to even attempt to have them flop down and start milling targets. It's standard practice now that the target ranges are provided either in the match book and/or at the stage when you get there. That doesn't mean that they're gimme's though, if the match has good stage design you're going to work for every target. The FFP reticles are going to allow you to use the reticle for holds on any magnification, so instead of fighting mirage at high power for example you can dial the magnification back a little and the reticle is still accurate.

 

[Spartan6]

thanks guys...don’t think I’ll mark the calendar just yet lol

 

[Spartan6]

So without breaking the bank (only a soldiers pay) what brand scopes should I be looking at? Are vortex scopes any good I see there priced on the lower side, but that kinda worries me it will be a piece of ****. Although I have had seemingly high end equipment take a sh*t in the field and/or combat...(eotech) I know I’ll probably regret saying that here...any eotech fans lol

 

[steve123]

10x is just a bit limiting. Can't dial down for a wide FOV and can't dial up for resolving.

Mention your budget, you could spend as little as $300 or as much a $7000.

Spending more might get you more reliability but anything man made is not immune to Murphy's law.

I trust S&B the most of any scope I've used, haven't had one go down yet. Those are in the $3000 range give or take a few couple hundred.

Of any scope on the market right now I'd like to try a S&B 5-20x50 ultra short with H59 reticle. BTW, I have a 5-25x56 PM2 with DT turrets if someone wants to trade.

The best value IMO, I have one, is the Athlon Cronus BTR 4.5-29x56. Some would say it's too much scope but may not realize how compact it is, that it's reasonably light as far as scopes in this class go, has a wide FOV, great glass, focuses as close as 25Y on 29x and closer on lower mag, has 33 mils of travel, one of the best tree reticles ever conceived, 10 mil knobs and zero stop - comes in moa/moa too, daylight bright illumination and generally is a very good scope for only $1799 MAP.

 

[J!m]

Simplicity lends itself to durability.

I dont compete at the moment but my scope is fixed 10x and heavy steel. It’s going on the rifle below which I should have by spring.

Before that hat I had a 700P with an original Vortex Viper. My instructor was used to S&B, USO and IOR which all have great glass and he commented on the image quality of the Vortex. Their glass is decent.

Now it was a .308 so light recoil but I had zero issues with it as far as durability.

I think the mount is as is as important as the the optic. Get a quality rail and quality rings for it. Lap them (although quality rings should not need it, shit happens).

The secondary market is your friend. I got a Leupold Mark 4 10x with M3 turrets for about half market price. I sent it to Leupold who checked it over and replaced a missing turret cover for zero charge. That’s for my future M24 project but the point is that you can find quality optics with warranties like that for short money if you are patient.

Brands to consider (in my opinion):

U. S. Optics
Leupold
IOR
Bushnell Elite

set a budget for yourself and also a set of technical requirements. Then join an optics forum such as SWFA optic talk or whatever it’s called. I was active over there years ago and I ended up with the (then new) Vortex brand. Like you I had my doubts on a brand I’d never heard of but it held up just fine on a .308. If you build a .50 cal bolt gun you may want to consider something with proven durability with that recoil. That is Unertl, USO and S&B. There are a lot of brands I’m not familiar with so I’ll stop yammering but set your criteria and go from there.

 

[Twinsen]

You might be disappointed going from a fixed power to a variable, but I find them both valuable. You're going to find variables blurry compared to fixed. For example, I have a couple SWFA 10x42 scopes that cost me around $300. Their clarity is far better than the $900+ Vortex Viper PST models that are considered great value for their price. Going from those 10x cheapies to a ~$1,000 variable is very disappointing.

 

[J!m]

That’s the way it always was with manual focus camera lenses as well. The older “zoom” lenses were always an optical compromise.

 

[patriot07]

You might be disappointed going from a fixed power to a variable, but I find them both valuable. You're going to find variables blurry compared to fixed. For example, I have a couple SWFA 10x42 scopes that cost me around $300. Their clarity is far better than the $900+ Vortex Viper PST models that are considered great value for their price. Going from those 10x cheapies to a ~$1,000 variable is very disappointing.

I just recently made the switch from an SWFA 16x42 to the Viper PST Gen 2. It was the cheapest zoom scope that I felt was an upgrade optically to the 16x42, and it was 3.5 times the price. So I don't disagree with you at all. That being said, the optical upgrade from the SWFA fixed power to the Gen 2 PST was pretty significant.

But you're also getting illumination, a really good zoom range, zero stop, and a much more modern reticle. So you're not only buying glass quality. But I don't know that there are many (if any) cheaper tactical scopes that are an upgrade optically to the fixed-power SWFA.

 

[308pirate]

If the budget is tight, consider SWFA's 3-15X42 FFP. It punches far above its $700 weight and it focuses down to an amazing 5 - 6 yards or so. I can use mine for dry firing indoors without the need to stop down the objective lens like you have to do with most everything else.

 

[Spartan6]

Thanks guys

 

[Spartan6]

I’m gonna get a variable power soon...I shoot a fixed mk4 now think Ima get a variable mk4... unless there’s any reason I shouldn’t???

 

[308pirate]

If by Mk4 you mean Leupold, I'd only consider an ER/T with M5 knobs

 

[Spartan6]

The ert is a Leupold mk4 right? Just to clarify.

 

[Spartan6]

M5 knobs?

 

[308pirate]

You probably should hit the Leupold website and get familiar with their products, if it's a Leupold that you want.

 

[Spartan6]

Lmao ok....thanks