Help me out with picking my scope...

[cundiff5535]

Hey guys, I have been shooting for a little under 1 year now... in that time, I have shot handgun exclusively. Not to toot my own horn but, in the shot time I have been into shooting, I have gotten pretty good as well as built up a very nice handgun collections... around 13 Kimbers, 1 SVI, a FN 5.7, 3 Colt Pythons, etc... not a bad start to a collection.

This year is the year of the "Rifle". I already have a Arsenal AK47, a Compass Lake target AR, a FN Scar, and most recently a Ruger 10/22 that I have customized into a Archangel Sparta stock that looks like an ACR!!

I like my Ruger so much that I decided to go a little goofy and build a full custom... Here is the break down.
Kidd two stage flat trigger
Kidd Super Receiver w/kid internals
Whistle Pig Octagon ported barrel
and a fully custom micro fit stock

Last piece to this is the scope.... AHHHHH? Where do I start? I am a lover of highend products but, I am not sure spending the money on a Ziess or Swarovski scope is really necessary... and even though I do not mind spending money on a very highend scope, I just dont think I need to (this time, do I?).

I am a lover of Leupold and am thinking that one of their scopes would be a great fit but... I am not sure at this point.

I have also heard ALOT of great things about Vortex and Sightron... I personally have never owned anything made by them, and know very,very little about the company...

If I go with a<span style="font-weight: bold"> Leupy I really do like the Mark 4 scopes</span> (but no clue what one to get... power, etc) or if that is just to much scope for what I am looking to do or for a 10 22 in genreal.

I want to stay away from Bushnell, Burris, etc...

I would say my budget on a scope is right around 1K give or take (but, don't need to spend that). I just want a scope to get the job done and that I will be happy with... I am SUPER, SUPER particular about looks, feel, and most importantly performance. Typically I find that I will second guess myself or get buyers remorse unless I just buy the top of the line product... BAD BAD Habbit

Additionally, I will include what I want to do with the rifle to give you all a better idea of ranges and such I will be shooting at.

1. I will be shooting 75% bench rest/target
2. I will shoot 60% at 50 but, would like the option to shoot at 100 as well... and in a really rare situation 150-200 (depending on if I am out with a certain group of friends who like this longer range stuff.
3. I would like to to pink with this at 15-30 from time to time
4. On very rare occasions, I may take this out to shoot small varmint.. rabbits,etc..(maybe 3% of the time). I NEVER hunt but, I may down the line.

To add to the above... I guess this is what I am trying to say... I really do not know a lot at all about scopes... ask me about handgun sights and stuff I have been reading about for a while and I can spew out pros/cons... the whole deal.

I get that a scope is like a sight... there are different types for different competitions and it really comes down to what they are being used for.

With that said... I did a lot of reading on receivers, barrels, triggers, and stocks before I bought any of them... I also was able to grasp the concepts of each component and that was the reason I bought them....

With a scope I feel like there is WAY WAY WAY more than meets the eye... for example, I have no clue what power scope I want or need if I am going to shoot at the ranges given above. I understand what the power means but, without actually mounting it on my rifle and looking at a target at 50-200, I can not tell you what looks good to my eye. Additionally... I am never in gun stores or big retailers... All I know is what I read in and around the net... Snipers Hide, Rimfirecentral, INGO, Calguns, Firearm Blog etc... I am really a self taught guy who decided to "try something new out"... and presto... This stuff has become an addiction.

I am by no means saying Burris, Bushnell , or any of the others were "bad" scopes (given my above comments and realize it depends on what scope you get into within the brands)... I just know I have looked down a Leupy, Ziess, Nikon, and Swar, Nightforce and thought they looked amazing.... so that is what I would like to stick with unless someone can give me reasons not to...

I feel like I am talking in circles... SORRY, just super confused with all this...

Let me ask a serious question... If you were going to buy a Ziess Swar or Leupy what is best and why...

For the sake of eliminating all the other stuff lets say I am only bench rest shooting between 50-150 (very rarely 200).

Can you all tell me what you all prefer in the way of A/O (thats adjustable objective correct?)

Whats the school of thought on front or side focus? I mean why is one better than the other? I would think I like side focus but... I have no clue?

What do Target knobs do (like the Leupy Mark 4 has)?

I would like to add... I dont want a scope that look HUGE either... I know the 30mm looks a bit large IMO... what do you all think?

I know this thread has gotten a lot of questions but, if I dont feel comfortable with all this I will never know what to buy for this or any other rifle I pick up down the line.

As a side note, I feel like I would like to go look at the following scopes Leupy Mark 4, a Ziess, or Swar... Can you guys give me a few models to check out? Also... are all these scopes 30mm tubes? I think I want to stay away from those as they look a little large to me? Who knows... tell me whats up fellas...

Looking forward to your replies!!

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: Help me out with picking my scope...

scope? 1st set some parameters:

Thoughts on picking a scope for a rimfire.

then do a pros and cons list, and makes and models that match your budget and the needs wants on the pros / cons list.

otherwise you'll hear anything from the 69.00 centerpoint scope at walmart (not really a bad one for the money) to a 1690.00 nightforce.

for a budget up to $1,000 you can some really nice glass, with everything you like, can even be customized to your liking.

loopy 4 turrets are nice, and are all the rage in knockoff scopes. they are easy to read, easy to grasp, and just plain looks good. you can get custom ones made up, and also have reticles changed all with a no BS warranty----that's many of the nicest things about "top shelf" optics.

i am now hooked on side focus scopes, A/O means the focus for the scope is turned up at the front of the scope to adjust for paralax and focusing for different distances. side focus is on the side which i think is a more enduring feature and easier to manipulate while still maintaining a grip, cheekweld, and eye alignment with the optic.

i don't think 30mm tube looks out of place. supposedly the bigger tube let's more light in and has more area for more adjustment.

some of the bigger objective lens sort of look out of place, but they do have a function of "sucking in" more light for a brighter view. i do think above 50 mm starts to look cartoonish, but they do have the light benefit.

just to add for my personal preferences
1. mildot reticle for most cases, a target dot for precision at known distances
2. side focus
3. higher magnification 6-18, 6-24, 8-32
4. exposed high target turrets.
5. 30 mm tube
6. 50 mm objective is a good comprimise between function and looking too silly.
7. adjustable eyepiece to sharpen up the reticle.
8. for precise shooting (like ARA benchrest) 1/8" adjustment, for normal and long range shooting 1/4".

your preference will vary, but that's what i like.

with your budget you should be able to get something REALLY sweet with everything you could want, that is when you figure out what that may be

.

of course you don't have to spend that much, just see what's out there that matches up with the pros / cons list. the scope will almost pick itself out after you do the list, or at least narrow it down to 2 or 3 from 20 to 30 choices.

 

[usmcvet0331]

Re: Help me out with picking my scope...

I'm in the hunt for a scope for my new Savage FVSR but my budget is a lot lower. I looked through a few Redfields today, a 2-7 $189 and a 3-9 $220. The glass looked nice and clear to me. But I've heard rimfire scopes offer more adjustment for closer ranges. Adjustable objective?

 

[justin amateur]

Re: Help me out with picking my scope...

I'm extremely satisfied with my Mueller side focus 8-32x44 target scope.
At $270, about the best value for cost in a dedicated target scope

specs...

http://muelleroptics.com/mu83244td

 

[evilcoon]

Re: Help me out with picking my scope...

I just picked up a Bushnell Elite Tactical 6-24x50 FFP G2 DMR 30mm for my .22

Shooting 10m out to 100m and being able to focus down to 10 is nice. Not always plinking but being able to focus close range on game is a nice feature. It's a great all around scope. Illuminated version coming soon but I still chose to go with this version. You should watch the reviews on YouTube.

 

[lachoneus]

Re: Help me out with picking my scope...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: usmcvet0331</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm in the hunt for a scope for my new Savage FVSR but my budget is a lot lower. I looked through a few Redfields today, a 2-7 $189 and a 3-9 $220. The glass looked nice and clear to me. But I've heard rimfire scopes offer more adjustment for closer ranges. Adjustable objective?</div></div>

A number of the adjustable objective scopes will focus down to short ranges, and that can be helpful. You can get a Tasco Varmint/Target 2.5-10x AO scope for about $70 that is very serviceable for rimfire work, and focuses to 10 meters. Of course, if you pay more, you will get better glass . . . .

 

[YTALER]

Re: Help me out with picking my scope...

I don't think you'll ever go wrong with a Leupy