Rifle Scopes help me pick a scope

[gpz750]

I have been reading alot, but still have a few questions.
I have a dpms 308 24" barrel, and want to do some 800-1000yd target shooting, and hopefully some praire dog shooting.
What reticle is everyone using for long range?
How much magnification is needed?
is ffp better for long ramge than sfp?
Been looking at a 8-32 nightforce, but not sure about the sfp, and if 32x is going to be far to much.
trying to stay under 2k, and would be nice to be even lower if possible.
TIA,
Mike

 

[Powerstrokediesel]

Re: help me pick a scope

I personally would research what Knight's Armament uses on their .308 long range semi auto rifle:

http://www.knightarmco.com/m110.html


It appears they use a Leupold scope. Plus it's made in the USA

 

[McKinneyMike]

Re: help me pick a scope

8-32 is not too much for pdog shooting and for my old eyes it is not too much for LR shooting either. It is too much if you are thinking about hunting, but targets and small objects I would have zero issues with using an 8-32 powered scope

 

[Underwhere]

Re: help me pick a scope

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gpz750</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have been reading alot, but still have a few questions.
I have a dpms 308 24" barrel, and want to do some 800-1000yd target shooting, and hopefully some praire dog shooting.
What reticle is everyone using for long range?
How much magnification is needed?
is ffp better for long ramge than sfp?
Been looking at a 8-32 nightforce, but not sure about the sfp, and if 32x is going to be far to much.
trying to stay under 2k, and would be nice to be even lower if possible.
TIA,
Mike </div></div>

Caveat: I'm a newbie rifle shooter

I have a dpms 308 with a 24" stainless barrel like you do.

I just (last night) put a Leupold Mark 4 6.5-20 50mm TMR reticle Front focal plane scope on it.

I may try the Vortex Viper PST FFP as well.

The Vortex is in the 850-900 range.
The Leupold is more expensive but still less than 2k.

My budget was 1k so I blew it with the Leupold

I may sell it in a bit to try and recoup some of the cost.

 

[gpz750]

Re: help me pick a scope

Have looked at the leupold vx3 8.5-25 also. It can be had for a little less, but is 25x enough

 

[longshotbml]

Re: help me pick a scope

25x will be more than enough. Past that mirage becomes problematic. As far a FFP vs. SFP if you use a good laser range finder the range finding at any mag isn't that big a deal for a paper puncher or dog shooter. Tactical aplication is a different subject. For Varmints I acually prefer SFP because of the finer aiming point at high magification.

 

[TEAMSENDIT]

Re: help me pick a scope

don't bother going over 25 power unless you spend some serious cash, the glass just isn't good enough to really use it. for pdod shooting the ffp will be helpful because when you have to dial down the power do to mirage you will still be able to use your reticle easy for follow up shots. it will make dialing in the wind alot easier. just make sure you get a thin reticle for pdogs, the reticle is more important than the high power. always buy the best glass you can afford!!!

 

[gpz750]

Re: help me pick a scope

So you are saying nightforce glass isn't good enough for more than 25x. I Don't know I've never gotten to use one.

 

[TEAMSENDIT]

Re: help me pick a scope

it is useable if conditions are perfect but that is rare. i have a s&b 5-25 and i rarely turn it up past 20x. i can quarter a clay pigeon at 10x with my schmidt with the p4f reticle and see it clearly. I am not saying to only buy s&b their are tons of great scopes out their i just think reticle choice and clarity are more important than power range. i wouldn't even consider going above the 5.5x22 unless it was for f class or benchrest shooting.

 

[308LR]

Re: help me pick a scope

I have the same rifle and use a Millet 4x20x50mm

It maintains 0 and is very durable with a high power rifle action
such as the dpms 308LR.



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[cyrekzz]

Re: help me pick a scope

I was always told it depends on what your shooting... but on my POF 308 i now have a falcon 5 - 25x ffp with the enhanced mildot. I have used a 3-12 in the past - but i think you need more magnification than that. I think i ran across a thread in the hunting section that said for pdogs - you would want a higher magnification to see those things. I think you can get away with a 4 - 16x.
As far as reticle goes - not sure here - originally, i intended on getting something like that nightforce nprr1 - but people say that with a mildot or TMR-ish reticle - it will do as well if not better for both target and pdogs. The downside of high mag scopes would be the "quickness" of the acquisition maybe? In my experience with pdogs - they sit up there for a bit before they start moving alot - i have shot one on the run at about 20 yds - that's where i was thankful to have the lesser mag on the low end.

 

[gpz750]

Re: help me pick a scope

Was looking at the millett, but all the reviews I have read said its useless past 4-500. How has it worked for you?
I know a few people that pdog hunt and they say the average shot is 600.
Thanks for the replies

 

[samnev]

Re: help me pick a scope

I have been reading alot, but still have a few questions.
I have a dpms 308 24" barrel, and want to do some 800-1000yd target shooting, and hopefully some praire dog shooting.
What reticle is everyone using for long range?
How much magnification is needed?
is ffp better for long ramge than sfp?
Been looking at a 8-32 nightforce, but not sure about the sfp, and if 32x is going to be far to much.
trying to stay under 2k, and would be nice to be even lower if possible.
TIA,
I have a NightForce 8-32X56 NXS which I love. While I usually keep the power under 30X on ocassion I have found the higher power very useful. As for reticle I like the NP-R1 but there are many other good ones for varmit hunting. Go to the NightForce site and choose the reticle that you like best.