got a cronus btr with the new aprs1 reticle, i read elsewhere that the cronus btr has locking turrets although apparently it doesnt.
Rifle Scopes How necessary are locking turrets for NRL/PRS?
- Thread starter Captain Teeto
- Start date
In my opinion not necessary. I've only shot around ten, one day matches, but I haven't had an issue with an XTRii. No locking windage on it. It could cost a point or two, but it is highly unlikely.
It’s not absolutely needed. But, it’s sure is nice for your windage turret. Over the course of the day you will bang your scope against rocks, wood, barricades, railings etc etc. mostly on the right and the left which happens to be important if it gets turned or twisted.
I’ll say when I was helping design the USO b series scopes, a locking windage was one of my for sure added features
I’ll say when I was helping design the USO b series scopes, a locking windage was one of my for sure added features
This. Elevation is whatever, locking or not. Locking windage may not be an absolute necessity, but it’s awesome to have.
hmm... maybe ill ask to exchange my cronus btr aprs1 for the ares etr then. unless people know of a way to jerry rig the windage turret in place
If you’re happy with the optic, just incorporate checking the windage after you set your position up before getting behind optic to take your shot.
I probably wouldn’t trade a Cronus for an Ares. If anything, I’d go with a vortex razor or amg at the Cronus (ish) price point.
You can also find good deals on used USO B25. I’ve been pretty surprised at the going prices for them in the PX.
i got the cronus btr for 1500 so id have to add in anothr couple hundred for a used razor gen 2. its pretty obvious but it didnt even cross my mind, but i I'll follow your advice and just stick with the cronus and hold for wind if it moves. thanks for all the advice guys
I can take or leave a locking elevation knob. There's times I miss having one, and times I'm glad it's gone. Locking windage is all but a requirement, though. I've seen too many people roll their windage by accident on barricades. If you've got an optic without locking windage, you might want to consider a label or tape of some kind to help keep the knob from being rolled.
I guess I'm the weird one here that could care less about a locking turret for PRS. Even on my scopes with locking turrets, I leave them unlocked and I've never had them accidentally move. I check my windage knob before every stage because I dial for wind on single target stages.
So to answer your OP directly, FOR ME, locking turrets are not a requirement for PRS whatsoever and not even something I consider when selecting a scope.
So to answer your OP directly, FOR ME, locking turrets are not a requirement for PRS whatsoever and not even something I consider when selecting a scope.
Locking windage is nice to have for sure, but not required by any means. I rolled my windage unknowingly on an xtr ii at the Gunwerks match last year. Because of that I tanked a stage because I trusted my wind call more than making the correction. If you get into the habit of checking your windage knob before every stage that shouldnt be too big of a problem. However, I think i rolled mine before taking my first shot but while on the clock building a position.
I can't compare the Ares to the Cronus, but can say I am happy with the Ares ETR and having the locking windage is great to have. It will be something I look for moving forward as I upgrade my optics.
I can't compare the Ares to the Cronus, but can say I am happy with the Ares ETR and having the locking windage is great to have. It will be something I look for moving forward as I upgrade my optics.
I've had my elevation turret rolled on me in a tight barricade portal down at K&M several years ago. This was the first or second position and I was hitting my target (same target different positions) and then starting missing on subsequent positions. I've had the same on windage from pushing up against a post.
I like having the option to lock the turrets if I want it. If you are the type that doesn't need locking turrets most of the time but think it might be handy in some positions, then leave them unlocked when you want and lock them down when you might be in a tight position.
Just like having the extra magnification, it is nice to have on certain occasions. Most of the PRS shooting is done in the 12-15X range, but you'll rarely see people running a scope that maxes out at 15X. Most people I know are using scopes topping out at least 20X and usually 25X. Nice to have when needed, I find locking turrets the same. Lock everything down while transitioning stages or in certain barricades/positions. Leave unlocked if you'll be dialing a lot.
Just my personal take on it. I prefer locking feature for my uses.
I like having the option to lock the turrets if I want it. If you are the type that doesn't need locking turrets most of the time but think it might be handy in some positions, then leave them unlocked when you want and lock them down when you might be in a tight position.
Just like having the extra magnification, it is nice to have on certain occasions. Most of the PRS shooting is done in the 12-15X range, but you'll rarely see people running a scope that maxes out at 15X. Most people I know are using scopes topping out at least 20X and usually 25X. Nice to have when needed, I find locking turrets the same. Lock everything down while transitioning stages or in certain barricades/positions. Leave unlocked if you'll be dialing a lot.
Just my personal take on it. I prefer locking feature for my uses.
yea. it seems like a really nice option to have if you need it. ive always wondered if banging scopes on stuff was that big of an issue and I guess it is
Another point on this is shooting style and rifle balance. I run 28" MTU with weight kits. Therefore my balance point on a bag is in front of the magwell a decent bit. Therefore if I push up against a barricade on the right (windage) side, the barricade is nowhere near my windage turret. It rests near the objective lens of the scope. I like to grab the scope bell to aim rather than forward on the rifle like some others do.
People that run 24-26" lighter profile barrels with no weight kit surely are pushing their rifles further forward to get closer to that balance point on their bag (up against the magwell). Perhaps that's why some have moved their turrets on stages and I've never even come remotely close to this happening.
People that run 24-26" lighter profile barrels with no weight kit surely are pushing their rifles further forward to get closer to that balance point on their bag (up against the magwell). Perhaps that's why some have moved their turrets on stages and I've never even come remotely close to this happening.
My son and I both PRS and NRL22. We have only been shooting about a year so don’t have that many matches under our belt. We both started out with a scopes without locking or capped turrets. After both of us had issues with our windage turret getting moved we got different optics. My sons rifle has a capped windage turret and I have locking turrets. Another thing that I have found that is huge is a zero stop and turrets that will give you at least 10 mils of elevation per revolution. After shooting matches for a little while now I will not even consider a scope if it doesn’t have those two features.
Nothing to add on the positional match stuff - except to agree with Jake @ JC Steel in windows or against barricade walls - the windage as you pinch the guns against the structure for stability, is the most at risk to roll.
Where the I've personally seen the turret issue are in matches where you must carry the gun some distance between stages. Especially, if you have a pistol or other hard times that can cause the elevation turret to ratchet as the gun bumps up and down as you hike. In one case, I made almost a perfect 360.. Quickly I spun it a few clicks back to zero, only to get the dreaded "engage" call, and I had zero visual ~ 10 mils high, sucks..
Where the I've personally seen the turret issue are in matches where you must carry the gun some distance between stages. Especially, if you have a pistol or other hard times that can cause the elevation turret to ratchet as the gun bumps up and down as you hike. In one case, I made almost a perfect 360.. Quickly I spun it a few clicks back to zero, only to get the dreaded "engage" call, and I had zero visual ~ 10 mils high, sucks..
I run my atacr with the windage exposed and have never had an issue. Also ran a Cronus for one season with no problems. As long as you glance at it before you start banging you should be fine.
But...nice to have? Hell yeah. Great peace of mind. Why NF couldn’t put the beast’s wind knob on the atacr beats me.
But...nice to have? Hell yeah. Great peace of mind. Why NF couldn’t put the beast’s wind knob on the atacr beats me.
If you've never had a stage blown because a windage turret moved, your time is coming.
I try to remember to check that turret on the right side of my scope but I don't always...
Mine moved .5 mil while in the drag bag being transported between stages.
The next scope I bought has locking turrets and the windage stays locked until I need it too.
It's rare but it's extremely frustrating when it does happen!
I try to remember to check that turret on the right side of my scope but I don't always...
Mine moved .5 mil while in the drag bag being transported between stages.
The next scope I bought has locking turrets and the windage stays locked until I need it too.
It's rare but it's extremely frustrating when it does happen!
As said before just make it a process to check before.
When I was a kid walking with my 22 in the woods going for squirrel and such the turrets would get spun.
I had some extra cheap-o scope rings so I put another scope ring at 3:00 “protecting” the windage turret.
I could see through it and it was just a little taller then the turret.
Worked great.
Just a idea if your worried and have a drawer full of shit like we all do. Lol
When I was a kid walking with my 22 in the woods going for squirrel and such the turrets would get spun.
I had some extra cheap-o scope rings so I put another scope ring at 3:00 “protecting” the windage turret.
I could see through it and it was just a little taller then the turret.
Worked great.
Just a idea if your worried and have a drawer full of shit like we all do. Lol
If (when) I get my next scope it's going to be locking turrets. I've been fine without them in matches, but the peace of mind is great and I dont always check like I should. it's just a nice thing to have but you can definitely make do in the meantime.
i hadnt had a turret spin on me in probably 4-5 yrs
spun the elevation turret on the xrs2 this past weekend at a club match moving into a position in a tiny ass car i barely fit into
some ranges have a majority of wide open props, plenty of space to operate, and not much movement so spinning a turret isnt likely to happen...others are tight and uncomfortable af with fast times...much easier to happen then
spun the elevation turret on the xrs2 this past weekend at a club match moving into a position in a tiny ass car i barely fit into
some ranges have a majority of wide open props, plenty of space to operate, and not much movement so spinning a turret isnt likely to happen...others are tight and uncomfortable af with fast times...much easier to happen then
I've had the wind turrets on my Cronus BTR spin on me at 2 separate matches. Once on a barricade, and another time from beating the bolt open with a rubber mallet. Caused misses on easy targets....loss of points etc.
I've had Athlon's ear about it for a few years and they haven't felt the need to change to a capped or locking knob on the Cronus (they did on the Ares ETR and Midas Tac though). Maybe a version-2 is forthcoming? For some reason the Cronus wind knob seems to spin easier for me than on other scopes. Other than that, it's been a brilliant optic....as long as I keep an eye on that wind knob!
I've had Athlon's ear about it for a few years and they haven't felt the need to change to a capped or locking knob on the Cronus (they did on the Ares ETR and Midas Tac though). Maybe a version-2 is forthcoming? For some reason the Cronus wind knob seems to spin easier for me than on other scopes. Other than that, it's been a brilliant optic....as long as I keep an eye on that wind knob!
I think I'll start putting electrical tape on mine. Sounds like my time is probably coming and I hold windage except movers.
yea the scope is fantastic value at 1500, but itd be a no brainer if they added locking windage. the MAP has to drop though imo, with razor gen 2s dropping to 2k.
The only time I like locking turrets is when I'm setting the zero. Aside from that, I would rather not have them at all.
Not needed in the slightest, and I personally prefer to not have locking turrets because they're a hassle if you end up dialing your turrets during a stage. Locking windage isn't a hassle, but it's something I don't really care about since it's never been an issue for me as I take care to avoid bumping any part of the scope into objects while moving around. For hunting I prefer locking turrets solely because I hunt more in the timber where the odds of them bumping into something increase exponentially with the low light of morning and the large amount of branches around me.
As far as ramming your scope into a barricade or hitting it with a rubber mallet goes, ANY scope on the market is going to have their non-locking turrets move when you do that unless they're unbearably stiff to begin with. I prefer to just not bang my scope into things or bang things into my scope, and I check both my elevation and windage dials before I start each stage. It's a good habit to get into regardless of if you have locking turrets or not, because it prevents you from accidentally shooting with the previous stage's DOPE.
If I accidentally bump the windage turret it's likely because I'm moving positions and my head isn't on the gun anyways, so it adds no time to just visually verify I didn't move the turret and adds only 1-2 seconds if I have to move it back. It's never happened to me yet since I'm pretty careful to avoid bumping the scope (I don't want scuffs and scratches on it if I can help it), so it's honestly never come up for me before.
As far as ramming your scope into a barricade or hitting it with a rubber mallet goes, ANY scope on the market is going to have their non-locking turrets move when you do that unless they're unbearably stiff to begin with. I prefer to just not bang my scope into things or bang things into my scope, and I check both my elevation and windage dials before I start each stage. It's a good habit to get into regardless of if you have locking turrets or not, because it prevents you from accidentally shooting with the previous stage's DOPE.
If I accidentally bump the windage turret it's likely because I'm moving positions and my head isn't on the gun anyways, so it adds no time to just visually verify I didn't move the turret and adds only 1-2 seconds if I have to move it back. It's never happened to me yet since I'm pretty careful to avoid bumping the scope (I don't want scuffs and scratches on it if I can help it), so it's honestly never come up for me before.
Well said. Scopes get banged around at matches if you use them. It happens. I had my windage spin on a few scopes with no locking mechanism and it sucks. I love having locking turrets. I don't dial wind anyways so once zero the windage gets locked. If i need to dial a stage then I leave the elevation unlocked. Simple. If I am not going to dial I lock it. Again simple.
Better to have and not need then need and not have. And seconds are precious and not to be wasted during a stage of fire.
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