Photos Long Range Target Shooting Q's

[RFA15]

I’ve been shooting for many years now, and I am looking to start shooting targets out to 1200 yards. A couple months ago I purchased a Savage 12 VLP which has a 26" barrel and a 1:10 rate of twist in 308 Win. I am thinking about purchasing a Leupold VX-3 8.5- 25x50mm for that rifle. Currently I have a Bushnell Banner 6- 20x40mm on my rifle and I absolutely hate it, so I am looking for a new scope that I can shoot out to that distance with. I hand load my ammunition with a 168gr HPBT Hornady Match bullet, Winchester case and primers, and 39.8gr of IMR 4895. The range that I shoot at, I can only shoot out to 200 yards. I know I have to work up to 1200 yards, but I would like a scope under $1000(no more), looks nice, has lots of MOA adjustment, higher power(variable), quality, and has a warranty as good as Leupold's. The Leupold VX-3 8.5- 25x50mm has all of these so is this a good scope for that range shooting? This scope and rifle are strictly for bench rest/ target shooting. Other suggestions are appreciated.

 

[dk17hmr]

I have that scope with a Varmint reticle. Put a 20+ MOA base on your rifle, get some good rings, and a anti cant device and let it rip. I use my 8.5-25x for targets out to (so far) 2100 yards plus some change. If you can bottom out or close to bottom out the scope and have a 100 yard zero you will have close to 94 MOA to go up, plenty of adjustment to hit 1200 yards. Even if you do top it out and have the Varmint Reticle you have hold over points

Since this is the Photo sub forum here is a pic of what you see looking at a 30x30" steel plate at 2163 yards.



Yes I know the cross hairs are canted, I reset the scope in different rings and put a Vortex anti cant level ring on it.

 

[RobertB]

For sub$1K scopes look into some of the bushnells (Elite Tactical- used DMR-G2 ect) vortex PST's, some leupolds or redfields, and the Super Sniper lines of scopes. There are others but these are my recommendations as I have had great results with everything but the PST as I have never owned one but my friend loves his.

Good luck.

 

[RFA15]

Thanks for the input. I am still debaiting wheather or not to get a Reticle like the Varmint Reticle or like the fine duplex.

 

[RFA15]

Is it really necessary to put a 20+ MOA base on my rifle, because I already have a 1 piece base mounted on my rifle, and at 1200 yards I'm only using about half of the adjustment of the scope?

 

[dk17hmr]

Depends if you want to maximize your scoped or if you will be happy stopping at 1200 yards. I like to bottom out or come close to bottoming out my scopes so I have a full range of adjustment and am only limited by my ability and not how much adjustment I have in my scope ........ once you hit 1200 you will want to go further.

 

[RFA15]

Once in at 1200 yards il think about it but for now I think I will just leave it. Also do you know of a link that would be useful to learn about how to read the wind and adjust for it when it's blowing at different distances?

 

[dk17hmr]

There is a lot of info here http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/

 

[RFA15]

I don't know if its the link or my computer but I can't get to the link u r directing me too, so is there another link u know of? Thanks

 

[dk17hmr]

There is a lot of info out there on reading the wind. Just search it with google

Reading the Wind