Rifle Scopes New Rifle, Now I need a Scope. Help Please!

9

95RapidRiot

Private
Minuteman
Jun 27, 2011
7
0
58
#1
I just picked up my first real rifle in a 308 Win. It is a retired LE/Military snipers back up rifle. The base rifle is Remington 700 VS with 26" carbon wrapped barrel. It has a bunch of other nice things done to it also.

I have been reading and researching like crazy. I am looking in the 600 range. I can't afford the high dollar scopes right now. I have thought about Leupold VX-3/VX-R, Vortex Viper, Burris Fulfield Tactical/Black Diamond, Zeiss Conquest, and Nikon. I know there are more out there not on my list. I am a little partial to Leupold and a used scope is fine also.

I will use this rifle for varmint, coyote, deer, and hopefully some day elk. I really want to learn to shoot well. Therefore I will be at the range also. I am figuring 300-400 yds max for shots.

Any and all help greatly appreciated.

THANKS!
Roger
 
#2
Re: New Rifle, Now I need a Scope. Help Please!

take a look at the weaver tactical 3-15x50. it's a little more in price but should fit the bill nicely. comes in first focal plane, and is mil/mil adjustment and good glass.
 
#4
Re: New Rifle, Now I need a Scope. Help Please!

Roger,

Congratulations on your new rifle. Now as for what new scope to put on it:

You've outlined your needs pretty well:

Varmint, coyote, deer, elk, paper punching, and ranges 300-400 yds max.

Price range: $600. give or take

Then you've presented us with a scope catalog (Leupold VX-3/VX-R, Vortex Viper, Burris Fulfield Tactical/Black Diamond, Zeiss Conquest, Nikon), and said help me pick.

OK, here you go:

SS 3-9x42mm FFP Mil/Mil

It's in your price range, it is a Front Focal Plan scope, with matching Mil based Reticle and Mil based knobs.

You might not know a Mil from a pill, but you will learn, and come to value an FFP scope with a reticle that actually matches the knob values. And yes, it is better scope than any Leupold, in that price range, new or used.

Have some faith, take a the plunge, and read much on how to use a FFP Mil reticle scope with matching Mil knobs. It will put you miles ahead when you develop the skills, and money to move up in optics.

Bob
 
#5
Re: New Rifle, Now I need a Scope. Help Please!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BobinNC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
....You might not know a Mil from a pill, but you will learn, and come to value an FFP scope with a reticle that actually matches the knob values......
</div></div>

imho this is true.....there is much debate over which way is better but i prefer it this way
 
#6
Re: New Rifle, Now I need a Scope. Help Please!

I am not sure what Front Focal Plan means in a scope. This is all new to me and I am not afraid to plead ignorance when I do not know. The only way to learn is ask.

Is there a way to know you have a FFP when you look through a scope? I am also wondering if I should be looking into higher power ranges? (6-24x50)

I can go higher in price if it is worth it for what I am doing.

THANKS!
 
#7
Re: New Rifle, Now I need a Scope. Help Please!

in FFP the target and reticle magnify together, where as SFP the target gets bigger but the reticle is the same size.

FFP is just more user friendly in the end. because you can use the reticle to range at any power, and make adjustments to POI from info gathered from looking at where the shot hit in relation to reticle.
 
#10
Re: New Rifle, Now I need a Scope. Help Please!

I did take a look at the Weaver Tactical's and they do look nice at a good price! I read some good things about them also.

THANKS!
 
#11
Re: New Rifle, Now I need a Scope. Help Please!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 95RapidRiot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am not sure what Front Focal Plan means in a scope. This is all new to me and I am not afraid to plead ignorance when I do not know. The only way to learn is ask.

Is there a way to know you have a FFP when you look through a scope? I am also wondering if I should be looking into higher power ranges? (6-24x50)

I can go higher in price if it is worth it for what I am doing.

THANKS! </div></div>

Roger,

If you've not explored this section here's some light reading:

Optics FAQ's
 
#13
Re: New Rifle, Now I need a Scope. Help Please!

Looked at the SS 3-9x42. Looks real good.

I would like to get more magnification if possible. I am not in a hurry to buy so I could save up a little more if it was worth it. Although I am talking $800 range and not a $1000+
 
#14
Re: New Rifle, Now I need a Scope. Help Please!

from what i gather Leupold only has FFP in their mk4 ER/T line

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 95RapidRiot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That makes sense.

Are the new Leupold VX-3 4.5-14x40 model like this. I just picked one up for my Muzzleloader. </div></div>
 
#15
Re: New Rifle, Now I need a Scope. Help Please!

Thanks for the link. That will definitely help a lot. I better get started because there are a lot of great topics to read about!!!!!
 
#16
Re: New Rifle, Now I need a Scope. Help Please!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 95RapidRiot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Looked at the SS 3-9x42. Looks real good.

I would like to get more magnification if possible. I am not in a hurry to buy so I could save up a little more if it was worth it. Although I am talking $800 range and not a $1000+ </div></div>

Roger,

Aaahh, scope creep. First your at $600 clams and a max range of 400 yds (where a 3-9 does just fine), now your at $800. clams and looking at 24X, for shooting at up to a mile.

Okey Dokey:

Bushnell Elite 3-12x44mm FFP Mil/Mil Illuminated Just moderately above your price range.

Or Perhaps:

Vortex PST 4-16x50mm FFP Mil/Mil Illuminated Only $50. over your price range.

Good scopes all. The Bushnell's and Vortex's also have 6-24 flavors, but cost more, and you really don't need 24x, for what your planning to do with them.

Bushnell 3-12x44mm were recently on sale in the under $600 price range, and slightly used one's can be found here for well under the new $899. price.

In a few more hours reading you'll be asking for a list of good scopes in the $1500. price range. Scope creep can be a bitch....
 
#17
Re: New Rifle, Now I need a Scope. Help Please!

400 yards max and hunting on the menu ... SS 3-9x42 FFP

Nice, dependable, simple, optic, and if your big game hunting its not illuminated ... some states have the no battery on optics for big game tags.

I run the SS on my hunting 308 ... would like to have a USO 1.8-10 on it but can't justify the $$ on a rifle that gets such limited use.
 
#18
Re: New Rifle, Now I need a Scope. Help Please!

Yes, I get scope creep on many things I buy. It is a very bad habit I have. LOL!

After reading some of the Optic Faqs I may just be better off getting a fixed power SS. Maybe the SWFA SS 16x42 Tactical? Cheap and good! Less complicated and for me I would rather be over magnified than under any day.

I have some thinking to do now.
 
#21
Re: New Rifle, Now I need a Scope. Help Please!

Roger, here's my .02.

I find myself in your predicament. Picked up a nice rifle and I need it to fill many pairs of shoes and your glass needs to do the same.

The first thing I considered was that I needed the scope to be rugged. I also wanted a practical level of magnification with a functional reticle.

For years the military used 10x optics with mil-dot reticles. I know the Marines (and probably other Branches) have moved on but these were GTG for decades.

Something else that has fallen out of favor (and rightfully so) are mismatched turret/reticle combination's.

So my advice is to look for a fixed 10x, with matched (or mismatched is the price is right) reticle/turrets. There are many good deals out there as more experienced shooters move up in equipment.

Case in point. I recently picked up an IOR 10x42 MP8 for $335 shipped here on the boards. The MP8 reticle is mil based and the turrets are in 1/4 MOA but a new IOR 10x42 is $1000.

Good luck.

Paul
 
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