Rifle Scopes Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

[NH_Patriot]

I'm new here and just purchased my first bolt rifle. It's a Remington 700 Mil Spec 5R 24" chambered in .308. Eventually this rifle will end up in either a McMillan, Manners or B&C Stock.

Having read just enough to know I don't know anything, my questions are as follows:

Do I need a 20 moa picatinny base? If so, which is recommended and if not, what is a quality base for my rifle?

Having been doing a lot of reading here and on other sites, I'm leaning toward a Vortex Viper PST FFP 6-24x50 Scope, should they ever become available. Does anyone have other recommendations, just in case I get frustrated waiting for a retailer to get one in stock? I'd like to break this rifle in before the snow flies. My budget is under $1500.

What rings would you recommend for your suggested base/scope combo?

Again, I'm not new to shooting, but very new to bolt rifles and I really appreciate any help.

Thanks!!

 

[azimutha]

Re: Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

I used to have that same rifle and under just about any .308 ballistic scenario, a 20MOA rail will be just right. I prefer Seekins bases and rings but there are certainly others of similar quality. As for a scope, what ranges and what kind of shooting? Long distance paper or steel? Or maybe hunting too? In that case, 6X is twice as high as I'd recommend for bottom-end magnification.

 

[NH_Patriot]

Re: Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

Longest range where I live is about 600yds, shooting paper and steel. I'd like to try shooting out to 1000 if I ever found myself near such a range, but 600 is probably the max in my area. Maybe some hunting in the future, but mostly target shooting.

 

[Glen1978]

Re: Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

I was in the same boat as you a couple weeks ago. Lots of good info on here. I went with a Remington 700 SPS Tactical. I read and read on all this and settled on a SWFA SS 5-20x50 scope I bought off a Hide member for a good price. Then set it in Seekins 20 MOA base and Seekins Low 30mm rings. Although I think I might have to go up to Med rings. I think this is a good combo and so do alot of other folks on here.

 

[NH_Patriot]

Re: Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

Thanks for you reply, I was wondering about ring height, and it sounds like I should start with medium rings.

 

[Randoman5]

Re: Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

I learned a ton from reading articles on this build and on this site:

http://www.8541tactical.com/budget%20precision%20article.php

And from his youtube channel here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/LoneWolfUSMC

I still haven't finished going through everything on there but he covers everything from picking and installing a scope to determining unknown range using mil-dots and everything else in between.

The guy is a member here too.

 

[Temp9]

Re: Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

I also wanted a PST 6-24x50 at first, but ended up with an SWFA 5-20x50. Either way, look in the optic sale section here on SH. Both those scopes pop up quite often there.

I don't think you'll need a 20MOA base for 600 yds. I can push my little inferior .223 out to 600 yds with a flat base using a Vortex HS 5-15x. That being said, a 20MOA base doesn't hurt anything.

 

[axeltow]

Re: Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

If you like to dial- swfa 5-20 ffp
If you like to hold- bushnell hdmr g2dmr
Work out your scope rings after you choose your scope
Go with 20moa base. It's a win win.

 

[NH_Patriot]

Re: Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

Which glass is better? SWFA, Bushnell or Vortex?

 

[axeltow]

Re: Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

Glass is very subjective. Everyone is different. I've seen some compare nf glass to s&b glass. Which most feel is not true. But here is the general consensus.
Swfa= vortex razor > bushnell= vortex pst line.

 

[RogueHk]

Re: Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

Manners T4 A stock and Vortex glass if you can't get the nightforce milspec F1 for $2250

 

[HarryBallz2029]

Re: Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

For a $1500 budget I would recommend Seekins low rings($125) w/ a EGW HD 20 moa base($75-80 I think), and a SWFA SS 5-20x50 non illuminated ($1299). SWFA is a good medium budget scope which SWFA has great customer service in my experience if anything goes wrong they replace it quickly. I have 2 of em and will be buying more. As far as a stock goes I have used AICS, XLR, McMillans, and Manners as well as B&C. From my experience the AICS is really hard to beat. You dont have to do any work on most rifles to fit them. No bottom metal or bedding required also very little chance of having to wait on one. Manners would be my 2nd choice with a mini chassis but generally have to wait a bit for a specific stock.

 

[NH_Patriot]

Re: Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

Ok.....I think I've come to a decision, and I'm going to bend my budget a bit, so tell me if you guys think this is a logical decision based on your experiences. I like the G2DMR reticle, but for some reason want it to be illuminated. I like the idea of higher end glass than the PST.

So I'm leaning toward the Vortex Razor HD 5-20x50 with the EBR-2B Illuminated Reticle.

What is the difference between the 5 MRAD and 10 MRAD Turrets?

 

[uncledog57]

Re: Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

Wow when you bend a budget you bend it! Lol. The main difference between 5 and 10 mills revolutions is you don't have to make two turns of the elevation knob to go to a higher mill. With one turn of the know you have less of a chance of getting "lost"?
Also on the Vortex you are getting the best CS in the gun industry. Should some thing go wrong and it does. There motto is fix or replace. And they get it done in record time! Outstanding choice!

 

[Glen Seekins]

Re: Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

You cant go wrong with that choice! Their precision matched rings are built by us, so you should get the rings to go with them! if you have any questions on rings and bases we are always here to help!

 

[NH_Patriot]

Re: Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

Now that I'm in the $2000 neighborhood.

Is the Nightforce 5.5-22X50 NXS with the Velocity 1000 Reticle an FFP scope??

Is it zero stop?

It appears that it's illuminated from what I've read?

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: heatseekins</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You cant go wrong with that choice! Their precision matched rings are built by us, so you should get the rings to go with them! if you have any questions on rings and bases we are always here to help! </div></div>

And I will tell you they are awesome!
Used them on my son's 5R and was very impressed with the quality of the Vortex/Seekins rings.

 

[Early Cuyler]

Re: Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JimJr15</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Now that I'm in the $2000 neighborhood.

Is the Nightforce 5.5-22X50 NXS with the Velocity 1000 Reticle an FFP scope??

Is it zero stop?

It appears that it's illuminated from what I've read? </div></div>

The 5.5-22x50 is not FFP, zero stop is an option (not standard), and it is illuminated. The only FFP offering from Nightforce currently is their 3.5-15x F1 line. Give Jay a call at SportOptics. He really helped me decide on my last scope purchase and was very knowledgeable.

If you haven't made your mind up on a base, I would strongly consider Seekins as well. If/when I am in the market again, I will go with Seekins rings and bases. Top notch quality.

 

[JC189]

Re: Newbie needs help choosing Base, Rings and Scope.

Just bought a Vortex PST 6-24x50 MOA reticle from 42769vette on here, he is a vortex dealer. great price, has scopes in stock and I got the matched seekins/vortex rings (LOW) from him also. They are very nice quality rings. Would be a good combo for your rig.