Rifle Scopes Optic selection help.

veeramani

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Jan 26, 2013
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So I have this nice 308 which is good to 1000, 24 inch barrel.

I've been using a Leupold 30mm 4.5-14 x 40 with target turrets and its good.

However I'm not happy about the 1/4 moa clicks and multi turn turret as its easy to get "lost" in them. I'm sure I can sell this for decent coin.

I'd like to get something like a fixed S&B pm2 10x42 with mil turrets/mil reticle and single turn knob. However the price of a new SB is prohibitive.

Is there a leupold or similar in 30mm that I can get for a better price ? Please give me some suggestions.

thanks
 
sorry I should have been more specific. I need it to be leupold, nightforce, e.t.c Can't have something made in asia etc as there's no resale value and I don't consider them to be milspec
 
sorry I should have been more specific. I need it to be leupold, nightforce, e.t.c Can't have something made in asia etc as there's no resale value and I don't consider them to be milspec


What considerations and features in your view makes a scope milspec?? And what exactly about a S&B fixed 10x makes it milspec, as compared to any other fixed 10x??

And Asian made scopes having no resale value will come as a great shock to those Nightforce owners who scopes were actually made in Japan, as some apparently still are....
 
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Milspec as in used by militaries downrange.

Japan is not really "Asian", they're much better quality, especially with the likes of Olympus microscopes etc Almost on par with Euro/USA gear.

S&B is the issued optic for the AI 308 series and has seen a lot of battles throughout the world.

I have a S&B PM2 on another rifle and it is amazing, but its on a crazy/expensive non QD mounting system that I can't get off in a hurry :)




I just can't stand a budget brand scope not holding zero or tracking well especially after I've crawled up hills all day to make 1 shot.


I used to have a Leupold Mark 2 on this rifle with 1/2 inch turrets and no focus on this gun before but a player really wanted it for an SPR build.

I want to get something similar but with a mil/mil system as I hate imperial measurements.

Looking to spend no more than $1500
 
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Best bang for the buck in a higher end fixed 10x is the SWFA SS 10x HD (Japan). SWFA SS HD 10x42 Tactical 30mm Riflescope
These will hang in there with the high end euro glass and are very robust and have proven excellent tracking. At almost double that price, and I'd look at a US Optics 10x ordered exactly how I want it. If there were a mil-spec standard for scopes, both of these would meet or exceed it.

Side note: the HD glass coming out of Japan these days is stellar, as is resale value and reputation.
 
Milspec as in used by militaries downrange.

Japan is not really "Asian", they're much better quality, especially with the likes of Olympus microscopes etc Almost on par with Euro/USA gear.

S&B is the issued optic for the AI 308 series and has seen a lot of battles throughout the world.

I have a S&B PM2 on another rifle and it is amazing, but its on a crazy/expensive non QD mounting system that I can't get off in a hurry :)




I just can't stand a budget brand scope not holding zero or tracking well especially after I've crawled up hills all day to make 1 shot.


I used to have a Leupold Mark 2 on this rifle with 1/2 inch turrets and no focus on this gun before but a player really wanted it for an SPR build.

I want to get something similar but with a mil/mil system as I hate imperial measurements.

Looking to spend no more than $1500

So a scope with an NSN (NATO or National Stock Number) is milspec. If a fixed 10x with MIL/MIL and HD glass is what your looking for, try one of these on for size:

[url]http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-HD-10x42-Tactical-30mm-Riflescope-P50717.aspx


[/URL]Made in Japan, that oh-so non-Asian country. This is not one of their cheaper fixed scopes, it's a quality 10x, maybe not S&B quality, but it is solid and reliable.
 
IOR Valdada 4-28x50 w/40mm tube. Just jumped off the cliff. Went to the Tulsa show over the weekend and went crazy. I was wanting to get a good mil mil scope. There were quite a number of boxed Nightforce and other good scopes but could not find any mil mil's. Then near the end of the building was a IOR Valdada booth and he had a number of mil scopes. I went back to his table 4 or 5 times to look at those scopes. They have to be some of the clearest scopes I have looked through. This show is in an 11 acre building, indoors looking at signs at the other end of the building approx. 250 to 300 yards away I could reed all the lettering on the sign. I did not plan on spending this kind of money on a scope but if you get a chance to look at the IOR Valdada 4-28x50 with a 40mm tube, that's right a 40mm tube, you will want one also . I did not have enough cash with me so I am sending the balance and should have it early next week. It will be going on a 300wm that is being built but will first go on a 308 to play with. You really need to look into this scope for long range or tactical shooting.
 
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Thanks for the tip on the IOR. For sure the 40 mm will have great light gathering abilities. However I'm looking at more of a basic setup with this gun. I just went to the local shop and they have some nice Leupold Mark AR firedots, tmr reticle and the turrets were in mils ! At like $700. Only catch was the turret was calibrated for a .223 at 3100 fps.

Does leupold make something like the above with a "normal turret" thats uncalibrated ?


To the guys recommending Countersniper, if thats what the SOCOM are using then they need help from the Taliban :)
 
Thanks for the tip on the IOR. For sure the 40 mm will have great light gathering abilities. However I'm looking at more of a basic setup with this gun. I just went to the local shop and they have some nice Leupold Mark AR firedots, tmr reticle and the turrets were in mils ! At like $700. Only catch was the turret was calibrated for a .223 at 3100 fps.

Does leupold make something like the above with a "normal turret" thats uncalibrated ?


To the guys recommending Countersniper, if thats what the SOCOM are using then they need help from the Taliban :)

Just thought I'd mention a few things:
FWIW, a scope's tube diameter (with all things being equal) doesn't equate to any amount of light gathering abilities; this is a pretty common misnomer. The increase in tube diameter is for more internal adjustment range, and for strength and rigidity.
The Leupold Mark AR's (1" tube series) are a step down in overall performance from the Mk 4 series in optics and durability, but they are a good budget option, but to me the 6-18x is over priced. They are compatible with the Custom Dial Shop turrets made to your specs for ~$40. The VX-R is a 30mm version with slight upgrades here and there, but with a crappier version of the great TMR reticle found in the pricier scopes. If you are looking for high performance from Leupold, look at the Vx6 and Mk 6 series.
 
Yes crosshair you're right. I was about to order a VXR yesterday being mil/mil and all but was put off by no zero stop or even revolution marks. I think I'll just save up for a few months and get the S&B 10x42 with the 13 mil single revolution. In my experience in this game you learn that there are no second chances on a long shot. A missed shot or wound shot is a waste of a days work, and opportunities to find quarry are few and far between.

In my hunting area, there are lot of people cruising around with guns, so the animals are real skittish. They take like one bite of grass and look 360 degrees, then take another bite.