I am inching my way into LR shooting. I have in the past years spent a lot of time and money in handgun/carbine training from all the big names in the industry and I have learned to buy the best gear I can afford from the get go. I have a .308, ammo, reloader, range, and a great desire to learn; but the one thing stumping me right now is what is the difference between these two scopes, does one edge the other out? I know the differences listed on S&B's website, and I have searched online for any comparison. These are the two I have narrowed my choices to, so please inform me on the merits of one vs the other. This scope will be used for local Tactical LR matches out to 1k and some F-Class. I want this to be a solid set up incase I have to use it in the future as I am getting into a Reserve LEO program with my local agency that allows personal equipment use. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Rifle Scopes S&B 3-12x50 vs 4-16x42 (mil/mil)
- Thread starter Hootiewho
- Start date
Re: S&B 3-12x50 vs 4-16x42 (mil/mil)
Go 4-16x. The low end magnification is very close but having a little more on the high end is more helpful. Go with illuminated P4F reticle as it will be fine enough for F Class but still work well for tac matches.
Go 4-16x. The low end magnification is very close but having a little more on the high end is more helpful. Go with illuminated P4F reticle as it will be fine enough for F Class but still work well for tac matches.
Re: S&B 3-12x50 vs 4-16x42 (mil/mil)
Both great optics, the 4-16 just has a tad more magnification and personally I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
Both great optics, the 4-16 just has a tad more magnification and personally I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
Re: S&B 3-12x50 vs 4-16x42 (mil/mil)
Having both of these scopes, I can tell you that it will make it easier at 1K yards to have the higher magnification on some days, on others it will not and you may have to dial it back down to about 12X because of mirage or other range conditions. I think that your biggest challenge may lie in your choice of reticle, so that it matches your spotting scope reticle and your spotters rifle.
The 50mm objective is my recommended choice for either optic selection.
I have used the 3-12X50 out to 1400 yards and been successful, but beyond 1200, I longed for the increased magnification of the 4-16.
If you have to use the optic for a possible Reserve Deputy weapon, you can dial the 3-12X down and give yourself a larger FOV in the target area. I find that the shorter distance engagements (100 yards and less) are best helped by the lower power, as you can dial it down to 3X, the 4X is a bit much for 75 yards as your FOV is hampered by being roughly 33% less than that for the 3-12X50.
YMMV
Having both of these scopes, I can tell you that it will make it easier at 1K yards to have the higher magnification on some days, on others it will not and you may have to dial it back down to about 12X because of mirage or other range conditions. I think that your biggest challenge may lie in your choice of reticle, so that it matches your spotting scope reticle and your spotters rifle.
The 50mm objective is my recommended choice for either optic selection.
I have used the 3-12X50 out to 1400 yards and been successful, but beyond 1200, I longed for the increased magnification of the 4-16.
If you have to use the optic for a possible Reserve Deputy weapon, you can dial the 3-12X down and give yourself a larger FOV in the target area. I find that the shorter distance engagements (100 yards and less) are best helped by the lower power, as you can dial it down to 3X, the 4X is a bit much for 75 yards as your FOV is hampered by being roughly 33% less than that for the 3-12X50.
YMMV
Re: S&B 3-12x50 vs 4-16x42 (mil/mil)
Fighthard,
That makes a lot of sense and was my main consideration for the 3-12, FOV and a little bit better performance in low-light as most bad things happen in lower light settings. To be honest, there are very few places where I can shoot regularly to reach 1K; with 4-700 yards being the norm, that combined with the fact that my rifle is an 18" suppressed rig.
Fighthard,
That makes a lot of sense and was my main consideration for the 3-12, FOV and a little bit better performance in low-light as most bad things happen in lower light settings. To be honest, there are very few places where I can shoot regularly to reach 1K; with 4-700 yards being the norm, that combined with the fact that my rifle is an 18" suppressed rig.
Re: S&B 3-12x50 vs 4-16x42 (mil/mil)
The 3-12 has 22 mils of elevation, the 4-16 has 13, something to consider on a 308.
I shot ASC w a 4-16 and ran out of up on the longest shots (using 175's).
Other than that I vote 4-16 as well.
The 3-12 has 22 mils of elevation, the 4-16 has 13, something to consider on a 308.
I shot ASC w a 4-16 and ran out of up on the longest shots (using 175's).
Other than that I vote 4-16 as well.
Re: S&B 3-12x50 vs 4-16x42 (mil/mil)
I have both scopes and use them on a regular basis...in either choice, a single turn is all you need if you are shooting a .308. I have a 3-12X50 single turn on my light GAP .308 and shooting the 155 scenar at 2950fps 13 mils of elevation will take it out to 1300+ meters with a 160 meter zero. The 3-12 is a bit shorter in length, 13 3/4" and 15 5/8". The cross hair in my 3-12 is a P3, in the 4-16 I run a GenII...both scopes are mil/mil.
Try to get a personal look at both scopes before making a pick....either way you wont go wrong! Good Luck!!!
I have both scopes and use them on a regular basis...in either choice, a single turn is all you need if you are shooting a .308. I have a 3-12X50 single turn on my light GAP .308 and shooting the 155 scenar at 2950fps 13 mils of elevation will take it out to 1300+ meters with a 160 meter zero. The 3-12 is a bit shorter in length, 13 3/4" and 15 5/8". The cross hair in my 3-12 is a P3, in the 4-16 I run a GenII...both scopes are mil/mil.
Try to get a personal look at both scopes before making a pick....either way you wont go wrong! Good Luck!!!
Re: S&B 3-12x50 vs 4-16x42 (mil/mil)
If I were to change out of my USOs it would be to a fleet of 3-12 PM-Is. I really like the size and simplicity of the single turn PM-I.
If I were to change out of my USOs it would be to a fleet of 3-12 PM-Is. I really like the size and simplicity of the single turn PM-I.
