Scope for my .22lr

[Buzzbee]

I had Scott from Volquartsen build a .22lr for me. My scope needs choices are below.
Needs: SFP, focus to 25yards, have a xero stop feature, unclutered reticle.
Cholices
1: Nightforce SHV, 2-30X50, Only negetive is the "Zero Set" is not as posative as I like, around a grand
2. Zeiss Conquest V-4, 4-16X50,for around a grand
3. Meopta 4,5-27X50, around 699
4. Bushnell Forge,

shooting 25-225yards

 

[littlepod]

PRS22 Competition or bench shooting those distances? I ask because you said SFP.

 

[Buzzbee]

more of prs style. wouldnt a ffp reticle get too small?

 

[littlepod]

more of prs style. wouldnt a ffp reticle get too small?

I've never noticed it get too small. In PRS style competitions under the clock, you will most likely be using hold overs, and holdovers mean nothing on a SFP scope unless you're max zoomed, and a lot of stages when you're swapping from 25 to 100 yards to do a hold over shot, you probably are going to be running your scope around 10-15x.

I'd go with a FFP scope, like an Athlon Midas Tac 6-24

 

[Rob01]

more of prs style. wouldnt a ffp reticle get too small?

99.99% of shooters in PRS matches use FFP scopes. Get a FFP scope for that rifle.

 

[simpletoms]

99.99% of shooters in PRS matches use FFP scopes. Get a FFP scope for that rifle.

FFP scopes and .22's go together like peas and carrots...

 

[Just Chuck]

more of prs style. wouldnt a ffp reticle get too small?

It'll be small at the lowest magnification - say 4X. You won't be using that very much even at 25yards (I doubt). The reticle will vary in size according to the power setting you are using. At 50 out to 200 (and beyond) you'll like a large reticle that is accurate for holds at every power - SFP will not be accurate.

One really nice feature that I like on my FFP scope is a zero stop. You can always return to your zero and not get 'lost' . I used to use holds but dial most ranges now. A good ballistic calculator app like Strelok Pro is a must have IMO.

I use mil-mil system - your choice may differ. But your choice - mil or moa.

Here's pretty good video explanation

 

[Buzzbee]

thanks Chuck

 

[beetroot]

more of prs style. wouldnt a ffp reticle get too small?

In my opinion yes, and I have found it to be a disadvantage in some competitions.
I feel the NRL/PRS 22lr events can really bring out the worst of both SFP and FFP in ways that centrefire events do not.

The PRS style events I shoot at tend to have a lot of positional shooting (standing, knelling etc) and a lot of very fast stages that are close range. I find FFP is at a huge disadvantage here as I want low magnification for a big FOV, but the small reticle on 5-8x is not quick to pick up VS a SFP scope.
Longer range or barricade shooting FFP is great.

I went from a SFP VX5hd 3-15 to a FFP PST 5-25 and found there were times that the VX5hd would have been preferable over the PST, but there were also many times where the FFP was far better.

That being said, I am sticking with FFP and finding ways to get around the limitations.

 

[Rob01]

Practice. It's not that hard. just need to get used to it and you will find it's not a huge disadvantage at all.

 

[beetroot]

Practice. It's not that hard. just need to get used to it and you will find it's not a huge disadvantage at all.

Only to a certain degree, no amount of practice can make a tiny reticle on a small target easier to see.
While practice will help, there are situations where SFP would be better suited.

 

[Rob01]

Give an exact example of these small targets and times.

 

[CarbonMTN]

To each their own. But I used to get caught up in the FFP and the SFP, It doesn't matter to me anymore when it comes to my 22lr. If you make notes of your dope and holds using a certain power that you can over come the "down fall" of a SFP scope. its more work but that's up to you.

On T1x I have a vortex with FFP and I don't always want to be in a super zoom to be a able to use the reticle.

On my CZ 457 PRS trainer I have the vortex STRIKE EAGLE (here for $300) and its a SFP.

Another thing to consider is that with FFP, when you're on max power (x24 or so forth) the center of the cross-hair might be thick. and when you're trying to shoot something dime size at a distance away it might hinder your view because its too thick. where as most SFP are thinner from the start.

 

[Rob01]

The FFP reticle covers no more at max power than it does at its lowest power. What gets covered comes down to reticle design.

SFP actually covers more at lower powers. Just nature of the beast.

 

[Topstrap]

I use a SWFA 3-15 SFP DM reticle. Usually turn down to 10x for PRS type matches. Struggled at first till I figured out how to use Strelok and its holdover with reduced power function and get holdovers to put on my armband. Works really good and if the target is in the diamond shoot. Don't have to hunt for the reticle and with SFP the subtensions are easy to see.

I use 20x MOA-Quad SWFA on my longrange rimfires but for quick target acquisitions this works great. Bad news is they only made it for a couple years and are hard to find. Advantages and disadvantages to both.

Topstrap

 

[littlepod]

I have an Ares ETR 4.5-30. I don't think I've ever run it at 4.5, maybe if I'm shooting for a 5" plate at 75 yards in offhand position - When I'm shooting at that range, I don't really need to care about the reticle and holdovers, so it's pretty easy to see the left pictured reticle and know where the center is. When I'm shooting for the 1/4" and 1/2" targets at 50 yards, I generally run it at around 12-15x. I sometimes will go up to 20x if I'm going for the 1.5" at 100 yards. In all the ranges 12-30x I have no problem findinging my subtensions and shooting my targets w/ holdovers.

I like 30x for punching holes in paper and looking at my groups at 100/200.