Long time viewer, first time poster. Just bought a GAP .260 Rem from a fellow hide member (Thanks Nathan! Great member) and am forced to enter the mind boggling world of long range rifle scopes. Geez, there's so many choices. Need some help with what type of reticle would be best for long range shooting. Will be shooting paper a lot to build skills and experience but also plan to hunt with it. Have family in Idaho so some mule deer and big whitetails may be in my future. I think I've settled on a Mil-R FFP in the ~25 power range. Maybe a Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x50 or 56mm. Eurooptics has a nice 25x FFP Steiner on sale in their demo section. I'd also like to try shooting out to 1000 yds (paper, not hunting at that range). Will 22 or 25 power be sufficient or should I bump up the max magnification a bit? Also, there are a million different types of reticles to choose from. Which type would be preferred and which should be avoided? Appreciate any help and sorry if this has been addressed by people before.
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Rifle Scopes scope help
- Thread starter scootermcfly
- Start date
25 power is more than enough to shoot 1,000 yards. Being new to this, i know it may be hard to believe, because i was the same way. Most long range shooters have the type of scope you are describing, but rarely use them on full power. 12x-18x is generally enough. 25x is actually hard to use at times due to mirage, limited field of view, and a less forgiving eye box. This is why it's so important to have a ffp reticle in a high power scope. You can dial it back to any magnification setting and still use the reticle for holding elevation and wind.
As far as reticles go, you have two main types; "traditional" crosshairs with dots or hashes for your mil or moa markings, and the newer style "Christmas tree" reticles that have additional markings below the main horizontal line for holding over and off for wind. You mentioned nightforce, so i will use their reticles as an example. The mil-c and mil-r are what I'm referring to as traditional, and the mil-xt and h59 are what I'm referring to as a Christmas tree.
If the primary use will be hunting, you might consider a more mid powered scope like a 3-15 or 4-16 to gain field of view on minimum magnification. If you're hunting wide open spaces, 5-25 might still be fine. Another thing to consider is illumination. Ffp reticles can get very thin on minimum power, so illumination can help you find the reticle at dusk and dawn against dark backgrounds.
As far as specific scope recommendations go, if you'll specify a price range, we can help you out. You have a nice gun, so don't skimp on a cheap scope, and also don't go cheap on rings and bases. It's worth waiting if you have to to get stuff you can trust in the field. Good luck in your search. I'm sure more people will be along to help you out. Keep reading and asking good questions and you'll get all the help you need here.
As far as reticles go, you have two main types; "traditional" crosshairs with dots or hashes for your mil or moa markings, and the newer style "Christmas tree" reticles that have additional markings below the main horizontal line for holding over and off for wind. You mentioned nightforce, so i will use their reticles as an example. The mil-c and mil-r are what I'm referring to as traditional, and the mil-xt and h59 are what I'm referring to as a Christmas tree.
If the primary use will be hunting, you might consider a more mid powered scope like a 3-15 or 4-16 to gain field of view on minimum magnification. If you're hunting wide open spaces, 5-25 might still be fine. Another thing to consider is illumination. Ffp reticles can get very thin on minimum power, so illumination can help you find the reticle at dusk and dawn against dark backgrounds.
As far as specific scope recommendations go, if you'll specify a price range, we can help you out. You have a nice gun, so don't skimp on a cheap scope, and also don't go cheap on rings and bases. It's worth waiting if you have to to get stuff you can trust in the field. Good luck in your search. I'm sure more people will be along to help you out. Keep reading and asking good questions and you'll get all the help you need here.
Great advice!
SFP may work better for hunting, FFP may work better for PRS style target shooting.
I don't hunt, but every hunter I know would agree with the lower magnification advice provided.
CR,
Thanks for the info. Long range paper will be the primary purpose (hunting may be occasional, if at all, but can be eliminated as a factor if dual purpose compatibility is an issue). I'm not looking for a do it all gun or scope and I bought this more as an intro to long range shooting and PRS. Price range is about $2500. Are the "Christmas Tree" style reticles better for long range (600-1000 yds) or is something like the Mil-R better (nightforce examples)?
Thanks for the info. Long range paper will be the primary purpose (hunting may be occasional, if at all, but can be eliminated as a factor if dual purpose compatibility is an issue). I'm not looking for a do it all gun or scope and I bought this more as an intro to long range shooting and PRS. Price range is about $2500. Are the "Christmas Tree" style reticles better for long range (600-1000 yds) or is something like the Mil-R better (nightforce examples)?
Gotcha, well if it's primarily a target/competition rifle, then get something around 25x. It is nice to have when conditions allow.
Reticles are really just personal preference. Some people like the simplicity of a vertical and horizontal line. It's uncluttered and clean. If you are going to dial elevation, this style reticle gives nothing up to a christmas tree style. Where the christmas tree style reticles come into play is if you don't touch your turrets at all. The added lines allow you to both hold over for elevation and off for wind. You can still hold over and off with a traditional reticle, but it may not be as easy or precise, and it probably requires more practice.
In your price range there are all kinds of good scopes, especially if you consider used. For new, most people will say vortex gen 2 razor. For used, you're in reach of just about anything...kahles, schmidt and bender, minox, etc. At this price point, just about any scope should be really good optically and mechanically. It's a matter of deciding which reticle you like best and considering any other specific features like locking turrets, capped windage, etc.
Reticles are really just personal preference. Some people like the simplicity of a vertical and horizontal line. It's uncluttered and clean. If you are going to dial elevation, this style reticle gives nothing up to a christmas tree style. Where the christmas tree style reticles come into play is if you don't touch your turrets at all. The added lines allow you to both hold over for elevation and off for wind. You can still hold over and off with a traditional reticle, but it may not be as easy or precise, and it probably requires more practice.
In your price range there are all kinds of good scopes, especially if you consider used. For new, most people will say vortex gen 2 razor. For used, you're in reach of just about anything...kahles, schmidt and bender, minox, etc. At this price point, just about any scope should be really good optically and mechanically. It's a matter of deciding which reticle you like best and considering any other specific features like locking turrets, capped windage, etc.
Eurooptics has a Nightforce 5-25x56 ATACR on sale for about $2500 and a Steiner 5-25x56 for $1500. The biggest difference I see between the two is the zero stops on the Nightforce. Some people on SH have said that the zero stop feature is a game changer for them. Is the NF worth the xtra $1k or will the Steiner fit the bill. I imagine both will be beyond my skills right now but as I grow in the sport I don't want to outgrow the scope or gun. One of the reasons I bought this gun over getting a factory gun and working it up over time. Buy once, cry once.
I'm, just throwing in my .2 cents for a Vortex. It's 90% of the glass you get in a NightForce (as far as quality) but I love the warranty and far less expensive. I use several of them for work and I like knowing if we drop them off a building they get replaced for free. No matter what you use put it in a Sphur mount though. Great product.
Which Steiner? T5xi or M5xi? M5xi is more a direct competitor to the nightforce atacr in both price and quality. T5xi is a step down, but still not a bad scope. I agree with above to get a quality mount/rings, but you don't have to get a sphur. There are plenty of good options that will hold your scope's zero just fine for a lot less money. If you want "the best" or maybe what is hot right now and you have the money, then by all means, rock on with a sphur. But you don't "need" one.
Buy the best scope you can afford..... Unfortunately that DOES mean the more expensive scope is better.
CR,
I was looking at the T5xi. Eurooptics has a refurb for a good deal. I appreciate all your advice so far.
Overwatch,
The Vortex scopes seem pretty good too for the money.
I was looking at the T5xi. Eurooptics has a refurb for a good deal. I appreciate all your advice so far.
Overwatch,
The Vortex scopes seem pretty good too for the money.
If you're not used to using a christmas tree type reticle, it can be busy compared to more simple designs.
That said, if you need to engage multiple targets at different ranges quickly, having a H59 or similar solution is invaluable.
This is also going to come into play with some types of timed competitions, so it really depends on what your long term plans are (since you probably don't want to have to buy another scope later after dropping bucks up on your first choice).
That said, if you need to engage multiple targets at different ranges quickly, having a H59 or similar solution is invaluable.
This is also going to come into play with some types of timed competitions, so it really depends on what your long term plans are (since you probably don't want to have to buy another scope later after dropping bucks up on your first choice).
If you can get somewhere that has these type of scopes, look through them and check out the different reticles. Everyone has their own preferences and one of the great things we have now are a lot of different choices. I have tried many different reticles and scopes some I really like others I don't and paid the price of buying without checking things out enough lol. Some really good glass out there that is well priced (Athlon, Vortex to name a few). Good luck and hope you find what works for you!
I primarily shoot 260 and 25 is plenty to shoot well past 1000.
My Athlon goes to 29X but I’m mostly running it at 15 to 25x.
I’d really look at the razor gen2
A lot of awesomeness for their current prices.
When I bought my athlon the G2 razor was more expensive.
At current prices I’d definitely would have bought the razor.
I’d also think about buying used.
A lot of good deals pop up here at the optics PX.
My Athlon goes to 29X but I’m mostly running it at 15 to 25x.
I’d really look at the razor gen2
A lot of awesomeness for their current prices.
When I bought my athlon the G2 razor was more expensive.
At current prices I’d definitely would have bought the razor.
I’d also think about buying used.
A lot of good deals pop up here at the optics PX.
Thanks to everybody here for the good advice. After searching SH and reading plenty of articles and posts I'm going with the Razor 2. I just messaged a forum member in the optics classified section. Looking forward to closing the deal and starting a new shooting habit! Also looking forward to tapping this site for more advice and knowledge.
