Rifle Scopes Short Heavy Tactical Rifle - What Scope Power????

[laanguiano]

I'm building myself a Short Heavy Tactical Rifle.
Rem 700 20" 308 Win. in an AICS Stock

Was going to save some money for now and go with the Nikon Buckmaster at Cabelas, but then I looked through the Monarch and the difference literally looked "Night and Day" difference. It was soooo much brighter and sharper.

So here's my real question. With the setup im building does it make more sense to go with the 2.5-10x scope, or the 4-16x?

In practicality it will be used mainly for benchrest shooting, but it will be my only hunting rifle for a bit so it will serve that purpose too. My next rifle will be a 260 or 7mm-08, you can keep that into consideration.

 

[Maxpower]

Re: SHTR - What Nikon Monarch Scope Power?

I'm no expert, don't play one on TV either BUT I DO sleep down the road from a Holiday Inn Express so I will say.... depends on what you are comfortable w/. I used a 2.5-10 power on my 7mm-08 for years for deer and groundhog hunting but when shooting chucks always longed for a little more magnification. The 2.5 is great(to ME) for the close range stuff I sometimes jump the whitetails from here in central PA. Now, If I were doing the same setup again RIGHT NOW, I'd be throwing a Bushnell 6500 2.5-16 on it and be content w/ a multi-use single rifle....as it stands tho, I have a lightweight and a heavy tactical in 308 and thusly have purpose chosen scopes on each. YMMV

 

[MinorDamage]

Re: SHTR - What Nikon Monarch Scope Power?

You'll have to figure it out for yourself. Try to get behind some different magnifications at your range. The Marines used fixed 10 powers for years and now are using 3-12 power S&B. I have an ST-10 and the fixed 10 gets me out to 600 no problems. Will have to get it out to 1000 to tell for sure if I ever want to upgrade. So far, it ain't broke and I am not fixing it.

Josh