Confused about which scope to buy.

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xpdchief

Guest
Good afternoon, and thank you in advance to anyone who might be able to help me.

I've been lurking around for quite a while, gathering as much information as I could on a scope for my recently purchased Savage Model 10, FCP-K in .308.

I thought I had finally come up with a scope that both fit my budget, and my needs. I was looking at either the Millett TRS-1, or the Millett LRS-1. After narrowing down my choices I started to do more research on scopes in general. What I learned was that I may be buying more scope (size and magnification) than I need.

I will be using this rifle for non-competitive benchrest target shooting at distances up to 200 yards, with the possibility (in the distant future) of shooting up to 600 yards.

Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,
Brian
 
wrong scope manufacture in my opinion.
how much did the rifle cost ??/
spent that much on a scope or more...
don't have it, save it up.
you need some serious power for benchrest shooting..but the gun, in this case will limit the total outcome.
look for a QUALITY scope thet is max near 24x or so.....used is ok if its a luepold.
6-18, 6-24. 8-32
or a fixed 24 or 36x
if you shoot daytime, not early or late consider an older redfield ...burris, weaver, luepold.

mike in co
 
Suggest that you look at a used Weaver T-36. Then save your fun money and look at used competition Benchrest rifles (plus all the associated equipment). The Savage will give you the itch but will limit your ability to scratch it.

Greg J
 
FWIW I agree with Greg's recommendation and will add a Sightron 36x as another good bang-for-the-buck fixed power scope. My father has a T-36 on his "fun" bench gun in 6br and the glass is great, the scope is lightweight, durable, and dependable and if you decide you don't like the magnification or benchrest shooting (I know that you mentioned non-competitive BR) you can sell it for fairly close to what you bought it for very easily.
If you don't think you need that much magnification (if you are serious about small groups you DO need at least that much) then a nice 6-24x variable may be appropriate. I have had good luck with Leupold, burris, sightron, bushnell, and weaver. Just remember that .308 is going to put a load on your scope and your shoulder so buy the best you can afford the first time. You won't regret it. Leupold has a lifetime warranty, and there are no "perfect" companies out there. just some that are better on the average.
Mike
 
SGJennings said:
Suggest that you look at a used Weaver T-36. Then save your fun money and look at used competition Benchrest rifles (plus all the associated equipment). The Savage will give you the itch but will limit your ability to scratch it.

Greg J
Click to expand...

the weavers they are talking about are the US made ones not the import If you go for the leupold they are also nice for hunting
 
Thanks to all of you who have replied.

I've pretty much narrowed my choices to a Weaver T-36 or a Sightron 36X. Just so I'm clear, my primary use is going to be 100 to 200 yard non-competitive benchrest target shooting. I'm told in the future my gun club MAY go out to 600 yards, so realistically I'm looking at 200 yards as the longest distance for quite some time.

Are these both good choices for that distance?, if not please elaborate.
Is one better than the other (I know this can be subjective)?

Thanks again for all of your help.
Brian
 
They are just the ticket for you. Depending on your budget, another scope to consider is a used Leupold 36. I have one and the glass is absolutely fantastic. There are models that are the most desirable, but all are good. Look up some ofbJackie Schmidt's posts. He has had all of them apart and knows whereof he speaks.

Greg J
 
I am thinking of the steel tube type and the 30 was the strongest still sorry dont like the new ones prefer ziss
 
Zeiss, AFAIK, doesn't make a scope suitable for benchrest. Weaver and Sightron are the most common budget choices. A friend has a B&L that is really nice. Haven't seen one for sale in a long while. It's a step up, but a used Leupold 36 BR, as mentioned previously, is a good choice. I recently picked one up and am impressed with it. Some folks might not like the 1/4" clicks.
 
Well I believe I have finally made up my mind. Thanks to all of the helpful responses to my question, I've decided to buy a Sightron SII Big Sky 6-24X42 (SIIB62442D).
I've looked around, and the best price I've found so far is from bearbasin.com, $599.99. There is also a $75.00 Sightron mail-in rebate.

Thanks again to all that have posted.
Brian
 
Based on the information you provided, this is definitely NOT the best scope or the best buy for you. Of course, it IS your money, but the Weaver 36x can be bought used (lifetime warranty) here in the classifieds consistently for $325-350. That's about 1/2 the price of a 6x24 that won't do the job for 100-200yd benchrest. Why do people ask for advice from those who know and then ignore it? Rhetorical question.....I don't expect an answer.

Rick
 
The 24 power isn't going to cut it. 36 is pretty much the minimum. Many, I'm tempted to say most with no numbers to back it up, shoot 40x or greater. The most popular scope where/what I shoot is a NightForce 12-42x. It's not the variable power that we like, it's the scope's reputation for holding POI. We'd like it to be fixed 42X and lighter.
 
gentlemen...
read his opening post.
he definitly upgraded to a better scope than his opening post,and also he said INFROMAL benchrest, 200-600 yds.
are there better scopes for the money, yes, did he move up from his initial idea, yes....
so its ok..not perfect, but ok....
mike in co
 
Yes, but can get a scope that will work and has upside for half the cost of one that won't work except as a varmint scope.

Can one see the holes or score rings at 600 with 24X?
 
have you shot 600/1000 yds ?
there are people that actually shoot with 24x scopes.
my scope started out as a luepold 8.5-25 but with a bul'seye pro 3x booster it is aproax a 11-32x.
and yes you can see the rings.....
you still missed the point, in my opinion, he said INFROMAL benchrest...not competition.
mike in co
SGJennings said:
Yes, but can get a scope that will work and has upside for half the cost of one that won't work except as a varmint scope.

Can one see the holes or score rings at 600 with 24X?
Click to expand...
 
Greyfox said:
Based on the information you provided, this is definitely NOT the best scope or the best buy for you. Of course, it IS your money, but the Weaver 36x can be bought used (lifetime warranty) here in the classifieds consistently for $325-350. That's about 1/2 the price of a 6x24 that won't do the job for 100-200yd benchrest. Why do people ask for advice from those who know and then ignore it? Rhetorical question.....I don't expect an answer.

Rick
Click to expand...

Greyfox, thanks for your response. To answer your question, if you take a closer look at the responses I received I'm sure you would agree that your quoted post is not very accurate. 3 out of the 4 posts (75%) that deal directly with my posted question list a 24X has a viable option.

Now I have a question. Why do some people who never previously took the time to offer his/her opinion feel the need to place a snide comment in an otherwise helpful response? Rhetorical question.....I don't expect and answer, I already know it!
 
xpdchief said:
Greyfox, thanks for your response. To answer your question, if you take a closer look at the responses I received I'm sure you would agree that your quoted post is not very accurate. 3 out of the 4 posts (75%) that deal directly with my posted question list a 24X has a viable option.

Now I have a question. Why do some people who never previously took the time to offer his/her opinion feel the need to place a snide comment in an otherwise helpful response? Rhetorical question.....I don't expect and answer, I already know it!
Click to expand...

Often, it's best to actually go to a match and listen to actual shooters before you buy. That way you see firsthand what actual competitors are using. If you don't agree with their choices, maybe actual competitors can learn from your decision...maybe.

The important thing is that you're wanting to be involved in shooting BR. If your choice proves to work well...great, if not...well, I've wasted more than you stand to lose if you decide to change more than once.--Mike
 
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