scope question

T

Tod Soeby

New member
My new light gun won't make weight with the Night Force NSX 8-32 mounted. It will be 3-4 oz to heavy. My smith told me it would be hard to make weight with the components I had before we built, especially the scope, but I told him to go ahead anyway. I told him I probably would never go to a match, and if I did, I would find another scope. But, like my X-wife....I changed my mind. :eek: Looks like I will attend my first 1000 yd match in May. :eek: I have a Leupold 8.5 - 25 LRT that I could use, but was wondering if there was a better choice. I trust this scope, I have had it for 3-4 years on a hard kicking hunting gun and the adjustments are spot on and repeatable. Weather or not it can hold it's zero down to the hundredth of an inch like you guys are always talking about is unknown, as it is hard to tell with this level of recoil. Does anyone use a strait power bench rest scope for 1000 yd, and maybe 600 yd. I was thinking of buying a new scope strictly for LR bench rest, (30 mm tube). 35x , 40x, 45x??? I figured that a strait power scope would be cheaper than a variable. I can't spend another $1600 on another scope. Is a person giving up much by having a variable. I know that when I set my scopes side by side, going from 32X down to 25X will be a sacrifice :( .


With the major investment I have in this rig, it seems foolish to skimp now, but "a man has to know his limitations" (do you like my Clint Eastwood imitation?) Besides, I did buy the best (IMO) with the NSX, and will work if I ever get to an F-class match, and works great for driving the hard-core PETA members bonkers!!:D:D

Any advice would be welcome.

THANKS,
TOD
 
Last edited:
Have you taken the caps, covers and battery off the scope?
What kind of stock do you have? If it's a laminate you could take off the recoil pad and drill the stock out.
You could also go with a lighter recoil pad.
You can lose about 2 oz per inch from the barrel by cutting the muzzle end, and more than that if you cut off the chamber end.
You could also save some weight by switching from steel rings and bases to aluminum.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Lou,

I thought going down to 25X would be bad......but 10X......you did see that this is for 1000 yd shooting, right?:D:D Could you even find the right target at 1K with a 10X scope.;) Also I said I was looking to SAVE money....aren't March scopes selling for close to 2 grand? :eek:

Joe,


The stock is a McMillan glass stock, and I had mentioned to Spencer about "stripping" the gun to make weight, and he said it won't happen. To heavy. As far as chopping inches from the BBL.....that ain't going to happen either. The rings and bases are aluminum.

I am afraid it's going to be a new scope (which is what Spencer suggested), or shoot heavy class. I think I read that muzzle brakes are not allowed in the heavy class!?! That won't be much fun:eek:. I will be fine with F class.
 
Tod

Any good scope that gets you down to the weight limit will work just fine. Don't fret over it so much. I have use Leupold 36X and 24X Benchrest scopes, Leupold 8.5 -25X LR, and even a Leupold 6.5 - 20X EFR at both 600 and 1000 yards.

You didn't say what cartridge you are shooting but a 17 pound rifle will absorb a lot of the recoil so you needn't worry about wrecking a scope.

JMHO

Ray
 
Cheechako said:
Tod

Any good scope that gets you down to the weight limit will work just fine. Don't fret over it so much. I have use Leupold 36X and 24X Benchrest scopes, Leupold 8.5 -25X LR, and even a Leupold 6.5 - 20X EFR at both 600 and 1000 yards.

You didn't say what cartridge you are shooting but a 17 pound rifle will absorb a lot of the recoil so you needn't worry about wrecking a scope.

JMHO

Ray
Click to expand...

Not to worried about the scope....that is what warranty is for. But it's a 300 wby, so bag manners already suck with a brake. I'm guessing it will be a bear-cat without it:eek:
 
While I can't afford March scopes and don't know much about them, I believe the 10X60 Lou is referring to is a variable 10 to 60 power scope. :confused:
Just went to Kelby's web site and the scope Lou mentioned is 10x-60x X52 variable. I should think 60 power would be more than enough at 1000 yards. I've been shooting 1000 yd Palma with iron sights so I don't know what the 60 power scope picture would look like.
 
Last edited:
oneflyer said:
what does it weigh now?
Click to expand...

I don't have a reliable scale. Clay Spencer built the gun and he told me that it is like 4-6 oz over 17 lb. He was doing his "recoil balancing" thing and said he couldn't get it down to 17lb as he had shaved every oz off he could without chopping the bbl. I can't remember the exact # because at the time it wasn't that big a deal for me. Like I said, I didn't figure I would ever get to a match, but it looks like I will be heading to Harris MN range for a 1k match in May. Like any newbie, I am probably fussing over the minor stuff, and forgetting about all the important things. :eek: I don't even have a clue what to bring to a match, other than gun, shells, and cleaning stuff, but I will be talking to my "go to" guy before hand!!
 
I've been using the Leupold LR 8.5x 25 for 5 years. Have them on both LG and HG. Very Reliable. John Hoover had best price.By the way the Hoover family uses these scopes.His number is 814-684-5322.
 
Been there.......

Had a very similar problem a few years ago. Then I had the barrel fluted, six flutes lost me 4Oz. Traded steel rings for aluminum, that was 2Oz, removed battery compartment cover and battery. that saved about 1Oz. Had some stock work done also but I had to lose a pound. If you can do the above you should make the weight. I did everything I could so that I could use that nightforce.
 
oneflyer said:
Had a very similar problem a few years ago. Then I had the barrel fluted, six flutes lost me 4Oz. Traded steel rings for aluminum, that was 2Oz, removed battery compartment cover and battery. that saved about 1Oz. Had some stock work done also but I had to lose a pound. If you can do the above you should make the weight. I did everything I could so that I could use that nightforce.
Click to expand...

BBl is fluted. Bases and rings are aluminum.
 
Todd,
Purge all that nitrogen from your scope and fill it with helium. :D
 
Russ Hardy said:
Todd,
Purge all that nitrogen from your scope and fill it with helium. :D
Click to expand...


Russ,


Knowing you, you probably figured out a way to make that idea work!!:D:D

I am heading down to visit the folks next week. I know I always try and plan a trip up to see you, but it never seems to work out. I always tend to have a severe case of "GOLF-ITES" after 6 months of cold and darkness! It takes 36 holes a day for 10 days for a complete cure.:D

Jon has made a few trips to the Ben Avery (sp) range when he isn't doing his pilot stuff to do some casual plinking. Do you have any matches in the area in the next few weeks???? It sure would be a hoot to see a match in person.

SEE YA,
TOD
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top