Target Scope Recommendation

[JimTom]

G’day Gents

I am after recommendations for a target scope to go on a 308 for a bit of range work, generally 500m and perhaps stretching it out a bit further eventually. Not for competition.
I have been looking at the Meopta Optika 6 and also a Vortex Viper, both FFP optics. I have several Meopta and consider them quite good value for the price point.
Budget is important, hoping to keep it sub $2k.

[Bello]

Hi Mate
Scope choice is important. Cheap scopes in my opinion are not worth the time and money.
If you only want to plink out to 500 meters and then some, them a reasonable quality scope with magnification to 15 or 18 is ok.
I like my scopes with more power, I have some Leupolds 4-24, Swarovski 5-30 and a Match that goes to 80 power (the March is very good and very expensive).

Just like you I enjoy the plinking, but I have larger power scopes so I can see the targets a lot better.
Have a look on line with some scope comparisons of scope magnification.

Buy once cry once
Good luck

[JimTom]

Thanks mate.
The Meopta Optika 6 is 4.5-27x50 and the Vortex was 5-30 from memory.
I’d love to stretch the budget up to $4k however unfortunately I will have to make do with half of that and hopefully find something that’s reasonable for the money.

[Bello]

Have a look on Used guns.
You might find a used scope of a better quality on there at a reasonable price
I have bought second hand scope with no issues on Used Guns.

I find my Swarovski to be really clear. They don't seem to have too much elevation for the very long target shooting, so check how much elevation a scope has before you commit to a purchase.
I added a 20 MOA picatinny rail for extra elevation.

Leupold are a good quality scope and if u need any repairs or change reticle etc etc, the repair shop is in Queensland. You don't have to send the thing overseas and wait ages to get it back.
I have used them and to this date they have been great.

The scopes you mentioned seem alright, good magnification, at your price point.
Just remember, that a 308 can shoot out further than 500 meters. But for target work you will have to match your twist rate and your projectile weight, projectile design, consistent powder weight, brass etc etc. Not all rifles are meant to shoot those distances.

good luck

[JimTom]

Thanks for the info mate. Appreciate it.

[Larry]

The scopes that i would recommend are the Night Force BR 8*32 , BR12*42 or the NF competition. These are the scopes that would represent 90% of the scopes being used in the comps that you have described. They can be picked up second hand in perfect condition the 8*32 and the 42 BR for a bit over $1000 and the comp version for about $2300 they are designed esp for this purpose.

[Biscuits]

I've looked through and handled the Meopta Optika 6 but never used one. It looks like a good scope. Beware that with all high (25-30x) power 50mm objective scopes, the highest magnifications may not be that useable. If that were the budget, it would definitely be on my shortlist.

I think you could take your 308 further than 500m, that's short range The bullet should be supersonic to about 950 metres, but I've fired a 308 with a Schmitt & Bender 3-20x50 scope up to 1300 metres.

[Biscuits]

I find my Swarovski to be really clear. They don't seem to have too much elevation for the very long target shooting, so check how much elevation a scope has before you commit to a purchase.
I added a 20 MOA picatinny rail for extra elevation.
:

AFAIK the Swarovski family object to their scopes being used for military purposes, or at least Swarovski branded scopes. So they only come with MOA / duplex reticles and you don’t need a whole lot of elevation for hunting. They are fine scopes though. Swarovski own Kahles, which is another alpha level scope. Kahles do the military scopes with milirad retickes and plenty of elevation.

[JimTom]

Unfortunately my budget has been slashed again. Bearing in mind I am only just ringing a bit of steel for fun and not a serious comp shooter, what do you think of the Vortex Diamondback Tactic, 5-24x50, FFP.
I know it’s a budget scope so far as target scopes though. I am thinking this will probably be me.

[in2anity]

Listen to Larry.

[Bill]

Any one claiming 90% of the scope used at events your interested in are Night Force are yanking your chain.

[JimTom]

A generalisation here I know however I don’t like buying secondhand, there is a reason why it is being sold and I am not smart enough to work out what that reason is generally. I’d rather buy something new and take advantage of the warranty.

[JimTom]

Before I come under attack I will acknowledge that there is some good kit available on the second hand market and not everyone is sketchy. I have just been bitten one to many times buying things online.

[Larry]

Any one claiming 90% of the scope used at events your interested in are Night Force are yanking your chain.

No they are not Bill you just show your ignorance. 90% would be a low ball number. If you go to the facebook groups of the VRA, QRA and the affiliated clubs have a look at the pictures which there are lots of as there have just been some big comps over Easter and tell me what you see. Obviously you have never been to any of the ranges run by these groups or competed in any of there events. So if you dont know dont comment. apply that to so many other thread you comment on as well.

Jim Tom you are right there is a reason so many are being sold or were being sold it has dropped a bit lately. The reason is that a lot of people were upgrading to the comp scope over the BR 32 and 42 scopes. However the comp scope has very fine reticle and a lot of the older blokes just couldn't use them as easily as their old scopes. So both were selling at very reasonable prices. Got my comp for this very reason at a bargain price.

[Wyliecoyote]

If you're looking to have a bit of fun and no serious competition, may I suggest an alternate point. If you are winding elevation, then a good quality target scope is advisable like NF, March or Leupold. But if your looking to not wind elevation or even windage, a reticle suited or adaptable to your cartridge is the best and cheapest option. There are numerous reticles out there, some simple, others complex that can meet general plinking requirements without wearing out or testing the mechanical limits of cheaper scopes. I have never seen the sense in a Christmas tree reticle in a scope with target turrets and 80 MOA elevation. You either use the turrets or the reticle.
The best value for money option is a Zeiss Conquest 6.5-20 with Z1000 reticle. Outstanding clarity, a reticle that is very precise with the 308 cartridge and 168 grain polymer tipped bullets to a 1000 yards but has the website and app ability to adapt to other cartridges. No need to wind elevation, has windage hash marks. These scopes are usually found on usedguns for around $1000 or less and are flawless in every aspect. I have the Vortex equivalent and it is poor in relation to clarity and field of view. The Bushnell equivalent was even worse.
I have my Conquest on a SSG69 using 168 grain Zmax pills that will ring plate to as far as I want, yet is zeroed to a 100 yards. No need to touch anything other than the range finder.

[Bill]

Any one claiming 90% of the scope used at events your interested in are Night Force are yanking your chain.

No they are not Bill you just show your ignorance. 90% would be a low ball number. If you go to the facebook groups of the VRA, QRA and the affiliated clubs have a look at the pictures which there are lots of as there have just been some big comps over Easter and tell me what you see. Obviously you have never been to any of the ranges run by these groups or competed in any of there events. So if you dont know dont comment. apply that to so many other thread you comment on as well.

Jim Tom you are right there is a reason so many are being sold or were being sold it has dropped a bit lately. The reason is that a lot of people were upgrading to the comp scope over the BR 32 and 42 scopes. However the comp scope has very fine reticle and a lot of the older blokes just couldn't use them as easily as their old scopes. So both were selling at very reasonable prices. Got my comp for this very reason at a bargain price.

Sorry Larry but Ive been shooting at 500m most weekend for the last few months and 90% of the scopes at the range arent Nightforces, the claim is laughable so I dont know why you made it, Plenty of Leupold, Vortex, March, Sightron, Swarovski and Khales just to name a few.

You arent a Nightforce dealer are you

[Larry]

Yeah right Bill bulls**t. What range is that Little River and what comp are you shooting there?

[Bill]

Larry take a deep breath and be more specific,making a blanket statement will get you in trouble . Jim tom wanted a few suggestions regarding shooting out to 500m, not for competition. I am aware of the recent success of NF in F-Class, however its not the only option.

I dont shoot any comp Larry, I just enjoy challenging myself at long ranges. I also fish by myself but dont do fishing comps

[JimTom]

If you're looking to have a bit of fun and no serious competition, may I suggest an alternate point. If you are winding elevation, then a good quality target scope is advisable like NF, March or Leupold. But if your looking to not wind elevation or even windage, a reticle suited or adaptable to your cartridge is the best and cheapest option. There are numerous reticles out there, some simple, others complex that can meet general plinking requirements without wearing out or testing the mechanical limits of cheaper scopes. I have never seen the sense in a Christmas tree reticle in a scope with target turrets and 80 MOA elevation. You either use the turrets or the reticle.

Mate thanks. Sometimes you just need someone to point out the obvious to you, which you have done. I actually have a 6-18x50 with a BDC reticle and perhaps that will more than suffice for what I want. Also an app that lets you know what the range is for each hatch on the BDC. I agree with you regarding the Christmas tree reticle and adjustable turrets. Makes no sense to me either, but then again I am no long distance specialist.

[Bill]

If I had a spare $2k I'd drop it on a Swaro Z5 5-25x52 P L BRX, light enough to carry around on a hunting rifle, 495gr and 14.6 inches

https://www.claytonfirearms.com.au/prod ... rx-clayton

[in2anity]

If I had a spare $2k I'd drop it on a Swaro Z5 5-25x52 P L BRX, light enough to carry around on a hunting rifle, 495gr and 14.6 inches

https://www.claytonfirearms.com.au/prod ... rx-clayton

Swaro glass is simply staggering; I have a Swaro spotter. Larry is right though there are simply tonnes of NFs on NRAA affiliated mounds. The schmidt and benders also deserve a look in. I'd get one of those three brands if I ever seriously got into scoped target shooting. I've dabbled a bit in the S/H class with a Vortex SE, and it's rather sh!t clarity compared to even my older Leupold vx3.

[Biscuits]

I have never seen the sense in a Christmas tree reticle in a scope with target turrets and 80 MOA elevation. You either use the turrets or the reticle.

80MoA total travel would be low for a good scope, you might end up with 80MoA useable elevation though.

I have one scope with 24 milirad of useable elevation (ie as mounted, I can dial 24 milirad of up elevation) and which has a tree reticle. I also have another scope with the same useable elevation and a non-tree reticle.

There are pros and cons to both. The pros of a tree reticle is you can easily hold both windage and elevation. You might do this in a match where you are timed and engage targets at multiple distances. Holding instead of dialling is faster.

The cons of a tree is the reticle is busier and it makes it harder to spot bullet trace and impact.