scope for FTR

saum2 · Post by **saum2** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 7:09 pm

I'm looking seriously at FTR. what light weight scope would suit .308 and still do a good job. I'm looking at the variable scopes as fixed power can be a problem with mirage. Looking for some good feedback. My NF 12-42x is way too heavy.
thanks
Geoff

Brad Y · Post by **Brad Y** » Sun Oct 14, 2012 8:36 pm

Go a T24 or if you dont like the fixed power, the sightron SIII 8-32 are lighter than nightforces.

IanP · Post by **IanP** » Mon Oct 15, 2012 6:55 am

Sightron 8-32x56 or March 10-60x52 will save you approx 1lb in weight over a 8-32x56BR Nightforce. I have both and the March is the better scope but at 3x the cost I guess it should be!

The Sightron I bought from the USA was delivered with a small black streak on the reticle. I sent it back for warranty and received just recently and upon inspection found they removed most of the black (adhesive?) but it still has a slight smear. The Sightrons are great scopes but inspect it before you buy it as the warranty work leaves a bit to be desired.

Ian

Post by **AlanF** » Mon Oct 15, 2012 9:30 am

Geoff,

Leupolds are significantly lighter than NF and they are variable. You should be able to get a 2nd hand 8-25 VX-III LR for $7-800. With Leupold you can send them back to the factory at any age, any number of owners for a full optical-mechanical recondition (mine have endured 5000 and 10000 shots respectively from 6.5, 7mm and 308, and neither has had to go back). They have heaps of vert & hor adjustment, side parallax adj, 30mm tube, and much better optical clarity than my Weaver K24 (although I've heard you can be lucky with Weavers). The only drawback for some is they only have ¼ min clicks, but its never worried me. If you get one I'd advise the fine duplex reticle - uncluttered and the cross-hair is fine enough for any of our targets.

This probably sounds like the old "I've got one so they are the best" speel, but I genuinely believe if you want a light-weight variable with all the needed features, they are very good value. And mine aren't for sale

.

Alan

saum2 · Post by **saum2** » Mon Oct 15, 2012 4:21 pm

Thanks Guys,

i've heard good things about the March scopes but the price is way over my budget unless I sell my 2 NF 12-42's (no I'm not)
I had a weaver T24 with great optics but found the mirage a problem with it during summer. great in winter. Variable is the way to go.
I'll look at the leupolds with the weight issue. i have only a small number of KGs to play with, while adding the rest & scope. My TR weights 6.3kg but I can take a few things off before I add the rest & scope.

Geoff

SRyan · Post by **SRyan** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 9:38 pm

Hi Krakey

I have an older Nightforce and a Sightron SIII - and LOVE the Sightron. I looked at alot of different scopes when I bought this about 18 months ago. Couldnt justify the price of the March, found the Sightron had a great picture and got eye relief so much easier with this than the Leoupold. But this is just my opinion. If you can try and get a look behind a few different ones then weight up the weight situation as to the picture you get.

Cheers
SR

Southcape · Post by **Southcape** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:51 pm

Weight is important, but you also want the best glass you can get within that weight.

I have people come and pick up my rifle, and say .. gee that's heavy! Nope, it is under 8.25kgs ... JUST!!!

What weight is your bipod?

Seddo · Post by **Seddo** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:57 am

+1 on the sightron SIII

Quick · Post by **Quick** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:25 pm

While we are on the subejct of optics for F/TR, what about the reticle itself? what do people think/recommend?

Im used to Mil based reticles (Mildot, MLR, etc) and can use them quite well but for a target rifle, im kinda lost. I currently use a MLR in my NXS when I shoot F-Class. I dont feel it hinders me at all.

Im probably either going to get the T24 w/ target reticle or the Sightron 8-32x56 w/ LRMOA reticle.

PS, sorry for slight hijack

saum2 · Post by **saum2** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:42 pm

Linda,
Bipod is standard Davies but looking at chopping it down in weight similar to to the light wight model rather than buying another one.
cheers
Geoff

Post by **AlanF** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 9:55 pm

Quick wrote:While we are on the subejct of optics for F/TR, what about the reticle itself? what do people think/recommend?...

Shaun,

Reticles are an individual thing, and hard to recommend without more information. But here's a few things to think about :

If you always aim at the middle then a dot is easy to centre in the super V
If you hold off using the target rings, then a plain cross-hair is good
If you hold off using the reticle, then something with MOA (or multiple) ticks will suit
Thickness of lines is important to get right - too thin can be bad if eyesight isn't 100%.
In all cases, a full width horizontal cross-hair is helpful to avoid canting (by lining it up with the target frames).
Also, the simpler and less cluttered the less likelihood of errors.

FWIW I use a cross-hair with dot for team shooting, because most coaches twiddle the knobs and keep you in the middle. But for individual shooting I use a fine duplex which is good for holding off on the target rings. Both have full width horizontal cross-hairs and both have what is needed and no more.

Alan

IanP · Post by **IanP** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 6:59 am

Cross hair with target dot works for me! I use cross hair with target dot in my Sightron and march scopes. In my Nightforce BR scopes I use the R2 reticle which is basically a cross hair with a few extra elevation and windage lines added.

Preference is cross hair with target dot.

Ian

bsouthernau · Post by **bsouthernau** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 4:22 pm

IanP wrote:
Preference is cross hair with target dot.

Ian

Me too. I have a pair of Leupold 8.5-25s that I'm totally satisfied with.

Barry