Correct scopes for different purposes

[rabbitwrecker]

and we can become fairy choosey and less tolerant of crap as time goes by.

Very true...

 

[Spoon]

Reading this thread… I just want to buy a Zeiss scope now. I’m sure the wife won’t mind me remortgaging the house.

 

[Stockscrew]

I find scopes are 'horses for courses' and picking the right one is not particularly difficult when it's known what will be the main purpose of the gun it's on. I have scopes in sizes from 2.5 x 20 to 8-32 x 60 and each generally has a specific purpose because not only is the magnification important, the reticle needs to be carefully considered, as does the type of adjustment turret. For hunting, a 4-16 x 40 with a mildot ret would be ok as the aim point at various ranges can be estimated via the dots, The same scope spec with target turrets would be quite at home on a FT course where, with a ballistic calculator, the ret could set to shoot without holdover or under. Reticle types are a similar puzzle as what can be ideal for one shot may be awful for another, thick crosshairs and mildots and thin types both have their place including some of their more obscure types. Thin ones may be ideal for accuracy but not a lot of good in a dark wood where the thicker variety will stand out and even better if the ret is illuminated. One particular hunting ret I have on a 2-5 x 20 scope is a German No 4 type which is a small fine cross centred in a thick lined 'U' and is the fastest acquisition scope I have ever used when hunting rabbits in thick scrub.
Moving on and up through the larger scope sizes to 8 - 32 x 60, a scope with a Christmas tree type ret can never be used to its full potential at air rifle ranges but is exceptionally good for FT where rhe target can be picked out in detail, and even better when the range distance can be dialed.
So with all that to take into consideration, what's the best option? IMO a 4 - 14 x 42 SF with an illuminated mildot ret and target turrets would cover most eventualities and there are many of them available to suit all pockets.

 

[Theo1]

Reading this thread… I just want to buy a Zeiss scope now. I’m sure the wife won’t mind me remortgaging the house.

I hope to get my Zeiss LRP S3 ordered from Scot Country at the Northern shooting show either today or tomorrow, can't wait.

 

[Pg339]

I don’t tend to go off what others use or prefer as it’s a huge variable. My 48yr old eyes can’t cope hunting paper with x5 mag. But my body can’t cope with x24 either as I don’t do full bench rest stuff(front a rear rested). So shouldered anything much over x14, I might as well shoot off horse back! Most of mine are 4-16 mag and seem to cover my uses and needs just fine. I think to pick just one mag as a fixed, would prob be x10 .

That's it in a nutshell. Shooting at x24 and above off a bench is entirely different to shooting off hand or on sticks in the field. The higher the mag the more sensitivity there will be to body movement and that leaves the crosshairs very difficult to hold steady on target.

 

[Theo1]

I don't tend to go over 16 mag, but at the end of the day the shaking is still there no matter what mag, it's just exaggerated more on high mag.

 

[nav2022]

That's it in a nutshell. Shooting at x24 and above off a bench is entirely different to shooting off hand or on sticks in the field. The higher the mag the more sensitivity there will be to body movement and that leaves the crosshairs very difficult to hold steady on target.

There is always sensitivity to body movement no matter what mag you're at. It's just at higher mag you can see it more in the scope.

 

[ven]

There is always sensitivity to body movement no matter what mag you're at. It's just at higher mag you can see it more in the scope.

Very true , it’s also learning to adapt and not over compensate . I was shocking the other night and could not hold still(good days and bad days, nothing more).

 

[keithy]

I have just bought a scope at the northern shooting show a 1-4x 24 from the shooting party its just what i wanted for squirrel shooting there is no focus because its not needed perfect for the job nice and clear bright picture and a good wide field of view price £140. Dont scoff its perfectly fine for 40 yds. At the end of the day we arnt taking photographs if you can see it pretty clearly its good enough. I do also have higher end scopes hawk sidewinder etc

 

[SSH66]

This might upset some of the high end scope users - I mainly rat and squirrel shoot with a springer at up to 24 yards and I use a Nikko Stirling 6 x 40AO. It's perfect for my needs, minimum distance it's in focus at is 10 yards it's got a mildot it's all I need.

 

[thunker]

If we are talking 20-40 yards,even 50 and you cant see what you want to aim at through poor glass and has been made to appear 4/6/9 times closer for you , then can i ask what you all paid for your windows at home... Why would you want a field of view that you could see a football pitch in when you only need to see the ball, unless you only have one eye... " However tis your coin "

 

[Lochy]

It's Leupold scopes for me.

Lifetime build quality, super optics / glass.

Could I ask which one you would recommend for generic paper target shooting (20-50m)?

 

[nav2022]

I have just bought a scope at the northern shooting show a 1-4x 24 from the shooting party its just what i wanted for squirrel shooting there is no focus because its not needed perfect for the job nice and clear bright picture and a good wide field of view price £140. Dont scoff its perfectly fine for 40 yds. At the end of the day we arnt taking photographs if you can see it pretty clearly its good enough. I do also have higher end scopes hawk sidewinder etc

I wouldn't scoff if it was 40 quid never mind 140. Not everyone is a tackle tart and pays silly money. My philosophy is equipment value has nothing to do with monetary value.
Equipment value is how you perceive a scope in terms of its ability to do the job and it has value to you personally. Scope glass has come a long way since the 1970's, CNC machining has also come a long way so that the budget scopes are on par with high end scopes of yesteryear, in fact in some cases much better including the quality of the glass.
If I look through a scope and I see what I like, the turrets and other moving parts are acceptable, I'll have a punt whether its 200 quid or 20 quid. I look at the scopes value to me personally not its price tag because I've looked through really expensive scopes and they've been no use to me and then an 100 quid scope fit the bill perfectly.

 

[chouchin66]

Reading through....have we , today, been " dummed down" ? How did we ever get along with only a low - mid power scope with a simple crosswire or Duplex reticle ? Crystal clear glass & repeatable & positive turrets, nothing else matters really.

 

[chouchin66]

Could I ask which one you would recommend for generic paper target shooting (20-50m)?

Fixed 10x - an older M8 would be my choice.

 

[Wizard Awesime]

Could I ask which one you would recommend for generic paper target shooting (20-50m)?

I don't shoot benchrest if that's what you mean ?
But I believe a x35 mag competition scope is a popular choice for that with target dot or fine cross hair.

 

[Lochy]

I don't shoot benchrest if that's what you mean ?
But I believe a x35 mag competition scope is a popular choice for that with target dot or fine cross hair.

I just shoot paper targets (with bipod and shoulder) mainly at distances 20-50m not specifically BR, so I would rather have more versatile scope than BR purpose one. I tried the vector 10-40 and found the reticle too fine and scope not that great - not that I expected much for £180.

 

[Zoltan Dani]

View attachment 233783
View attachment 233784
View attachment 233785

Three actually...

Lovely scopes, but where's the objective bell??

 

[Stockscrew]

I have just bought a scope at the northern shooting show a 1-4x 24 from the shooting party its just what i wanted for squirrel shooting there is no focus because its not needed perfect for the job nice and clear bright picture and a good wide field of view price £140. Dont scoff its perfectly fine for 40 yds. At the end of the day we arnt taking photographs if you can see it pretty clearly its good enough. I do also have higher end scopes hawk sidewinder etc

I would not scoff at the spec of the scope you have just purchased, however, I am alarmed at the price you have paid for it. Scopes of a similar spec are available from Ali Express at around £100 less than what you have paid for yours. If you think you have an exceptional scope because it was purchased in the UK you would be wrong as 99% of all scopes made originate from China. What you have paid for is an unjustified profit margin added to the cost of a £40 scope similar to this.

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Bestsight 2-8x20 Tactical Riflescope AK47 AK74 AR15 Hunting Scope Mil Dot Illumination Reticle Sight Rifle Scope Sniper Hunting​

5.0
9 Reviews24 Sold

￡39.58
￡48.27
18% off

Color: 20mm illuminated

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Quantity:
Additional 1% off (2 Pieces or more)
1678 Pieces available

Ships toUnited Kingdom
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From China to United Kingdom via Seller's Shipping Method
Estimated delivery on Jul 25

 

[thunker]

Wonder why she,s winking.........