I Need a Scope--Explain it to me like I'm 5.

[tebanks]

I don't have to come off the glass if the elk runs from 200 to 500 yards. I simple hold for elevation using the hash marks on the reticle. My 300wm is zeroed at 100 so a 500 yard shot would be 3mrad. I'm no Chris Kyle but I can raise the scope until the 3rd hash mark below the center is on the elk.
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Totally agree. Hold over is easier, faster and more repeatable over time once you do it enough.

 

[fmyth]

Totally agree. Hold over is easier, faster and more repeatable over time once you do it enough.

Great point. You need to practice both dialing and holding over for the ranges you intend to shoot animals. I had to pass on a bull in a herd last season in NM because he was beyond the range I had practiced. That won't happen again. I am now practicing all the way out to 1k. I'll never take a shot at an animal at 1k but I'll be confident in my ability to make a first shot hit out to 600.

 

[Drenalin]

A Votex Diamondback losing zero bad enough that it resulted in a clean miss is what made me take the info on this site seriously with respect to scope evals and scope mounting.

 

[IDVortex]

Well, I just got my SWFA 3x9, I'm going to say all you need a SWFA 3x9. Waiting fr low light to compare it with a vortex but so far their same quality of glass in my poor eyes. Save your money and buy extra ammo.

 

[kcm2]

The only correct answer is "how long is a piece of rope?"

If you won't specify what it's for, all of the answers are useless.

 

[Ross]

Turrets are not needed, unless you will be shooting over 600 plus yds. There are options,as noted for most of us that will be much more efficient and add less variables to the equation. Like archery, less variables often lead to better success and stress.

 

[ianpadron]

I just picked up a Swfa 10x42 mil quad gen 2 on this site for $275. That scope will be my end all /be all riflescope for western hunting. I’ve tested it at close range in low light conditions, it’s fine. I will feel way more confident with that riflescope when I’m 10 miles deep into the backcountry than I would with a $1000 vortex. Like I said earlier, just read forms drop test thread. A lot of these scopes that passed the drop eval. Are not expensive. Matter of fact, there is no relation between cost vs. passing the drop tests

Smart man. The 10x seems like it's finally getting the love it deserves. I've got 5 of them now I think.

If more guys actually looked through a 10x the concern about close shots would disappear immediately imo.

 

[Willie IV]

For those saying subtensions only work at max magnification on SFP reticles may like to know that some scopes have a set power (other than max) where the subtensions are true. For example I had a Vortex Viper HD 5-25x50 and 20X was the power where the subtensions were true. My NX8 4-32x50 has dual reticle subtensions that hold true at 16X and 32X. Food for thought.

 

[ianpadron]

For those saying subtensions only work at max magnification on SFP reticles may like to know that some scopes have a set power (other than max) where the subtensions are true. For example I had a Vortex Viper HD 5-25x50 and 20X was the power where the subtensions were true. My NX8 4-32x50 has dual reticle subtensions that hold true at 16X and 32X. Food for thought.

Still not super functional and incredibly limiting in the field

 

[Willie IV]

Still not super functional and incredibly limiting in the field

I can appreciate your opinion and see the validity. I was just pointing out some facts that some may find valuable. I say both FFP and SFP have pros and cons. It's a personal decision for sure.

 

[ianpadron]

I can appreciate your opinion and see the validity. I was just pointing out some facts that some may find valuable. I say both FFP and SFP have pros and cons. It's a personal decision for sure.

Well designed FFP reticles are usable all the way down to min magnification. He's planning on shots from 0 to 500. Try spotting hits with an SFP like you described at 20x at 200 yds on his Tikka 300 WM...it isn't happening

For anyone planning on shooting at varying distances, spotting their own hits, holding for wind, etc. an SFP scope is a massive handicap.

In fact, I'd argue that when compared to FFP scopes with good reticles (all of which mentioned here) SFP scopes don't have a single pro.

 

[Willie IV]

Try spotting hits with an SFP like you described at 20x at 200 yds on his Tikka 300 WM...it isn't happening

I'm not here to argue, but shooting at a 200 yard target with a 300WM he probably doesn't need to hold for wind at that distance so he could easily magnify down to spot impact. Again, personal decision.

 

[ianpadron]

I'm not here to argue, but shooting at a 200 yard target with a 300WM he probably doesn't need to hold for wind at that distance so he could easily magnify down to spot impact. Again, personal decision.

The FFP to SFP recommendations on this thread are like 10:1

Why do you think that is?

 

[SDHNTR]

I'm not here to argue, but shooting at a 200 yard target with a 300WM he probably doesn't need to hold for wind at that distance so he could easily magnify down to spot impact. Again, personal decision.

True, but 4-500 where you do need to hold wind and you still aren’t spotting hits at 20X+.

 

[Willie IV]

The FFP to SFP recommendations on this thread are like 10:1

Why do you think that is?

Simple, because 10 shooters like FFP and 1shooter likes SFP which is totally fine. Further makes my case that it's a personal decision. I get your 100% FFP and that's great. Some hunters prefer SFP and I'm one of them. If that makes me wrong in your eyes I'm OK with that.

 

[Willie IV]

True, but 4-500 where you do need to hold wind and you still aren’t spotting hits at 20X+.

Point taken. No argument here from me on that scenario. I probably couldn't spot my hits with a 300WM at 5x power

 

[MT-nuffgun]

Point taken. No argument here from me on that scenario. I probably couldn't spot my hits with a 300WM at 5x power

, me either, no matter what scope is on the rifle. On that note, there is a video on the backfire YouTube channel of “sniper Mike” If I remember correctly. He used a tikka 300 wm on a milk jug challenge (brutal to say the least), ranges near and far. Video is funny, but it is also a sad reality of a large subset of hunters.

 

[JGRaider]

The FFP to SFP recommendations on this thread are like 10:1

Why do you think that is?

Apparently 10 out of 11 people on this board haven't come to grips with the fact that 95%+ of all game animals are killed at distances under 300 yards, where dialing, wind holding, etc isn't mandatory, or in most cases even necessary.

 

[ianpadron]

Apparently 10 out of 11 people on this board haven't come to grips with the fact that 95%+ of all game animals are killed at distances under 300 yards, where dialing, wind holding, etc isn't mandatory, or in most cases even necessary.

The OP said this:

"I would imagine 500 yards is plenty far enough. I'm not into the guesstimate the hold over and kentucky windage stuff. I want to adjust the dials and hold dead on."

That's why FFP scopes with turrets are bring recommended

 

[AdvntrSeekr]

I personally use the Sig Sauer BDX combo and IMO it is the simplest system for mid-longer range shots. Simply range the target and the organ holdover dot moves to whatever the correct holdover is. Much faster than turning turrets.