PRS scope that passes drop eval?

[Jordan Smith]

This is a valid thing to want, however i postulate that its an unnessary thing on a PRS rifle and as such, its not expected that a match rifle/scope that weighs 26 lbs should have to also withstand a 3 foot drop. And if you ever did drop your rifle at a match... you could just go re-check zero...My point is that there are plenty of scopes that dont "pass the drop eval" but will easily make it through a PRS match. Im never not checking zero at the start of a match. Im never dropping my rifle in a match. If for some reason my rifle sustained an impact... id just go check it. The minimum standard are just so different.

IME, that's not always possible. I've been shooting PRS-style matches since soon after their inception. A zero board and its accessibility and the time needed to check zero depend on the match, its layout, and its cadence. I would also argue that it's common for the front of rifles to slip off of sloped and awkward barricades, so they get bumped a lot.

the dropping portion of the tests and the road work portions of the tests really only test the Zero retention. Tracking is uneffected.

If you are losing zero on your rifle with 100 shots, you need to look into a different caliber/brake/chassis combination. Most competitive PRS rifles weigh in the 20+ range and are shooting 6mm projectiles with massive brakes....there is virutally no recoil.

Additionally, I dont know what matches you are shooting, but your bumps into baricades shouldent be throwing off your zero while you are shooting your stage. This is likely a an issue with how youre approching/building positions or perhaps a ring failure?

Last, why are you driving on gravel roads between stages?

Tracking can definitely be affected by dropping and rough roads. Lenses can shift and reticles can cant, causing tracking issues.

No. I've seen multiple scopes with shifting zeroes at matches caused by shooting, not drops. Braked rifles have a different recoil impulse function than unbraked rifles, but they still subject the scope to forces and acceleration. Not only that, but a loss of zero can sometimes be the result of the scope's failure to properly RTZ when dialed.

Perhaps you misunderstood my post. I'm not saying that I'm bumping and banging barricades constantly, but I've see it a LOT at PRS matches. Banging into barricades can certainly cause scopes (and, to your point, mounting systems) to have minor zero shifts. Nothing to do with building solid positions.

Not driving on gravel between stages, but between days. Most people with solid scopes and mounting systems don't have the need nor desire to constantly be checking zero, even at the beginning of each day.

 

[Jordan Smith]

Does every PRS match have a zero board? Most of the matches I have been to this has not been an option.

...I’d still rather have a rifle that I can count on to hold zero. I also wonder why so many guys seem to have to zero so often. I do understand barrels change through their life but that shouldn’t be happening between a couple one day matches.

Exactly.

 

[Jordan Smith]

I'm genuinely surprised nobody's mentioned the Minox ZP5 yet, given that it's passed the drop test, and has such high reviews, especially for its THLR reticle. I have one for sale here:

WTS Thread 'Minox ZP5 with THLR Reticle'

Yesterday at 1:11 PM

Purchased 2 of these, and have been exceptionally impressed - but only need one. This one is NIB, never mounted, only pulled out to check parallax, turret function, etc. All good. $2250 shipped to you, insured.

• RockAndSage
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Optics Classifieds

That would not be a good choice for a PRS scope. I have shot plenty of "holdover only" stages, and that reticle wouldn't work very well.

 

[Hydra6]

1) Zero boards - in the Southeast and Atlantic regions, always seen a zero board; BUT, that zero board may not be convenient to access during the event - like way on the other side of the range and you have limited tine before you are up to shoot again
2) Getting knocked over - couple a weeks ago at a 2 day match, my rifle got knocked over hard by a buddy. Whole squad gasped in unison. Last stage and I was not going to check zero. Rifle ran fine - Vortex Razor G3. My buddy will never live it down.
3) Last Sunday, guy on my squad with a Kahles would not focus parallax. Finished match. Some pros who use Kahles told him to pull it as the parallax issue was followed with a tracking issue.
4) March scopes were getting a lot of attention as the new cool kid top tier scope - that seems to have exploded in a few weeks as multiple people flooded the used PRS scope market with March and the tracking, zero issues came to light.
5) Kahles - multiple reports of tracking/zero issues with Kahles hitting the internet with sponsored shooters admitting mea culpa.

 

[Bado20]

General question that seems appropriate for this thread as I start my NRLH journey. What do you guys typically look for in the way of scope requirements?

Thinking of things like scope power, reticle, tube diameter, weight, etc. Please include a little bit of the "why" with your answer. Thank you!

I'm looking for scope that is light enough to make weight for the lightweight division while still having a good magnification range and enough travel for the farther targets. Typically that means 26oz-32oz, FFP so that you can use your reticle to call wind at all powers, 30mm tube, I want to have a max magnification of at least 16x but I prefer higher so I'm not running my scope turned all the way up.

Reticle is largely personal preference as long as you can use it to hold wind. I'm not a huge fan of Christmas tree reticles so my current favourite is the Mil-C from Nightforce.