Tactical Scope Guidance Request

[Hiwayman92]

I picked up a Tikka T3X CTR in 6.5 creedmoor, and am looking for the right scope the pair it with. This gun will be used for recreational long range shooting and hunting. What is my best bang for the buck? So far I'm thinking Burris Xtr 4-20, or Bushnell Elite Tactical 4.5-30 but I'm worried about low light on a sfp scope on 30 power... Even my nightforce isn't great in 22 power in low light. I get a pro deal on some Xtr's but only in Mil/Mil and I prefer moa, just because I'm more familiar with it. I've heard good things about SWFA, but have no first hand experience. Vx-6 is also in my price range.

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[5MilesBack]

Vx-6 is also in my price range.

If the VX-6 is in your range, check out the Mark 4's. I have a Mark 4 4.5-14x50 on my 6.5 CM, and have been pleased with it so far. I have no need for a 20+ power scope on this gun. The Mark 4 easily adjusts to 1000 yards and well beyond if need be.

 

[GKPrice]

you might check the SWFA website, these scopes get rave reviews with great prices

 

[GKPrice]

I picked up a Tikka T3X CTR in 6.5 creedmoor, and am looking for the right scope the pair it with. This gun will be used for recreational long range shooting and hunting. What is my best bang for the buck? So far I'm thinking Burris Xtr 4-20, or Bushnell Elite Tactical 4.5-30 but I'm worried about low light on a sfp scope on 30 power... Even my nightforce isn't great in 22 power in low light. I get a pro deal on some Xtr's but only in Mil/Mil and I prefer moa, just because I'm more familiar with it. I've heard good things about SWFA, but have no first hand experience. Vx-6 is also in my price range.

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If conditions are not PERFECT, and even then most times, 20X is too much for me and I've learned likewise for guys I've shot with - I can do as much, or more, with a good clear 12X

 

[Hiwayman92]

Advice taken. What do you mean by too much? Heat waves and low light?

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[Formidilosus]

I picked up a Tikka T3X CTR in 6.5 creedmoor, and am looking for the right scope the pair it with. This gun will be used for recreational long range shooting and hunting. What is my best bang for the buck? So far I'm thinking Burris Xtr 4-20, or Bushnell Elite Tactical 4.5-30 but I'm worried about low light on a sfp scope on 30 power... Even my nightforce isn't great in 22 power in low light. I get a pro deal on some Xtr's but only in Mil/Mil and I prefer moa, just because I'm more familiar with it. I've heard good things about SWFA, but have no first hand experience. Vx-6 is also in my price range.


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Neither the Leupold VX6 nor Mark 4 track well enough for contention. As well their durability and reliability, especially when dialed, is poor. Hunting scopes are not designed or made for dialing and fail in droves when used as such.




For long range field shooting you need absolutely solid adjustments, a reticle that matches those adjustments, bombproof zero retention and return to zero and preferably a FFP as well. . For crossover hunting use the reticle needs to work well enough at low power to see and be designed correctly for use at mid and high power.




You do not need 20x for a field gun in 6.5creed. Even in LR competition most of my shots are taken somewhere below 15-16x and most often I find that I just leave it on around 12x. That is generally common in field matches for a variety of reasons.




There are actually only a couple of scopes that meet the parameters above- the Bushnell 3-12x44mm LRHS (would be the pick and was designed for exactly this use) and the SWFA SS 3-15x with Mil-quad reticle. Both are absolutely realizable and have reticle that work from low powers to high.


If you are leaning more to hunting but still want to shoot out to 800-900 yards on the range, the SWFA SS 3-9x42mm with mil-quad reticle is a bomber scope.

 

[wind gypsy]

I'm also a fan of bushnell elite tactical line but see no reason to get FFP in a 12x scope as any distance far enough to require a hold can be dialed to 12x imo. I'd look at the bushy lrhs or lrts in 4.5-18. You'd also do fine with any of the dmr/ers/xrs models. That Burris xtr has had good reviews. Do some research on athlon cronus too.

I love my 4.5-18 lrhs on a hunting rifle but when trying to shoot real tight at the range I still appreciate the 24x on my Khales 624i.

 

[Jeff Martin]

Neither the Leupold VX6 nor Mark 4 track well enough for contention. As well their durability and reliability, especially when dialed, is poor. Hunting scopes are not designed or made for dialing and fail in droves when used as such.




For long range field shooting you need absolutely solid adjustments, a reticle that matches those adjustments, bombproof zero retention and return to zero and preferably a FFP as well. . For crossover hunting use the reticle needs to work well enough at low power to see and be designed correctly for use at mid and high power.




You do not need 20x for a field gun in 6.5creed. Even in LR competition most of my shots are taken somewhere below 15-16x and most often I find that I just leave it on around 12x. That is generally common in field matches for a variety of reasons.




There are actually only a couple of scopes that meet the parameters above- the Bushnell 3-12x44mm LRHS (would be the pick and was designed for exactly this use) and the SWFA SS 3-15x with Mil-quad reticle. Both are absolutely realizable and have reticle that work from low powers to high.


If you are leaning more to hunting but still want to shoot out to 800-900 yards on the range, the SWFA SS 3-9x42mm with mil-quad reticle is a bomber scope.

Thank you for this post. I am am having the same dilemma with a newly built 7mm designed for 600-900 LR hunting gun. The more research I do, the more that SWFA scope keeps coming up. I was actually debating on the SWFA 10x Fixed or the SWFA 3x9. Very disappointing on the Leupold as I already have a 4x14x44 that I need to sell now. Probably silly, but i don't trust it after all the feedback I have read. Solid scope, just not for dialing.

 

[Formidilosus]

Wind gypsy,

The benefit to a properly designed FFP reticle is the ability to use the reticle for wind (and elevation, though less so) holds regardless of power. In the last 20 or so animals, I've only shot on max power two or three times. The rest were between 6-10x due to range, position, need to spot trace/impact, etc. With scopes such as the LRHS and SS's with well designed FFP reticles there is no reason not to take remove one variable.

Thank you for this post. I am am having the same dilemma with a newly built 7mm designed for 600-900 LR hunting gun. The more research I do, the more that SWFA scope keeps coming up. I was actually debating on the SWFA 10x Fixed or the SWFA 3x9. Very disappointing on the Leupold as I already have a 4x14x44 that I need to sell now. Probably silly, but i don't trust it after all the feedback I have read. Solid scope, just not for dialing.

It'd be pretty hard to find someone that's used more Leupolds than I, or find someone with more sentimental attachment to them, but the fact remains that the only scope Leupold has ever designed and built to actually dial and hold zero no matter what are the fixed power M3 Ultra and Mark 4's. Even with that their hunting scopes are not what they used to be. Up until the early 2000's their scopes were generally reliablle, but after that and every iteration since has had a significantly higher failure rate..... when actually shot.


For hunting- the SS 6x42mm MQ and the 3-9x42mm MQ are the way to go. What is your rifle setup?

 

[Jeff Martin]

For hunting- the SS 6x42mm MQ and the 3-9x42mm MQ are the way to go. What is your rifle setup?

Tikka Action
Bartlein 3B
McMillian Game Scout - on the way
Berger VLD 168 - Dialing in via my ladder now

I thought I wanted more power but folks are slowly changing my mind on that too.

Leaning towards:
SWFA SS 3x9
NF SHV 3x9
Bushy LR

 

[wind gypsy]

Wind gypsy,

The benefit to a properly designed FFP reticle is the ability to use the reticle for wind (and elevation, though less so) holds regardless of power. In the last 20 or so animals, I've only shot on max power two or three times. The rest were between 6-10x due to range, position, need to spot trace/impact, etc. With scopes such as the LRHS and SS's with well designed FFP reticles there is no reason not to take remove one variable.

I get it, I've just never shot anything at 6x that needed a wind hold if I had more power available. Also, I'll happily give up 3x for 4x on the bottom end if it means having 18 or 20x on top rather than 12.

 

[Formidilosus]

Tikka Action
Bartlein 3B
McMillian Game Scout - on the way
Berger VLD 168 - Dialing in via my ladder now

I thought I wanted more power but folks are slowly changing my mind on that too.

Leaning towards:
SWFA SS 3x9
NF SHV 3x9
Bushy LR

Being that it's more of a dedicated LR rig and less of a general, I would go straight to the Bushnell 3-12x44mm LRHS with G2 reticle. It was designed and made for that use and they are built very well.

 

[Jeff Martin]

Being that it's more of a dedicated LR rig and less of a general, I would go straight to the Bushnell 3-12x44mm LRHS with G2 reticle. It was designed and made for that use and they are built very well.

thank you!!