Best 1000 yard scope

E

ednemo

Joined
Feb 12, 2004
Messages
968
One of my (less internet friendly) friends is looking into getting into distance shooting. His range has a 1000 yard max and he is looking into putting an optic on one of his rifles. He is looking into a nice bolt action but for now will be using one of his auto 308s. Does anyone have a recommendation for some glass that is durable, keeps a zero, and priced less than a small country? Right now he is checking into some Leopold scopes, but is using magazine articles as his guide. If anyone has any advice it would be much appreciated.
 
I use/have used a variety of scopes out 1000yds and further. Most folks think you need a super high magnification optic to do this.....not true. High mag. scopes can actualy make you shoot worse. I find a fixed 10X (I use a Leupold MK4 M3 10X and a US Optics MST-100) to be fine for what I do. I also use a US Optics 3.2-17 with great success as well. Tell your buddy not to skimp on the glass. It is the most important part of the long range system. The frustration of a poor sight picture, wandering zero and crappy adjustments can sour anyone to the sport. At the absolute least, a Leupold MK4 3.5-10 will get the job done very nicely. Good glass, great adjustments and one of the best warranty policies in the market. If he wants to throw some bucks, a US Optics or Schmidt and Bender are top of the line and a used Kahles 10X (used by some Armies on their sniper rifles, Israel comes to mind) can be had for good prices.
Hope that helps.
 
I'm pretty much in agreement w/ M1Marty above w/ the exception of the "fixed" 10 power (which is old school).

We shoot long range and use mostly varible Leupolds (4.5x14 & 6.5x20s) with turrets and mil-dots and my last one has the new GenII recticle w/ the 1/2 min hash marks between the mil-dots, by Premier Recticles. The GenII is an excellent choice and is currently in use w/ the military's new Schmidt-Benders produced by Premier and in use by the snipers there in Iraq.

I used to recommend NOTHING but Leupy's but after the screwing they gave Premier I'd go with the SB.

Here's a link to their site: http://www.premierreticles.com/ and as noted by M1 don't scrimp on the optics - my rule of thumb is the scope should cost as much or more than the rifle - IF accurate 1K shooting is one of your priorities.

ETA - forgot to mention that the trick thing about the Gen II recticle is that the cross-hairs are "etched" into the first focal plane of the scope allowing one to properly use the mil-dots to range on varible scopes at any power - that and you'll never have to worry about the old style wires breaking
 
I went nuts, no wait, nuttier, tryin to decide what scope to put on my .308. After 3 months of reading online and talking to folks I saved up and got the Leupold. Never thought I'd put that much in a scope but there's no sense in having an a grade weapon with a cheapo glass on it.
 
My first choice is the scope currently mounted on the top of my Accuracy International .308 The Schmidt and Bender Police Marksman II 4 - 16X. Single turn mil radian windage / elevation adjustments. This scope however is rather expensive. Roughly 2600 Canadian dollars. / $2100 US. Although without exact specs to what a small country costs this is pretty much the top of the heap in my opinion.

The Leupold Mark 4 FF M2 would be a much less expensive alternative which will also work very well. (A really nice scope.)

As a general note. Get a scope with the reticle in the first focal plane so that the measurements are consistent at all magnifications. Also try to select a model in which the reticle measurements are consistent with the adjustment knobs. IE: Mil radian adjustments with a mil dot reticle. The main disadvantage of a fixed power scope is that the high magnification will limit the amount of usable light and hinder you in overcast / inclimate weather.

I hope this helps.

m1marty pretty much covered it.... and come to think of it so did mr_wilson.
Carry on....
 
Thanks guys, I appreciate the help. The scope idea is a new one for my friend. He shoots iron sights out to 400 yards currently. (And he took 2nd place in a local VA 308 match!) I'm going to send him the Premier link.Thanks!!!!
 
mr_wilson said:
I'm pretty much in agreement w/ M1Marty above w/ the exception of the "fixed" 10 power (which is old school).
Click to expand...
I tend to break stuff, so the tank built MST-100 and Mk4M3 work well for me. Besides, what else are you going to put on an M24 or M40A1?;) :D
And yes, that is a numbered unitized base/ring combo in the front of the picture. Goes well with the 100% spec built M40A1 (that is ALL USMC parts save for the reciever and that is even in the "correct" ser.# range) I don't feel limited by the fixed power, the image is generaly better on a fixed scope as well (less lenses) I don't ever have to worry about FFP vs 2FP either, lol.

b1b721a3.jpg
 
chimeragrande said:
My first choice is the scope currently mounted on the top of my Accuracy International .308 The Schmidt and Bender Police Marksman II 4 - 16X. Single turn mil radian windage / elevation adjustments. This scope however is rather expensive. Roughly 2600 Canadian dollars. / $2100 US. Although without exact specs to what a small country costs this is pretty much the top of the heap in my opinion.....................
Click to expand...

I have the S&B 3-12X50 PMII, (mounted on an SSG3000) and thought I wasted my money, until I learned to shoot with it. IMHO, the clarity is supreme, repeatability is exceptional, and it is well built, but the scope reticle stays proportional to the target at any power. With this feature, I found precision shooting at long distance difficult at first. Look at this scope before you purchase. When I bought mine S&B would refund your money if you returned the scope within three days.
 
Generally speaking, if you can save up for a high end Leupold, you can scrimp together a bit more and get yourself a Nightforce NXS. Assuming you can live with a couple extra ounces of weight, making up the difference and going with the NF is money well spent. Of course, if you have the means, Schmidt & Bender and US Optics can't be beat.
 
I own three S&B PM II 5-25 56mm. Excellent and well built. needs 34mm rings.

Plan on 2750 a pop. But they are amazing.

That said, it is easier to see 1000 yds than to group at 1000 yds.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top