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Help me spend ~$1000! Best bet for a Grendel? |
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AskDrTodd
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/26/2009 Status: Offline Points: 40 |
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Posted: November/05/2010 at 09:31 |
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My goal is to whittle down my collection for more quality and functionality, I'd like a single semi-auto rifle to target shoot and hunt with, that's half MOA under 600 yards. After looking around I like the 6mmAR-T40, but the fact I can't load my own ammo means I need to go commercial so the 6.5 Grendel looks great, and I've always liked Alexander Arms.
This will be my first high-dollar scope purchase so I wanted to consult you guys (who I regard as being some of the most knowledgeable out there) to be sure I got the best value for my money. I will be hunting small/medium sized game in FL, and shooting primarily 100/300 yards but at times out to 600, and maybe see if I can hit some gongs at 1000 just for fun a couple times a year. I've been looking at the Leupold Mk4 LR/T 6.5-20X50mm and the Nightforce 5.5-22x56 NXS, although it looks like it'll be much harder to find the Nightforce for less than $1400/1500. I've seen a lot of people recommend Vortex scopes, and I'm always a fan of spending less $ if I don't have to spend a ton, but I've sold a couple of my other toys, and can afford to buy the right thing the first time here, assuming the right thing is a scope of that quality level. Thank you all very much for your input, looking forward to your responses. Have a good weekend! |
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ccoker
Optics Master Joined: February/13/2008 Location: Austin, TX Status: Offline Points: 2041 |
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Personally, I think you are going to high on the magnification and getting too big and heavy of a scope as well given that you will be wanting to use it for hunting at closer distances
I would be looking 16x at the very top end 14-15 would be plenty Will you be hunting into very low light or using on hogs at night, i.e., do you need illumination? |
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AskDrTodd
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/26/2009 Status: Offline Points: 40 |
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Illumination- no, I know that 6 is getting high for the low end of magnification for hunting. I was considering installing a secondary optic (like a baby holo-dot) for close range hunting shots in case something got too close...
For the 300+ yard shots, wouldn't it be good to have 20x magnification vs 14? I target shoot much more than I hunt, but I wouldn't want to miss a shot because of a reduced FOV. |
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Prieto9000
Optics Apprentice Joined: March/12/2010 Location: Monterrey Status: Offline Points: 160 |
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I've been shotting @ 700 yds with my 6.5-20X50 viper flawlessly. I'm really happy with my purchase and I think it's a good option if you're a fan of saving money. I ordered a Viper PST that I'm waiting to be released, maybe that one hits exactly the target price you're looking for and with all the features you need for the use you want to give it. I would recommend the 4-16X50 FFP. The thing with the PST is that they're not on the market yet so if you're in a hurry you'll have to look another way.
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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For the ranges you are looking at 14x with decent quality glass is plenty.
If you can wait for a couple of months, your best option is probably something like this: It will cover both of your purposes pretty well and the magnification range is just right. If you really insist on more magnification this scope is a very nice choice: For a little less money, Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16x42 with target turrets is a good choice. On the slightly more expensive end, try this one: ILya
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jonoMT
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: November/13/2008 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 4853 |
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You know, you're lucky because you at least want to keep your shooting under 600 yards. So many guys ask about a scope they can do everything with and target shoot/varmint hunt out to 700+ yards. The only scopes great for short-to-long range all cost well over $1400. They're 4X or less on the low end and 15-18 on the high end. But you could seriously do what you want to do with a 2.5-10, 3-12 or 4-16. That will save you some dough.
I'd go with any of Koshkin's recommendations but would, if possible, wait for the Vortex to come out. |
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Reaction time is a factor...
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grimreaper21
Optics Apprentice Joined: October/25/2010 Status: Offline Points: 182 |
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that viper has one sick reticle! I would be waiting for that one for sure. What do you think is easier to use between the MIL and MOA reticles? I guess which one would be easier to guess distance without calculations.
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AskDrTodd
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/26/2009 Status: Offline Points: 40 |
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Thanks!! People really seem to like the Viper's on here, which speaks volumes for the scopes, what's the difference between the one you listed and this one? http://swfa.com/Vortex-4-16x50-Viper-PST-30mm-Rifle-Scope-P44565.aspx They appear to both be PST's 4-16x50, just curious. If you guys think a viper is a better bet for me than a leupy, I'm viper all the way!! |
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AskDrTodd
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/26/2009 Status: Offline Points: 40 |
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Also what is the consensus on the bushy 6500 tactical scopes? They have one that seems like it could do everything I need (4.5-30x50), also one more suited for hunting (2.5-16x42), and they're well under $1k. is the Viper substantially better?
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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You seem to be all over the board on this so starting with the rifle before you select consider the FNAR in .308 one of the guys here bought one recently and was quite pleased with the accuracy of it. Next I would recommend that you consider limiting the size of the optic to something like Koshkin suggested and avoid the Jumbo scopes like 5.5-22x56 NF and 6.5-20x50 Leupold which has very tall target knobs which tend not to be hunting friendly as every tree you pass wants to readjust them for you. Quite frankly there is a lot to be said for a Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x50 with the Z800 reticle. One of the house favorites is the 3-9x42 Super Sniper at $599. its a moderately sized scope and well able to do what you are wanting to do. As for the Bushnell 6500 the high end is reported to be so so. The Viper PST looks quite nice but it it not currently available and Koshkin is one of few that have seen it so if you can wait it is a fine choice. There is currently a good value on a 2.5-10 Nightforce on Samplelist which would be a fine choice in a fairly compact scope in a power range that would be very good for what you want to do but may not appeal to your desire to have the super magnification that you have mentioned. What you may not have a good feel for at this point is that too large and bulky of an optic on a semi auto makes for a whopping big system. Most guys hunting want a nice lightweight mountain rifle and a scope with a low end or 1.5 to 2.5 or at the most 3.5 One other thing is that semi auto guns with their hi capacity magazines are better suited to rapid acquisition of multiple targets so in reality a scope like a Trijicon Accupoint 1-4x or a 3-9x is a better choice especially for shots inside 300 yds. |
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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grimreaper21
Optics Apprentice Joined: October/25/2010 Status: Offline Points: 182 |
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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I have three scopes that are First Focal Plane one Leupold Mk4 and two of the 3-9 Super Snipers. At the lowest magnification the reticle looks pretty small and logically if you were mil dot rangeing a known size object you would use one of the higher powers but where it really becomes sweet is that you can use the mil dots like a balistic reticle for known hold over and it will work at any power so when the light gets near dark and you need to dial down to around 6 power to brighten the image your hold over marks will still be useable for known distnace hold over.
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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AskDrTodd
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/26/2009 Status: Offline Points: 40 |
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I'm pretty sold on the Viper PST FFP 4-16x50. Worst case scenario, if hunting with it becomes difficult you guys on here will end up getting it gently used for a great deal!
I'm pretty sure 95% of shots will be at paper, and I'll probably be taking those at 300-600 yards, to see what I can do with the grendel platform. Now the big question: when does the scope become available? |
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ccoker
Optics Master Joined: February/13/2008 Location: Austin, TX Status: Offline Points: 2041 |
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There's your answer... Buy what works for you for 90 % of the time and suck it up the rest Primary use should dictate your choice. Trying to get one that will cover the entire spectrum of uses will leave you broke and frustrated! |
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www.TacticalGunReview.com
Pro Staff - Silencer Shop http://tacticalgunreview.com |
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AskDrTodd
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/26/2009 Status: Offline Points: 40 |
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True. Plus the hunting I would do would probably be from a rest of some sort, not so much trudging around, so I think a 4-16 tactical scope should do the trick for the time being. I'll keep an eye out for the new vipers, I want! |
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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I just put a SS 3-9 on my grendel this weekend and love it.
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AskDrTodd
Optics GrassHopper Joined: November/26/2009 Status: Offline Points: 40 |
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soooo... when do the new vipers come out? December? For sure?
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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