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Rifle shooting newbie with questions |
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mochiles
Optics GrassHopper Joined: April/03/2006 Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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Posted: April/03/2006 at 23:26 |
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Hi all,
I recently stoped spending money on my car which is my other hobby and decided to get back into shooting. I wanted to try long range shooting and deer hunting, so I picked up a Remington 700 PSS in .308 feeling that it would fit both bills nicely. Now to the point, I need help selecting optics that will fit both bills nicely (if at all possible). I have always heard good things about Leupolds and have beem eyeing the Mark 4 PR series, not yet selecting which power because I don't have much expierence with rifles. But I am open to all suggestions for any and all makes and models. I have a budget, because I am a college student. I do work but far from rich. I'm looking to sped around $600 but less is fine if I can get something that I will be happy with. I am almost 99% sure I want to get Badger base and rings, but the glass I am still unsure of due to my inexpierence as well as the vast selection on the market. Sorry for the long post but any and all imput will be very appreciated.
Thanks you,
Drew |
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14962 |
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The badger rings and base are a fine choice but get the plus 20moa base. If your budget is really tight you can get by with Leupold standard rings and base for a while which may even come free if the promotion is still on on the PR. I have a 3-9x40 Mark4PR duplex $399, and it is a nice scope that would serve you well. I also have a Super Sniper 20x and it is a well made sturdy scope but the 10x is a better choice and the 10x is $299 or $399 with side focus which is a nice addition if you are right handed. Also worth considering is IOR tactical 6X42 for $449.95 Any of these three scopes will work very well for you. If you feel you must have a variable the PR is a good scope but they put the money in the knobs not in the glass but it's no worse glass than the low end leupold hunting scopes and is quite useable. The IOR has top quality glass. The Super Sniper has lots of fans here and my SS is on my PSS Remmington and I really like it there and I plan to buy a 10x SS soon. You are not going to go wrong with any of these. I would buy the 10x Super Sniper - you will never regret doing so. |
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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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ChrisGarrett
Optics Apprentice Joined: July/18/2005 Location: Miami, FL, USA Status: Offline Points: 99 |
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Hello, I have a Rem Sendero in 7 RemMag, that's similar to the PSS and mounted a new old stock Bausch & Lomb/Bushnell Elite 4200 4-16x50 AO (also have their Elite 4000 6-24x40 AO) which is doing pretty well. Leuy STD rings/bases, but have some Ken Farrell 20MOA bases I got this week for it. Scope was $420 delivered w/warranty and it quite clear and sturdy. It is AO, so no side focus there, but no biggie.
Also, scoped a Savage LE2B 308 with a nice little Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x50 with side focus and target turrets. Leuy STD rings/bases, but they're doing fine. This is a very clear optic and nicely made. $575 delivered.
On an FN FAL I have the original 3.5-10x40 Standard Police, now the Precision Rifle series, w/target turrets, but no parallax function. Very nice scope, maybe somewhat darker than the previous two and that was ~$500 a decade ago.
All are 1" tubes. I also have an older, 30mm, Gen1 Springfield Armory Government model 4-14x56 that has held up throughout the years on an HK91, you can find them used on Ebay for ~$400.
Basically those are the ones I've used that aren't too spendy but seem to have good quality glass/construction for the money.
Also, check out www.kenfarrell.com for rings and mounts. Seems to be pretty good stuff without the Badger Ordnance prices.
Take care and keep us posted, Chris
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14962 |
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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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ChrisGarrett
Optics Apprentice Joined: July/18/2005 Location: Miami, FL, USA Status: Offline Points: 99 |
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Hi UIF,
I'm going to try and be diplomatic here, as I'm not a paying customer of SWFA. As I said in another post here, recently, if you look around you can find 'honest' people selling stuff on the 'net. SWFA basically sells at retail, although they will price match any legitimately advertised price.
When I bought both the Savage LE2B and their Model 12 VLP in 22-250 in June '05, I had the B&L 6-24x40 on the Sendero 7mm. I figured that that would go onto the varmint rifle. I then needed two decent scopes. I was looking around at the IOR 4-14x50 and the 6-24x50 35mm, but couldn't swing the funds for those. I ended up looking into the Bushnell 4-16x50 AO and found a dealer up in Michigan (http://www.4scopes.com) who must have bought out some new old stock and had cases of this model under the Bausch & Lomb banner, roughly from 2001-2002. They were running a special for $419 delivered. Check what they go for here. I even got the coupon for the Bushnell duffel bag and got that for the UPC and $15.
At the same time, I was in conversation over on AR15.com with some people who had shot the Nikon Tacticals and IORs and one fellow in particular raved about the Conquests. He owned the Nikon and an IOR, to put it into context.
I was wavering between the 6.5-20x50 and the 4.5-14x50 and found ELKHUNTER77 on Ebay. You can look him up. 8000 transactions, 99.8 feedback. I called him one day and we chatted. He liked the smaller size and had been number 2 in the Colorado area in Zeiss Conquest sales at 600 units sold for I believe 2004. Second only to Cabellas for that region.
$575 delivered with full warranty.
I know you like to paste ads here and maybe SWFA will wheel and deal, but these are the prices I paid for those two scopes, both NIB, all accessories if provided, perfect packing, reasonable shipping and just both nice people. The same deal holds true for the 5-25 PMII.
Anyhow, with what I saved vs. retail, just looking around on the Net and spending a few minutes/dollars on the phone, I basically got the Zeiss for free and it's the 4.5-14x50 side focus with Z plex and target turrets, not the one you pasted.
But then, I'm a coupon clipper in my real life too, so who knows?
Later, Chris |
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mochiles
Optics GrassHopper Joined: April/03/2006 Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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I am definitely considering the Super Sniper 10X42, but I was unsure of the fixed power. I was just wondering how much it would affect me if I were hunting and I was presented with a shot at close range? Also, is it easier to learn to shot with a fixed power scope or a variable powered scope?
Thanks
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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New SS owner here.
The answer to your question about hunting with a SS is.....It depends.
I would have no problems hunting with one. It's a tremendius scope for the money. That said, variables are always nice for hunting too. |
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14962 |
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Since you are putting a scope on a Rem 700 PSS I really think the 10x Super Sniper is the right choice.
The IOR 6x42 fixed power is worth lookin at. The Leupold PR 3-9x40 duplex at $399 is also a nice scope but the turrets are really tall and more delicate than the SS which does not work as well for hunting in the brush. There are always trade-off 's with any selection. Variable power scopes give the option to use the lowest power or the highest but when it comes to learning a tactical type scope a fixed power is a thing of beauty. No FFP RFP issue. since its always the same things that are farther look farther, things that are closer look closer. The SS scopes focus down to 10 yds. Is it the right scope for shooting at something running at 50 ft probably not but when he hits 100yds lead him a little and knock him down. Over the 10x mark it becomes really hard to shoot at anything that is moving but a 10x will come on target really quick. I have a 20x and it is a little slow for me to acquire the target but my 10 x works real good. I think it is worth the extra money to get the one with side focus unless you are left handed. As for the IOR 6x42 it would be even more forgiving at close range but you give up something at long range. Also worth considering is Nikon Monarch Gold - very clear glass and finger adjustable knobs that are just the right size. If you can buy one of ChrisGarrett 's Zeiss scopes at what he paid - it's a bargain for a fine scope. Sometimes there is more than one right answer and you choose the one you like. |
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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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catusbill
Optics Apprentice Joined: July/07/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 161 |
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Is being left handed make it harder to adjust a side focus scope?
I'm left handed and hold my forearm with my right hand and focus with my left. Don't seem to have any problem putting my left hand back on the grip and my index finger on the trigger. When free handed in the woods with no rifle shooting stand or sand bags, I just hold my rifle up fine focus on BIG BUCK and shot him when he looks up. Edited by catusbill |
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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That's why I went with the rear focus SS instead of the side. I don't like to take my left hand away from the trigger as I'm correcting parallax. AO's are good to go too.
Being LH sucks....... Edited by cheaptrick |
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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catusbill
Optics Apprentice Joined: July/07/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 161 |
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Hi trick:
What do you do when you need to chamber a round? Use your right hand and reach over the scope? I guess it all in what you get use to. |
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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My dream is to go all LH model weapons. I'm sick of compensating with RH weapons!
My "Black Betty" .308 bolt gun is a LH model.
But, with a RH bolt rifle, I just reached over the scope with my left hand and ran the bolt that way. Pretty fast too, considering. Unless I'm bench shooting, then I run the bolt right handed.
Even though I have a LH action now, I still find myself reaching for the bolt on the right side after a shot when shooting off the bench.
Or when shooting from a standing position, (keeping your finger off the trigger) you can "flip" the barrel upwards, and run the bolt super fast right handed. I did that with my Sako.
I'm going with a Stag Arms LH version AR too next time. |
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14962 |
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Cheaptrick -thats the beauty of an Encore it doesnt care if your R or L handed.
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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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