scope for 1712

[slickab]

I have a new Anschutz 1712 .22lr and am shopping carefully for a scope for it. I shoot smallbore silhouette and also like to shoot groups on paper off of a bench. As you can imagine, I am having to save for a scope while trying to make a decision as to what. So far I am trying to figure out the pros and cons of the Sightron
6-24x42 AO silhouette scope and the Weaver Grand Slam 6-20x40 AO fine cross hair/target dot scope. In the meantime, I have a Simmons 44 Mag, 6-24x44 side focus scope that I have put on just to have something to shoot. I have only shot silhouette for the last few months, however I intend to shoot NRA smallbore silhouette in this coming year. The season starts Feb. 2010. I need all kinds of advise and pointers. Thanks, Cuz

[BlauBear]

You might also consider the Nikon Buckmaster 6-18. I like Leupold, not least for their warranty (although I've heard very good things about Sightron & Weaver, too), but they are expensive.

[Finprof]

I have the Sightron Silhouette scope and ahve used it for about a year in both Silhouette and NRA light rifle.
I have no complaints. The glass is good and it tracks well. The reticle is set up for silhouette with a larger dot than on my Leupold 6.5-20. The reticle and dot on the Leupold is a bit too fine to use for silhouette, so you have to go through the hassle of changing it or using a reticle that is better suited to benchrest.

[BlauBear]

The reticle and dot on the Leupold is a bit too fine to use for silhouette, so you have to go through the hassle of changing it or using a reticle that is better suited to benchrest.

Which reticle? Leupold has 1/4 MOA, 3/8 MOA and 1/2 MOA and you'll find each of those preferred by someone on here. My preference is the 3/8's, but Innocent has said she prefers the 1/2, while many air rifle shooters like the 1/4. My Sightron 24x44 that sits on an air rifle has the 1/4 MOA that seems good for air rifle but too small for small bore.

[Innocent]

BB,
My real preference is for a 1 minute...but they are few and far between as Premier did not make a lot of the fixed one minutes, they did so some variable from 3/8 to 1 minute as you increased power.

Mary

[BlauBear]

BB,
My real preference is for a 1 minute...but they are few and far between as Premier did not make a lot of the fixed one minutes, they did so some variable from 3/8 to 1 minute as you increased power.

Mary

That sounds useful!

[bwilliams]

I also shoot silhouette and use the following Leupold scopes. FX3 30x with 3/8 dot. BR36x 3/8 dot. BR24 3/8 dot and a 6.5-20x EFR. Some days high magnification works (36x) and other days a pain to hold. 24X or 30X should be considerd max magnification. I prefer small dots 3/8 as is more precise and easy to pick up, but others use 1/2" and works for them. Confidence is also a big part in any sport and when high magnification, small field of view, pressure of big match or a very windy day has the cross hair bouncing all around, does not build confidence and makes trigger execution very hard. Less magnification slows down the redicle and also helps with the follow through.
My 2 cents.
Brett

[slickab]

Thanks Brett, Thats the kind of stuff I need to hear. Just last week I shot pigs 6 and 7 when I was supposed to be shooting pigs 4 and 5 and that was on 12 power. My partner/scorekeeper counted them anyway. It was an off season fun match. Anyway the Sightron has a advertised 1/2moa dot and the Weaver has a advertised 1/4moa dot. I have never shot a dot so I just dont know. Question, when zeroing scope from a rest does the dot cover up the center of the target ? If so does the dot cover up and obscure the bullet hole when zeroed? Why not use regular crosshairs? I am a surveyor so I have been looking at crosshairs all my life. I like the 1/4 moa adjustments on the Sightron I would think. Save longer for a 3/8moa dot Leupold?

[Innocent]

slickab,
the dot helps bring your focus to the center of the crosshairs faster. If you have been looking at crosshairs all the time, it may not make much difference for you. As for what the dot covers, with the 1 minute dot it is a little more
time consuming to shoot groups by putting a shot on the blank paper and then shooting for the hole, as the larger dot does cover the shot, but it can be done. I find the smaller dot distracting, because I am looking for the dot and not the crosshairs, matter of personal preference though. I will say that any silhouette shooter is always willing to let you try their scope/rig so look through a few while you are saving up. You will not be sorry with Sightron, Weaver or Leupold.

Nikon makes nice glass, but not to user friendly on the adjustment end, and ofcourse the same with Zeiss and some of the other fine German glass.

Mary

[slickab]

I have had an opportunity to shoot a Anschutz 54.18 in a Pharr stock with a stainless steel aftermarket barrel. It had a Weaver 24X dot of some size scope on it. I did not take the opportunity to shoot the rifle because for the moment I was satisfied with my CZ 452 Ultra Lux and my Simmons 4-12x40 AO Prosport scope. I am no longer satisfied with that setup but I will say that the CZ is a very fine rifle. At the next opportunity I will accept that gentlemans offer to shoot his rifle. Thank you for your input Innocent.

[bwilliams]

you are right the CZ 452 is a nice rifle for silhouette, however, I as well shoot a 1712 in a Robertson stock, holds very nice, good trigger, but my 54.18 in an anschutz 1808 stock with the 5018 trigger is a dream to shoot. if you ever have a chance to hold, shoot one a 5418 give it a try.
Brett

[Jerry G]

The fine dot in a Leupold is 1/8 and it is way too small for anything except bench rest.

[AK Rev]

I have the Sightron Silhouette scope and ahve used it for about a year in both Silhouette and NRA light rifle.
I have no complaints. The glass is good and it tracks well. The reticle is set up for silhouette with a larger dot than on my Leupold 6.5-20. The reticle and dot on the Leupold is a bit too fine to use for silhouette, so you have to go through the hassle of changing it or using a reticle that is better suited to benchrest.

What is that model of Sightron? The one I saw had a 1/8 dot. What size is the dot on yours? Sounds like what I am looking for.

[slickab]

Sightron SII Big Sky Variable Power Silhouette Scope Recommended for Competitive Shooters
Sightron™, Inc. meets the demand of competition shooters with the introduction of their SII Big Sky Scope with a silhouette reticle. The new 6-24x42 variable power scope was designed specifically for small bore and high power silhouette competitive shooters.

[slickab]

How about a Leupold VX-II 6-18X40 AO with target dot. Would this work for silhouette shooting for the next few years? I do not want to have to buy another scope in the future. Also, does Leupold's warranty cover the scope for the second owner? slickab, or cuz, either one.