Scope Choice and Why?
- BlauBear
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Re: Scope Choice and Why?
Amen! Cheap stuff isn't because you get to pay for it twice - when you buy it and when you replace it.Jerry G wrote:Don't buy a cheep scope because you will just end up putting it aside and buying a good one later.
"If the America people ever allow private banks to control the issuance of their currencies, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all their prosperity" - TJ
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chuck d
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Re: Scope Choice and Why?
I would recommend anything from 12 to 25 power for most people, it may appear to be too big of a wobble, but with training you will find the wobble groups tighten if you will work at it. Troy Lawton has written good articles on how to train for reducing the wobble.
The one minute dot is rare, but I like it. My son prefers a smaller 3/8 to 1/2 minute dot. That is purely a matter of choice.
Mary[/quote]
Mary,
Where would I find the articles by Troy?
thanks
chuck
The one minute dot is rare, but I like it. My son prefers a smaller 3/8 to 1/2 minute dot. That is purely a matter of choice.
Mary[/quote]
Mary,
Where would I find the articles by Troy?
thanks
chuck
- GeoNLR
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Re: Scope Choice and Why?
As others have said, would not reccomend going the cheap route. Sightron, Leupold, Weaver, etc. All have lifetime warranty and follow through with them.
I use a Leupold 30X Silhouette w/ the 3/8 dot..love it..
I have to try out new scopes so that I can sell them and know a little something about them. The scope line I demo'd beofe the 30X was the Bushnell elites 4200's in 8-32 and 6-24.... Perfect for a full power air rifle as they only have 6 MOA adjustment per rev as they are 1/8 MOA scopes... I didn't mind in smallbore, but HP was a bit much to keep up with (as was my 'target' air rifle)
Dot size... I used to shoot the 1/4 MOA in the bushnells...loved it... but I was 33-34 years old... some older folks or ones w/ vision impairments might have problems with that.... Keep in mind that the Dot size between a 1/4 MOA and 1/2 moa is double the size....

That is why there IS a difference between the 3/8 dot and the 1/2 dot... on paper it's just an 1/8... but boy what a difference that makes....
Mary is a great resource for the sport b/c she has been around. Others here also advocate the lower powers for newer shooters... I wish I had started with this advice... I started w/ a 18-40 and it sat on 40X peroid.... Imas has spoke many times about shooting on 6X and etc. I know I started my children off on a variable...
Overall... as mentioned on here before.. the Leupold 6.5-20 EFR is hard to beat... recent changes (to the VX-3 line) have drove the price up... if that is a little too much, you might want to look into the Sightron 6-24 .... Have seen one / shot under one... but for some reason they have been backordered from my dist for some time now...
Anyway, good luck... and the folks here can help you out with why different optics suit them...
Chicken
I use a Leupold 30X Silhouette w/ the 3/8 dot..love it..
I have to try out new scopes so that I can sell them and know a little something about them. The scope line I demo'd beofe the 30X was the Bushnell elites 4200's in 8-32 and 6-24.... Perfect for a full power air rifle as they only have 6 MOA adjustment per rev as they are 1/8 MOA scopes... I didn't mind in smallbore, but HP was a bit much to keep up with (as was my 'target' air rifle)
Dot size... I used to shoot the 1/4 MOA in the bushnells...loved it... but I was 33-34 years old... some older folks or ones w/ vision impairments might have problems with that.... Keep in mind that the Dot size between a 1/4 MOA and 1/2 moa is double the size....

That is why there IS a difference between the 3/8 dot and the 1/2 dot... on paper it's just an 1/8... but boy what a difference that makes....
Mary is a great resource for the sport b/c she has been around. Others here also advocate the lower powers for newer shooters... I wish I had started with this advice... I started w/ a 18-40 and it sat on 40X peroid.... Imas has spoke many times about shooting on 6X and etc. I know I started my children off on a variable...
Overall... as mentioned on here before.. the Leupold 6.5-20 EFR is hard to beat... recent changes (to the VX-3 line) have drove the price up... if that is a little too much, you might want to look into the Sightron 6-24 .... Have seen one / shot under one... but for some reason they have been backordered from my dist for some time now...
Anyway, good luck... and the folks here can help you out with why different optics suit them...
Chicken
- Dee
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Re: Scope Choice and Why?
I like the Bushnell 4200 Elite 6-24x with the 1/4" dot myself. For the money I think they are hard to beat for glass quality and repeatability. Plus they are tough as hell even surviving well on high powered spring air guns that can destroy scopes.
I use one on both my CZ Sil rifle and TX200 air rifle. As for the 1/8" clicks I don't find it that big a deal to keep things straight but I am used to dialing a lot shooting Field Target. The Rams are just another minute or so on average past a full rotation. A wise shooter always changes settings for the next animal before they leave the line of the last one to prevent any head scratching.
As for the 1/4" dot it is small but still easy to see with my 38 y/o eyes and I wear glasses as well. For someone older a 3/8" dot might be the smallest you would want to use as mentioned. Plus I don't mind the smaller dot since my hold is rock solid like a bench setup
so it allows me to pic out which chip of paint I want to hold on to break the shot. ;)
Really though for $400 they are hard to beat and hold their value as well as all the other top of the line makers.
Dee
I use one on both my CZ Sil rifle and TX200 air rifle. As for the 1/8" clicks I don't find it that big a deal to keep things straight but I am used to dialing a lot shooting Field Target. The Rams are just another minute or so on average past a full rotation. A wise shooter always changes settings for the next animal before they leave the line of the last one to prevent any head scratching.
As for the 1/4" dot it is small but still easy to see with my 38 y/o eyes and I wear glasses as well. For someone older a 3/8" dot might be the smallest you would want to use as mentioned. Plus I don't mind the smaller dot since my hold is rock solid like a bench setup
Really though for $400 they are hard to beat and hold their value as well as all the other top of the line makers.
Dee
Trespassers will be shot.
Survivors will be shot again!
Survivors will be shot again!
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scotty250
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Re: Scope Choice and Why?
Dee, where are you getting the 4200's for $400?? i cant seem to find them for anything less than $500. i have used 4200's for 3 gun competion and i agree, good scopes that are tough as heck.
Scott
Scott
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Black_Talon
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Re: Scope Choice and Why?
Bruno's has them for $411.scotty250 wrote:Dee, where are you getting the 4200's for $400?? i cant seem to find them for anything less than $500. i have used 4200's for 3 gun competion and i agree, good scopes that are tough as heck.
Scott
- GeoNLR
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Re: Scope Choice and Why?
They just went up not too long ago. But I can sell you a 6-24 w/ Dot for $415. In stock.scotty250 wrote:Dee, where are you getting the 4200's for $400?? i cant seem to find them for anything less than $500. i have used 4200's for 3 gun competion and i agree, good scopes that are tough as heck.
Scott
Thanks,
Chicken
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tackdriver
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Re: Scope Choice and Why?
Hi guys and gals, my name is Takdriver. Tackdrivin' small bore rifles is my thing. I'm playin the .22 Shilouette game and informal .22 benchrest at my gun club. I'm a big CZ fan and Little tiny crosshairs get me excited
I'm looking forward to chattin' with ya'll at steelchickens. Please visit my forum also at http://www.takdriver.com and help me with some posts on there to get that forum going. It's brand new and I need all the help I can get. Here's to you guys!
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gc4895
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Re: Scope Choice and Why?
I chose the Leupold 24x BR scope with a 1/4min target dot. The reason was because I had one sitting in a box for years and I didn't have another use for it. I slapped it on an old Anschutz Model 54 Match action I also had sitting around and it has turned out to be kind of a cool set-up. With this heavier rifle I like the 24x. Wish I had a 5 shot magazine but I'm not going to modify this action.
- BlauBear
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Re: Scope Choice and Why?
gc4895 wrote:I chose the Leupold 24x BR scope with a 1/4min target dot. The reason was because I had one sitting in a box for years and I didn't have another use for it. I slapped it on an old Anschutz Model 54 Match action I also had sitting around and it has turned out to be kind of a cool set-up. With this heavier rifle I like the 24x. Wish I had a 5 shot magazine but I'm not going to modify this action.
I'm in complete awe & envy.
"If the America people ever allow private banks to control the issuance of their currencies, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all their prosperity" - TJ
- Ghostofwar
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Re: Scope Choice and Why?
After seeing some people with the Leupold FXIII 25x scopes at winnsboro, I kinda want to check one out.
I just picked up a weaver t24 with the 1/4 clicks and a 1/2 minute target dot and I am already in love with it. I can see why some many people have chosen this scope.
I just picked up a weaver t24 with the 1/4 clicks and a 1/2 minute target dot and I am already in love with it. I can see why some many people have chosen this scope.
- BlauBear
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Re: Scope Choice and Why?
Older Weavers with 1/4 MOA clicks are a great choice. Leupold's have better glass, but the Weaver is less expensive and just as able.
"If the America people ever allow private banks to control the issuance of their currencies, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all their prosperity" - TJ
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teetertotter
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Re: Scope Choice and Why?
I could only afford $200.00 scope, and chose Nikon Buckmaster, 6X14 as had what I thought was good optics a couple months ago. I'm a class B and hope can reach class A. It is on my new Marlin 39A and enjoy the sport just the same. This scope has held very well from chickens to rams when I dial for distance.
Nothing fancy, but serves my purpose to have fun with a nice bunch of people. If I win the lottery, then I will upgrade. I'm a senior with first gun and scope that my wife said was okay on our fixed income. My 2 cents on choice and why, I guess.
Nothing fancy, but serves my purpose to have fun with a nice bunch of people. If I win the lottery, then I will upgrade. I'm a senior with first gun and scope that my wife said was okay on our fixed income. My 2 cents on choice and why, I guess.
*Retired from Silhouette in 2018. Former Director.
LH CZ 452 Amer, Free Floated, FX-3 25X40, D3 Rings, TAC-22
https://www.beloitrifleclub.org/shootin ... ilhouette/
LH CZ 452 Amer, Free Floated, FX-3 25X40, D3 Rings, TAC-22
https://www.beloitrifleclub.org/shootin ... ilhouette/
- Bob259
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Re: Scope Choice and Why?
teetertotter wrote:I could only afford $200.00 scope, and chose Nikon Buckmaster, 6X14 as had what I thought was good optics a couple months ago. I'm a class B and hope can reach class A. It is on my new Marlin 39A and enjoy the sport just the same. This scope has held very well from chickens to rams when I dial for distance.
Nothing fancy, but serves my purpose to have fun with a nice bunch of people. If I win the lottery, then I will upgrade. I'm a senior with first gun and scope that my wife said was okay on our fixed income. My 2 cents on choice and why, I guess.
Use what ever works... it's all about having fun and it sounds like your doing that.
Welcome aboard to this addicting sport....
Last edited by Bob259 on Tue Jun 23, 2009 6:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- BlauBear
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Re: Scope Choice and Why?
It's all about the fun! Some of us are guilty of spending stupid amounts of money (
) but that isn't the real point.
"If the America people ever allow private banks to control the issuance of their currencies, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all their prosperity" - TJ
