ifldned, yes the optics have changed a bit from the 70's, when I shot irons because a scope was not that big of advantage...had younger eyes then! Have fun with your new toy.

Innocent

Most of the better shooters I know use 24x, and I've just about decided that's great if you're steady enough, but a mere mortal such as myself should probably stay around 20x. Having said that, I currently use a 25x Leupold that I won't steady up with until a month into the season.

I'm a pistol shooter actually, in the old days I'd test loads for, 6.5 t.c.u.. an 7.00 t.c.u. at a 100 yards, out of a Thompson Contender pistol with a 14 inch barrel. Once I got it down to .5 inch for five shots with a four power leupold pistol scope I stopped testing thinking that at least half that was me. But I concluded that iron sights only shot maybe a just a little under twice the group sizes thata scope can do. Does that sound about right to you? And since I was shooting big bore standing silhouette ,it was a insignificant difference.
ifldned

to those who thought... "why in the world would this idiot bring military sniper shooting into a silhouette shooting conversation". As far as I know to ranges out to 500 meters, the military sniper rifle issued is a 700 remington in 308 caliber with a 4-14x leupold variable military spec scope. 22lr silhouette rifle is comparable to 1/5 the size of big bore silhouette rifle shooting, that means they compare against each other, ballistically equal . So the comparison I want you to note is .... 'whether or not you would shoot head to head with a .308 sniper rifle with a 14x scope off a bipod rest against a standing 22lr shooter with a 36x scope standing"at their respective distances of course? I would think a good shooter could easily shoot 38/40 with a .308 rifle off a bipod. That same shooter with a 22lr would have to shoot a fairly decent match to best 38/40 hits with a 36x scope, in the standing position. I'm trying to make the point that there is no advantage to shooting a 36x scope in 22lr silhouette. If more was better why not use a March 10-60x, or now I believe they make a 80x scope
ifldned

I use 30x on both my Hi-Power and Smallbore silhouette rifles....Reason is to better see the spot on the target that I am using as a break point for the shot. Its a bit hard to do that 14x. I shot without a spoter because once I break the shot I do not worry about it anymore...I watch my conditions and let fly...But thats just me. In this game a spotter is a advantage unfortunatly I lost mine and good ones dont grow on tree's so I have to deal with it til I can get another one to work with.

ifldned, I interpreted the comment as another attack on what we enjoy doing - apparently that was incorrect and I apologize. While in the service I regularly qualified SharpShooter (the grade below Expert, dang it...) with an M14 and open sights from 500 yards so a 14x scope is clearly possible.

ifldned wrote:. I'm trying to make the point that there is no advantage to shooting a 36x scope in 22lr silhouette.
ifldned

Then don't use one.


You started out by asking what the "Top Competitors" in this sport use. You got several responders to report on the answer to your question.

Now you are telling the "Top Competitors" that they are doing it wrong.


SteveM.

I use a 36x scope because it lets me see the target better. With a 36x I see it 50% better/bigger than I would with a 24x, it is a great improvement.

I am glad I read the posts here, after 30 some years of shooting silhouettes what I really need is a bullpup rifle with a 3X9 scope to be competitive.
thank you for the advice

lone ringer wrote:I am glad I read the posts here, after 30 some years of shooting silhouettes what I really need is a bullpup rifle with a 3X9 scope to be competitive.
thank you for the advice

Truthfully Lone Ringer, you would beat me like a drum with a box stock Wal Mart 10/22 and bulk pack ammunition!

Keep in mind I'm 25 years away from shooting. When I was shooting, a score of 34/40 would pretty much assure you a best score. I can see now that the bar has been raised. I'll admit if your idea of a bad score is 36/40 you can shoot with a 36x scope.
ifldned
p.s. I would certainly recommend having a 36x scope as a workout tool to tighten ones weave.

JettMugg, I'm trying to figure out how much 22lr shooting has progressed since the 25 years ago that I left shooting. Could you kindly give me a idea of how long you can keep your dot on the target once it is located and the trigger is released?

LONE RINGER,I take it you have shot many a perfect score with 30 years experience in silhouette shooting. But just in case you haven't I suggest you bypass the bullpup and 3x9 scope and use a grenade launcher.
ifldned

JETTMUGG, I bought a nightforce 12-42x benchrifle scope two days ago . So I match your 36x and up you another 6x........

All kidding aside, I've learned alot from all of you and appreciate your vast experience.
ifldned

Iflnded - I have 2 rifles that are set up to compete in either hunter or standard class (both rifles will work in either category). One wears a Weaver T-24, the other wears a Weaver KT-15. As far as my hold, I can only hope to hold on an animal long enough to break the trigger and follow through. I am far from being a top competitor in this sport, but many who post here are in that upper echelon.

What I'm suggesting is that since you already stated that you have been away from shooting for 25 years, you might make more friends and get more respect upon returning if you avoid telling the top shooters that they are doing it wrong.

What kind of scopes were being used in benchrest 25 years ago? I assume they weren't 42X Nightforce units. Do the sniper analogies hold true when comparing to that sport?

SteveM.

[quote="Bob259I wish Leupold would make a 12 - 25X EFR as that would be ideal.[/quote]
That would be great. The 20x of the EFR is a bit too low.

As far as military snipers go, I am not a military sniper, but have have 2 beanfield guns for deer and hogs. Both are fixed power. One is a 6x42 Schmidt and Bender and the other is a 4x40 Nikon. Shots are always over 100 yards and can be up to 300 yards, but the critters sometimes don't stay still and aren't always in the same place, so I need a much wider field of viewthan for my silhouette rifle. Also since shots are rarely in bright sunlight at noon, a a large exit pupil is needed. The exit pupil on a 24x with a 40 mm objective is less than 2 mm and will wash out at dusk. The S&B has a 7mm exit pupil, which is about all the eye can use and teh Nikon has a 10mm exit pupil.

Lone Ringer, I guess if we keep reading the stuff here we will finally realize that bullpup with the low power scope is the way to go. Never mind the fact that we have been at this game since the 80s.

I can't understand why the military sniper thingie even came up because they are much different than what we do. More like F class I think. I haven't seen very many ex snipers come along and show us how to do it at a match but then I don't get out much anymore. In fact, I have seen some police snipers show up and then bitch because they can't shoot off the bench at a HP match.