Scope Power Suggestions

[ColColt]

I need some suggestions for a scope to be mounted on a Remington 700 BDL .222 caliber. I'm looking at the Leopold brand along with their rings and one piece mount. Always been a fan of Leopold. I'm not sure about the ring height needed and I suspect that's dependent on the chosen scope. I was more curious about what power would be needed for 100-200 yard targets. Would a 3-9X be sufficient, 4-12X or a higher power be more desirable? I'll be shooting at standard BR targets at those ranges.

[Love Life]

If it is not going to be used for hunting, then I would go with higher magnification.

Shooting a 22 at 200 yds I preferred at least a 16 power scope.

[country gent]

I have a couple 6.5 X 20 Lepould long rang scopes with side parrallel adjustments that are used on all my match rifles to date. I perfer these over most others for both testing and the few long range any sight matches I shot every year. Expensive yes but also very good. If you cant see it you cant hit it and a .o10 mis alighnment at 1 X becomes .100 under 20X makeing slight alighnment issues easier to see.

[ColColt]

That surprises me. I wouldn't have thought you'd need that much power at those ranges to see/hit a BR target. I think the squares are something like 1/2" or close for the 100 yard target.

[Love Life]

It's not that you NEED the power to hit the targets, you want the power to see WHERE you hit the targets.

If shooting benchrest or paper punching with small calibers at longer ranges, I prefer as much mag as possible. Just FYI, but the sightron SIII with 1/8 moa clicks has enough resolution to see 6mm holes at 300 yds in dark targets.

May save you some money over a Leupold.

[ColColt]

I'll look that one up...never heard of that brand before.

[Love Life]

Look at the 8-32 LRMOA with 1/8 inch clicks. It is a bit "tactical" with the super turrets, but it is a great scope.

Also the 8-32 LRFCH-1/4 moa adjustments but with a fine crosshair.

Sightron has quite a few options in that scope line. The SIII line is what you are looking for.

I just make sure my bottom mag never gets above 16X so that I can adjust down out of the mirage.

ETA-These (and similar Leupolds) are large scopes. Great for range work ad static shooting, but not so great for any kind of hunting.

[fouronesix]

Either 4 or 6 fixed power with good eye relief and adequate exit pupil diameter and no hangy out adjustment covers.

[Love Life]

For shooting paper targets at 100-200 yds with a 22 caliber?

[ColColt]

I'm not planning any hunting with the rifle...paper punching for the most part. I looked up that scope and it's not exactly cheap at $1,237.51 MSRP. That was from their website. I can't go that far for a scope.

Is this the one? Found at Midway.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/444747/sightron-siii-long-range-rifle-scope-30mm-tube-8-32x-56mm-side-focus-fine-crosshair-reticle-matte

[Love Life]

That's the one. My rule of thumb for optics is to bite the bullet so to speak.

I'll sell rifles, but optics tend to stay around.

You can find used ones for better prices on both Sightron scopes and Leupold scopes. I tend to stick with Leupold for used optics as I know their warranty is solid. I've never needed warranty work on a Sightron so I can't speak to that issue.

[ColColt]

Leopold, to me, has always been the creme de la creme and Redfield, Bushnell, etc. second best, so to speak. However, they've never been cheap...quality never was.

[Hawkeye45]

I know I am setting myself up for ridicule here. My rem40 XBR wears a Leopold 45x scope so I can see those 22 cal holes

Mr. Ed

[ColColt]

Why not just buy a spotting scope? I have a Redfield 25-70X.

[Love Life]

Leupold has been kicked off the top of the heap for a couple years now. They are just now playing catch up IMHO.

They got lazy in the development field, overcharge, and lost a large portion of their customer base to companies who make/sell better optics with more features for less money.

[fouronesix]

4-6 fixed power? :kidding:

For what you're wanting to do with the 222, who knows. May depend on the rifle's capability. The most basic things to look for are resolution and parallax adjustment. Going too high in power can be counterproductive and going too low can leave some want on the resolution for precision of POA.

I don't shoot competition but shoot competitor's rifles once in a while for other reasons. Yes, there are other brands of high end target scopes out there that have done very well recently. The power most use for 100 and 200 BR work is in the 24-40X range with some choosing even higher. One of the problems with any scope, especially at higher power, is the trade off between (and even conflict between) resolution on target POA and the thermal distortions in the air column (what some call mirage).
The perfect scope and a zillion other things are what BR shooters constantly chase but can never quite catch :)

[felix]

The purpose of such high power scopes is to SEE the soup effects when the "wind" is below 7 mph (increasing mph with power) or thereabouts at 24X. The more you see, the more adjustments can be made for the turmoil (boil). Only BR shooters (for real) need apply. Takes many, many shoots to comprehend what is seen, and only a few of us can master the ambience using these devices. ... felix

[Hickory]

Burris make some excellent scopes in the 4x16 power range.

[357mags]

I had a 6.5x20x44 target scope on my Sako L46 .222rem. Was Awesome!

[Love Life]

Now calm down Felix. I felt it was to early to mention Mirage and the soup. Nothing like shooting through the ocean.

Love me some overcast calm days!!

[kenyerian]

Be a shame not to do some coyote hunting with it or maybe some ground hogs. A 4x16 scope works pretty well for that. It would be more of an all around scope that you could also enjoy shooting paper with.

[ColColt]

I may have found my scope. What do you think?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/374635-REG/Weaver_849970_36x40_T_36_Adjustable_Objective.html

[williamwaco]

I may have found my scope. What do you think?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/374635-REG/Weaver_849970_36x40_T_36_Adjustable_Objective.html


I have the T30

I really like it - until the weather gets hot.
The mirage can completely hide the cross hair.

If you are shooting BR you will likely never have a match in 100 degree weather.

[ColColt]

It can get rather warm here in the south but I won't be out shooting in 90-100 degree weather either. We only saw about eight days of 90 degrees this summer, however and that was a big blessing.

[fourarmed]

I was using a Sightron 3-9 in a high rise mount on a 30-30 pistol to shoot unlimited standing silhouette events. The eyepiece would hit me in the forehead every shot. Finally one day, the tube broke where it is threaded for the eyepiece. I called the company and described the situation. After the guy stopped laughing, he told me to send it in and they sent me a new scope. I quit shooting the 30-30. It was giving me a headache.

[ColColt]

30-30 in a pistol...not for me.

[Cane_man]

Nikon Buckmasters is a great value... the 6x18-40 goes for around $275

[35 shooter]

For general purpose target and varmint type shooting any good adjustable objective 4x12 to 16 power will seve you well. I used a set 10 power leupold (still have the scope) for 15 years on a rem. 700 .222 and never felt a need for more. Competition shooting is a whole different ball game, then you may want something like a 6x20 or bigger.I can tell from Mr Felix's comments he's been there done that.

[ColColt]

Paper punchin' is the primary purpose of this one. I doubt I'll be chasing ground hogs but won't rule that out entirely. I did decide to go with the Weaver T-36X since target shooting is the main objective. It received many accolades in just about everywhere I've read so, it can't be too bad to have been around as long as it has.

One thing I found about a 36X scope. You can't take it out of the box, hold it to see a neighbors house 100 yards away without the cross hairs bouncing from the ground to the sky and you have to have your eye just right or you'll only see black. This may take some getting use to. I feel sure once on the rifle things will be better.