How do you determine what scope goes on what rifle?

[Wildfan99]

"I standardize my brand and model ,adjust magnification by caliber and distance shooting.Pa deer rifle,nj muzzleloader and nj slug gun all wear a Leupold VX-R 3-9 X 40.My 300 Win Mag wears a Leupold VX-R 4-12X40 as I shoot farther with this caliber.Scope muscle memory is standardized all around."

Good idea also!

 

[Show Me]

If you don't know anything buy a banner 2x7 or 3x9 with cheep rings. Short ,med and high. Learn what YOU like. Upgrade is easy from there , you have a scope and rings for future testing. The education is priceless.

 

[Hookeye]

I got a 12X gloss M8 for my .22 Hornet.
Is old friction adj (not click).
Wonder if a Kenton or Leupold S1 knob would work on it.

Ive run fixed and variables in mixture for decades.
Like both types.

On variables I usually dial em down to lowest when moving.

On my .22 mag I set the 3-9X at 6X and leave it.
Its my walking rig and shots are offhand.

In general, have shot stuff at higher mag but find 6X to be stress free LOL

2-7X deer rig at 2X is pretty sweet in the woods.

 

[Hookeye]

I've tried that on other people's rifles.
It seems to sit too high for me.

It was sarcasm (saying its all good w see through rings).

My guess is that see through rings have been the guardian angel of many big bucks.

 

[LoonWulf]

It was sarcasm (saying its all good w see through rings).

My guess is that see through rings have been the guardian angel of many big bucks.

For sure!

Probably resulted in more than a few shiners over the years too lol

 

[BBarn]

My two cents...

For lower recoil rifles shooting for group size from a bench, I gravitate to higher power and bigger objectives. Adjustment repeatability is also very helpful for this application.

For heavy recoil magnums eye relief is very important, especially when shooting prone or off a bench.

For a medium or big game hunting rifle that I might carry for hours, weight is very important, and I don't need more than about 6X to make the shot. I also want a scope mounted as low as possible to the action on such a rifle for faster target acquisition when abruptly shouldering the rifle. A scope that can withstand rough handling is also important on a hunting rifle. I've killed deer DRT at 350 yards with no fancy reticle and a small objective with no problem from prone. Looked down at the scope after the shot. Set on 3X. Even at 350yds, a deer is a large target with only 3X magnification. Biggest issue at that distance for a quick kill is knowing the range and bullet trajectory.

Optical coatings are important, but most medium price scopes (and higher) generally have acceptably good coatings.

 

[.308 Norma]

My guess is that see through rings have been the guardian angel of many big bucks.

"Big bucks." Pun? "Big bucks" as in big deer? Or "big bucks" as in for the folks who build and sell those things?

 

[Varminterror]

Sometimes aesthetics come into play. A 56mm objective on a lever gun would look butt-ass-stupid

In fairness, I can’t think of an application for which a 56mm makes sense for which a levergun also makes sense.

I’ve done some silly stuff for the sake of whimsy, and I like pressing my leverguns as far as I can, but it’s a pretty small niche where we’re talking about a 7-35x on top of a 45-70 is the right move.

 

[jmorris]

In fairness, I can’t think of an application for which a 56mm makes sense for which a levergun also makes sense.

I have a 45-70 that has had all sorts of scopes on it but its more off a test bed or scope beating machine at that point.

 

[Nature Boy]

In fairness, I can’t think of an application for which a 56mm makes sense for which a levergun also makes sense.

Agreed

 

[Hookeye]

"Big bucks." Pun? "Big bucks" as in big deer? Or "big bucks" as in for the folks who build and sell those things?

I dunno LOL, shot this one w iron sights....

 

[Bartojc]

What about putting too much scope on a gun?
Or is that just a cost thing?
Would you look at minimum magnification or maximum?
Or...
Would you consider pulling your target in as much as possible?

I guess my question revolves around why you beef up your competition scopes, unless they're 500-1000 yds or better?

The more I’ve gotten into shooting I think it goes back to what you want to do with the firearm. I used to think you could put too much scope on a rifle. Last year I put my highest power scope on a 22 LR so there went that theory
In order to shoot small targets at distance you have to be able to see them. NRL22 and PRS shooting have really proven this theory. If you hunting the north woods for deer at max 100 yards your needs are much different than trying to hit a 1” target with a 22 lr at 100 yards, or a 4 inch steel target at 600 or more with you favorite PRS rifle.

Higher magnification require better glass typically. Better glass cost more. Features like FFP, adjustable parallax, etc also cost more and are typically a need of higher power scopes. These are the driving factors that affect costs.



Jeff

 

[FL-NC]

Its based on caliber, what the rifle is being used for, and ranges I expect to use it. A fixed 4x is fine for my 10-22. Hunting rifles I use around here are set up with something like a 3-9x Vortex illuminated. The rifles I shoot out to 1000 yards will have scopes that max out around 20X in 30 or 34 mm tubes. For a 5.56 AR, either a 1x RDS, a 4X ACOG, or a LPVO 1-6x or 1-8x, again, depending on specifically what I'm using that AR for.

 

[LiveLife]

fixed 4x is fine for my 10-22

Well ... < Looks at Burris 6.5-20x, Viridian 6-24x and Vortex 4-24x/6-24x for 10/22 and T/CR22 > ... But I am trying to produce smaller than dime size groups at 50 yards using "cheap bulk" Aguila ammo.

For a 5.56 AR, either a 1x RDS, a 4X ACOG, or a LPVO 1-6x or 1-8x, again, depending on specifically what I'm using that AR for.

< Looks at Athlon 10-40x for 18"/20" .223 Wylde ARs > ... Looking to stretch my 69/75 gr loads out to 300-800 yards.

 

[Hookeye]

For me, paper at 100 yards benched, I like a 12X minimum.
Wasn't bad for 50 yard stuff (ran a 4-12X AO on my target 10/22).
Too bad the Freedom 3-9X EFR is so ugly.

 

[Hookeye]

I dislike the newer Leupold 4X rimfire. It looks small on a reg 1022 IMHO.
Some target rifles, liked the 4-12X AO. Have one on my coyote .243 win.
The fixed 6X AO model would be hard to beat for hunting rimfire, might be a little cheaper than a gloss 3-9X EFR (which I thought to be dang near the perfect .22 lr scope).
Prices on them have gone silly.
My .22 mag wears a reg big game 3-9X scope set at 6X. Had adjusted parallax for 50 yards but put it back to orig.

 

[9x56MS]

I have several 100year plus old rifles I wouldn’t dream of drilling and tapping for a scope. Put a peep on them and they work as designed. Just don’t use them sitting over any beanfilds.