Long Range New Build Advice?

[DocJ]

I'm putting together my first long range bolt action gun & am looking for advice from the more experienced in building & shooting 1000+.
I'm working with an Armalite 30A1 Target model. Now the question on glass.
The Nightforce NXS 8-32 X 56 MOAR-T, or Vortex PST 5-22, or Razor Gen II, or ???
Scope mount I'm looking at is either Badger, Spurh, or go with the scope brand name, one piece w/20 moa. Money is an object so no Carte Blanc here. Need to stay reasonable.
I would appreciate any sincere opinions or suggestions here. Please, from some of the blogs I've seen, if you just don't have anything helpful, then I can do without put downs I see posted by some who have some axe to grind for some reason. Don't bother.
Thanks to all those who are in this for the fun & enjoyment of shooting...

[bsumoba]

some questions you will need to answer before we can give any good advice:

* what is the budget? You mentioned razor gen II so it seems like up to $3K is your budget?

* what type of shooting? I know you have a "target" model 30A1, but are you doing just casual steel out to 1K or maybe a bit beyond? Do you want to do ELR (extreme long range) meaning to a mile? Paper punching? Hunting?

* Is weight an issue?

* and for my curiosity, what caliber are you shooting?

[LynnJr]

Most scopes will get the 338 Lapua to 1000 yards as it takes about 26 moa.
If you want to go to 1500 yards you need about 45 moa and if you want to go to 2000 yards figure 85 moa up.
This is assuming a 300 grain Berger at 2759 fps.
You don't need a lot of magnification for gongs past 1000 yards but you do need elevation.
The 5.5-22x56 Nightforce has around 110 moa so 55 moa up and 55 moa down. You could get a fixed 40 or 45 moa base for around $60 if your on a budget.
If your budget is tight look for a no longer made/sold Bausch-Laumb fixed 10 power scope. Decent glass and 100 moa and easy on the budget.
We hold 2000 yard matches outside of Barstow if you are interested.

[craneman]

Well I am far from an expert, but I will give you my take on it. By saying 1000+ with the emphasis on the + part, and knowing the AR30 is offered in .300WM or .338LM, and knowing the rail is 20 MOA, get as much elevation adjustment and as good of glass as your budget allows. 34mm tube and a large objective with good glass is the Razor genII. You don't need that much magnification, but the good glass will help with mirage, and if you do go 1500+ you will need the elevation. The rifle is plenty capable for 2000+. Cheaper to buy once, and with the outstanding warranty it will hold its value well. If you ever sell it, it will have been pretty cheap to use. Of if you keep it, it will go as far as that rifle can go and have some left.

My AR30A1 is not the target model as I didn't want to pay for that long rail. I prefer to get the scope as close to the rifle bore as possible for various reasons. I have the low M40 USMC Badger rings (.886" height) on mine with a 50mm objective and it sits just right for me. I am comfortable behind the rifle. If I choose to go to a 34mm tube and 56mm objective later I will get new rings, but the same height will still work. I am not sure, but my bet is, you will need the extra tall rings (1.375") to clear the rail with a 56mm. they have a 1.250 set that would work for 30 mm tube and 50mm objective but they are aluminum. Pricey too. Maybe Bushnell or Weaver for decent rings.

Good Luck, that is a good rifle for the money. I really like mine.

[craneman]

Hey Lynn, the AR30 has a rail that has a square lug machined into the bottom to keep it from moving. I think he would need a custom built rail if he wanted to replace it with one that has more cant. I have never found one, even from Armalite.

[JMP]

I'm working with an Armalite 30A1 Target model. Now the question on glass.
The Nightforce NXS 8-32 X 56 MOAR-T, or Vortex PST 5-22, or Razor Gen II, or ???
Scope mount I'm looking at is either Badger, Spurh, or go with the scope brand name, one piece w/20 moa. Money is an object so no Carte Blanc here. Need to stay reasonable.

I think you have selected a good rifle for the task.

For the scope, I'd stay away from the Vortex PST as the glass is lacking a bit for longer distances. Then, from the choices you have selected, you should decide between a first or second focal plane as that is quite a large difference between the NF and the Vortex Gen II. As someone who greatly favors a first focal plane, I'd say that the Vortex Gen II 4.5-27x56 is a solid pick for a very solid budget ELR scope. There isn't a whole lot to complain about on this scope as the glass is generally good enough and it provides pretty solid elevation range. Thus, I'd say your choice between the NF and GenII is a difference between FFP and SFP as either is suitable.

If you are shooting where there is a fair amount of mirage, you will not really be able to get past 20x, and you may need to back off even from there.

For the mount, you really want to get something that merely doesn't move. If it doesn't move, you are in business. For a budget mount, I would recommend the Accuracy International 5656 mount, which has 45 MOA built in and it goes for about $175 and the 45 MOA tends to be about right for 34mm tubed scopes. (You'd probably want a 0 MOA base, or, shop for a different cant. AI makes a 28 MOA cant that would fit well above a 20 MOA rail; however, I do not know the model number that will clear the knobs area of a full size scope (you want it high). If you need more than that, I'd go to an adjustable inclination mount like the Recknagels, but they are considerably more pricey ($400+). These have an adjustable inclination from 0-70 MOA.

[M1NM]

This is a good site.

http://www.caprc.com/forums/index.php

[JMP]

Hey Lynn, the AR30 has a rail that has a square lug machined into the bottom to keep it from moving. I think he would need a custom built rail if he wanted to replace it with one that has more cant. I have never found one, even from Armalite.

You would use a flat top picatinny riser extension to build in more cant to an existing rail. However, this option makes little sense given the availability of mounts that have cants build in. It is easier to simply go with a one-piece mount.

[craneman]

You would use a flat top picatinny riser extension to build in more cant to an existing rail. However, this option makes little sense given the availability of mounts that have cants build in. It is easier to simply go with a one-piece mount.

yea, that is what I was alluding to, as you can't get an off the shelf rail for this rifle with more MOA.