Scope For Bench Shooting

[BloodRushx4]

Hi Calgunners,

Wanted to get some advice on what scope parameters would be best for bench shooting from 100 - 300 yards.

Caliber: 5.56/.223

Magnification?
4-16x50 or 6-25x50

FFP or SFP?
For mainly paper precision at 100-200 yards. Then at times 300 yards.

Mil or Moa?
What's easiest in terms of how I'll be shooting the gun? Bench shooting out to 300 yards.

Reticle Image
What's a good reticle image for what I'm trying to do?

Thank you,
BLooDRuSHx4

[rice_man]

Just to be clear - you are trying to put shots through the same hole at a single distance?

Or will you be shooting at varying distances?

I'm doing the same homework for my own needs so I am subscribed here.

[code_blue]

Magnification?
4-16x50 or 6-25x50

I think 6-25 might be overkill and beyond the capabilities of precision shooing for your rifle or the distances that you're shooting at, which we don't have specs on. AR15's are typically mid-range tack drivers, but the longer you go the harder it'll be to maintain that pinpoint accuracy with a 5.56/.223 load.

Remember that the higher the magnification, the greater your human movements will show through the scope. You'll also have a smaller field of view, but will be able to see your hits better. Reticle quality can also degrade at higher magnifications depending on the maker.


FFP or SFP?
For mainly paper precision at 100-200 yards. Then at times 300 yards.

It's preference. You will definitely pay more for the FFP. There are hybrid FFP/SFP scopes out there, but you will definitely pay more than FFP. Since you're just bench shooting and know the distances, SFP will suit you well. FFP tends to be more for unknown ranges and unknown target sizes i.e. hunting applications since the reticle stays the same size in relation to the target. It is a bit more difficult to range with FFP, but you already know your distances so it doesn't matter.


Mil or Moa?
What's easiest in terms of how I'll be shooting the gun? Bench shooting out to 300 yards.

Preference again. MOA is more precise (ever so slightly). I think it's 8-10 clicks for 1" at 100 yards. MOA is 4 clicks for 1" at 100 yards. Of course, check your scope's specs on that. MOA is typically easier and doesn't require as much calculation, but once you figure out MIL you'll be fine.


Reticle Image
What's a good reticle image for what I'm trying to do?

Also preference. The thinner the crosshairs, the more accurate. Since you're shooting at known distances, you can ignore reticles with BDC.


Of course, I'm no expert. I actually just started this myself, but am passing on what I've learned from research and my own experience. You need to consider pros and cons then what is practical for you monetary-wise and usage-wise. Here's a good thread for you:

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=343736

[LynnJr]

Second focal plane Nightforce 12-42 X 56 with crosshairs or NP-2DD reticle. They run $1000 used and get the Benchrest models not the NSX version. And forget about mils in the accuracy world everything in MOA.

[baih777]

At my age, i get the 6x25x50

[rice_man]

Second focal plane Nightforce 12-42 X 56 with crosshairs or NP-2DD reticle. They run $1000 used and get the Benchrest models not the NSX version.

This is the one I'm looking at except 32X. In this price point the same names keep coming up - Vortex, Burris, Nightforce.

Usually the discussion boils down to the best glass in which the majority of what I've seen favors Nightforce.

I considered the Nightforce SHV F1 for a FFP but since my shooting involves known distances I will go for the SFP with extra magnification.

Oh - and I should add that this is going on a .308 Ruger Precision Rifle going out to 600 yds

[DDRH]

Vortex PST Viper 2.5-10X 32mm FFP

more than enough for 300 yards, even up to 1k yards if your eyes are that good.

i think you can find them between $600-800.

FFP is really nice to have

Milradian turrets @ 0.1 mil/click
MilRad reticle

Gen 2 PST Viper is available about the same price. might be able to find Gen 1 for discounted price

[JackEllis]

FWIW...

Most of my shooting is from what I call "field rests", which include tripods, sticks, prone position and my body at 100 yards. I do better with the magnification turned down to around 4x than I do with the magnification at full power (7-16x depending on which rifle I'm shooting).

[BloodRushx4]

Thanks guys for the suggestions and insight. I'm shooting a ruger precision rifle in 5.56/.223

I plan on shooting at variable distance in this fashion.
-Put up paper at 100 yards
-After ceasefire put up at 150-200 yards
-During this time I may try to hit steel that the range provides going as far as 600 yards

SFP - Is there an advantage over FFP in bench shooting?

[ToOTHroTT]

For those distances I would look into sum of the scopes from Primary Arms. There 4-14 scopes have decent glass for the price. You can get them in diffrent configs also. I had one on a 18" SPR AR15 and could hit 500 yards no problem. They will also hold up well to recoil. Cant beat them for the price

[code_blue]

Since FFP's reticle stays in size in relation to the target, it typically will not cover your target.

SFP stays the same size regardless of magnification so it'll technically cover more of your target depending on the distance.





This will also help you determine magnification:





This article will also help with the MIL/MOA thing:

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2014/10/mil-vs-moa-reticles-which-are-better-for-tactical-tasks/

[jtv3062]

For bench shooting at known distances SFP and save the money. MOA or MIL does it really matter since you'll be shooting known distances and not ranging your targets. I'd go the cheaper on the options and spend the money on better glass.

I have no experience with the SWFA brand of scopes, having only looked through one. That's going to be my next scope purchase.

[bsumoba]

Thanks guys for the suggestions and insight. I'm shooting a ruger precision rifle in 5.56/.223

I plan on shooting at variable distance in this fashion.
-Put up paper at 100 yards
-After ceasefire put up at 150-200 yards
-During this time I may try to hit steel that the range provides going as far as 600 yards

SFP - Is there an advantage over FFP in bench shooting?

They make a RPR in .223? Interesting...I might be interested in that.

The problem with FFP at long distances and small targets is that the reticle could often cover the target you are shooting at. SFP scopes have that advantage where the reticle does not change size. Thus, a SFP will usually be better for bench shooting. Plus, all slow fire, target shooting disciplines (benchrest, F-Class, highpower, etc) all have MOA targets and fixed distances, so a MOA, SFP scope is best.

MOA is best for target shooting. In a 1/4 MOA scope, every click is rough 1/4". In a mil scope, a click is roughly 0.36 per click. So, translate that to longer distances, say 1,000 yards and a 1/4 MOA click is 2.5 inches versus 3.6 inches per click with the MIL scope.

[freonr22]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=263710

pretty informative

[Thoughts]

For those distances I would look into sum of the scopes from Primary Arms. There 4-14 scopes have decent glass for the price.

4-14x sounds reasonable to me. I chose a 3.5-10x Leupold Mark 4 (first focal plane) for my precision .223, and it seems fine up to 800 yards (the gun gives out past 600 or so, though). I don't have much experience, though. The scope might work even further out, but I have zero experience with that.

I went with mils for the reticle and the scope adjustments. If you ever want to shoot at varying distances with a FFP scope, make sure that the scope units and the reticle units match. It's just easier that way, although not a huge deal either way. I wanted a FFP scope so that the reticle would be usable at all magnifications. YMMV.