Scope For Bench Shooting

[DrewN]

Why even get a variable? I'd get something like a Leupold FX-3. 6x is plenty for 300 yards, but they have a 12x as well. Keep it simple.

[laurelpark]

A lot depends on your budget. Personally, I'd rather spend less on the gun and more on the glass, but that's just me.

My favorite scopes are a Hendsoldt 4x15-56 mildot, and a Kahles 624i. I like the biggest objective lens possible since it helps tremendously in low light conditions.

These are probably over-kill for 5.56, but they'll work just fine if they're within budget (I saved and waited for years to find a good deal). You can always swap them over to longer range guns in the future if you want, and that was my strategy.

[LynnJr]

For those not familiar with bench shooting you want all the power you can get for 100-300 yards and you want a variable so you can dial down in heavy mirage at the longer ranges.

[NorCalFocus]

For all those saying 14-16 power on the top end is all you need...I can turn my 6-24 down to 14 easy. I can't turn a 4-16 up to 24 if I need it. Pretty damn simple to me.

MOA is better for paper punching. Smaller adjustments.

[DrewN]

For those not familiar with bench shooting you want all the power you can get for 100-300 yards and you want a variable so you can dial down in heavy mirage at the longer ranges.

Fair enough, I'm not really familiar with the format and competitive scores, but isn't OP just starting out? It takes a pretty good shooter to be limited by a good 12x at 300 and closer I'd think. I also think fixies are easier to learn on, but probably because I'm behind the times.

[smoothy8500]

For those not familiar with bench shooting you want all the power you can get for 100-300 yards and you want a variable so you can dial down in heavy mirage at the longer ranges.

I assumed he meant informally "punching paper" from the bench, but yes, no reason not to get high magnification and just dial down.

[RNE228]

Bench Shooting - Why are you shooting benches? They seem like a like a large easy to hit target.

[RNE228]

I find the SFP scopes interesting; why are they not more prevalent in general? It seems nicer than having cross hairs get larger thru the zoom.

Guessing it is cost? Kind of like the difference in my Nikon 80-200/2.8-ED vs an 70-200/2.8-FLED with internal focus. Same zoom, same 2.8f, but the faster internal focus is the difference between $1200 and $2800. But if you need fast precise focus, it is worth the extra $$$.

Edit: watched the Burris video posted a bit ago; I had the planes confused; I can see the interest in the FFP scopes...

[diver160651]

Scope For Bench Shooting

Everyone, almost everyone passes on their opinions- usually, they can be one sided. Mine is no different.

Seems people that shoot paper love SFP scopes, always justify why FFP aren't good. What I see more often than not are the old dudes firmly locked into benchrest, telling everyone why low travel SFP BR scopes are good.

Part of the growth in shooting, seems to be for newer younger shooters to migrate to multiple target events and/or longer distances and off square ranges (or maybe hunting).

Spotting and communication with a SFP is slow and very in accurate in most cases in the scenarios above.

If you're going to ever consider getting off a square range, or shoot any event that has you on multiple targets, toss out the SFP - BS about small targets and FFP not working at long ranges my 24" plates gets a workout at ELR distances. Bisecting is what you do.

People that don't fully understand or use FFP spotters and scopes, usually aren't going to really understand the value.


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[BABUSA]

Just bought one of these at Cabela's....Vortex PST GenII 5x25-50 EBR-2C MRAD FFP $999 with the Labor Day Sale

http://www.vortexoptics.com/product/vortex-viper-pst-gen-2-5-25x50-ffp-riflescope-with-ebr-2c-mrad-reticle

[LynnJr]

Everyone, almost everyone passes on their opinions- usually, they can be one sided. Mine is no different.

Seems people that shoot paper love SFP scopes, always justify why FFP aren't good. What I see more often than not are the old dudes firmly locked into benchrest, telling everyone why low travel SFP BR scopes are good.

Part of the growth in shooting, seems to be for newer younger shooters to migrate to multiple target events and/or longer distances and off square ranges (or maybe hunting).

Spotting and communication with a SFP is slow and very in accurate in most cases in the scenarios above.

If you're going to ever consider getting off a square range, or shoot any event that has you on multiple targets, toss out the SFP - BS about small targets and FFP not working at long ranges my 24" plates gets a workout at ELR distances. Bisecting is what you do.

People that don't fully understand or use FFP spotters and scopes, usually aren't going to really understand the value.


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Diver
The Original Posters question was which scope for BENCH SHOOTING wasn't it?

Often times what I see on these internet forums is a direct question gets asked and Hunter/Tactical guys chime in that because they use a certain type of equipment somebody else needs it when they really don't.
You won't find any of the competitions where a small group is needed to win using MIL scopes or FFP scopes and money has nothing at all to do with it.
When you want to shoot 3.5 inch groups at 1000 yards you want a scope that has very small clicks on it like the Nightforce Benchrest models with 1/8 moa adjustments.
If one click is 3.6 inches you don't stand a chance because score counts just as much as group does.
If your only shooting 3 foot gongs by all means get a FFP and toss your rangefinding out the window.
Care to elaborate on how SFP scopes are slow and inaccurate? I see it just the opposite. To my way of thinking 1.250 inch adjustments at 1000 yards are more precise than 3.6 inch adjustments? I liken it to crude adjustments and fine tuning.

https://youtu.be/dIxy84iH8hQ

And what are low travel Benchrest Scopes? I always thought hunting scopes had low travel?
I know Benchrest scopes always have more magnification and more range of magnification than any other scopes.

[diver160651]

Scope For Bench Shooting

Diver
The Original Posters question was which scope for BENCH SHOOTING wasn't it?

Often times what I see on these internet forums is a direct question gets asked and Hunter/Tactical guys chime in that because they use a certain type of equipment somebody else needs it when they really don't.
You won't find any of the competitions where a small group is needed to win using MIL scopes or FFP scopes and money has nothing at all to do with it.
When you want to shoot 3.5 inch groups at 1000 yards you want a scope that has very small clicks on it like the Nightforce Benchrest models with 1/8 moa adjustments.
If one click is 3.6 inches you don't stand a chance because score counts just as much as group does.
If your only shooting 3 foot gongs by all means get a FFP and toss your rangefinding out the window.
Care to elaborate on how SFP scopes are slow and inaccurate? I see it just the opposite. To my way of thinking 1.250 inch adjustments at 1000 yards are more precise than 3.6 inch adjustments? I liked it to crude adjustments and fine tuning.

https://youtu.be/dIxy84iH8hQ

And what are low travel Benchrest Scopes? I always thought hunting scopes had low travel?
I know Benchrest scopes always have more magnification and more range of magnification than any other scopes.

Correct Lynn- I got this one confused with the "Practical Rifle" thread. Yes, I should have been more carful.

But just to skim/quickly answer the last questions:

A good hunting scope for most is a tactical scope. After all, that's exactly what they are designed for. They are hunting scopes to create a long range force multiplier.

Speed in and accuracy in comunications again was for the other thread. We've talked the lower travel NF offerings and not using parts or entire 36" gongs to call in corrections. Again, a hole other planet from your sphere and not appropriate to the OP, as again I crossed posted in error.

EDITED TO ADD: that video was very silly, and completely misses the same point of the FFP in spotting scopes and rifle scopes. FYI it be assume if he used the correct nomenclature for ELR (the "E" does not stand for EXTREME)


DIY ELR Target Cam with DVR - well proven 2000m+ 2 camera, multiple monitors - link below

https://forum.snipershide.com/forum/sniper%C2%92s-hide[emoji768]-forward-operating-base/sniper-s-hide-d-i-y/6283948-elr-target-camera-2-camera-system-with-integrated-dvr#post6291944

[socal147]

http://precisionrifleblog.com

Should about cover it

[LynnJr]

http://precisionrifleblog.com


Should about cover it

Why would a link to the precision rifle forum cover bench scope questions?

[LynnJr]

Correct Lynn- I got this one confused with the "Practical Rifle" thread. Yes, I should have been more carful.

But just to skim/quickly answer the last questions:

A good hunting scope for most is a tactical scope. After all, that's exactly what they are designed for. They are hunting scopes to create a long range force multiplier.

Speed in and accuracy in comunications again was for the other thread. We've talked the lower travel NF offerings and not using parts or entire 36" gongs to call in corrections. Again, a hole other planet from your sphere and not appropriate to the OP, as again I crossed posted in error.

EDITED TO ADD: that video was very silly, and completely misses the same point of the FFP in spotting scopes and rifle scopes. FYI it be assume if he used the correct nomenclature for ELR (the "E" does not stand for EXTREME)


DIY ELR Target Cam with DVR - well proven 2000m+ 2 camera, multiple monitors - link below

https://forum.snipershide.com/forum/...vr#post6291944

Diver
The "E" stands for Extreme to Bryan Litz.