Rem 700 24" 5R, need tac scope recommendation

[dogcatcher]

I just jailed my first bolt gun, a Remington 700 Black 5R 24" in .308win. I have mostly shot small cal. magazine fed rifles w/ red dots, this is my first scoped gun. I have a rough $1500 max budget for optics and rings. I am looking for a tactical rifle scope with the following features:
First focal plane
Adjustment turrets
Illumination (not a deal breaker)
min 10x
ranging reticle

Can any more knowledgeable members make a suggestion for this long range newbie? So far, I have been looking at SWFA HD, Leupold MK-4, and Burris XTR II.

TIA

[ExtremeX]

Nice choice for a first bolt action... cant go wrong with one of those. Sounds like you are on the right track with optics.

My first pick would be to try and source one of the 1st generation Vortex Razor 5-20x50 scopes IF you can still find one in stock... Its clearance price is under your budget.

I have the SWFA SS HD 5-20x50... its also a solid scope. Optically its up there with the Razor, turrets are great, durable, I really like the reticle, but after owning the Razor I wish it was just a little thinner, still not a deal breaker. It does however have a stiff zoom ring and parallax knob.

I have a few Vortex Viper PST scopes, great value, a popular first pick for someone shopping in the mid to high end, but they are a step down from the SWFA HD and Razor series.

Not really a big Leupold fan myself, I know they make a good product, but for my money, there are other options I would pick first.

There are some Bushnell, Burris, and Steiner options in your price range too that you might like. I'm sure others can chime in on those.

[Echidin]

What kind of shooting do you plan to do?

You may be able to find a first gen Vortex Razor for around $1500. That would probably be my first recommendation. Otherwise, the optics you've listed are fine choices within your budget.

[dogcatcher]

Just some precision shooting out to maybe 600 yards. I'm am competing with a co-worker who has a custom Remy 700 police sniper rifle. I really don't know much about these kinds of rifles and can use any input you guys have. I understand I need a base and rings, maybe a muzzle device. Pretty sure I am going with the Harris bipod as I am familiar with it and know it works.

Can anyone recommend a sight base? Built in 20moa, single or two piece? Rings, I am really clueless her and the more I research, the more confused I get.

BTW, I like what I see so far on the Vortex Razor HD. I'll probably end up with that glass.

[1911whore]

get a nice set of QD rings and bases and either a vortex viper 9x fixed, or a leupold mk4 3-9 of 4-12 and you are set. my bolt gun dream is a 5r, with an m24 stock and a 10x fixed mk4......done

[Josh3239]

For 600 yards you don't need any MOA bases. If you were going to 1,000 yards then you would.

Generally, for a few parts as possible and strength one piece bases. If you go with 30mm scope tube DNZ and Nightforce make a one piece base and ring for the 700. For the 34mm scope tubes probably the best rings you can get are Seekins and Badger. I think Vortex's are repackaged Seekins.

Vortex Razor HD Gen 2 is supposed to be amazing, I am saving for that. The Gen 1's are supposed to be very good. For your use I think you'll be find the Viper PST up to the job.

[1911whore]

for range work and competition variable is great.....for real work with a .308 10x is perfect. For range work 1/8 or 1/4 min clicks is good stuff, for real no **** work .5 or 1m adjustment is all you need to get the job done. But I dont know what I am talking about

[JMP]

Just some precision shooting out to maybe 600 yards. I'm am competing with a co-worker who has a custom Remy 700 police sniper rifle. I really don't know much about these kinds of rifles and can use any input you guys have. I understand I need a base and rings, maybe a muzzle device. Pretty sure I am going with the Harris bipod as I am familiar with it and know it works.

Can anyone recommend a sight base? Built in 20moa, single or two piece? Rings, I am really clueless her and the more I research, the more confused I get.

BTW, I like what I see so far on the Vortex Razor HD. I'll probably end up with that glass.

I don't know if there are any more Vortex Razor Gen 1s left at your $1,500 price point. The Gen 2, 4.5-27, is leagues better but it's over $2k. So, if your budget is firm, the SWFA was the best of your original choices.

The issue I'd have with the Razor Gen II is that is a very heavy scope and it might make the light weight HS Precision stock on that R700 a bit top heavy.

Personally, I'd reach for this one. That's a real scope.

http://www.eurooptic.com/kahles-k-6-24x56-illuminated-mil-dot-6-reticle-w-ccw-tactical-turrets-10539.aspx

You don't need to spend a bunch on a mount. Get a steel picatinny base. Lots of folks like TPS for value. I use 0 MOA rails and put a cant in my mount. With a 0 MOA base, get an AI 5656 mount as it'll get you to zero. If you do a 20 base, you'll want to get the Accuracy International mount that is 34mm, 0 cant that has enough clearance for the scope, so it'll end up needing to be fairly high to clear the one piece bottom. I like AI mounts since they are cheap, no frills, and work great. Save your money and don't get some silly $500 QD mount. The AI ones are $186 at full retail. QD is not for bolt action rifles. As you want to get plenty of tension with the rail, when you adjust the tension on a QD, you have to pull the levers so hard that it is no longer "QD" and you'll find that the mount screws are probably faster. Repeatability is a myth if you want to be dead on accurate. Either way, bolt on or QD, it takes the same effort to rezero--one shot.

The Harris 6-9S is fine as it is the cheapest acceptable bipod at $100 and best suits your rifle as your stock has just a bipod loop, so that will click right on.

I'd get a muzzle brake for that rifle. Since it is pre-threaded, you need to shop for one that has the same threads. I don't know what the threads are, but since it is pre-threaded, you don't need gunsmith installation. I'd get a larger 338 brake; however, you threads are probably in 5/8x24. Aftermarket, I'd go APA or Armalite, preferably one that has a tuning screw.

Now, the most important thing is that you will need to replace the trigger on that Remington. The XMP trigger is the weak point of the rifle as it comes out of the box. The cheapest acceptable upgrade would be the Timney 510 as it is about $100. You can install this yourself, you simply take the stock off the action, remove the two slave pins with a punch, remove the trigger and put the new trigger in with these pins. I hate the design, but it is what it is.

[JMP]

for range work and competition variable is great.....for real work with a .308 10x is perfect. For range work 1/8 or 1/4 min clicks is good stuff, for real no **** work .5 or 1m adjustment is all you need to get the job done. But I dont know what I am talking about

What, did you read this from 25 years ago? if you want 10x, just leave the variable at 10x. There's much to be gained by going higher and lower. MOA fine clicks are mostly for BenchRest type applications for fine measurements, so NF and March are the most popular in this arena. I can hit stuff fine with 10x fixed, but I'd feel crippled. If he had a $500 budget, yes, a greater than $1000 budget, no.

[ExtremeX]

For 600 yards you don't need any MOA bases. If you were going to 1,000 yards then you would.

Generally, for a few parts as possible and strength one piece bases. If you go with 30mm scope tube DNZ and Nightforce make a one piece base and ring for the 700. For the 34mm scope tubes probably the best rings you can get are Seekins and Badger. I think Vortex's are repackaged Seekins.

Vortex Razor HD Gen 2 is supposed to be amazing, I am saving for that. The Gen 1's are supposed to be very good. For your use I think you'll be find the Viper PST up to the job.

I agree, OP would be fine with a 0 MOA. He could still make it out to 1k with a good scope with lots of elevation. I run a 0 MOA base and can get out to 1k in almost 1 rev of the turret with elevation to spare.

I run a DNZ Tactical 30mm 1 piece mount on one of my target rifles... It really is a great mount, but I would only go this route if you just intend to leave the optic alone and never mess with it. You can't remove the scope from the rifle without removing it from the rings, and you cant remove the mount from the rifle without removing the scope as its blocks those screws too.

If you want the ability to pop it on/off on occasion, then some 2 piece rings would work out best.

My preference is Seekins, and TPS if I don't feel like spending as much money. Both are good quality. Seekins really makes a nice product, the integral machined recoil lug and beefy hardware is a nice touch. Also I don't like QD mounts on a bolt action.

Base, take your pick, they all pretty much feel the same to me. Ive used a Weaver base on a budget, TPS, and Seekins, they all work, and they all hold.

[khw9mm]

Use the cert I'm selling and get a Steiner scope. Also have Harris bipods I'm selling...

As for rings, there are many choices. I've always liked Seekins rings and Sphur at a higher price range. Get a nice trigger and a APA gen 2 little bastard brake.

[ParanoidCivilian]

What, did you read this from 25 years ago? if you want 10x, just leave the variable at 10x. There's much to be gained by going higher and lower. MOA fine clicks are mostly for BenchRest type applications for fine measurements, so NF and March are the most popular in this arena. I can hit stuff fine with 10x fixed, but I'd feel crippled. If he had a $500 budget, yes, a greater than $1000 budget, no.

I think 1911whore got his ideas from the Army/Marines sniper hand book since "his" ideas are more in line with some.of their early setups.

[GJC]

I bought this one for my 5r, still have not shot with it yet

Bushnell Elite Tactical G2 FFP Reticle Riflescope, 3.5-21x50mm

http://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Tactical-Reticle-Riflescope-3-5-21x50mm/dp/B006UJ03H0/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1436906905&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=bushnel+dmr

[tdp113530]

pm sent