Scope for load (reloading) development

[hardlyworking]

Good morning gents!

I'll start off with the current predicament and general requirements:

I am new to reloading, and new to "precision" shooting in general, and specifically to attempting to judge reloading ladders for powder charge and seating depth etc.

The rifles I'm working with are AR platform, with quality home built components namely ARP barrels, one in 223W the other in 6.8.

The scopes I'm currently using are Primary Arms ACSS fixed 6X on the 223, and an SWFA 1-4 (using on 4x) on the 6.8 which was designed to be used for hunting.

The Problem:
When trying to shoot my reloading ladders at 50 yards, at a target the size of a US Quarter, with the 6X scope it was hard to see, and with the 4X scope I was really just guessing. And the group sizes reflected that. I was getting sub inch groups with the 223 and my best group with the 6.8 was 0.70" but its impossible for me to say if that was the best powder charge, or blind luck.

Your suggestions:\
I am not currently a precision or target shooter, I like shooting steel, but I also like to hit what I'm aiming at. I wouldn't mind buying a nice scope and maybe getting into more precision shooting, but its not what I currently do. But for load development, which I *am* committed to, I feel like a >10X scope is necessary.

Budget:
At this time I don't have a lot to spend, and I'm not a competitor nor is it my job to shoot things, so the higher end stuff is off the table (Nightforce/USO etc.) But I could see myself getting into the $500 range as an investment, using it to dial in my reloads on the ARs and then moving it to a "tactical trainer" 22LR bolt gun, or something.

I'm not opposed to fixed power scopes if it gets me more scope for the $$. I'm not opposed to variables if it increases the shooting-style options.
In general I like Primary Arms (lower) and SWFA (mid) for their prices and what you get for your money, but I've heard endless good things about Vortex and some good about Burris (usually their top of the line stuff).

I have access to a range that's 200yd for targets, steel at 300, and a 600 yard that does silhouette etc. so that's the longest shot I'd need to make. But really I just want to get these loads dialed in at 100yds and then have a nice'ish higher power scope to put on various rifles as needed.

[lewdogg21]

Since you are on paper at 50 and pretty close to what you are aiming at now take it too 100. If you can't see the target use a shoot n see target or other orange sticker for the bullseye. Hunting accuracy and long range shooting accuracy are two different things. If you .7" at 100 doubles to a 1.5" group at 100 that will still kill game.

[ExtremeX]

You are shooting at too close of a distance, don't even bother as you are just wasting your time/ammo ladder. The shots wont disperse enough to really tell you anything.

Ill generally start at a minimum of 100, just to find a node I want to play with and get some chrono data. Ill make a 2nd ladder and test that out that node at 200 or 300 yards depending on the cartridge...

I will use a separate scope just for load development if I am doing load dev for a rifle that will be using a lower power optic. It is a lot easier to get a consistent aiming point when you have the magnification so why not use it.

You can either take a scope off an existing rifle and just use it or buy an inexpensive one for just load dev.

I use a 6-24x Viper PST that came off a rifle after I upgraded it, but before that happened I was considering getting the SWFA fixed 20x MIL/MIL for the same reasons as you...

Just throw it into a Burris PERP mount and move it from AR to AR when you need to do load dev.

http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-20x42-Tactical-Riflescope-P53716.aspx

[ExtremeX]

Just one more thing to take into consideration... be aware of reticle subtensions when buying a scope.

Just as an example…
Vortex 6-24x50 FFP has a reticle thickness of 0.04 MRAD

http://www.vortexoptics.com/uploads/sub_pst_f_6-24x50_ebr1_mrad-t.jpg

5-20 SWFA SS HD has a reticle thickness of 0.05 MRAD

http://www.opticstalk.com/uploads/298/SWFA_SSHD_5-20x50_Subtensions.jpg

The fixed 20x SWFA has a reticle thickness of 0.03 MRAD

http://www.opticstalk.com/uploads/298/20XReticle.jpg

I wouldn’t really consider buying a SFP scope these days, but their reticles are generally thinner than FFP options. If it’s only for load dev, no biggy, but if you want to move it to a different rifle and shoot with it, I would opt for something decent that is FFP.

It seems like a little but it does help a lot, but if you have thick subtensions you can always aim off to the side or use the appropriate sized paster sticker at that distance so you can clearly see an even spacing on your POA.

I do like turrets when doing a ladder, sometimes I will throw down one paster for my POA, and dial up and to the left, shoot a group, dial 1 mil right, right 1 mil again, dial 1 shoot group... (or make a box)… It’s like a pseudo tracking test but gives me time with the scope to make sure it’s still tracking as well. AND I use less pasters so it helps me get more mileage out of a pack.

[hardlyworking]

Thanks ExtremeX! Very solid advice especially on the reticle thickness, I wouldn't have even contemplated that.

I think that SWFA 20X looks near perfect for what I want and the *price is right* coming in at $300 and I like the idea of fine crosshairs.