Tell me..good scope?

[Bushwack44]

My objective within the next year or so (with a lot of practice) is to be consistent shooting at 600+ yards and would like to know if this is the right scope: http://www.opticsplanet.com/vortex-c...iflescope.html

Back story:

I pick up this Mossberg MVP Predator tomorrow (in 5.56):


It has a no name 3-9x40 scope that I don't think is sufficient for what I'd like to do. With this rifle, my goal is to practice, practice and practice up to 3-400 yards using the Vortex scope linked earlier.

Once I feel more confident with my (mediocre) skills, I'll take the scope off the Mossberg and place it on a Remington 700 CDL 270 and shoot longer distance.

Makes sense??? I'm not practicing with the 270 as I'd like to shoot about 100 rounds per range visit. Besides cost, I would think the 270 shooting 100 rounds would beat me up. I'm hoping this is the right scope that will be easy to use at both 100 yards and 600 yards. I must stay within a $350 budget (that's including the $100 I hope to get for the no name Mossberg scope).

Its all for range fun. Not looking to compete - just accomplish a goal I set for myself.

[Jesse Tischauser]

You should be able to get hits at 600 with ease as long as the barrel/trigger combo is accurate and consistent enough in that rifle.

[DefendersOfValda]

I wouldnt buy a bolt gun in 556. And Mossberg is not on my list of firearms to get.

I dont know why you dont just get the 700 in the caliber you want. And the scope youre going to use on it. If your gun store is cool, they may let you trade in the Mossberg without restocking fee.

Range shooting with rifle isnt like archery or basketball. Especially at 100 yards, Youre on a bench/ table, and essentially, if you have technique once youre in youre in.

Unless youre standing shooting offhand. The target, you, and the rifle arent moving. If you have Parkinsons or CP, I can see not hitting bullseye consistenly within a single box of rounds. Even if you get the 700, no scope, using iron sights, you're going to be hitting target at 100. 700s are good rifles.

[Euphoria526]

I wouldnt buy a bolt gun in 556. And Mossberg is not on my list of firearms to get.

I dont know why you dont just get the 700 in the caliber you want. And the scope youre going to use on it. If your gun store is cool, they may let you trade in the Mossberg without restocking fee.

Range shooting with rifle isnt like archery or basketball. Especially at 100 yards, Youre on a bench/ table, and essentially, if you have technique once youre in youre in.

Unless youre standing shooting offhand. The target, you, and the rifle arent moving. If you have Parkinsons or CP, I can see not hitting bullseye consistenly within a single box of rounds. Even if you get the 700, no scope, using iron sights, you're going to be hitting target at 100. 700s are good rifles.

Because a rem700 would be equivalent to that rifle. Without a scope. It's just less money.




I had that exact rifle package factory from mossberg.
I think it's pretty decent to learn bolt fundamentals

[DefendersOfValda]

Because a rem700 would be equivalent to that rifle.

I dont share that opinion. Mossbergs are the Taurus of long guns.

[Euphoria526]

I dont share that opinion. Mossbergs are the Taurus of long guns.

I meant equivalent in price.
The remmy would cost more fit the rifle alone then the mossberg package would be.

[Bushwack44]

I already own the Remy. As I said, it is not a rifle I want to put 100+ rounds through chambered in .270.

Thought long and hard which rifle to buy. The Mossberg has received terrific reviews and IMO the best value available for what it has to offer. Went with 556 as the rounds are inexpensive and its one less caliber to account for (already have an AR).

Unless you're in Nebraska, Tennessee or Arkansas, I don't know of a LGS in SoCal that lets you trade one firearm for another (+ cash). The last thing they want/need is one more firearm to add to inventory.

I wouldnt buy a bolt gun in 556. And Mossberg is not on my list of firearms to get.

I dont know why you dont just get the 700 in the caliber you want. And the scope youre going to use on it. If your gun store is cool, they may let you trade in the Mossberg without restocking fee.

Range shooting with rifle isnt like archery or basketball. Especially at 100 yards, Youre on a bench/ table, and essentially, if you have technique once youre in youre in.

Unless youre standing shooting offhand. The target, you, and the rifle arent moving. If you have Parkinsons or CP, I can see not hitting bullseye consistenly within a single box of rounds. Even if you get the 700, no scope, using iron sights, you're going to be hitting target at 100. 700s are good rifles.

[DefendersOfValda]

Deleted post.

I have no understanding of what you are doing, its too backwards for me to comprehend.

[Euphoria526]

The scope on the mossberg would not be good out to 600yds imo

[TMB 1]

The scope you're looking at should work fine. I've been using a Nikon 3-9x40 on my MVP shooting to 600yds.

[NytWolf]

That "no-named" scope is a Tasco. It's not as bad as what people will try to get you to believe, but it's not something I would use on anything other than a rimfire and for plinking.

With that said, if you want a 600-yard scope, the Vortex Crossfire II will have you wanting more. Bump your budget up to at least a Vortex Viper HS if you're serious about 600+ yards. The Crossfire II is a damned good scope, but it's more of a 250-yard and closer scope. The clarity of the Viper HS will be much better at 600 yards.

[as_rocketman]

Some weird answers in this thread...

Even 55 gr (quality) 5.56 should give acceptable groupings to 600 yards, though out past 500 or so you would be better off using a heavier round, such as 68 gr. If you don't reload Black Hills is a good place to start. The 1:9 twist of the MVP rifle will limit you to bullets of about that weight -- you can try it but odds are 77 gr etc. will not stabilize.

The MVP will be fine for practice at 600 yards. Assuming you're shooting at 24" steel or something it'll do well. Shoot paper if you can. With .223 you will learn about the wind, quickly.

For optics, what you need is enough magnification to clearly see your target, and enough travel to dial in appropriate comeups. For .223 your comeups from 100 yards to 600 will be roughly +3, +3, +3, +4, +6 = 19 MOA. The scope you've picked has 50 MOA of travel, which is plenty. 4-16 power is also plenty -- if your eyesight is halfway decent, even at 4x you should be able to see a high-contrast 4 MOA target at 600 meters clearly.

The 50mm objective is on the big side. You may have to fuss with ring height a little, and you may need to get a cheek pad or otherwise address your stock to get a good cheek weld. For target duties with reliable daylight 50mm is overkill, but it's not silly either -- at 16x this will give you a 3 mm pupil, meaning a usable eyebox, and you won't want it any smaller.

Since we're not talking about super-high precision, in your shoes I would probably go for a smaller, lower-power scope. 3-9x40 is a classic configuration, also I might go with a fixed 6x38. This is down to personal preference.

TL,DR: Your choices will work fine. Have fun. Bring a friend with a spotting scope if possible, shoot at paper when possible. Rock on.

[MongooseV8]

With a 223/556 shooting at 600 yards you will need a scope that is reliable in its movements and easy to adjust. For the money I think there are better options but the crossfire ii will muddle through your goal.

Take a look at a fixed 12x42mm swfa before making your decision. Normally I suggest the 10x42mm version but if your main shooting will be medium range you will want the added zoom. I have several and they are excellent scopes to use at 1k and under. It would mean buying some 30mm rings as well.

[hermosabeach]

It is the Artist, not the musical instrument....

I watch HP guys shoot 4-6" groups at 600 with iron sights.....

I cannot do that.... I just cannot


I would learn to shoot up to the limitations of your current set up... So it the rifle will shoot 3" at 100 yards.... then learn to shoot 9" at 300 and 18" 600...



Once you can shoot as well as the rifle, spend the money to get a proper rifle for shooting 1/2 moa... and Optics of your choosing....

[Unretarded]

I just picked up the same scope///......will be more than fine to get you started .

Scope is plenty clear, has a good zoom.....you can shoot 1000 yards easy with a 10x scope......16x will be fine to 1000 yards.

Mine is sitting on a ar and will end up on the .270 for hunting.


I think there is good value in that scope at that price point....you can certainly get worse for that price........A SWFA SS fixed 10x would be a little nicer scope or one of the other fixed powers they offer for 300 bucks.

I have both .....either scope for your application is not wasted money.


The SWFA has legitimate target turrets for shooting........if you plan on shooting 6 different yardages and cranking on the turrets all the time then the SWFA is a better choice.

The vortex with covered semi target turrets will not be as precise on turret adjustemets and might not hold up well to being adjusted all the time. If you plan on picking a set yardage for the day and shooting at that and not cranking on the adjustement turrets the vortex will work and offer more zoom.


Everything depends on application as to which tool is the best.......,

The SWFA if you plan on using the turrets all day dialing in different yardages in one of the fixed power models to stay in budgett.

The vortex if you plan on shooting fixed distances each time out.

Side by side the SWFA is a better scope in quality....... The vortex offers the 4-16 zoom, but the turrets are its downfall, a long with the reticle on that scope is funny design compared to standard scopes.


While the SWFA does not have adjustable zoom at that price level it is a much better scope.......if you are willing to give up the adjustable zoom, then you can get a better scope for about the same price .

I have the SWFA on my .270 right now in a fixed 10x and it is more than capable out to 1000 yards and the turrets track perfectly......

If I had it to do over I would take the 300 I spent on the fixed SWFA and the 250 I spent on that vortex and got a adjustable zoom SWFA .

But I have several rifles that are scoped.......so I would have eventually got the vortex and possibly the fixed 10x SWFA anyway.

If you plan on adjusting the turrets, which it sounds like you might, I would get the SWFA SS scope in a fixed power of your choice to stay in budget........or save up a little and get the adjustable zoom version of the SWFA SS.....then you have the best of both scopes in one scope.

Both scopes will hold their value well and you already have 2 rifles......