Which scope for 1k / with limitations

[1911man]

I have a .260 that needs a scope.
Application; will be up to 1k but, mostly 500-800 yards, hunting yotes to elk. Do not know how the rifle performs with copper.
Requirement would be
FFP
30 mm
No illumination required
TMR reticle or similar
I also have 1 question. Do I really need a 20+ powered scope to hit a 18” plate at 1k?
I would like to hit a 10” at 600.
I was thinking leupold vx5 or a NF up to a 15 power

[vintagedude88]

Athlon Midas Tac

[ar15barrels]

I have a .260 that needs a scope.
Application; will be up to 1k but, mostly 500-800 yards, hunting yotes to elk. Do not know how the rifle performs with copper.
Requirement would be
FFP
30 mm
No illumination required
TMR reticle or similar
I also have 1 question. Do I really need a 20+ powered scope to hit a 18” plate at 1k?
I would like to hit a 10” at 600.
I was thinking leupold vx5 or a NF up to a 15 power

Higher magnification really kills your field of view.
I rarely shoot over 14x at 1000yds.

I think something in the 14-16x max power range would be fine for that.
Lower magnification glass of similar quality will be sharper which means you can see more details.
More magnification does NOT increase detail.
More magnification only makes the image larger.
You can see more detail through a $1500 15x scope than you can through a $1500 24x scope.

An 18" plate at 1000yds looks the same size in the scope as a 1.8" circle at 100yds looks in the scope.

You can't go wrong with a Nigotforce or a Bushnell Tactical or a Vortex Razor of similar magnification and price range to the Nightforce.

[1911man]

So maybe a leupold LRT 10x would would fit my needs?
What do you think a .260 max. range is to Anchor a elk, with good shot placement? 350-400 yards?

[therealnickb]

NF SHV. You’ll be happy.

[ar15barrels]

So maybe a leupold LRT 10x would would fit my needs?

I'm not a fan of fixed power scopes because you can't turn them down to lower magnifications to get a much wider field-of-view.
A hunting rifle should ALWAYS be carried with the scope turned down to it's minimum power so if you jump something close, the scope is useful.
When the game is far away, you always have time to turn the magnification UP, but you never have time to turn the magnification down when you jump them 25yds away.

I don't have an opinion to give on taking specific game with specify bullet weights/distances/velocities.

[1911man]

Thanks, did not think of that. I was reading a article comparing 260, 6.5 CM and the 6.5 Lapua. The scope on his rig was a 3x12 x50 S&B but it has a 34mm tube. Is the 34mm tube that much more beneficial?

[ar15barrels]

Is the 34mm tube that much more beneficial?

Yes.
Bigger glass carries more light and a larger image size on the glass is possible, resulting in better image quality.

Not all 34mm scopes take advantage of using larger glass though.
Many will use the same size erector optics to get you more usable elevation travel instead of larger optics.

Looking at how much elevation travel is available on set of different scopes with all the same size tubes and magnification ranges will show you the ones that have more elevation and probably use smaller internal optics.