Help Me Pick My .308 1000yd Optic

[PatC415]

Just finishing up a 308 build. I've had both fixed crosshair and BDC on different calibers including 308, but not really sure what I want to do with optics on this one. Primarily for target. Budget is 700 +/-.
I started shooting 175's last year, and just started to reach out to 1K.
20" .308 heavy DPMS SemiAuto Flatop AR type platform.
ANY thoughts from my wise Calgun Long Range friends would be most welcome.
Oh yes, I'm heavily invested in .308, so PLEASE, don't tell me why there is a better caliber!

[jeremyy]

Check out the Reddit sub for long range. Pretty good topics.

I'll say Vortex PST FFP scopes but they run you a bit more.

I don't think BDC is very important on the reticle... for long range, maybe hunting. Which I run a Nikon ProStaff 5 for..

[wpage]

+1 on Nikon scopes...
For the 1000 yard stare your talking high end mil spec.

[jimmykan]

Primary Arms ACSS reticle does a pretty good job of bullet drop compenstion.

http://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-414x44-ffp-scope-with-patented-acss-hud-dmr-308-reticle/p/pa4-14xffp308/

Only $280. Covered by a 3-year warranty only, not lifetime.

[kcstott]

My personal opinion is a BDC is good for hunting and hunting only, and it's really not that good for that.

BDC scopes make compromises in ballistic flight path to accommodate the largest group of bullets and velocities possible.

My other opinion is the Mil reticle is the only BDC needed be it a TMR sytle or a mil dot, setting it up as a BDC is easy.

Nikon is a good start Vortex and Night force make good scope too, but I can't recommend them as I don't own one and probably never will.
What ever scope you get, get a simple easy to use reticle nothing to busy and complex, it's not needed and will just complicate matters,

Next get the highest power magnification you can afford,

As for first focal plane to second focal plane, I shoot second focal plane because if I need to mil something it's going to be a distance away and i will run the scope on full power, I never dial my scope off 25X unless i'm trying to find a target,

[radicalray]

.308 is fine, mil dot reticles for me, like BDC for hunting close work if your into longer range which obviously you are I'll mil dot over BDC any day

[Apollo]

The HS-T in a mil mil configuration is hard to beat. Plus you can dial down the magnification to double or even triple the hold over for those really long shots.

If you can increase your budget a SWFA 5-20 HD can be had for around $800

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[Apollo]

Used on Calguns I bought mine for $800 shipped including a set of TPS rings. There was another one at the time, you just have to look.

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[bman940]

While I am a big fan of Nikon's BDC reticle, I would also say it's mainly for use while hunting and shooting steel. To get to 1000 yards will take some adjustment in your zero. I would opt more for dialing out my distance and that will most likely require a 20 MOA base and maybe a 30mm tube. Check out Nikon's Spot On Program and it'll give you the click adjustment for the diatances you are interested in shooting.

[PatC415]

While I am a big fan of Nikon's BDC reticle, I would also say it's mainly for use while hunting and shooting steel. To get to 1000 yards will take some adjustment in your zero. I would opt more for dialing out my distance and that will most likely require a 20 MOA base and maybe a 30mm tube. Check out Nikon's Spot On Program and it'll give you the click adjustment for the diatances you are interested in shooting.

Thanks bman. I actually just sold an M308 Nikoplex with the 20MOA base. With the shorter 18" barrel on my last rifle, it didn't give me quite enough elevation with a 100yd zero to get to 1K. I had to holdover.
It was an excellent optic out to 750yds, and I loved the ballistics program. I used it for the 168's and then switched to 175'. The program was actually "spot-on", and the scope held zero after lots of up and down.
I have been looking at Vortex Viper & Leupold Mark AR, in the 18x-20x range. The newer FFP is on my bucket list, just too expensive. Maybe I will save a few hundred more and move up to the $1000 range. Seems to be more options.
Thanks for the responses. Please keep them coming!

[kcstott]

depending on the bullet and how hard you can push it, you are going to need a scope with 60+ MOA of adjustment +30/-30 form center
then add a 20 MOA base. this will allow you to dial up 30-40 moa (again depending on your load and the conditions on the range) to get to 1000 yards.
For th eguys that need the math. 30/30 centered moa on scope put scope on 20 moa base, all thing being equal dial down 20 moa to 100 yard zero not scope has 50 moa up or 14.5 mil
This is enough to keep you more centered on the scope to get as much windage range out of the scope as possible.

My load and rifle allow me to shoot a 175g SMK or Berger VLD @2850 FPS in a 24" factory 5R barrel, where I need 9.6 to 10.6 mil to hit the water line at 1000 yards. No signs of over pressure due to the 5R barrel. I'm a firm believer in 5R barrels now.

FYI 10 mil is 34.37 Moa

[castgold]

I put a Bushnell Elite 6-24 FFP with a G2DMR reticle my Steyr SSG04 in .308. When it was zeroed on the 0 MOA base, it left me with ~8 mils of vertical adjustment. When I shot it at 1000 yds in Phoenix humidity and elevation, my total correction was 13.5 mils, meaning I had to max out my elevation turret and hold the remaining 5.5 mils. This was with factory match grade 168gr ammo. I plan to sell this scope soon when I get my Razor.

[PatC415]

I put a Bushnell Elite 6-24 FFP with a G2DMR reticle my Steyr SSG04 in .308. When it was zeroed on the 0 MOA base, it left me with ~8 mils of vertical adjustment. When I shot it at 1000 yds in Phoenix humidity and elevation, my total correction was 13.5 mils, meaning I had to max out my elevation turret and hold the remaining 5.5 mils. This was with factory match grade 168gr ammo. I plan to sell this scope soon when I get my Razor.

Yeah, the BC of the 175 SMK takes the yardage slightly farther out, which is why I switched. I see the Vortex Viper 6.5-20x50 has 68 MOA, so on a 20 MOA base, I should work fine, and Optics Planet has them under $500 now. Might be a nice starter optic for 1K?
The limitation is the 20" barrel, brings my velocity down to mid 2550+/-.
That Bushnell Elite is a pretty sweet optic!

[castgold]

Yeah, the BC of the 175 SMK takes the yardage slightly farther out, which is why I switched. I see the Vortex Viper 6.5-20x50 has 68 MOA, so on a 20 MOA base, I should work fine, and Optics Planet has them under $500 now. Might be a nice starter optic for 1K?
The limitation is the 20" barrel, brings my velocity down to mid 2550+/-.
That Bushnell Elite is a pretty sweet optic!

I think you'll also lose a bit of velocity from the propellant energy being bled out when the bolt cycles and releases gas out the breach.

[kcstott]

The limitation is the 20" barrel, brings my velocity down to mid 2550+/-.
That Bushnell Elite is a pretty sweet optic!

the limitation is your barrel But I doubt you'll loose 200-300 FPS due to 4 inches shorter