Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting long range hunting/target scope?

I am looking for a new scope for a rifle that I am "enhancing". It is a Remington 700 .308 VLS with a 26" bull barrel. I am going to get a McMillan A-5 stock for it and a timney trigger. Any thoughts or opinions on the best scope for hunting (500 yds or less for southern whitetails and smaller critters) and some target shooting (out to 1000 yds)? This is my first post ever on any internet site, but I have been reading here for a couple weeks and it is a GREAT site!

John, Welcome to the forum. If you look back at some of the old strings you will see that the Nikon Monarch 6.5-20 is very highly thought of. I have the 5.5-16.5 and it has worked great. You should be able to get one around $400. I am looking at a rig that is somewhat similar to yours. Good luck.

John ... welcome.

The Nikons are good, as stated before me ... Monarch or Buckmaster.

Out to 1000 yards, you're probably going to need/want a scope w/ a 30mm maintube, and use it in conjunction w/ a 20MOA rail ... so that you have all the come-ups you need to get out there w/out having to hold over. 1000 yards is a really long way for most folk ...

If starting from scratch, looking to get out to 1K, with adequate funding, I'd try to find a Leupold LR scope that ends in the 18x to 20x range (which has the 30mm tube and side focus) ... and order up a 20MOA rail and rings from TPS... Get some turrets installed on the scope, along w/ a fine duplex (or even a more advanced, tactical ranging type reticle) and you should be good to.

For reference, I've just started getting into the long'ish range thing. I'm only out to about 300 yards comfortably now (comfortably = knowing I can dope the drop and wind, and keep my shots withing 1MOA accuracy) ... and doing it with a semi-custom .223rem, Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x scope on a 20MOA rail ... I should be able to get her out to about 600 yards, assuming I can get some heavy bullets loaded up and shooting well, ... and as long as I can find somewhere to shoot that far...

Keep an eye on the classifieds section of this site ... a scope you might want should appear soon enough... or go the extra step and post a "want to buy" ad for a long range target scope. I'd be surprised if someone here doesn't have something that would work well for you, at least to start you off on the journey.

Again, welcome ... have a fun time, and try not to step on anyone's toes until we get to know you better ... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the info! I would really like to get one of the Unertl 10X. But, that is way farther than 1000yds, if you know what I mean$$$$$? Had a LOT of good times with that scope in the past, in several different places.

WGM-- If Ft. Polk holds matches..... they were good to 500 yards KD Rifle. If not, and traveling is considered. Beaumont to 600 yards. Or Houston to 1000 yards.

Jeff

Well if you mean you are X-military (?) I would think for a dual purpose rig you should go with something you are more familiar with. If it t'were me:

Leupold 3.5-10 LR mildot / or 4.5-14 LR mildot / or the SPR reticule

20 moa base / rings of choice or flat base and burris signature rings with the offset inserts.

To me a hunting/long range rig will always like the ability to have less power in a scope for short range and dial it up a bit for longish range. It's your $$. Most of the dual purpose guys I know subscribe to the same idea. The 3.5-10x40 leupold PR (the old plain jane tactical) will get you to 1000 with a 20moa base/burris rings too, and costs less if you are on a strict budget.

Good luck and welcome.
SC

Since you mentioned the Unertl 10x and that you like it and since you already have a relatively heavy rig; that is you like a fixed power and you don't need a heavy scope on an already heavy rifle, even for sniping, you might consider the Leupold 12X AO target scope or varmint scope at 13.5 oz. It is relatively light, less expensive than the Unertl - I think - and IIRC gives you a choice of reticles- the fine duplex and a fine cross hair with the Leupold Dot. It is a good scope at least in my experience on my Anschutz .17HMR where I put it not so much for long range - maybe to 200 yds. - but for the tiney targets it would find and to take advantage of the fine accuracy of the rifle. The Leupold Dot reticle however would not be my first choice in any dim light shooting.

Edited to add depending what reticle you get this scope is in the $525-$570 category.

I put a 6.5x20x40 Leo Varixiii with target turrets on my 7mm Ultra Mag Sendero using Leupold long range mounts and it gets me to 1000 yards with no problems. It was easy, relatively cheap and the rig really shoots.

try this one swift 8x32x50AO at 215.00 a great buy at that price.

My .257Roy carries a Loopy 4.5x14x40 Gloss. I find it quite a good scope for Mule deer and 'yotes out to 500. I personally have not seen the need for 50mm objective and other stuff. I still like a nice looking gun with nice lines. On heavy kickers or guns that will be treated roughly I like Burris a lot better but from .257WBY on down the Loopy is great.