Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Precision Rifle Scopes: What The Pro's Use

A few weeks ago Rich Emmons of the Precision Rifle Series posted some data about what the top 50 competitors brought with them to the most recent series finale match. It was a really good set of data, so I asked Rich if I could analyze the data and try to see if I could find trends and also try to present it visually. This is one of my favorite forums, so I wanted to share some of the highlights of what I found here. I thought you guys might find it as interesting as I did.

First, if you're like me ... you might not be real sure what the PRS is. Let me try to give you the elevator speech about it so you'll better understand what the charts below are based on.



Long-Range Precision Rifle Scopes: What The Pro's Use







These are the highlights of what I found related to optics. I wrote a post that includes a few other charts, along with links to the most popular scope models, and a list of every reticle with images for easy side-by-side comparison. To view the full post related to optics, visit: http://precisionrifleblog.com/2013/09/12/best-long-range-scopes-what-the-pros-use/

I also did another post on calibers & cartridges if you're interested. It's at http://precisionrifleblog.com/2013/09/07/rifle-cartridges-what-the-pros-use/. Hope you guys find this as helpful as I did.

I wonder if this really means anything. Matthews Archery dominated 3D shooting for a long time. Reason? They gave every serious competitor that wanted one a new bow, and a LOT of sponsorships. Think NY Yankees.

My only experience with [bleep] & Bendover scopes (that's what a Marine Gunny sniper legend I met called them) was the ones issued to the USMC. Most of them wouldn't track for [bleep].

Great point ... you could be certainly right. But keep in mind not all of these guys are sponsored. At least some of them are just normal Joe's that had to pull out their wallet to buy their equipment. I don't know what percent of the competitors that is. Regardless of whether they had to pay retail or not, they were able to compete at the highest level with this equipment ... so there still is something to it. The NY Yankees wouldn't use crappy gloves even if a manufacturer offered them a great marketing deal. Serious competitors are usually very stubborn when it comes to performance.

My Schmidt Bender PMII has tracked with complete precision out to a mile this year. The optics are superior to anything else I have looked through.
That mile was an attempt to shoot a marmot. At top magnification of 16X I did not expect to be able to see them at a mile, much less see them well enough for accurate shooting.
Alas, my longest whistle pig of the year was 1402 yards.

I would have expected a better showing from Nightforce though.

I'd like to see the military sniper choices also rather than the casual shooter/hunter survey.

Marines bought S&B. SEALS bought Night Force. Army is still buying Leupold but some SOCOM units have bought other scopes, I'm told.

I would too.

PrecisionRifleBlog,



This is a good argument. So far I have not been able to play with a S&B to compare with my Bushnell 6500 4 1/2-30X50 for brightness and resolving ability. No scope at the range has been better than this one; except my Nightforce 12-42X56. I could not check tracking with someone else's toy without shooting or taking the scope off and installing it in Bob's fixture; so I will have to take your word for it. And I don't doubt you here.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/7900183/1


dave

The T/C Encore appears to dominate the 'professional' hunters. Nothing like a T/C one shot smackdown.

Yep - when I'm looking to put the hurt and or crush on a big freak nasty, I grab my Bone Collector TC Encore because it's the only one that does what I need it to do.

Yet there's no consensus on which seed to plant....

I only care about what I use.



Travis

I have a number of nice scopes on my rifles (Benders and Swarovskis and by far the best are my March scopes. They are expensive (close to 3k) but a fantastic scope. I presently have two 10x60x52s http://marchscopes.com/

my life will only be complete when I see a hunter carrying a suppressed H&R Handi Rifle in 300 Blackout, sporting a $4000 Schmidt and Bender.

Yep, that will be the day ! E

I have a hard time understanding the MIL vs MOA discussions. I've been using both lately and I don't see what the big [bleep]' deal is? They both work fine.



Travis

Both work fine even tho most don't have any idea how they are supposed to work. They are designed for Human Targets anyway . Just shoot them at different distant and see how they corresponded to your rifle and load and then go hunting

I not entirely sure I am tracking, but the PRS is far, far from a "casual shooter/hunter" demographic. The PRS is pretty much the Olympic level of precision "tactical" style shooting.

Further, I would put more stock in what those who have a choice choose than a list of what is issued.