Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Thoughts on a Target Scope

Leupold VX2 6-18x40 with either LR turrets or standard low turrets OR Sightron S-Tac 30mm 4-20x50.

Both are same price (within $10)

The 1" tube 6-18x40 Leupold doesn't have the best rep for toughness/reliability. Don't know anything about the Sightron.

When you ask about target scopes are you talking about just casual paper-punching, steel ringing, or are you talking about serious competitive target shooting? If you are asking about a scope for serious competition then you should specify the type of competition you are planning to compete in, that will give a better idea of a scope recommendation. Although it is not likely that either of these will be idea for serious competitive shooting.

For casual paper-punching, steel ringing, either scope you mention will work, it is just a choice of which you like the best. The Sightron should have a larger adjustment range since it is a 30 mm scope, if adjustment range is important to you check specs before laying out your money.

drover

just casual shooting, no competition. no place around me sells the Sightron so cannot compare side by side.

Leupold - 56 MOA
Sightron - 80 MOA

Both have enough adjustment for distances I'd be shooting at.

Which are?

Leupolds are consistent, while I have found that Sightrons can ship an occasional dud.

Also, Leupolds retain their value on the used market while most other scopes don't.

was my thinking as well for the Leupold,

do you think the tall turrets are useful on the Leupold? I can get the standard shorter ones for $40 cheaper. both fine duplex reticles.

distances up to 500m, longest range I can get on.

Steel clanging, bullseye on paper, ...?

yes and yes. anything really. just not competition.

Knowing what I can do at 300 with a 6x, I'd go with a SS 10x42MQ for 500 long before I'd use that Leupold. Particularly so if I was going to turret twist much at all. It would be a substantial budget jump to get to a higher magnification variable I'd trust as much for that duty.

I looked at the swfa in either a 12x or 16x. all same price (with the 10x too), and yes cheaper than the two options I listed by about a $100

why doesn't the leupold like turret twisting?

Its internals just weren't designed/built to stand up to a whole lot turret twisting, so they'll prematurely wear out. It's as simple as that. For a number of years (except the last) I did a lot of shooting and dialing and wound up sending a big box of Leupolds back to the shop for a tune up.

Of the three SWFA scopes you mentioned, get the 10x.

gotcha...

so now between the Leupold and Swfa 16x (or 12x).....

The SWFA 10x.

I like a little more mag.... but will think about the 10x. what's the benefit, if any, of a 10x?

It'll work much better than the leupold your considering.

ok, I've never owned a fixed power, so please bear with me. how does it work better? or is the Leupold I picked just not a good one? or why a 10x over the 12x or 16x?

just trying to learn here.

The 16x gives a dimmer view. The 12x doesn't do as well for me when getting behind it, sort of like different Leupolds having different "personalities" with the 3.5-10x40 being "friendlier" than the 4.5-14x40.

To be explicit, I'm a 6x owner. The 10x and 12x scopes belong to range friends who looked into SWFA fixed powers on my recommendation. The 16x is owned by another range friend who found SWFA well before I did.

Which reticle are you recommending, the mil-quad or the MOA-quad? And what are the reasons to choose one over the other?