Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Competitive Shooting Scopes - What Scope(s) are you using?

I know there are several shooting disciplines that have different requirements. This question may be too broad. I would like to know what scopes you are using on your rifles.

PLEASE! No flame wars! This isn't about what you perceive to be the best. Or to slam someone's choice of optics. There are many income levels, and while you might be able to afford a March, not everyone can. Please be respectful. It's just an equipment survey.

When I was in the service, I shot TR (irons) and F Class. If you are not familiar with these, please follow the link. F Class allowed scopes. The last rifle I used was a 308 Tikka T3 HB with a Bushnell 4200 6-24x50mm scope and bipod. https://ontariorifleassociation.ca/disciplines/f-class/

I was not a hardcore competitor. I was a service armourer.

I have a VX-R 1.5X4.5 Leupold 30mm on my AR service rifle. I really like the March far and away, but this was on my upper when I received it. Optics are very good, but I trust no Leupold adjustmants.

I have a Vortex Viper 1-4X for HP. It's OK, but March really is better.

I used a T-16 Weaver for SB Silhouettes.

So, for service rifle, is there a mix of scopes? Vortex, Bushnell, Leupold, etc. or does there seem to be one manufacturer that most competitors use?

I have never shot silhouette, just read about it. I'm guessing that it's difficult to steady a 16 power scope at longer ranges.

I use a 12x Fecker, a 16x Unertl, and a 5x B series MVA for Schuetzen

Steve,
In the early years of "F" class, guys were often getting by with BR scopes in the 24x range or with variables which topped out at the same level. This was before everyone had to have a Nightforce or be shunned. The problem, in many instances, was the limited elevation adjustment whichmage it difficult to move from 300 to 900m. I ended up making an elevation adjustable mount for the Variable 6-24 I was using.
On the silhouette range, most are using variables in the 6-24 range. I prefer scopes of around 16X and am using a Weaver KT15, a Weaver V6-24 (set at 15), a Leupold 12, and a Weaver T10. I tried a 20X leupold for a while; really liked it and shot well with it but I had issues with crossfiring due to the limited field of view (probably in combination with poor positioning) so I went back to the 15. I would dearly love to see someone make a fixed 16 with a decent length tube and a 3/4 minute dot. That would be my dream silhouette scope. The 20 is now on one of my TR-O rifles and I like it for that.
I have little doubt that the scopes which are priced in the thousands, rather than hundreds, are optically superior to my old stuff but my 70 year old eyes, even with the new lenses, aren't that clear anyway. GD

Steve, the winners in Service Rifle use March and Nightforce.

I don't know anyone using Bushnell, but a lot of people use the Vortex Viper 1-4x and various Leupolds. Army uses Nightforce and a lot of very serious competitors use the March (which, BTW, may still be on sale at 30% off). There aren't any other scopes I would recommend, except maybe a Trijicon 1-4X.

PM inbound, Steve.

Interesting. I figured the expensive hardware would be in demand. Has anyone seen these? These are offered by Elcan.

https://armament.com/products/elcan

The 1x-4x would be legal in Service Rifle, but they do not offer a reticle that would work. In the same price range as a March. Haven't heard of anybody using one.

That company is the main Cdn scope supplier (or was) when I was still in the service. It's definitely not a poor boy's game!

What reticle is considered appropriate for Service Rifle?

The reticle looks good to me.
The description says you can illuminate the entire crosshair or just the dot. There are a lot of guys successfully using crosshairs & dots.

If you wanted a SHTF gun and also play around at HP, I think the 1/4X would work fine. A lot of people using 1/2 MOA adjustments too. I even shot my PB at 600 with 1/2MOA adjustments. As Butch said though, strictly for the HP game, there are probably better scopes like the new Leupold SR and the Nightforce & March for similar money. The Leupy is cheaper with 1/4MOA, the NF costs about the same and offers 1/4MOA, the March is a little more and has 1/4MOA and adjustable parallax.

With my eyes I have trouble with a 50yd target at 4X. My VX R Leupold has a cross hair, but has a circle in the middle with an illuminated dot. The circle corresponds with the circle on the target paper. With this setup I can easily sight it in with the 4.5X scope at 200yards. I do not shoot Service Rifle competition, so 200 yd zero is good for me.Mine has the Firedot Bull Ring reticle. https://www.whiteoakarmament.com/shop/accessories/scopes-rings-bases/4leupsr-bullringpost.html.
Everybody has different needs for their shooting. The reticle that I use is best for me.
Steve, my not being aware of that brand means nothing about them and their quality. I have just not run across one or know of anybody shooting them.

Butch, that combo makes a lot of sense.

Paul

my Nightforce Target Scopes are 1/8 minute click adjustments and do work very well, in my area most guys use Nightforce scopes for FTR classes too.

I shoot mid range prone in the AR tactical class it's a provisional class started by the NRA last yr, we can use bipods and a rear tactical shooting bags. anyhow I run 10x swfa on one of my AR's. The other which I use for my service rifle has a 1-4 swfa on it. Scope was discontinued couple yrs back. This Tuesday we have a mid range prone shoot, I'm going to use my AR with the 1-4 and put bipod on it. I was running a 10x swfa on it.

I cannot really speak to their quality. For what they are charging though, it would have to be exceptional. I remember we had problems with the first generation Elcans, but that was a million years ago. They had problems with the early Hondas.

I am not really thinking about getting into any service rifle shoots. I was curious about those competitions and the present trends in equipment. I'm not changing the subject, but AR shoots are restricted to ranges in Canada. You cannot take them hunting or shoot them off your back porch (legally). Our present government was thinking about banning AR rifles because, well, they're evil, dontcha know? We have an election looming, and banning them would be a way to mine votes from the city folk.

For run-and-gun AR competitions:
Vortex Viper PST 1-4
US Optics 1-6
NF NXS 1-8

Long range AR and Bolt gun comps in ascending order of pain:
Burris XTR II 5-25
Steiner T5Xi 3-15
Steiner T5Xi 5-25
NF ATACR 5-25
Schmidt 5-25

The top tier stuff is all good, of course. My personal favorite for value is the Steiner T5's. I have three of them, and if you shop a little bit you can find the 5-25's (for example) lightly used for $1,000. Steiner's warranty and service is excellent, so I buy used without a care in the world. They run my favorite reticle, and the tracking is rock solid now that they've worked through their issues.

I looked through the new Burris XTR III last weekend at a match. They are killer for $1,800.