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Posted By: cath8r Help me pick a 1" varmint scope - 07/06/23
Hey guys. Recently acquired a 700 sendero in a swift.
The fellow threw in leupold std 1" low mounts.
This gun has no palm swell and my eye just lines up dead centre through the rings. No wiggling or jostling around and it's 'there'.
Not looking for anything higher than 15ish power and I would like as much eye relief as possible.
Guns use would be targets of opportunity coyotes,Crows maybe a groundhog hunt. Ranges would be 100-200 with maybe a posing coyote at 400.
I've owned the gamut of scopes in the past. 3200, 4200, leupold 1,2,3, fx6, fixed12, FF 4-14(kind of the front runner currently).
Anything I'm overlooking? Got anything you'd recommend?
Got to tune this trigger and get the scope sorted out. Got test load ladder on standby.
Thanks
Rob.

Edited to add
I have 30mm Nitro on my .222 and 34mm arken on a rimx, 1" 3-9 on another pinker. I'd go 30mm again but not looking to add a cheek riser to this one.
I've used a Leupold 4x14 AO for years on my .222 Always had enough glass and totally clear.
Cath8r: Rob what kind of Varmints/predators are you going after?
If it is for Colony Varmints I say trade the low rings off and get a Leupold 6.5x20 variable for these Varmints.
If it is for predators I recommend trading off the low rings and getting a Leupold 4.5x14 variable for predators.
I have a BUNCH of 220 Swift heavy barrel Rifles and I prefer the 6.5x20 Leupolds on them.
Best of luck to you with whichever you choose and let us know how that Remington shoots.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
Free rings are an expensive way to choose a scope IMO. On my .220 Swift (an older Remington VSSF) I've used a number of scopes but none better than a 10X SWFA with a MilQuad reticle. Under 500 yards, the reticle is very useful for holds and making calls on bullet impact. I swapped to a 4x16 Nitro in 30mm with a FFP mil reticle and I'm pleased. It makes shots on golf balls and eggs easier at 300 yards, but in the field I haven't noticed it's much of an improvement. I believe you'll find low 30mm Leupold rings have a centerline height that are all but indistinguishable from their 1" counterparts.
Coyotes, Crows, targets of opportunity. Some just fun shooting . Nothing around here lingers for too long, so would like the scope to be easy to get behind quickly.
Thanks 406! I'm gonna look into that. The local lgs might be the spot to see if the have 30mm rings. Yeah, I've had a fixed 10x40mm Japan bushnell on a 22-250 and I like that one alot. It shot decent groups at 300. It was clear and easy to get behind.
Just bought a meopta optika 5 from Doug recently. Pretty happy with it. Mine is a 3-15x44
As my eyes and me are getting older, I am enjoying the benefits of scopes with a 30 mm tube.

Been using some 4 x 16 Cabelas Covenant scopes, that are private labeled for Cabelas by Meopta, at a fraction of the price.
They are made in China, ( not a selling feature to me ), but they are both a good value, what I call a Christmas Tree reticle, and I find the optics surprisingly very clear. The Clicks are pretty much spot on, target turrets. In the 200 to 250 Dollar range ( on the USA side of the border ). The $250 one is first focal plane if you like those.... The $200 one is second focal plane.

I have them on rifles from 17 HMR to 260 Remington, 22.250 and 6mm (243 and 6 x 45 ).

the also make 6 x 25 versions of both. I find them much more useful than my beloved Leupolds.

Got some nice Alphas from Doug at Cameraland, with 34 mm tubes. Same power range. ( which are the most versatile in my opinion. ) Those were in the $300 and $400 range. Great scopes, but heavy if you want mobility. Great optics, but then again, my eye sight isn't what you'd refer to as perfect.
Have you looked at the Meopta MeoSport R 3-15x50 RD SFP-4C?
In a 1" scope, the Sightron S1 G2 4-12 A.O with the MOA reticle is worth a look.

Athlon also has some good 1" scopes. Make sure and check the weights.

The Swifts on that configuration are actually the Varmint Synthetics and those variations. The 'Sendero' series were all long action versions of the Varmint Synthetics. The barrel profiles on both the short and long action versions were the same and have come to be known as the 'Sendero' profile.

Good shootin' -Al
Burris Fullfield E1 4x14..........a bargain on sale and quite a modest sized scope for that much power....has side focus



Jap Weaver V16...excellent quality and they were a bargain when they sold new
Originally Posted by Al_Nyhus
In a 1" scope, the Sightron S1 G2 4-12 A.O
with the MOA reticle is worth a look.

And this is part of our currently running Site Wide Sale through July 18th
This is just what you are looking for, why not buy it?



https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...Search/true/re-swarovski-z3#Post18560369
Weaver V16 or V24 if twisting turrets isn't part of the equation.

Weaver CKT15 or KT15 if twisting turrets is part of the equation. I keep a couple of these scope around to do load development, aim small to hit small.

I have a couple of the Bushnell 3200 10x40 scopes and prefer the Weaver CKT/KT series as the have an AO and Bushnells don't.
I have a couple Burris Signature HD 3-15x44's on my varmint rifles. 2 are plain duplex and 1 has E1 reticle. Great scopes for around $400.
Just a heads up. SWFA has a sale going on. I picked up a 12x with rings & extras for (I think) a good price. My 1st SWFA, so no experience yet. They're in stock. Ordered Monday & it will be here tomorrow sez UPS tracking.

https://www.swfa.com/optics/riflescopes.html
Trijicon 2.5-10 accupoint or heck even a 3-9. Simple easy and bright.
Originally Posted by cumminscowboy
Just bought a meopta optika 5 from Doug recently. Pretty happy with it. Mine is a 3-15x44
+1
I thought the Sendero was the long action LOL

FWIW I ran a fixed 12X Leupold on my 700 Varmint Synthetic blued fluted .22-250.
It had some bounce, so didn't offer me anything more than my 700 ADL .243 w 3-9X as far as watching hits.

So............I'd say get something around a 4-12X AO

On a matte gun, w HS stock, the old Mark AR Mod 1 4-12X AO doesn't look bad. But mine has a fine duplex and would prefer reg duplex.....don't think that scope had that option.
I’ve become a fan of the Tract Toric 3x15s and have several including one on my 22-250. They have performed flawlessly. I tend to keep the 22-250 on 10 and power up or down as needed (it’s primary use is on woodchucks). I have a number of SWFA scopes (1x6, 6, 10 and 16). While they hold zero, have excellent reticles and track reliably, I’ve been spoiled with good glass for too long….
Originally Posted by cath8r
Hey guys. Recently acquired a 700 sendero in a swift.


Senderos are all long action. Swift is short, so it is either a VS or VSSF, not a Sendero. Technicality, but details do matter.

I had an early 700 VSSF in .220 Swift. I put a 6.5-20X AO, 40MM, fine duplex on it. I think toward the end of its days with me I moved that scope to something else and put a Burris 6-18X somethin-or-other II on it. Leupold was the better scope. Good rig, didn't like 55s or up, but 50 grain ballistic tips went in the very high 3900s giving 5 shot sub half inch groups. Vicious summabitch on the receiving end.

If it was me, I'd look for a similar scope .. 6.5-20X or even possibly a bit more. I'd try for twisty knobs and/or ranging reticle though. I'm not sure if Leupold offers the 6.5-20X or 6-18X in a 1" tube anymore. To me it would be worth getting 30mm rings to get the right scope for the gun.
Thanks guys. Got her all sorted out.
Stopped at the lgs (general gun and supply in Windsor ON) and got hooked up with some medium 30mm rings (they talked me out of low).


Fits perfect. Just got to get to trying it out now.
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Can't post pics...
Originally Posted by T_O_M
Originally Posted by cath8r
Hey guys. Recently acquired a 700 sendero in a swift.


Senderos are all long action. Swift is short, so it is either a VS or VSSF, not a Sendero. Technicality, but details do matter.

I had an early 700 VSSF in .220 Swift. I put a 6.5-20X AO, 40MM, fine duplex on it. I think toward the end of its days with me I moved that scope to something else and put a Burris 6-18X somethin-or-other II on it. Leupold was the better scope. Good rig, didn't like 55s or up, but 50 grain ballistic tips went in the very high 3900s giving 5 shot sub half inch groups. Vicious summabitch on the receiving end.

If it was me, I'd look for a similar scope .. 6.5-20X or even possibly a bit more. I'd try for twisty knobs and/or ranging reticle though. I'm not sure if Leupold offers the 6.5-20X or 6-18X in a 1" tube anymore. To me it would be worth getting 30mm rings to get the right scope for the gun.

Big Green did do some blued fluted but dunno what they coded em as. Was non catalogued run IIRC. Did it in short and long action.
I had a 22 250, coworker a 25 06
The Athlon Heras 4-20x50 has a 1" tube and zero stop. A pretty good eyebox, a nice reticle, and comes with second focal plane which I like for varminting. They're well priced at Cameraland. I have a few.

Also have several Arken EPL4 6-24x50 which have very good glass, the equal - to my eye - of a Zeiss V4 with the same power. The Arken is a great buy anyway and with the current 25% off sale it's a no brainer. Varminting can involve a lot of time scanning through the scope and glass quality really does matter. Especially when seeing something out there a ways and being able to tell if it's a critter or a rock or dirt clump. Finding a target partially hidden by grass or a bush is easier with good glass. The clearer the picture, the better.
Ended up sticking the 30mm bushnell Nitro 2.5-15×50. Has a simple illuminated dot reticle that I really like.
Wish I could figure out pics. Got a heavy 16th clearance on the bell to barrel.
Here's my suggestion

Learn to use the reticle

Burris Fullfield E1 4.5-14x42mm Long Range MOA Reticle scope $156
Originally Posted by cumminscowboy
Just bought a meopta optika 5 from Doug recently. Pretty happy with it. Mine is a 3-15x44

This is what I’d suggest. I put one in a 25-06 and it is a nice scope. I have the Burris signature 3-15 as well which I have no complaints about so far, but the Meopta is nicer in my opinion.
Originally Posted by sdgunslinger
Burris Fullfield E1 4x14..........a bargain on sale and quite a modest sized scope for that much power....has side focus
Jap Weaver V16...excellent quality and they were a bargain when they sold new
IME, both the Weaver and Burris are good scopes for the money but unfortunately those Jap Weavers are history. For a new scope, the Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x with a Ballistic Plex reticle work fines on a couple of my varmint rifles. And there is a seller on Amazon right now that's offering their earlier model for only $129: Burris FFII 4.5-14x BP Amazon $129
However, I doubt you can get that scope to clear the barrel in a set of low rings.
I sure like my Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44 on my long range groundhog gun.
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