Best optics for long range shooting?

[xrated]

I wonder if my dall last year knew it was killed with a bad scope, or my bull or my buck. lol

nothing I have ever shot cared, be it deer with my 150 dollar 30.30 or ducks with a 70 dollar New England firearms single shot 20 gauge. Hell they didn't even care if I had to pump the gun between shots in the duck boat.

 

[Supplicate]

I wonder if my dall last year knew it was killed with a bad scope, or my bull or my buck. lol

There's a difference between saying "What scope will hold up to hunting" and "Best optics for long range shooting"

For hunting, I'm all for the "cheap" scopes. Once you start talking about a dedicated 1,000+ yard rifle you need to start looking into niche optics.

 

[snow_knight]

Nice Tim!!!

You could be shooting a savage.. put a decant scope on it.. trigger job.. quality reloads.. and practice, lots of practice.. you wouldnt believe what you can hit at very long distances Here ya go Knight...
I can't say much for long range, but I have a rifle that was 150 with scope. Out to 100 it was shooting sub 3/4" and the other guns(long range custom built dog guns, bedded and all)were shooting sub 1/2". Pretty sure no animal is gonna say, "wait just a minute, that was 1/4" to far off". Not sure what kinda scope either one was, but the dog guns were upper echelon scopes. I think scopes will play a big part in long range or any shooting, but the ultimate is the guy squeezing the trigger, especially at long range.
.

This is very true.. sub 3/4" will work for a lot of peoples hunting needs.. however take thats 1/4 difference and strech it out to 5oo yards.. now.. you have missed your trophy of a life time...... I'm not saying that you need a super expensive setup for hunting applications.. I just like to own a gun/scope combo that i know in any conditions and a given range for the type of hunting is going to perform 99.9% of the time.. and you just cant do that with low grade gear IMO..

now take that 150 junker and do what I did..

The first gun I ever built (by myself) was on a savage 110 action.. custom shilen barrel (on its 5th one now), custom made homemade trigger, homemade break (patent pending ), boyd stock fully floatd (by hand), and some other little do-dads.. ..
It is chambered in 22-6mm.. and will out shoot most of the +$5,000 customs that i have built.. WHY??? because I have shot thousands and thousands of rounds through it..



It all boils down to practice................................................

And i'm sure nate or any other gunsmith such as myself (building custom long range guns) will tell you that probably 75% or more of the people than own them.. arent skilld enough to shoot them to the distances they are capable of..

 

[xrated]

^^^ I like what you say. Well except for the junker, it's a high quality model 94!!

Me I doubt I would ever drop huge coin for a goun, to much of a tool and not enough practice from em to make it owrth it. Not that I don't enjoy shooting the old mans toys!

So in long range where does having steady hands and being able to control your heart rate vs the scope used?

 

[spring snow hero]

x in long range it ALL matters. as well, there are many things that you can't see that matter. anyone can go throw down a hit at 1k.....it may take a few tries, but to setup and make the poke on the first shot requires a heck of a lot more than luck and a box of shells.

 

[xrated]

x in long range it ALL matters. as well, there are many things that you can't see that matter. anyone can go throw down a hit at 1k.....it may take a few tries, but to setup and make the poke on the first shot requires a heck of a lot more than luck and a box of shells.

This I know, but just what are the factors?

 

[TIM]

There's a difference between saying "What scope will hold up to hunting" and "Best optics for long range shooting"

For hunting, I'm all for the "cheap" scopes. Once you start talking about a dedicated 1,000+ yard rifle you need to start looking into niche optics.

all very true, i guess i never thought of leupold as junk. My ruger and leupold where less than a $1000 for the whole setup. Would this setup make a good long range target gun? No.

 

[snow_knight]

all very true, i guess i never thought of leupold as junk. My ruger and leupold where less than a $1000 for the whole setup. Would this setup make a good long range target gun? No.

Its been tested by lots of different independ compaines.. the quality of the glass in a leupold isnt even close to other competitors in the same price ranges.. although most of the time they are well build.. that extra money you are spending is for the name.. when it should be going for peace of mind.. IMO

 

[Nate]

Its been tested by lots of different independ compaines.. the quality of the glass in a leupold isnt even close to other competitors in the same price ranges.. although most of the time they are well build.. that extra money you are spending is for the name.. when it should be going for peace of mind.. IMO

Ive seen more failed Leupold optics than good. Seriously. If I so happened to win one I would give it away or trade it for a nightforce

 

[Snow Fox]

When did this turn into a Leupold bashing site?? I thought it was about the best optics for long range shooting? Sure Leupold scopes won't compete with the high end optics, that is not what they market for. How many people can afford some of these higher end scopes? It is definitely not a high percentage of shooters. In terms of a marketing standpoint, Leupold is going to make a good mid-range scope for the majority of their buyers (hunters and Military) The average shot will be 600 yards or less. I personally like Leupold, as I pointed out in an earlier post for the type of shooting I do, Leupold is a great choice because they market to that type of shooting. I use Mark 4's and they are Leupolds higher end scopes. I have had zero problems and I am very happy with the product. I used a Burris signature for a while, nice scope but it would not hold it's zero on my 300 win mag (Badger Ordnance Rings and base). It is now on a .223 and works great.

This is turning into my Polaris is better than your Ski Doo. I will just agree to disagree, as it comes down to individual preference. At least we have choices.

 

[Nate]

When did this turn into a Leupold bashing site?? I thought it was about the best optics for long range shooting? Sure Leupold scopes won't compete with the high end optics, that is not what they market for. How many people can afford some of these higher end scopes? It is definitely not a high percentage of shooters. In terms of a marketing standpoint, Leupold is going to make a good mid-range scope for the majority of their buyers (hunters and Military) The average shot will be 600 yards or less. I personally like Leupold, as I pointed out in an earlier post for the type of shooting I do, Leupold is a great choice because they market to that type of shooting. I use Mark 4's and they are Leupolds higher end scopes. I have had zero problems and I am very happy with the product. I used a Burris signature for a while, nice scope but it would not hold it's zero on my 300 win mag (Badger Ordnance Rings and base). It is now on a .223 and works great.

This is turning into my Polaris is better than your Ski Doo. I will just agree to disagree, as it comes down to individual preference. At least we have choices.

Negative Ghostrider

Not saying at all leupold isnt a good optic. Ive just seen alot of failed ones. But ive also seen a few failed Nightforces. They all fail.

Funny though, Bushnell is starting to make some awesome optics, not just ones you throw on the ole hunting rifle, something you throw on benchrest rifles.

An optic that returns to zero is a good long range optic.

 

[spring snow hero]

nate funny you mention the bushys as up n comers. I have been swapping my fleet of hunting rifles over to the elites, I feel they are the best bang for the buck. I have killed 6 brands of scopes and the elites are the only ones I have had stand up to my stupid sub 7lb 300RUM unbraked. I scrambled a swaro right before my last elk hunt and that gun now wears a 4200 too. I did not mention them as best for long range shooting, but they rock for real world hunting.....best bang for the buck.

even this gun wears a 4200 now (although the leica was optically wonderfull)

this one too sports a 4200 now

there some pics will help this thread go places

 

[snow_knight]

spring.. i think your pics killed the thread.. .. haha

those optics are small.. .. ..