Off Season Lets Talk Guns

[HonestChieffan]

Been a while since we had a guns n' ammo discussion.


Some of you are AR shooters Im sure. Im looking at a Colt 6920. Will be my first AR. Picked up a Glock this fall and really enjoy shooting it. Any feedback on that weapon?



Anyone else been in a buy/sell/trade mood with hardware?

Part 2: http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=293623

[R8RFAN]

Originally Posted by Munson

Nice. I picked up 3 boxes yesterday. I would've bought more, but my local Wal-Mart has a 3 box limit.

3 box limit here too...I sent the wife around for 3 more

[Dayze]

I need to actually get out there and see what I can get. A few months ago, Cabellas had 9mm plinking ammo all over the place; and it wasn't marked up all that much than normal. Winchester 115gr FMJ for $50 was like $16.

No idea what it's like now. Sure as **** aint paying $60 for a box of 50 TulAmmo online. that's reeruned.

I need ot just keep an eye out and buy it when I see it.

[R8RFAN]

scored 3 more boxes today

[R8RFAN]

This one is for you Fraz

[LiveSteam]

Originally Posted by TimBone

Hey guys, I recently bought a Savage 16 .300 WSM. No scope, I've been looking online and doing research on the scopes last few days. I have no experience with buying scopes whatsoever, so I'm playing it safe and reading a lot before making a purchase. You guys have any tips?

Yes,have lots & lots of money to toss at glass. Or you can listen to me.
Myself. I use nothing but old Simmons Aetec 2.8-10x44 made in the Philippines.(must be made in the Philippines!!!Not China) You can pick them up on ebay for a just over a 100 bucks. As good as any Zeiss,Bausch & Lomb ect for a fraction of the price.
The Philippian made Aetec will have the gold inlay on them. The Chines junk will not


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Simmons-Mast...item33814a8879

This scope is at its best in low light. In fresh snow & moonlight I have picked out coyotes as far away as 300-400 yards at night.

[verbaljitsu]

Originally Posted by TimBone

Hey guys, I recently bought a Savage 16 .300 WSM. No scope, I've been looking online and doing research on the scopes last few days. I have no experience with buying scopes whatsoever, so I'm playing it safe and reading a lot before making a purchase. You guys have any tips?

First, figure out what you want to do with it.

300 WSM is a flat shooting cartridge, and it can reach out there, but how far do you anticipate shooting with it? Many people way over-scope their rifles. 3-9x is almost always good enough. Often times, even less magnification will do. Do you need variable power? Do you need an adjustable objective? I tend to like variable powers, but whether you need it or not is a different question. What type of backgrounds are you shooting against? that will help you determine the reticle you need.

Second, figure out how you are going to mount it. Lots of people cheap out on the mounts. That is a bad idea, especially on a heavy recoiling cartridge. You want the scope as close to the bore as possible without touching.

Then start looking at scopes. Believe it or not, in my opinion, my Vortex Viper PST 1-4x is my best scope. I think Vortex is making really good glass now, and it is fairly affordable. You can still find Bushnell Elite 3200's for great prices. Leupold VX-II's are good scopes that aren't that expensive.

There aren't nearly as many bad scopes out there as there used to be. For new scopes, without knowing more about your needs, I would look at:

• Vortex Viper PST 4-16 $799 msrp
• Vortex Viper PST 1-4 $599 msrp
• Vortex Viper HS 4-16 $589 msrp
• Vortex Viper HS 2.5x10 $489 msrp
• Redfield Revolution 3-9 $249 msrp
• Leupold VX-2 3-9 $375 msrp
• Nikon Buckmaster 3-9 $230 msrp

That list is in no particular order. Generally you can get the Vortex scopes for $100 less than msrp, the others track pretty closely. I have however, purchased a Leupold vx-2 from Cabelas, on sale for $220.

That list is skewed towards "hunting." If you are doing something different, you might want different magnifications.

I want a scope with great glass first and foremost, and that means bright and clear. I generally favor lower magnification, target style turrets, at least 1/4 moa clicks (1/8 is even better), and thinner reticles. I have one scope with an illuminated reticle, and I really like it. But my focus is largely target shooting from field positions/3 gun style action shooting.

If you are going to sit on a bench, you might want a ridiculous 32x magnification scope. If you want to make 1000 yard shots, you probably want more than a 3-9. Most of my shooting is inside 300 yards, speed and accuracy matters.

[Dunit35]

Got my ammo allowance from my paycheck. Had to buy jhp's for qualifications.

[CrazyPhuD]

If events from today turn out to be a foreign terrorist org if we thought the gun rush was bad before....

[verbaljitsu]

Originally Posted by TimBone

I appreciate it, man. Thats a ton of good info. This is my first hunting rifle, and I'm very limited in how much I have hunted. I would prefer a variable, but I read an article the other day that said most beginners struggle with one, and that maybe you should start with a fixed 4. I consider myself a quick learner, so I'm probably gonna go ahead and go with a variable.

Hunting here in the woods in Louisiana, a 3-9 will be more than enough from the sound of it, but if I go home and hunt with my Uncle in the flat land of Central Texas, I'll likely need more magnification, right? I would assume shots over 1000 yards could be common over there.

One of the articles I read mentioned light transfer and was giving out percentages. It stated that 98% is about the max that can be achieved and is considered perfect. Says 90% and above is acceptable, and 95% is considered great. Is there any way to know before buying what percent you're gonna get out of these scopes?

3-9x is probably the way to go. There is nothing more difficult about using a variable power scope. Adjustable Objective requires a little bit of skill in range estimation (but the scope actually helps you do that).

The only difference between variable and fixed power is what you can get for your money. A fixed 4x scope that costs $300 is usually going to have a little bit clearer glass than a variable power scope that costs the same. I generally prefer variable power, but if the choice were a good fixed power versus a bad variable power, I would rather have a good fixed power.

Re: light transmission
The percentages are usually more about marketing than anything else. Look through the scopes and you can tell the difference. HOWEVER, make sure you adjust the scope to your eye first. Ask the person at the counter if you don't know how (most scopes it is right on the part closest to your eye, on some more expensive scopes it is on a side turret).

The size of the objective can be a good stand in for light transmission sometimes. For example, a 40mm objective will gather more light than a 32mm objective of equal lens quality. However, there are trade offs in weight, height above bore, and in some cases mounting problems. 3-9x32 is a pretty standard hunting scope.

There is a lot more that goes into it besides how big the objective is, like glass coatings, and manufacture, so there is always no substitute for looking through the scopes.

As far as 1000 yard shots go, very skilled shooters make them with iron sights. Magnification is not strictly speaking required. The limiting factor is the shooter. However, a 3-9 hunting scope is the wrong choice for that job. The crosshairs will cover everything up at that distance. If you are serious about making those shots, you will probably end up spending more money on the scope than on the rifle you end up building. Schmidt and Bender and Nightforce come to mind (Think 3 grand).

[notorious]

Redfield Revenge for $259-279 and don't look back.


I have one on my AR-10 NM and 24" AR-15 Bull Barrel. They are awesome scopes for the money.

[Iowanian]

I appreciate the scope input today.

I just bought a Ruger Gunsight Scout .308

Intent is to be a basic hunting gun. Pigs. Bears....probably 150 yard shots with the ability to make longer shots at other varmits of concern.

I've had people recommend red dot, eotech and and 2x7.

I'd be curious what scope recommendations you'd have for a gun like that. I think I'd like to stay in that 200-250 range(or less if possible) for this gun.

Interesting you mentioned the redfield revenge because I was looking at that for this gun and for a scary black fire bow that I may or may not own.

[verbaljitsu]

I will say though, that the more I shoot with scopes, the more I think that the 1-4 and 1-6 scopes with illuminated reticles are the way to go.

3-9 will always be the standard, and it is super versatile, and generally the least expensive. It has a lot going for it. I own 3-9 scopes, and will continue to use them.

BUT 1-4 is my go to scope on my go to gun. It is incredible to me what you can do with them. You can shoot them with both eyes open. They give up almost nothing in the speed department to red dot sights, particularly if illuminated. But you can also make pinpoint shots with them when using fine reticles. Best of both worlds, and the most forgiving in terms of eye relief and awkward shooting positions. They are almost like Iron Sights Version 2.0.

On a 300 WSM hunting rifle, 3-9 screams as the appropriate choice, but I would at least look at a couple of the 1-4's to make sure that is what I wanted.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

I appreciate the scope input today.

I just bought a Ruger Gunsight Scout .308

Intent is to be a basic hunting gun. Pigs. Bears....probably 150 yard shots with the ability to make longer shots at other varmits of concern.

I've had people recommend red dot, eotech and and 2x7.

I'd be curious what scope recommendations you'd have for a gun like that. I think I'd like to stay in that 200-250 range(or less if possible) for this gun.

Interesting you mentioned the redfield revenge because I was looking at that for this gun and for a scary black fire bow that I may or may not own.

You can't go wrong with one of these bad boys.

[Raiderhater]

Originally Posted by Douchemaster General

You can't go wrong with one of these bad boys.

I've wanted one of those since long before I got serious about buying the AR. I almost wanted the AR just for the ACOG.

Had a couple on display at the gun store when I bought it. Both were more expensive than the rifle. It'll be open sights for me for a while.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Raiderhader

I've wanted one of those since long before I got serious about buying the AR. I almost wanted the AR just for the ACOG.

Had a couple on display at the gun store when I bought it. Both were more expensive than the rifle. It'll be open sights for me for a while.

Yep. They ain't cheap. But worth the price.