Got Two Rifles, Need Two Scopes

[Rucker61]

I have a CZ 527 Varmint in .223 and a CZ 550 I just bought in .270. My current plan is to use the .270 for antelope and mule deer in Colorado and Wyoming, and to spend the summer shooting many, many rounds of .223/5.56 through the 527 to work on becoming a better shot.

I'm trying to figure out a good strategy for scope purchases and use. Currently there's a Vortex Crossfire 4-16x on the .223 and a newly purchased Vortex Diamondback 3.9x on the .270. I've already decided that the Diamondback is going back and the Crossfire is already up for sale. Current budget is $600-$800.

I have two leading strategies: buy a SWFA SS 6x in mil/mil for the hunting rifle and one in 12x mil/mil for the target rifle, and work on ranging over the summer learning milrads. The other is to get a pair of Vortex Vipers, one in 3-9x, the other undecided, with BDC, shoot enough out of both guns to get good data for custom turrets and put the TMT turrets on both.

A new strategy is to buy just one scope, full budget, and shoot it all summer on the .223 then switch it to the .270 for hunting season. I plan on buying a laser rangefinder in any case. I'm a born again newbie, as I haven't shot much or hunted at all in about 40 years. I can shoot 1 MOA if I pay attention, and I've got buddies to take me out hunting. I have access to a range with 300 yds lanes.

Any suggestions, or pushes in a new direction?

[MarkCO]

Have you considered the Burris MTAC line? I have several MTACs and they are great. The 4.5-14 is on my .308 bolt gun and a 6.5-20 on my .223. There are 5 in the line: http://www.burrisoptics.com/mtac.html The top three in theline are mil/mil,
with adjustable parallax. They also have finger-adjustable turrets for windage and elevation that are zero settable and retrurn to zero.

The top end of the Vortex line is excellent, the ones under about $800, not so much.

[SA Friday]

I have a couple of Leupolds sitting around that I've been procrastinating about putting up in the for sale section. I can PM you the specs and pics if you are interested.

[Rucker61]

I have a couple of Leupolds sitting around that I've been procrastinating about putting up in the for sale section. I can PM you the specs and pics if you are interested.

Sure, I'll look. I'm less concerned right now about the specifics of scopes than the strategy - does it make sense to try to match up the scopes? Secondly is fixed vs variable? Is a 6x fixed going to work for antelope/mulies/elk, or is a variable that much more useful?

[SA Friday]

Sure, I'll look. I'm less concerned right now about the specifics of scopes than the strategy - does it make sense to try to match up the scopes? Secondly is fixed vs variable? Is a 6x fixed going to work for antelope/mulies/elk, or is a variable that much more useful?

depends on how you shoot, distances you shoot, and what you are using the guns for.

I personally don't find practicing with the 223 beneficial for a larger caliber. They have different ballistics and are effected by wind differently. Some things can be practiced but when it comes to shooting a certain rifle well, you simply have to shoot it.

Fixed power scopes are something I avoid on hunting rifles. They have some disadvantages that are tough to overcome. I harvested a white tail in PA years back that comes to mind. I had been hunting open power lines and fields, and ultimately ended up taking a 20 yard shot on a buck. a fixed 10x is fine for the longer shots but would have been hell at 20 yards. I had to dial my scope back to 3x to get the shot off. Its rare for that around here since its so open in comparison to east coast forest hunting, but hunting can be very dynamic.

Give me a couple of days and I'll get you a PM with pics and info.

[Tim K]

I'd rather have one really great scope than two so-so scopes. With a one piece Picatinny style scope base on each rifle, switching won't be a big deal, just re-zero and go.

I'm not a hunter, but I'd sure have a variable power scope.

[Great-Kazoo]

Here ya go. In your price range and considered new, as Burris goes through the scope while in shop.
http://www.ar-15.co/forums/showthread.php?t=49798&highlight=burris

[Alpine]

I've owned a SS 10x42, and looked through a few other SS scopes. I'd say don't waste your money on a SS. For the money Leupold has better glass.

Good advice given by Tim K, get one really good scope and swap between rifles if you have the ability to have Picatinny rails on both rifles.

If you can swing it money wise, you can get a used Premier Reticle 3-15x50 for as little as $2000. In my opinion, Premier has better glass then most, even Schmidt and Bender, and that's coming from someone who ownes a few S&B scopes.

Premeir is a very rugged scope, and would serve you well in any situation.

[Alpine]

Another option, you can often find good deals on Nightforce scopes, and if you don't need a reticle in the first focal plane, then you can find one for around $1300 used.

Just make sure the turrets match the reticle i.e. mil/mil or moa/moa.

[bogie]

dFixed power scopes are something I avoid on hunting rifles. They have some disadvantages that are tough to overcome. I harvested a white tail in PA years back that comes to mind. I had been hunting open power lines and fields, and ultimately ended up taking a 20 yard shot on a buck. a fixed 10x is fine for the longer shots but would have been hell at 20 yards. I had to dial my scope back to 3x to get the shot off. Its rare for that around here since its so open in comparison to east coast forest hunting, but hunting can be very dynamic.

Agree with SA Friday. Stick with something that will at least get you down to 3x. You never know when you will be in the woods. Nikon makes a 3-9x40 buckmaster that may work well for you.

[xring]

$600-$800.

Buy the SWFA 3-9 and put it on the .270 in the fall perhaps.
Target scopes are usually a different breed than hunting scopes.
Personally i prefer a 1.5-6 for hunting.
I always plan to shoot my animal at range but then their he is at 30 yards.
I personally can not range using a reticle below 24x the definition isnt there.
These are not bad scopes for the money you could play with it all summer and put it on the 270 in the fall while you make up your mind.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Falcon-Menace-1-5-5x30-Illuminated-Reticle-SFP-/150822769984?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item231dbcd540

Your milage may vary.

[Rucker61]

$600-$800.

Buy the SWFA 3-9 and put it on the .270 in the fall perhaps.
Target scopes are usually a different breed than hunting scopes.
Personally i prefer a 1.5-6 for hunting.
I always plan to shoot my animal at range but then their he is at 30 yards.
I personally can not range using a reticle below 24x the definition isnt there.
These are not bad scopes for the money you could play with it all summer and put it on the 270 in the fall while you make up your mind.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Falcon-Menace-1-5-5x30-Illuminated-Reticle-SFP-/150822769984?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item231dbcd540

Your milage may vary.

I ended up with a Viper PST 2.5-10x44 MRAD for the hunting rifle (turned the .270 into a Tikka T3 .308, which will get more shooting for fun and practice than a .270 would). Leaning very heavily towards the SWFA SS 12x mil/mil, unless the Vortex Viper HS 5-15x44 shows up for sale somwhere.

Now to test ammo to see what works best and best matches ballistically the preferred hunting bullets.