School me on optics for PRS-style long range

[Irving]

Thank you. Seems like tracking correctly should be a minimum requirement for every scope made.

[CS1983]

Thank you. Seems like tracking correctly should be a minimum requirement for every scope made.

On snipershide, user killswitch engage built a scope tracking test setup with an I-beam, railroad tie, and welded a scope base to the beam. He then set about doing through-the-lens filming of scope tracking on a target board. The results weren't necessarily pretty for some high-end scopes, and yet one of the mid tier (Burris?) tracked flawlessly. A lot of people who paid a lot of money for their scopes got butthurt over the fact that in the end, they paid for pieces of shit.

Unfortunately, the thread was accidentally deleted when they were cleaning up from a Chinese hack.

Some of the videos are still available on his youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnz...view=0&sort=dd

Since I have no desire to perform tracking testing at that level, I tend to be in the camp of "reticle" importance being high. I don't care that I can see a gnat's asshole clench in HD at 300 yards if the reticle is a useless afterthought.

I'll go after a "cheaper" scope if its reticle is more useful to me than something that is "better" simply because it has better glass or a fancy brand on it. The reality is that most scopes today, even mid-tier, are good to go.

I also think of Neil. Neil was a guy I knew 10 years ago. A student at the Colorado School of Trades for gunsmithing, he had very little money and only one rifle: a .243 hunting rifle from Savage with some lower cost scope. Neil knew his rifle. Neil shot well -- better than a lot of dudes whose accessories alone cost more than his entire setup. It wasn't unusual for him to get first round hits on steel at distance in weird situations because he focused on shooting, not doohickies. Be like Neil.

ETA:
I've owned: US Optics, Vortex Razor (1 and 2 Gen), IOR (just don't), Burris, Bushnell, Nightforce, etc. I've had friends who have gone through the range of high end (higher level Leupy, S&B, Hensoldt, etc.). In the end, for me, the only thing that mattered was the reticle. I'll take a $1500 scope with a useful reticle any day over some $4k hunk of "BuT tHe SoCOM UseS It!". Cool story, Spongbob.

[Justin]

On snipershide, user killswitch engage built a scope tracking test setup with an I-beam, railroad tie, and welded a scope base to the beam. He then set about doing through-the-lens filming of scope tracking on a target board. The results weren't necessarily pretty for some high-end scopes, and yet one of the mid tier (Burris?) tracked flawlessly. A lot of people who paid a lot of money for their scopes got butthurt over the fact that in the end, they paid for pieces of shit.

Unfortunately, the thread was accidentally deleted when they were cleaning up from a Chinese hack.

Some of the videos are still available on his youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnz...view=0&sort=dd

Since I have no desire to perform tracking testing at that level, I tend to be in the camp of "reticle" importance being high. I don't care that I can see a gnat's asshole clench in HD at 300 yards if the reticle is a useless afterthought.

I'll go after a "cheaper" scope if its reticle is more useful to me than something that is "better" simply because it has better glass or a fancy brand on it. The reality is that most scopes today, even mid-tier, are good to go.

I also think of Neil. Neil was a guy I knew 10 years ago. A student at the Colorado School of Trades for gunsmithing, he had very little money and only one rifle: a .243 hunting rifle from Savage with some lower cost scope. Neil knew his rifle. Neil shot well -- better than a lot of dudes whose accessories alone cost more than his entire setup. It wasn't unusual for him to get first round hits on steel at distance in weird situations because he focused on shooting, not doohickies. Be like Neil.

ETA:
I've owned: US Optics, Vortex Razor (1 and 2 Gen), IOR (just don't), Burris, Bushnell, Nightforce, etc. I've had friends who have gone through the range of high end (higher level Leupy, S&B, Hensoldt, etc.). In the end, for me, the only thing that mattered was the reticle. I'll take a $1500 scope with a useful reticle any day over some $4k hunk of "BuT tHe SoCOM UseS It!". Cool story, Spongbob.

I've been reading through some threads on Sniper's Hide and there's a lot of good information there. So far I've shot one match, but need to get out to shoot some more and get more experience. I'd be curious to get your opinion on what you think is a good scope to consider for purchase.

Being able to look through good glass and maybe even try it out is important, but I'm also interested in the opinions of people who've spent more on optics than I have on my last car.

[CS1983]

I've been reading through some threads on Sniper's Hide and there's a lot of good information there. So far I've shot one match, but need to get out to shoot some more and get more experience. I'd be curious to get your opinion on what you think is a good scope to consider for purchase.

Being able to look through good glass and maybe even try it out is important, but I'm also interested in the opinions of people who've spent more on optics than I have on my last car.

It's ultimately up to you, man. Ya gotta see what's out there and offers your preferred features for your preferred budget. At the end of the day, the guy with a $5k rig who barely practices is going to get his clock cleaned by the guy with a $2k (Savage and a mid-grade Burris or Bushnell) rig that puts the 2500 extra dollars and however many extra hours into ammo, range time, and classes -- such as one w/ Brian Whalen (https://www.cprifle.com/about-us).

[Fentonite]

...I've owned: US Optics, Vortex Razor (1 and 2 Gen), IOR (just don't), Burris, Bushnell, Nightforce, etc. I've had friends who have gone through the range of high end (higher level Leupy, S&B, Hensoldt, etc.). In the end, for me, the only thing that mattered was the reticle...

Why the hate for IOR? I have one, 2.5-10 FFP mounted on a Larue, and like it. It?s been rock solid, tracks perfectly, and I like the reticle. Granted, it?s not in the same realm as my S&B, but when I was paring down, I chose to get rid of my US Optics before the IOR (granted, for more $ than the IOR would?ve brought). I?ve heard that their service dept is a pain to deal with, but I haven?t needed them. What do I need to know?