Best scope for long range and hunting?

[loaders_loft]

I have two buckmasters 6-18x40 with BDC reticle. The BDC reticle is handy sometimes, but not "perfectly" calibrated to my rifles.

The main problem with the BDC is the reticle lines are too thick. When the target or game is way out there, it practically covers them up. You certainly can't "pick a hair" to shoot...

[M_Shock]

That's what I was afraid of. Guess I won't really know how I feel about it till I look threw one myself, but from the pics they give on the net they all just seem to big and thick (that's what she said).

So here is what I have narrowed it down too:

Vortex Viper 4-12x40 PA
Elite 3200 5-15x40 Matte Tactical

Nikon Buckmaster 4-12x50 Niko-Plex


Super Snipers are out cause there is no zoom, which is too bad cause I like everything else about them. I really liked the Leupold's but the one with the magnification that I want only comes with 1/2 MOA adj. and the least amount of total adj. Any personal opinions on the three listed above?

[Gardien]

SWFA has a 3-9x mil/mil variable scope.

SWFA SS 3-9x42 Tactical Riflescope
Stock # - SS39X42

• Matte
• First Focal Plane Mil-Dot
• 30mm
• OK for .50 cal
• 0.1 MRAD

$599.95
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[M_Shock]

For having about the same specs as the others I mentioned, plus only 3-9 magnification it seems a bit pricey. Plus I'm leaning away form the mil-dot reticles for various reasons. I figure with a gun zeroed at 200y you can shoot fairly accurately out too about 400y without adj for drop. If I'm shooting at something further then that, I should have plenty of time to dial in for drop and wind. Plus, I'm sure if you used mil-dots enough one could become proficient with them, but I doubt you could ever get the accuracy that you get when dialing in range and wind. I'm fairly new to all this so maybe I'm way off, but it seems logical to me.

[Jon A]

Originally Posted by M_Shock

If I'm shooting at something further then that, I should have plenty of time to dial in for drop and wind....I'm fairly new to all this so maybe I'm way off, but it seems logical to me.

Nothing wrong with that at all. But to add something you may not have considered yet, you don't need to dial both drop and wind. I prefer to dial drop and hold wind so a reticle with good reference marks is very useful.

Dialing drop (usually) is pretty quick and mindless--read the range, dial the number. Quick and easy.

Dialing the wind is much more difficult and more of a judgment call. It takes some "thinking" and "observing" before deciding what the final wind hold will be. I find looking through the scope at mirage, movement of foliage around the target, etc, helps me decide while I'm already on the target. Not to mention it'll often change between the time you dial and get on the target so it's sometimes unavoidable.

Anyway, just something to ponder you may not have yet. Of course I suck at reading the wind so don't take it as gospel....

[Varmint Hunter]

I dial in for shooting LR groundhogs but when hunting deer there's rarely enough time to fool around with knobs. Sometimes you barely have sufficient time to get a laser reading before getting "on target".

I like thin crosshairs too, although they are much more difficult to see in low light. I had Leupold install a "Varmint Reticle" in my Leupy instead of the "Boone & Crocket" reticle. It worked out quite well on my 7STW.

[MontanaRifleman]

I would stay away from BDC reticles because they wont match your bullet/load. They might be close, but that's only good to maybe 400 yds give or take. Mil dot reticles are good, but might get a little confusing if you're using MOA turrets. Best to stay mildot reticle with milrad teuurets and MOA with MOA if possible..