Needs some help on picking a scope.

204_ruger said:

I have been looking at some new scopes.
Leica amplus 6 3x18x44mm
Nightforce SHV 5x20x56mm
Trijicon tenmile 4x24x50mm
Zeiss v4 4x16x44mm
Leupold Vx5 3-15x44.
Huskemaw 4x16x42mm
Putting it on my new 280AI.
Going to use it for hunting. And shooting steel out to to 600 yds. Looking for a exposed elevation turret. And a capped windage turret. Could I get a custom turret for each scope? That is custom to my gun and bullet? I have a 20 MOA 1 piece base on my gun.

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Out of the ones you listed.
Trijicon tenmile.

Your budget makes the most sense higher priced scopes are better. If they were not nobody would ever buy them . Everybody would buy the cheaper scopes.

I have been using the Leupold 171715 on a few guns for years now with no problems. Given all the stories I am quite suspect of them though. I once had a (non Leupold) scope ruin a hunt. No matter what the warranty is, you can't get your hunt back.

The 171715 is the VX5HD 3-15 with wind-plex. It suits the way we hunt. Dial for elevation, hold for wind. Relatively lightweight and wonderful glass for the price point. We won't be shooting an animal past about 800 in perfect conditions.

Have one on a Tikka T3 in 7 RM. It is our most used hunting gun. Been dropped/fell over twice on hunts, has resulting ding and scratches. In both cases an elk was taken shortly after. First was 330 yds no dialing required, and second was 660 yds dialing required. Both shot right where they should have. In the second case we had time to check zero after the gun was dropped - it was fine.

I still wonder about them though. The Tikka 7RM has a lot of hunting miles and a lot of range time practicing. I wonder if Leup just puts out a stinker from time to time or the design is just marginal. The stories that guys have are numerous and real.

If I were you, given what Formilidosus has done testing over at Rokslide, I'd go with a Trijicon or NF. Trijicon is what is going on my incoming Seekins PH2.

Coors Man 264 said:

I called NF, the SHV and NXS share the same glass, and the NX8 and ATACR share the same glass. At least that is what their customer service said a couple years ago.

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You are correct with night force. I used to be a dealer for them where I worked. The difference they told me was the SHV does not have to have every scope certified because the military does not buy those scope. That's why thier cheaper also. NXS they sell to the military so everyone has to be certified. So they have to test every scope instead of maybe one in every 100 or so.

I have had great service from my 2 Amplus 6 scopes. I actually love the build quality fit and finish is excellent. Glass is on par as well.

I have a VX-5 that has served well also, for the last 6 years. But I do understand folks have had some complaints more recently.

The Zeiss V4 line has what to my eyes is the clearest glass. I know that is objective but I really like the view through that glass.

My Trijicon scopes are absolutely bulletproof and the glass is good enough for all of my hunting applications and needs.

Those are the four on your list that I own and have used extensively, along with my sons. I know that's a very basic overview but all of that to say I wouldn't hesitate to put any of these scopes on a hunting rifle.

It's a lot of fun working through the options and getting a new rig up and running! Good luck!!

Does anyone of them besides Leupold? Have a locking elevation turret? I like that on the scope. Kind of afraid I mite bump it or something. Never used a exposed elevation turret before.

Trijicon tenmile
Leica amplus
Zeiss v4?

204_ruger said:

Does anyone of them besides Leupold? Have a locking elevation turret? I like that on the scope. Kind of afraid I mite bump it or something. Never used a exposed elevation turret before.

Trijicon tenmile
Leica amplus
Zeiss v4?

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My Leica has a locking turret and I much prefer it over the Leupold

lancetkenyon said:

As long as you hunt the same elevation, temperature, and never swap ammo (and bullet lots never change), you are good to go with a custom turret.

In all actuality, a custom turret works fine for shots to 500-600, even if you change some variables. Beyond that, a lot of variables start to really effect bullet path.

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I want to clarify this statement. You also have to know your actual bullet and velocity! I recently had a buddy who asked me to look at his scope. Said all his shots past 100 yards (his zero range) would start to hit high as he went out when he dialed his custom turret. Which caused him misses on two big Coues bucks last fall.

As soon as I picked it up, I knew what his issue was. I told him no way was the velocity on the turret was correct, which would throw his drops off.

.270 Win
Factory Federal 130 NBT ammo
100 yd zero

He had shot a couple over a chronograph that must have had something VERY wrong with it. This is what it gave him. And what he gave Kenton...



2186fps. I told him when I picked it up, "No way are you only getting 2186fps from a .270 Win w. 130 NBTs in factory ammo."

I took it out to Cowtown, and shot two shots to confirm. I figured a rough estimate of 3100fps. Put that in my ballistic solver and came up with 6MOA for a 431 yard prairie dog steel. Which was his 275+/- yard marking on the turret.

This is 6MOA (24 clicks).


His 430 yard marking was at 14MOA (56 clicks-an additional 8MOA or 32 clicks=34.75" additional elevation)


His actual velocity was 3050 & 3056fps, for a 3053 avg. 867fps faster than he gave Kenton.



Here is the short video I made for him. Excuse the delay in the first shot fired. I had to adjust the diopter for my old eyes.

Beautiful job of teaching/explaining it to him!!!!

What you just did can help explain to so many new shooters just exactly what happens when you don't know your exact velocity when trying to shoot long range!!!

Playtimefun said:

Beautiful job of teaching/explaining it to him!!!!

What you just did can help explain to so many new shooters just exactly what happens when you don't know your exact velocity when trying to shoot long range!!!

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Agreed. Many guys buy factory ammo and go off what the ammo manufacturer claims and then have turrets etched for that cartridge.

Seldom do you have two rifles shoot alike either.

Another good reason NOT to JUST trust velocity outputs. It is very important to true and verify drops. Been there done that.

Kenton Industries is amazing, i had a dial done up for a friend and he shot his game farm bison at 430 yards. He came back that following week and told me it was dead on. That just reassured me that Kenton Industries is the company to go for when ordering an aftermarket dial.

So many excellent choices. I would suggest two that own. 1. Leupold VX 5HD 8,5X to 25X . Wind plex. I have it on my Mark V , 270 Weatherby Mag and used it to shoot steel out to 1100 yards. The Rings and Bases for this scope are Leupold Steel Dual Dove Tail. ( No 20 MOA rail needed) The other is also a VX5 HD 3X to 15X with an illuminated dot in the cross hairs. Thats mounted on my Weatherby Ultralight in 270 Win. Mounted with Steel Leupold Standard Bases, because they don't make Dual Dove Tail Bases for the 6-lug Mark V action. These are both simple, reliable Hunting rifles!! Just two more for you to consider. Ill bet by know you have 50 choices!!!
x

Rick Richard said:

Another good reason NOT to JUST trust velocity outputs. It is very important to true and verify drops. Been there done that.

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EXACTLY, never trust your ballistic calculator, use them to get you close on paper and correct your data by putting rounds on the paper.