Scope power for 1,760y ?

[Kampfjager]

I didnt want this thread to be a ****ing match.... i just wanted peoples OPINIONS on the optimum power for 1 moa @ 1 mile shooting, considering all variables ..... there must be one that stands out as a well rounded power for this application......

 

[yorke-1]

I didnt want this thread to be a ----ing match.... i just wanted peoples OPINIONS on the optimum power for 1 moa @ 1 mile shooting, considering all variables ..... there must be one that stands out as a well rounded power for this application......

I think you were fine with your initial thought to go with the XTR III. It has enough of a zoom range that you can turn it down if the conditions are bad or crank it up when conditions allow it.

 

[Kampfjager]

I think you were fine with your initial thought to go with the XTR III. It has enough of a zoom range that you can turn it down if the conditions are bad or crank it up when conditions allow it.

From what ive seen, its a great option....but 18x or 30x ?....

 

[del2les]

It wasn't a commentary on hunting at one mile, just a comment tying in hunting to the conversation since it works out that an elk kill zone happens to be about 1 MOA at 1 mile.

Regardless of the specific details of the target, the same logic applies. Shooting at a 1 MOA target at 100 yards with a 14x optic is the same as shooting at a 1 MOA target at 1760 yards with a 14x optic. Maybe I'll go back and edit my post to say watermelon instead of elk so that I'm not derailing the thread.

Uhhh... wrong. Angular measurements do not work that way. I explained the target perception above and the basic math to calculate the required increase in scope magnification to achieve equal perception in the scope and the reticle.

As the distance increases, the magnification to maintain the same optic perception on an moa sized target must increase in the same proportion. I.e. 1x, 5x, 10x, 17.6x and so on. Thus for simplification, I used a 1 moa target at 100 yds with a 1x mag setting. Simple math calc for any 1 moa target at the corresponding change in distance. 500, 1,000, 1,760, 2,000 etc. In other words, a 1moa target at 1,000 yds (10") with a 10x scope is the same view as a 1 moa target at 100 yds with a 1x scope. Same for a 1 moa target at 1,760 with an 18x scope, and a1 moa at 2,000 is 20x.

So, unless one enjoys shooting at 1 moa dots at 100 yds with a 1x scope, that is the view you have at 1,760 yds with an 18x scope on a 1 moa target (18"). A smaller scope magnification at this range and target size would be similar to sighting at 100 yds at a 1 moa dot with a 3/4x scope or similar.

Since most of us do not like sighting or zeroing at 1 moa dots at 100 yds with only 1x scopes, for most of us, we use higher magnifications at 100 yds and thus logic the same at 1 mile on an moa target.

This is a basic math calc for angular measurement at increasing distances.
A 14x scope view at 100 yds on a 1 moa dot to "appear the same relative size" on a 1 moa target at 1,760 yds requires: 14 x 17.6= 246

 

[Kampfjager]

Uhhh... wrong. Angular measurements do not work that way. I explained the target perception above and the basic math to calculate the required increase in scope magnification to achieve equal perception in the scope and the reticle.

As the distance increases, the magnification to maintain the same optic perception on an moa sized target must increase in the same proportion. I.e. 1x, 5x, 10x, 17.6x and so on. Thus for simplification, I used a 1 moa target at 100 yds with a 1x mag setting. Simple math calc for any 1 moa target at the corresponding change in distance. 500, 1,000, 1,760, 2,000 etc. In other words, a 1moa target at 1,000 yds (10") with a 10x scope is the same view as a 1 moa target at 100 yds with a 1x scope. Same for a 1 moa target at 1,760 with an 18x scope, and a1 moa at 2,000 is 20x.

So, unless one enjoys shooting at 1 moa dots at 100 yds with a 1x scope, that is the view you have at 1,760 yds with an 18x scope on a 1 moa target (18"). A smaller scope magnification at this range and target size would be similar to sighting at 100 yds at a 1 moa dot with a 3/4x scope or similar.

Since most of us do not like sighting or zeroing at 1 moa dots at 100 yds with only 1x scopes, for most of us, we use higher magnifications at 100 yds and thus logic the same at 1 mile on an moa target.

This is a basic math calc for angular measurement at increasing distances.

I actually 100% disagree with this statement.... the power of the scope has no bearing on this particular subject. A 1 moa dot at 100 yards and a 10 moa dot at a 1000 look exactly the same regardless of the power of scope as long as the power is the same when looking at both..... both will look the same on 5x, 8x, 10x, 20x etc, so power is irrelevant as far as sight picture goes....

 

[del2les]

I actually 100% disagree with this statement.... the power of the scope has no bearing on this particular subject. A 1 moa dot at 100 yards and a 10 moa dot at a 1000 look exactly the same regardless of the power of scope as long as the power is the same when looking at both..... both will look the same on 5x, 8x, 10x, 20x etc, so power is irrelevant as far as sight picture goes....

???? Uhh what? Please reread that. Of course the power change has a direct impact on the relative size of the perceived target, for isn't that why we use higher power scopes in the first place?

When did we go from speaking of "1 moa" at differing ranges to increasing the target to "10 moa" 1 inch vs 100 inches ? MOA is a angular measurement with a basic size ratio to distance: 1 at 100= 1", 1 at 1,000=10", etc, etc.

Guys, this is a basic math/physics calculation

 

[Kampfjager]

???? Uhh what? Please reread that. Of course the power change has a direct impact on the relative size of the perceived target, for isn't that why we use higher power scopes in the first place?

When did we go from speaking of "1 moa" at differing ranges to increasing the target to "10 moa" 1 inch vs 100 inches ? MOA is a angular measurement with a basic size ratio to distance: 1 at 100= 1", 1 at 1,000=10", etc, etc.

Yea everyone knows what MOA is... what im sayin is a 1" target at 100y looks exactly the same as a 10" at 1k.... through any power range.... i didnt mean 10 moa, was a typo lol

 

[yorke-1]

From what ive seen, its a great option....but 18x or 30x ?....

May as well go with the 30x. You can always turn down the magnification if 30 is too much.

 

[ar10ar15man]

you CANNOT turn the 18 up to take advantage of good CONDITIONS.
you can turn the 30 DOWN if needed.

 

[Kampfjager]

you CANNOT turn the 18 up to take advantage of good CONDITIONS.
you can turn the 30 DOWN if needed.

Really good point....

 

[shooter72]

Well I just put a 7-35 ATACR on my latest ELR rig I will tell you if I love it or hate it tomorrow. I have always been perfectly satisfied with my 5-25's but will the extra power be enough to temp me to be greedy and turn it up???

 

[Kampfjager]

Well I just put a 7-35 ATACR on my latest ELR rig I will tell you if I love it or hate it tomorrow. I have always been perfectly satisfied with my 5-25's but will the extra power be enough to temp me to be greedy and turn it up???

ATACR's are sweeeeet!

 

[yorke-1]

ATACR's are sweeeeet!

They really are, and if you shop around you can find good deals on used ones. I bought a 5-25x56 ATACR for $1800 a while back from somebody who was just upgrading to the F1 version. I prefer SFP scopes for most of my shooting anyways.

If you aren't in a hurry to buy a scope you can score a deal on some great used optics. The best brands all have excellent warranties, so buying a used scope from one of the big names really isn't much of a risk and it can save you a ton of money.

 

[skipglo]

20x has been fine for me out to 1800. More can be better as long as mirage isn't bad

Whats everyones opinion on optimum scope power for 1 mile (1,760y) shooting and why? Just wondering what everyone is running on their ELR rifles, the Burris XTR III 5.5-30x56 looks like the perfect choice for this application.....any thoughts?

Very good choice!