Let's talk about scopes...... again.

[Kent Goldings]

I’m actually liking the fine crosshairs in my Leupold scope a great deal. The Nikon reticule does seem a bit chunky afterward.

 

[96coal449]

Searched around for it, apparently the 1-8 is discontinued. They now have a 1.8-10. Why not just say 2-10? Couldn't find a pic of the reticle you described. I did see some dimensional specs though. Pretty big, the proverbial 12" monster as @Willjr75 says.

Upon reading the article again, it states the reticle is "weapon and ammo specific." Meaning barrel twist specific I presume.

Model: SR-8S, FFP Plumb reticle, 1-8x

They don't talk about the scope much. Mostly the reticle and who designed it, and for what purpose it was designed for.
Is USoptics still a good company? I heard some neg reviews saying the company has gone down hill in recent years.
Then again everyone has their favorite to brag about while putting down the rest.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

Seriously Pod, you need to settle on one bullet weight/load, get your new scope, mount it up, get some range time learning the trajectory in your rifle. You'll get deadly with that thing.

 

[Podmonkey]

Seriously Pod, you need to settle on one bullet weight/load, get your new scope, mount it up, get some range time learning the trajectory in your rifle. You'll get deadly with that thing.

I run three different loads for three different puropses: I use 55gr M193 for training, plinking and general messing about, the 64gr(now 62gr) Gold Dots are the general use defensive load with an abilty to punch barriers and the various 77gr SMK loads (IMI, Magtec, Black hills) for precision target shooting and long range shooting. When I get the scope I will go through the process of working up the tables for these 3 and keep such with the rifle. If the scope allows me to shrink my 100 round groups to a meaningful degree I will restart my ammo comparisons, starting with the various 55gr loads. Particularly interested in contrasting Hornady's new 55gr HP budget match load with the Modern Munitions 55gr remanufactured ammo. Both of these are a fair bit more accurate than standard M193 stuff. I'd like to study how much more so. I'd also like to compare M855 with the 62gr Gold Dots.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

I run three different loads for three different puropses: I use 55gr M193 for training, plinking and general messing about, the 64gr(now 62gr) Gold Dots are the general use defensive load with an abilty to punch barriers and the various 77gr SMK loads (IMI, Magtec, Black hills) for precision target shooting and long range shooting. When I get the scope I will go through the process of working up the tables for these 3 and keep such with the rifle. If the scope allows me to shrink my 100 round groups to a meaningful degree I will restart my ammo comparisons, starting with the various 55gr loads. Particularly interested in contrasting Hornady's new 55gr HP budget match load with the Modern Munitions 55gr remanufactured ammo. Both of these are a fair bit more accurate than standard M193 stuff. I'd like to study how much more so. I'd also like to compare M855 with the 62gr Gold Dots.

Well, it's your money and your time. Share a pic of the new optic mounted up, if you would. I'd like to see it.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

I see, the Hornady American Gunner, .223 Rem, 55 gr HP

 

[Podmonkey]

Well, it's your money and your time. Share a pic of the new optic mounted up, if you would. I'd like to see it.

It will be a while, I think, before I can put the $1700 or so + mount money together. But will do.

 

[Podmonkey]

I see, the Hornady American Gunner, .223 Rem, 55 gr HP

Seems like pretty all right budget target stuff, runs around .50 a round retail. Gonna start using it for the monthly matches more often. The IMI M193 is good ammo but it may have let me down last time. Could not get everything in the damn 10 ring of the SR-1 target no matter how hard I tried. Scored, I think, a 100 2x with that American Gunner stuff. 100 4x with the Modern Munitions stuff which is a very reasonable .30 or so a round, but its remanufactured. I like that I can just mosey into most major gun retailers for the Hornady stuff.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

Seems like pretty all right budget target stuff, runs around .50 a round retail. Gonna start using it for the monthly matches more often. The IMI M193 is good ammo but it may have let me down last time. Could not get everything in the damn 10 ring of the SR-1 target no matter how hard I tried. Scored, I think, a 100 2x with that America Gunner stuff. 100 4x with the Modern Munitions stuff which is a very reasonable .30 or so a round, but its remanufactured. I like that I can just mosey into most major gun retailers for the Hornady stuff.

I use the Hornady American Whitetail in .243 Win and 7mm-08. Great stuff. The .243 Win's a popular price bargain, a 100 gr BTSP with a BC of .405. The 139 gr 7mm-08 is normally a one shot TKO on whitetail with a boiler room shot. I see they offer their new Frontier in a .223 Rem 55 gr HP Match offering too.

 

[Podmonkey]

Hornady makes very good ammo. I should test out some of their 75gr match ammo. Expensive but I'd only need a box of it. After I get the scope though. My last range test indicated I will glean a limited amount of useful data using a red dot.
Though I did once manage a nice sub moa 5 shot group at 200 yards with the 77gr IMI ammo using a red dot.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

Hornady makes very good ammo. I should test out some of their 75gr match ammo. Expensive but I'd only need a box of it. After I get the scope though. My last range test indicated I will glean a limited amount of useful data using a red dot.
Though I did once manage a nice sub moa 5 shot group at 200 yards with the 77gr IMI ammo using a red dot.

Once my rifle is sighted in to my satisfaction, I lose all interest in paper punching. I get off the bench and pop away at different sized steel targets from various field positions and different distances. There's something about the solid whack when the bullet connects. I find great personal satisfaction in that.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

Sub moa's nice, but I'd take a 30-06 that grouped into an inch and a half, and shot 150-180 gr bullet weights to pretty much the same point of impact over sub moa with one load any day of the week. I have no practical use for greater precision.

 

[Podmonkey]

Once my rifle is sighted in to my satisfaction, I lose all interest in paper punching. I get off the bench and pop away at different sized steel targets from various field positions and different distances. There's something about the solid whack when the bullet connects. I find great personal satisfaction in that.

I'm thinking about getting a few steel popper plates, the kind you stake in. I also shoot at clays, self sealing target thingys and water bottles and jugs. I also keep things lively with the paper targets by doing drills, left, right target transitions at 25 yards, 25 to 100 yard transitions, transition to sidearm drills and reload drills. I should get a shot timer I think.

 

[Podmonkey]

Sub moa's nice, but I'd take a 30-06 that grouped into an inch and a half, and shot 150-180 gr bullet weights to pretty much the same point of impact over sub moa with one load any day of the week. I have no practical use for greater precision.

I agree, I think 2moa and under is very good and up to 4 is servicable. I was simply pleased that I could do that well with a red dot and with what is essentially a duty carbine.
But yes, people these days have an unrealistic and impractical expectation of accuracy.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

I'm thinking about getting a few steel popper plates, the kind you stake in. I also shoot at clays, self sealing target thingys and water bottles and jugs. I also keep things lively with the paper targets by doing drills, left, right target transitions at 25 yards, 25 to 100 yard transitions, transition to sidearm drills and reload drills. I should get a shot timer I think.

Left and right handed might not be a bad drill either, just in case. I do sometimes. I set up my stand to favor my right handedness, but you never know. Another fun drill is moving targets, but that requires a buddy. Taught me a lot about hitting a running deer, learned my sight picture.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

I agree, I think 2moa and under is very good and up to 4 is servicable. I was simply pleased that I could do that well with a red dot and with what is essentially a duty carbine.
But yes, people these days have an unrealistic and impractical expectation of accuracy.

Oh he'll yeh that was some fine shooting my friend, not taking anything away from you there. And absolutely unrealistic, and if I may add, unnecessary expectations for the 99.9% of us mere mortals. Fact is, 99% of the rifles out there can out shoot 99% of the people out there. Anyone who can stand on their hind legs and put all their shots into a 6" circle @ 100 yards, is a damn good marksman.

 

[Podmonkey]

Left and right handed might not be a bad drill either, just in case. I do sometimes. I set up my stand to favor my right handedness, but you never know. Another fun drill is moving targets, but that requires a buddy. Taught me a lot about hitting a running deer, learned my sight picture.

I'm limited in what I can do at a public range, well not public, its a member range but you know what I mean. But I will be taking another carbine class soon. Did all kind of crazy stuff last time. Lot of move and shoot, move while shooting stuff. Very fun. Working with cover got kinda......... grueling for me though, too fat and stiff joints. I'm much skinnier now though, maybe that will help.

 

[Podmonkey]

Oh he'll yeh that was some fine shooting my friend, not taking anything away from you there. And absolutely unrealistic, and if I may add, unnecessary expectations for the 99.9% of us mere mortals. Fact is, 99% of the rifles out there can out shoot 99% of the people out there. Anyone who can stand on their hind legs and put all their shots into a 6" circle is a damn good marksman.

I can tag a plate roughly half the width of an IPSIC plate offhand at 200 yards.

 

[Podmonkey]

Here is that group, and the thread its from:

5.56 ammo battle! Bulk vs Premium.

Thats 5 shots, two through the same hole, measured at about 1.8" This from a CHF, chrome lined 16" gov't barrel. Not too shabby. but the other targets sure weren't much to look at. If I took more time with the Black Hills targets I might have been able to cloverleaf all 5 at 100 yards, with the red dot.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

Here is that group, and the thread its from:
View attachment 25745
5.56 ammo battle! Bulk vs Premium.

Nice! Must be a my generation thing. I may notice an unusually small group average, in which case I would make a mental note to keep buying that brand, type and bullet weight. An unusually large group might cause me to think I needed to practice more lol. If it continued I wouldn't use that ammo anymore. I never think to take a pic tho. Never even had a cell phone til 2007. I go to the bar to get lost on purpose.

 

[Podmonkey]

Nice! Must be a my generation thing. I may notice an unusually small group average, in which case I would make a mental note to keep buying that brand, type and bullet weight. An unusually large group might cause me to think I needed to practice more lol. If it continued I wouldn't use that ammo anymore. I never think to take a pic tho. Never even had a cell phone til 2007. I go to the bar to get lost on purpose.

Oh I've got a 2000 round stash of that ammo, belive me. At .77 a round I'm loathe to shoot any of it though. I was snapping pics for the thread, trying to generate content on the forums for the search engines to hoover up. Imagine that!

 

[SmallGameAddict]

Oh I've got a 2000 round stash of that ammo, belive me. At .77 a round I'm loathe to shoot any of it though. I was snapping pics for the thread, trying to generate content on the forums for the search engines to hoover up. Imagine that!

I have a substantial cache myself, for various caliber rifles and shotguns. For my hunting ammo, I normally buy 10 boxes of same lot number each time.

 

[Kent Goldings]

You can pick up 800 round cases of Norma TAC 223 for about $250. The stuff is amazing for 31 cents a round. My 223 averages about 3/4 MOA. I have a healthy stash for plinking and impromptu target shooting.

I harvest the Norma brass and reload them with Sierra Varminter 60 gr. HP. These loads will make you weep with joy. These average about 1/2 inch. I wonder to myself if the 1/4 inch is worth the trouble.

 

[Podmonkey]

You can pick up 800 round cases of Norma TAC 223 for about $250. The stuff is amazing for 31 cents a round. My 223 averages about 3/4 MOA. I have a healthy stash for plinking and impromptu target shooting.

I harvest the Norma brass and reload them with Sierra Varminter 60 gr. HP. These loads will make you weep with joy. These average about 1/2 inch. I wonder to myself if the 1/4 inch is worth the trouble.

Link please.

 

[Kent Goldings]

Link please.

I’m not sure I can link to something in the store.

 

[meketrefe]

Black hills 77gr TMK is one of the most accurate and best ammo on the market.
SO started to swap the otm for the tmk due to the amazing consistency.
Also a lot faster in the shorter barrels. It leaves the Barak Obama and x39 in the dust.

 

[Podmonkey]

I’m not sure I can link to something in the store.

Where are you getting it from is what I'm asking.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

You know Pod, it's too bad the Burris Eliminator Gen III is so damn big, that would be perfect for your needs, and under budget too.

 

[Podmonkey]

You know Pod, it's too bad the Burris Eliminator Gen III is so damn big, that would be perfect for your needs, and under budget too.

Must have 1x on the low end. The ability to be used as a red dot is central to my needs.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

I know, it's a big 'IF", but IF it was available in 1x8, 5" long, 8 oz, it'd be the nuts. You ever check it out? Self ranging to 1200 yards max. Input your ballistic info. Sight in @ 100 yards. Aim at target, non-reflective to 750 yards, reflective to 1200 yards. Push Button. Dot appears so you can hold dead on, will also factor in 10 mph crosswind. Scope does 99% of the work. Cons: currently lengthy and heavy. Wave of the future.