Telescopic sight selection ?

countershaft

If you had your choice of a rifle scope, between a Unertl - 16power target scope or a Bausch & Lomb- 6x24 power varmit scope to mount on a 260 Rem ---- which would you choose ?

savage12bvss300wsm

Why do you need that much magnification? Unless you are shooting from a ROCK SOLID rest, you will be unable to keep it still at such high magnification. Also that magnification range is too high for that rifles useful range. 10-12x is more than enough. I would reccomend a 3.5-10x leupold. As good as it gets for a variable suited to that rifle.

Everyone has a photographic memory. Only some have film.

Contender Man

Of the 2 that you mentioned I would take the 6x24. But if given choice of something else I would go with a lower magnification variable such as 2.5x7 or 3x9 or thereabouts.

By doing this you have the advantage of a better field of view at the lower powers coupled with the ability to zoom up for the longer shots.

260's are good chamberings but they are not really intended for long range shooting, sure you can do it but look at the drop and energy curves on the round. If your hunting deer and up, most folks (including me) will suggest a cutoff energy level of around 1,000 to 1,100 ft. lbs. to assure that a properly placed shot will result in a humane kill. So with a 260 Rem. with 140 gr. bullet, if you subscribe to the 1,000 ft. lb. minimum your good to around 450 yards but your bullet drop (sighted at 200 yds.) will be better than 25 inches and in any kind of wind the drift will be healty as well. Other's will give you their views and opinions vary, but me, I consider the 260 or the 6.5 Swe. to be 300 yards and under for hunting. So at those ranges a high magnification scope is not really needed. In fact I have seen several cases of too much scope and the shooter's abilities being hampered because they don't have solid enough rests to keep the scope picture steady.

My thoughts ...



If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!

JustC

if it is a true varmint application, then the 6-24x would be the better choice,....especially for load developement purposes. I find that higher magnification coupled with a good rest makes for a better platform for proving which load is the accuracy load. Also,..depending on how far you are pushing that 260 out to your intended varmint,..the 24x will start coming in real handy. If you will be shooting no more than say 200yds or so,..I'd figure either scope will be more than adequate.

why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
Got Balistics?

He Dog

A puzzling post. As Contender Man has written the .260 is not really a long range varmint cartridge. JustC is correct about development of loads, but then what? If you are not shooting over 300 yards (and the .260 ballistics on factory loaded stuff are almost identical to 6.5x55, though it can be hand loaded a bit hotter) Why the high magnification scope? Out to 300 yards a 3x-9x scope will do all you need with a greater field of view and less wobble if you are not shooting off a bench. If you are shooting off a bench, then why the .260. That said I would take the variable over the fixed at those magnifications, particularly if the Unertl is not new. My .260 wears a 3x-9x Burris, though I don't hunt varmints.

He Dog

nononsense

countershaft,

We should really have more information about what the use will be for this scope and what type of rifle you are considering. Is it strictly for hunting or is it a varmint style for coyote and groundhogs or prairie dogs? Are you going to be using a form of competition rifle for F-Class or Sniper Unknown Distances. Helps us out here and we can return the favor.
quote:260's are good chamberings but they are not really intended for long range shooting
I personally wouldn't make a statement like this as it won't hold up in the field or the world of competition. F-Class (1,000 yds.), Sniper competitions, and 1,000 Yard matches have been and are being won by the 260 Rem. and the 260 AI. It is an accurate yet relatively mild cartridge that belies it's retained energy at longer distances. My accuracy loads with 'hunting' style bullets are good to 800 yards with your energy level of 1100 ft/lbs.

Best.

Salvage33

I've got a very nice "OLD" Weaver 3x9 sitting on top of a custom Mauser 25-06. Dual X reticle and parallax correction on the front ocular from 50'-1000 yds. Before anyone gets antsy, I don't shoot it a thousand yards, but it will step out very nicely to 400+ yds. The scope is a touch over 30 years old, but still functions properly and is clear.

On a 260, 9x or 10x is more than enough..and if you are hunting in the summer time, at 10x, the heat 'shimmer' at 200 yds is going to make you wonder why in the world you are out doing it anyway.

Just my humble opinion

John

A friend will post your bail. A good friend will be sitting next to you in the cell saying, "man that was fun!"

savage12bvss300wsm

I beg to differ the argument that the 260 is not a long range cartridge. I am aware that other loads may be a little better than the 260 but I usually avoid mainstream rounds. Am highly considering building a 260AI on a 700 action, screwing on a #4 or #5 26" lilja or hart and enjoying the fun. The 260 should have a little better bc in the 140grain than my ole trusty 7mm-08 and I know the 08 has made several one shot kills at 400yds. So the 260AI should be like AT&T. Just reach out and touch something. My scope of choice will be a 4.5-14x50 LR VX-III lupie. A little overkill on the magnification, but I do a good bit of target shooting at various ranges during load development so it comes in handy. But no way in heck would I even consider a 24x.

Everyone has a photographic memory. Only some have film.