In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Options
Scope choice
rjc
Member Posts: 92 ✭✭
Due to having "old eyes" I will be installing a scope on a recently aquired Ruger .44 Carbine. What do you guys & gals reccomend? Straight 4 power or a variable. It will be a quality scope not a Wal-Mart special.
Comments
Been looking at a Zeiss Conquest 6.5 20x50 with the Rapid-z 1000 reticle, just wondering if anyone has any positive or negative experiences with it.
Maybe something as good or better for less than a grand?
Will be mostly used for distance target shoots.
Thanks for any and all feedback.
as a matter of fact, just recently I had a incident where this very problem of to much magnification came into play with a rifle I didnt have a mini red dot on, and it could have ended badly, I got lucky and it didnt go as bad as it could have..
Point being, if you think this rifle will ever be used to defend your life or livestock, make it as flexable and easy as possible to use, before you need it.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=19&page=1
And look at the new SWFA SS 3X9
CP
Edit
Sandwarrior, check the reviews on the new SWFA SS scopes.
They have only been out a few weeks so durability is a question but the glass is good.
Although I admit my serious rifles have either USO or NF.
I'm all for a fixed magnification scope. In general, you get greater image quality for the dollar, more consistency and reliability.
You shouldn't get a wandering zero with a GOOD variable power scope, but you can run into issues of varying eye relief.
The only thing I'll add is that 10x is a LOT of magnification.
You didn't specify exactly what you intend to be shooting or from what distance, but unless its REALLY small, or REALLY far away, you might consider a lower power fixed scope.
A fixed 6x covers a LOT of ground (and even so does a 4x).
The problem with higher magnification is that it increases perceived "wobble" of the target, and it also limits overall field of view.
The link cpermid provided is about the only place for that I would say could be better than here for knowledge in that department. There have been some incredible scope makers and shooters on that forum talking about what they know.
I did not see a fixed 10X Burris scope. Are you maybe thinking of the 2.5 or 3-10?
A little history on the two scopes you've pointed out. Burris used to be all American made. Now the lower priced scopes are made in the Philipines. I haven't run into any bad ones, just after using good glass, I haven't been impressed with their lower level scopes. Their upper end, Signature Select, and Black Diamond (and Euro) are made here. They are very good quality. However, glass-wise, IOR and Meopta make scopes that beat them in glass quality for about the same price. For durability, so far I have not had a problem with IOR (some say they have*), Meopta or Burris B.D. The difference betwen Black Diamond and Signature Select is the tube diameters. BD is 30 mm and Signature Select is 1". The Super-Sniper is an upscale Tasco. Literally. The company was formed specifically to compete to put a Japanese made scope on top of an American sniper rifle. They won the contract for two years to supply the SEALs with scopes for their precision rifles. The Marines didn't go for it. SS lost the contract after too many scope failures. But the company pushed on and still produces scopes on par with what they did when they owned the contract. They are better built now I think. But, surprisingly, still don't have as good of glass as other Japanese made scopes like Nightforce, even Nikon. Go figure.
I'm also trying out a limited run Vortex 6.5-24 x50 mil-dot. It's limited because mine is a 1" tube and they were supposed to be 30mm tubes.
*find scott with liberty optics over on the hide (link cpermid gave you) and he can give you a good lowdown.
-good luck