Best scope for long range target shooting?

[Benj1]

Hello chaps, I’m looking for advice/ opinions on what scope (£1500 tops) would be the best one for shooting target out to around 1000m?
I have my eye on 2 possibly scopes, although I’m open to any other suggestions.
Either the zeiss V6 5-30 or the Delta Stryker in either the 4-30 ffp, or 5-50 sfp?
Any advice on any of these or others in this price range would be welcome.
I’m pretty much set on either of these 2 so would one choose the zeiss or the delta? Which is better?!!
Many thanks.

 

[Cliff Ray]

Benj1, where are you based? If you are anywhere near Spilsby in Lincolnshire I have the Zeiss V6 (and V8) here and 970m down to the nearest treeline if you want to have a look through them.

 

[North Stalker]

As you have said you're open to suggestions, I'd go Second Hand PM2 5-25x56 or a PM2 Double Turn 3-12x50, I've had both, too much scope for stalking, but very good for range work. Must be good HM Forces now issue, well, for 10 years now, the 5-25x56 to their snipers.

That would probably be my first and second choice. After that, I'm guessing a new Nightforce although never used one.

 

[Malxwal]

I've recently acquired a second hand Delta Stryker 4-30x56FFP, and am rather impressed, so much so I am considering upgrading to the newer model with lockable turrets (because it does sometimes get out and about despite being on a heavy rifle).
You did say to stick to the two scopes you mentioned, but try and have a look through a Nightforce ATACR or a PMII too. This will either make you stretch your budget, or realise what great value the Stryker is.
I have no input on the Zeiss, sorry, haven't had the honour.

 

[mealiejimmy]

Look for a second hand March or IOR Valdada

Cheers

Bruce

 

[Jamesy13]

I have the Zeiss V6 5-30 and it’s great. The glass is very very good and the turrets about the best I’ve tried.
I was looking at the Delta as well before I went with Zeiss. Main reason was that the Zeiss is much lighter and I like the simple No. 6 ret. I use it for lamping as well as target.

No CA at all at any range. One thing to consider though, the Delta has far more adjustment range than the Zeiss.

 

[Jamesy13]

I briefly looked through the Delta at the shooting show, from what I could see the glass was very nice. If was too buy another target only scope it would probably be the Delta

 

[purdeydog]

If you haven’t thought it already you need to know what want to do with your rifle. Put all your data together ie bullet and caliber and distance you want to shoot at. Work out the drop your going to need and find a scope with the required adjustments. Remember some scopes say they have x of adjustment but in reality they have half of what they say.

 

[Markfox]

I’d go S&B PM2 5-25 etc

 

[paul o']

Just gone Delta Stryker mrad with FFP unless you match shooting then 2FP had a V8 very good but its not a target scope or as others say PM2 USED but for under your buget the delta is hard to beat have a look at Richard Uttings review so you can decide for yourself.

 

[The Bear]

Id be a bit more specific about exactly what type of Target shooting you are doing what exactly the target is. Steel silhouettes at 1000 yards are very different to F Class targets and the type of shooting may warrant 1st or second focal plane among many many other factors. How about attending a shoot and looking what others use and having a gas with them in the many boringly dull hours spent on a firing point or in the butts with nothing interesting to do.

 

[I. Farticus]

This will do the job nicely:

For Sale: - TR23-2 Trijicon/AccuPoint® 5-20x50 Scope

As new. Only been out of the box once. Comes with a green tritium illuminated dot. As you can see from my photograph the central aiming dot is helpfully much, much smaller than depicted in the on-line drawing. 30mm tube: TR23-2 AccuPoint - Trijicon, Inc. Cheers K

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

I've shot 115gr DTAC out to 1200yds with one, and it just works...

If not, then look at the Sightron SIIISS 6-24x50 LRMOA at £899 from Opticswarehouse

or a previously loved 10-50x60 LRIRMOA on bay of evil:

series 3 Sightron scope 10-50 x 60 lrirmoa illuminated, ,perfect lenses | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for series 3 Sightron scope 10-50 x 60 lrirmoa illuminated, ,perfect lenses at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

You'll have plenty of change from all 3

 

[ChesterP]

I've tried scopes at just about all different budgets for dedicated long range shooting and came to the conclusion that only a rich man can afford cheaper glass and cheaper mechanicals. Plenty of people rave about the Sightron Siii but honestly, when I tried one, I just didn't get the hype as I found the glass quite poor even in comparison with my DMR. The least expensive scope that I've found more than acceptable at longer range is the bushnell DMR series...just about one of the most reliable and best optics imho at its price point but I also liked the newer Gen 2 Vortex PST scopes for similar money. The further out you go, the more mechanical precision, repeatability and reliability matters as much as optical resolution and clarity. I went through scopes from around £400 up to £2400 and no surprises for guessing that the top tier ones comprehensively wiped the floor imho with cheaper scopes, and that includes deltas (which optically are ok, not top tier, but ok).

I ended up with a shortlist of six scopes including the Khales 624i, the S&B PMII (double turn), The vortex Razor Gen 2, IOR Cruisader, Steiner MX5i and Nightforce Beast.

Of those, my favourite optically were the PM2 and the Vortex but I opted for the PM2, although the Khales was pretty good too. It's proven reliable and rugged in theatre which provides reassurance that for civvy street it'll be more than solid enough, and I liked the simplicity of the zero-stop and ease of use plus preferred the rets to the Vortex. I didn't like the Cruisader. Big and chunky but the ret imho was way too thick for LR precision work and it had an odd colour cast. There were also plenty of reports of unreliability at the time, and that cloud still hangs over them. The Nightforce I couldn't see for a decent price and I had already discounted March top tier scopes because I felt the PM2 offered everything needed for less money. I also bought, then sent back the tactical Steiner MX5i Military LR scope. It was truly awful at the price with terrible chromatic abberation which conveniently not one review on it picked up on (the trouble with paid reviews ) Perhaps a duff one? Nope, as I got the importer to check others in that batch and they all had it, Batch issue? Perhaps but my money wasn't going there.

I think a lot boils down to personal preference at this level, a lot depends on what suits you. There's a reason that the PM2 has been so popular for so long, and I wasn't put off by the nonsense forum talk about it tunnelling at low mag since it's not used at under 10x...ever, by me or 99% of users who buy the 5-25 x 56. That was a few years back and I don't regret my decision. It's been a fabulous scope for that purpose.

 

[6.5x55 bob]

I have been looking for months tested the lot, S & B, Swaro, Steiner, etc etc, I finally went for the Delta Stryker 5-50-56, with 34 mill tube so why this scope ?.
The glass is perfect, easy to dial in and out, has stop hold on it, and used it on the range over 150 for zero, out to 300, then 500, and the max I could get was 750, clear as if it was 150, its got the illuminated ret I just love it and only had it a week bought off here by MMbeattie top bloke, ps zeroed in 4 shots

 

[DJC]

P M 11 10x42

 

[Tulloch]

Best scope for target shooting under £1500 , if you want FFP and a 34mm tube then it would have to be the Bushnell DM11 , if you want a 30mm , Tract do a nice scope also but it is 30mm tube .

If you like a SFP scope then I would go with one of the Zeiss offers , V6 at the moment is £1400 it is a 30mm tube with ASV zero turret and comes in a variant amount of reticles and mags .

 

[Selous]

I think a lot boils down to personal preference at this level, a lot depends on what suits you. There's a reason that the PM2 has been so popular for so long, and I wasn't put off by the nonsense forum talk about it tunnelling at low mag since it's not used at under 10x...ever, by me or 99% of users who buy the 5-25 x 56. That was a few years back and I don't regret my decision. It's been a fabulous scope for that purpose.

Totally agree, I have run a 5-25 PMII for perhaps 10 years with total satisfaction. Yes it does tunnel below 6 power but I have never ever needed the mag that low. Even stalking I set it on 8 power and it’s fine. Mine is the SFP model which will get repurposed to an extreme long range rifle I am working on. Will need to get a replacement for it at some stage which will be FFP and mil mil with clockwise adjustments to match my other scopes
Contenders at the moment are another S&B and possibly the new Kahles 5-25. Whilst I liked the repeatability of the NF NSX I had, the turrets were counter clockwise which lead to mistakes when time was short.

 

[ChesterP]

It's exactly that one I use srvet. Mil/Mil, FFP, FP4 fine ret, clockwise adjustments. Best scope I've ever used and repeatability with dialling is spot on. One of my deer rifles has a Nightforce on it, SFP/NP1 simple ret and great contrast. Used for long range vermin control and deer. Another uses the Bushnell DMR...to my mind the best compromise for a mid range scope with good optics and build. FFP, compact and used at 8x mag for deerstalking and 17 to 20x for long range work. If I fancy a change for the smaller cal deer rifle, I simply swap the NF out for a 4 x 44 WA Bisley Delux scope.

 

[sy247]

I recently bought a second hand IOR 6 - 24 x 50 in SFP. I paid around £700 and the glass and build quality is awesome. It is a heavy scope though.