High quality long range optics

[Malxwal]

Not a stalking related thread, this is for those that dabble in 1000m+ stuff. Opinions on optical clarity and the robustness and accuracy of elevation turrets.
I've had PM2 and ATACR, I know they're good. Looking to go back up to that level, so interested to hear user feedback on March, Kahles, ZCO etc etc.

 

[precision_stalker]

S&an have very good glass

 

[gixer1]

Not a stalking related thread, this is for those that dabble in 1000m+ stuff. Opinions on optical clarity and the robustness and accuracy of elevation turrets.
I've had PM2 and ATACR, I know they're good. Looking to go back up to that level, so interested to hear user feedback on March, Kahles, ZCO etc etc.

X5i worth a try maybe?

 

[shoppe]

I have a march high master ( 10x 60) fitted to my f class rifle 308 .It is excellent and can recommend them 100%.
The tracking of the turrets are superb. The clicks on the turrets are positive and easy felt.
Very good zero stop set up too.
Clarity excellent. In poor weather conditions, the sight picture is still excellent too.
When on the firing point, i have heard other shooters saying they are having difficulty in seeing the target( in crap weather) but the march is still giving an excellent picture.
It is one of the go to scopes for f class.
34mm tube.
Cheers
Shoppe

 

[bowji john]

I’ve used a Leupold mk5 5 - 25 x 56 for the last few years

It is a 35mm tube

With 20mm rail and 20mm spuhr scope mounts I don’t run out of elevation

Quite a bit lighter in weight than other equivalents

Excellent tracking and zero stop

I swap it between my Vudoo .22LR, 6.5 creed for ELR and will use it on a 300 Norma Mag (if and when) for the mile

 

[AlexD]

March produce great optics.

For long range you NEED high mag because target visualisation error is the largest of the 6 or 7 different errors that affect group size, so smash that with a x60 or 80 scope using a load that gives tight groups and you are left working on what matters, your wind estimates. Or in my case, dialling in the right elevation for targets at ranges called out in metres when my brain and hands are working in yards

I put a March 6 to 60x on my long range match rifle (a .284), and was so impressed I replaced a S&B with a March 5 to 50x on my stalking rifle: the high mag allows really good group analysis on the range, then one can set it to x12 for stalking. For long range, if buying again I would get the March 8 to 80x scope instead of 6 to 60x for long range target shooting.

On the x60, I don't run out of elevation even with flat mounts, on targets at 1100 yards. The image on March scopes is sharp and bright. Turrets are great, 8 clicks per MOA, zero reset on elevation, perfect tracking of zero in zoom. For target shooting, I just leave it on max mag. After zeroing at 100 or 200 yards, it holds the zero right out with any mag, with only the ballistics elevation and the windage correction to dial in. Parallax adjustment is perfect. Sight picture is nice and deep.

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

What are you looking for as I find many of the big names comes with positives and negatives

I have owned several high mag scopes and used/sold many of the others

S&B 5-25x56 is an awesome scope
But for my personal application I couldn’t get on with the loss of FoV at low mag below 7x

I swapped them out using man maths and false justifications to:
3-27x56 High Power
6-36x56 High performance
The latter one has some outstanding features
Capped windage (i rarely dial
Intermediate click feel at full MiL elevation (you could dial in the dark easily!)

Delta Stryker
Oustanding scopes for the price bracket
5-50 is a bonkers scope and it is super clear at 50x

Tract Torric
Awesome scope with turrets that have an almost sexual feel to the locking mechanism!!
Sharp and very well made
Only available direct

Kahles 525 and their new 328 look amazing
The 525 is a proven PM2 alternative and has Swarovski-esque clarity
Some very nice features like left hand windage turrets etc

Nightforce have some great products but I am not sold on the price point for the optical performance
Glass quality isnt a patch on the European alternatives.

 

[Bowland blades]

I used a big nightforce and also a leupold that maxed out at 16x . The NF was the best at 1000 yds but the leupold could get by . Heck take a look at some higher level TR can do with none magnifying target sights.
Guess which scope i still have ? that 16 x max leupold ! Really big, heavy high mag scopes are simply not that versatile , so if doing other stuff matters i am just saying choose with great care !

 

[Malxwal]

I'm looking for, mag IRO 35 minimum and excellent glass, excellent, accurate dialling, most likely in MRAD, and I think I want to go back to a FFP. Needs to have have enough elevation adjustment to comfortably do one mile (in a 6mil mount). I know Nightforce, S&B, Delta. I own a Kahles, but I haven't had the opportunity to look through one of their competition scopes at any distance (game fair years ago). I liked the ATACR glass, and I like them generally, but need to consider other high end stuff before making a rather expensive purchase.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

If you talk to March Scopes, they have second hand scopes available from time to time.
Regards
JCS

 

[Ronin]

Suggest you also consider the Zeiss S3/5 as they have quite a bit of elevation

Research is key with this - it’s proven that many of the extreme long range competitors use scopes in the 25 x mag field of power

There are a series of scientific based reviews of optics conducted by user name Bigjimfish on Snipers Hide in the blogs area

Based on actual testing not being gifted scopes then giving them good reviews ,,,

 

[Malxwal]

Suggest you also consider the Zeiss S3/5 as they have quite a bit of elevation

Research is key with this - it’s proven that many of the extreme long range competitors use scopes in the 25 x mag field of power

There are a series of scientific based reviews of optics conducted by user name Bigjimfish on Snipers Hide in the blogs area

Based on actual testing not being gifted scopes then giving them good reviews ,,,

On that note, I perhaps overstate the importance of magnification.

 

[NullMac]

Try this for starters ....

Hide

 

[Ronin]

Proper unbiased reviews

Facts only

 

[Dogtra UK]

I was at Eskdalemuir yesterday. One guy who constantly hit the 1 mile target did so using an Element Titan.
Makes a mockery of some of the glass there, including my own.

 

[Malxwal]

I was at Eskdalemuir yesterday. One guy who constantly hit the 1 mile target did so using an Element Titan.
Makes a mockery of some of the glass there, including my own.

Good shooting. What chambering ? When we were down on Saturday the 1450 was a blurry yellow haze

 

[Rory]

I can't see anyone mentioning Tangent Theta scopes yet, these are well worth a look. Beautifully clear glass and the turret adjustment is Swiss watch like in precision.

Tangent Theta Riflescopes

Tangent Theta riflescopes are designed for precision marksmen across all markets, including professional marksmen, competitive shooters and recreational hunters/shooters.

armament.com

 

[JohnSmith]

I can't see anyone mentioning Tangent Theta scopes yet, these are well worth a look. Beautifully clear glass and the turret adjustment is Swiss watch like in precision.

Tangent Theta Riflescopes

Tangent Theta riflescopes are designed for precision marksmen across all markets, including professional marksmen, competitive shooters and recreational hunters/shooters.

armament.com

Tangent Theta scopes are largely considered the best in the world.

 

[Wmjas]

Kahles 525 and their new 328 look amazing
The 525 is a proven PM2 alternative and has Swarovski-esque clarity
Some very nice features like left hand windage turrets

Kahles get my vote, they’re owned by swaro so you know the glass is good and they have the added benefit of having the best reticle for long range shooting ever designed in the SKMR.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

In addition to the various scopes mentioned, I've had good experiences with a Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x56 and a Zeiss S3 LRP 425-50, both FFP.
Regards
JCS