Scope for hunter silhouette

[chupiw]

Hi, everyone, I am new to the game and would like to hear suggestions for a scope.  In a few months I am going to start shooting Hunter class and I need to get a good scope.  I want a scope that has good tracking and repeatability.  I dont want to buy a scope and have to have it worked on to perform right.  So basically, what would be a good scope out of the box for me to use that will work well for me in the long run.  If I have to save up a few extra dollars, then no problem.  I dont want to go through a couple scopes to find the right one.  I would rather save up and buy a really great scope.  Any suggestions?

[chunter]

Leupold Var. III 6.5x20 EFR. Great scope, good tracking and optics and can focus down for indoor leagues.

I have also tried Sightron. It is definitely cheaper in price.  Good tracking, okay optics, good warranty.

In the past it seems like the Leupold Var.III have been the scope of choice for the money.

[Troy G]

Dan Theodore did some independent tests on scopes commonly used for silhouette not so long ago.  I cannot remember specifically the exact results but the Bushnell 4200 Elites faired well.  I have a Leupold 24x BR-D that I really as well as a Premier Boosted 14.5-35x40.

You may have to select your scope based on how much weight you have to play with.  The Leupolds tend to be lighter than most of the scopes commonly used which is one of the reasons I use their glass.

Good luck with whatever you decide to purchase.

[shootingpaul]

B&L 4200 6-24, it is a great scope but a little on the heavy side, about 21 oz, so if you have weight to spare i would not even think twice, please check my site - there is a write up about scopes etc

[yankee]

Go to a match with what you have.  Talk to the shooters. Most all will let you look through the scopes they have.   Get ideas  and look some more.  Have fun shooting it's a great game.

[iceman99]

Great info in this thread - does anyone have test results for how different scopes return to the original position?

[Troy G]

You can either search the archives for Dan's report or go to Pawel's silhouette site.  Pawel has the article there along with other really good tidbits of information on silhouette.  The scopes' tracking was covered in Dan's report.

[iceman99]

:? Didn't see any useful info besides how linear the tracking was for the Sightron and Leupold scopes. The commentary is all relative when words like good, bad, better, best are used. Ability to return to position may have been implied but I was hoping there was numerical data available.

[davei]

good = 5

okay = 3

bad = 0

does that help?   :grin:

[shootingpaul]

well the linear tracking will contribute to no adjusting for the windage when changing elevation, or adjusting elevation when changing the windage.
I am glad that Dan took the time and did the tests, there are not many people out there that are willing to not only do some tests, but also share the results with us.  
s-paul

[mikek]

Why doesn't anybody use a 36X scope in silhouette?  I have heard the mirage is too bad but I tried one off my benchrest gun and I could see fine... even better.

[davei]

lots of people do.  some with success, some would be better off going to a lower level of magnification.   the 36x experience is quite different in the off-hand position than it is from the bench.
dave

[Troy G]

I am sure that there are people who use a fixed a 36x.  I like big power as well but 36x does not give you much field of view so shooting the wrong animal could be an issue.  The bigger powers are also darker when conditions are less than ideal. You mentioned the enhanced mirage issue which is another reason.  More magnification also seems to magnify the wobble and decrease the time the crooshair is on the animal, although the animal is in fact appearing bigger.  More power also seems to mess with one's follow through.  I was told all this when I was scope shopping by the good folks who frequent this site.

I would be worried shooting a fixed 36x on a day when there is mirage.  You are right though the benchrest crowd use at least 36x.  Just look at the move Leupold made with the new BR series.  The more popular power is 45x.  I would suggest that if you want big power get a boosted Premier reticle scope.  18-40 or 14.5-35 on either a 40mm objective or a 50mm objective.  If you have a 36x shoot it and see for yourself what the pros and cons are.  No reason not to try it if that is what you have.

[shootingpaul]

fully agree with Dave, ther are some shooters that are using 36X, but most stay between 15-25X, which is very convinient for silhouette