Scope questons

[RobbW]

(SCorlett & others)

You may already know that I shoot Open Class Air Rifle Silhouette with a Leup. Comp. 35x.  I have a 1/4MOA target dot, and 3/8MOA windage dots at 2 and 4 MOA on both sides.

Would a setup like this be optimal for rimfire as well?  The magnification is just right for me, and the dots are useful for giving me a precise aim point for shooting in the wind.

I assume the rimfire silhouettes have the same MOA as air rifle silhouettes, right, farther away but larger?  If so, a 35x scope should make them appear the same size through the scope.

Do you have as much holding over for wind with rimfire as with air?

I see that the Premier Reticles 18-40x only has a 1" tube, whereas the Comp. 35x has a 30mm tube.  These are the two scopes that would get me to 35x.  Is there a big disadvantage to getting the smaller (and less expensive) 1" tube?  I know there would be in Field Target because of the need to range find in dark woods, but would it be a problem for rimfire silhouette?

Thanks for all the advice you've already given.  I've saved myself grief and money by getting a good start out of the gate.

[scorlett]

Rob,

This is pretty personal! (LOL) I'd hazard a guess that more top level shooters shoot around 24x followed by around 36x followed by everything else! The 6.5x20 is fairly popular since it is a fine scope, readily available.

I liked a 36x scope when I practiced with it, but decided I didn't really like competing with it (I shake a lot more in big matches!). Right now I have a 6.5x20 on my 1712 and so far I like it, even though I have a fixed 24 on everything else. I'm sure I'll try something else later just for kicks. You'll just have to decide what you like.

The wind drift I think is similar to a high powered FT rifle. The animal size scaling isn't exactly in line. They are twice as large as the air rifle targets, but the distances are a little more than twice. (20yd vs. 40m, 30yd vs. 60m, 36yd vs. 77m, 45yd vs. 100m). Obviously, this is most noticeable at the rams, but it’s very similar.

Sam

[RobbW]

Thanks Sam, that really helps.  If wind holdoff is about the same as a FT rifle than 35x should suit me fine.  I was concerned that if it were more I might need a lower-powered scope, but that if it were less I would be better off with just a single dot, instead of 5 horizontal dots.

Do you shoot with a single dot?  I find that 5 horizontal dots help me find a more precise aimpoint in the wind, but that I do not need any vertical dots since I click for distance.

It would be nice to see you for Silhouette Nationals some year, or to have you show up for FT nationals.  I would like to finally meet you in person.  I had a lot of fun improving and meeting shooters on your Silhouette Challenge site.  I may start posting scores again this winter.

[scorlett]

I shoot with either a single dot (most of mine are 1/2 moa, which is a little big for me), or with a duplex reticle. I think I actually prefer a fine duplex. I like being able to keep my focus on the selected spot on the target. I find it a little easier to center with the duplex. But saying all of that, I find it really doesn't matter much to me. I still have a lot of "irrational trigger pulls"!

I hope other's chime in here, since I'm not all that experienced... but I'll give it a go:
As far as wind, most folks I've been around just have the spotter call out the desired POA, and they try to break there as long as the hold will be somewhere on the animal. If it's more than that, I like to dial in some windage, I like to have a POA on the animal. If the wind's pretty consistent I might dial it anyway, it's kind of depends on the spotter.

All of that said, I have a lot more trouble with the wind blowing me around than blowing my bullets!

Sam

[scorlett]

Just for a fun comparison, I reduced the 1/5th scale smallbore targets by the ratio of the ar/smb distances and overlaid them on the 1/10 scale air rifle targets. The smallbore are the yellow and air rifle the grey:

[RobbW]

I shoot with either a single dot (most of mine are 1/2 moa, which is a little big for me), or with a duplex reticle. I think I actually prefer a fine duplex. I like being able to keep my focus on the selected spot on the target. I find it a little easier to center with the duplex. But saying all of that, I find it really doesn't matter much to me. I still have a lot of "irrational trigger pulls"!

I have 1/4 MOA on the center dot and 3/8 MOA on my 2 left and right dots.  That works well for me.  The larger side dots guide my eye to the center dot.  But the smaller center dot really lets me get exact about placement.

I hope other's chime in here, since I'm not all that experienced... but I'll give it a go:
As far as wind, most folks I've been around just have the spotter call out the desired POA, and they try to break there as long as the hold will be somewhere on the animal. If it's more than that, I like to dial in some windage, I like to have a POA on the animal. If the wind's pretty consistent I might dial it anyway, it's kind of depends on the spotter.

That's my dilemma.  Dial for the wind with a duplex, and take advantage of the thicker posts guiding my eye to the center crosshairs, or hold off for the wind with a side-dot, which is better for variable winds (can adjust for wind immediately while shouldering rifle).  When it comes down to it, you really just make your trade offs and live with them.  I'm seeing that optically this is not so different from air.

All of that said, I have a lot more trouble with the wind blowing me around than blowing my bullets!

Amen.

[RobbW]

Just for a fun comparison, I reduced the 1/5th scale smallbore targets by the ratio of the ar/smb distances and overlaid them on the 1/10 scale air rifle targets. The smallbore are the yellow and air rifle the grey:

Thanks for the work.  With the difference in caliber factored in, the targets are more similar than I thought.  Appreciate it.