Leup. 18-40x feedback?

[RobbW]

I've decided to go with the Premier Reticles boosted 18-40x Leupold silhouette special.  Before I call them, I'd like some information.

Anyone know how closely the scope will focus?  It would be a benefit if it were close enough to use for dry fire practice in my basement.  18 yds. should do it.

Any disadvantages of getting it reparallaxed so near?

What is the MOA of the dot at 18x and at 40x?  They just give size in absolute inches, I may need to have them build me a smaller dot.  I've got a 1/4 MOA dot I use on my airgun and it is just perfect for me for Silhouette.

Any other feedback on this scope?

Thanks,
Robb

[kahuna]

Make sure you get an E.F.R. Model, Then it should go down to 10 Meters.

[GeoNLR]

Chris at premier can cover the question about MOA at what power at what range. I had thought 5/8 MOA was 5/8 MOA, but I have been corrected in the past so I will not present that info again...LOL.

I have 3 of these scopes and as mentioned they are the "Air Rifle" EFR marked versions that will focus a little less than 10M. I shoot 10M in my basement and I can focus to read the fine print on the pages at that distance.

RE:"Any disadvantages of getting it reparallaxed so near?"
None, turn the AO back to another setting to shoot Small Bore, High Power, or any other distance from 10M to infinty.

Call and talk to Chris, he is a good guy and they stand behind their work. He can put what ever size dot you want in it at the begining w/o a price change as I understand it.

Only negative I have ever had with these scopes is that from time to time I have wanted to slap one on my hunting rifle, 6.5-20 would be perfect, 18-40....Different story, LOL.

WARNING!!!
You will probally start a "war" here with power settings and etc. There have been many talking about not "outshooting" powers below 20 and etc. I'm not that good (guess I'm suppporting their arguement, HA-ha) BUT I do watch my hits and misses through my scope during follow through. I love to see a pig hit high in the hump to go spinning back or the Ram to go straight back when the shot is right. To me the dot on 40X is about 3/8 MOA at 100 meters, only thing I base that on is a target w/ use with a .5" center circle, I can still see the circle w/ my dot inside it, just a bit of it... Dot is perfect for shooting at 40X, Way too big for shooting at 18X IMHO. Example is pigs, I can tell when I'm "on" the pig, I just can't tell you what part of him I'm on at 18x . On 40X, you can put the dot on his ear if you want... All in personal prefrence I guess. I have no problem being on call shooting at 40X, my spotters just can't figgure out why I pull the trigger while I'm off the animal, LOL!

Chicken

[ajj]

After some early fumbling around, I've never shot silhouette with anything other than fixed 24x. Last highpower match I practiced a little with 36x. When I first put the rifle to my shoulder I was delighted to see the animal look so big. Then, I realized I couldn't keep the dot in the target long enough to break a shot. I definitely plan to try 12 or 16x as soon as possible.

[wplylar]

I have two EFRs, one on my hunter rifle and one on my sons.  Mine has the 18-36 boost from Premier.

Both focus down to 10 meters with no problem, maybe a little less.

No problem with either scope except that on both rifles I have to shim the rear of the scope in order to get enough elevation to reach the turkeys and the rams.  Otherwise, no problem.

[Varn1808]

George,
     you have just hit on my major pet peeve with the power conversions. Why anyone would want a reticle that changes subtension at different magnifications is beyond me. I like them to be 3/8", 1/2" or whatever at all powers. I own six of these scopes. 4 of them are first focal plane(magnifying) reticles that stay the same and 2 are the silhouette specials that change subtension with a change in magnification(non-magnifying). I would trade them both for first focal plane scopes in a heartbeat!!! That being said, the turn around time at premier is extremely fast and the focusing of the EFR series is way under 10 meters. The following is the subtention of the dot of a silhouette special.   Varn
18X .73  
20X .62  
24X .54  
25X .52  
36X .36  
40X .32

[RobbW]

Thanks for the great replies.  I'm glad to know the EFR will handle basement dry-fire practice with no adjustments.

Varn, are your nonsubtending Leupolds?  Does Leupold make first-focal plane variable scopes?

I have the fixed 35x that I use for Air Rifle Silhouette and the power seems just right for me.  I'm thinking about the 18-40x because it would give me a bit more magnification and I could share it with a .17HMR benchrest rifle I'm building.  Maybe I'm sacrificing too much in my drive to buy a more flexible scope that will cover Silhouette and Benchrest.

If I purchased a Comp. 35x or 40x, would it make weight on an Anschutz 1712 in Hunter Class?

[eeleater]

Varn 1808  

Looks like I am not the only one who wants to know about your 4 scopes with the magnifying reticles.  Are these "just" dots added to a variable- or dots added AND the power boosted.

I also have a 6.5 x 20 EFR and am thinking of boosting the power and having a dot added.  Have been using it on an air rifle and find I REALLY miss the dot I have on the 36X I use in smallbore.

[40x40]

I have the Premier Reticles boosted 18-40x Leupold on my high power silhouette hunter/standard rifle, and can dryfire with it at 10 meters. You can turn the objective lens and the sunshade does not move like other scopes will. I got the Butler Creek lens covers so that works great.  I am strictly a high magnification shooter like you since I also shoot Field Target.
Other scopes I have.
8x32 Bushnell 4200 on my SB Hunter with 1/2 MOA TK Lee dot.
36x Weaver with 3/8 MOA dot on my SB Standard.

Leo

[GeoNLR]

If I purchased a Comp. 35x or 40x, would it make weight on an Anschutz 1712 in Hunter Class?

I don't know about the Comp scopes, if you can look up the weight of the comp scopes and the 6.5-20x40 I have one of those boosted to 18-40 on my 1712 and even when I had a wood stock, I had no trouble making weight anywhere I shot. I think I had 2-3 ozs to spare.

Chicken

[GeoNLR]

If I purchased a Comp. 35x or 40x, would it make weight on an Anschutz 1712 in Hunter Class?

I don't know about the Comp scopes, if you can look up the weight of the comp scopes and the 6.5-20x40 I have one of those boosted to 18-40 on my 1712 and even when I had a wood stock, I had no trouble making weight anywhere I shot. I think I had 2-3 ozs to spare.

Chicken

Looked up the specs

6.5-20 = 19 ozs
35= 20.3 ozs
40=20.3 ozs

I'm sure the bost weighs something so I would assume the scopes weigh withing 1 oz of one another. Unless you have added something to your 1712, should have no prob making weight. There are 6 of us shooting 1712's local and the only one I heard of having weight issuies added a nice thick rubber but pad to increase the LOP. I think 3- are shooting the 18-40, 2- weaver 24, and 1- vx2 6-18 FWIW. Like I mentioned I'm shooting a McMillian, all others are shooting wood.

By the way 2 of us were making weight with wood, 18-40x40 and millet steel rings... I even weighed in with that config and a loaded mag..lol.

Chicken

[Varn1808]

Eeleater and RobbW,
     Premier used to offer scopes with First Focal Plane reticles on their power boost. Now only second focal plane reticles in power boosts are available. I happen to have four of the earlier ones that were in the First focal plane. As stated, it's all personal preference. I just like them better and they suit my needs better.    Varn

[Hornetx60]

Premier Ret. discontinued the first focal plane reticules because most silhouette shooters wanted the dot to get smaller as the power went up. You would have to look through one of the older style ones to understand the difference. I liked the original scopes but Chris told me they just couldn't keep the parts around and continue the confusion of building both styles when most shooters couldn't handle it and didn't like it. To Me I want a 1/2 moa that stays 1/2 moa at all powers the problem is as you increase the power the dot will get bigger....but of course it will in the first focal plane style. It is still covering 1/2 moa.. I'm with Varn on this I want to know what my dot size is all the time and I want it to stay the same ...but so goes the Majority even if they are Wrong So now we are stuck with the ever changing size of the dot!!!LOL

[RobbW]

Thanks again for the information.  I called Premier today and after speaking with them, I went with the 18-40x.  

It came down to the variable power scope being more flexible, they claimed it was 3-4 oz. lighter because of the 1" tube and 40mm objective lens, plus I really wanted to compare it to my 35x to see how much is sacrificed.  

I think I'm gonna be happy.

It's going on an Anschutz 1712 to shoot hunter class.  I want to use BKLs because they have worked for me on my air rifles.  Should I get low, medium or high mounts?