Variable high magnification scopes

[Wapinschaw]

I am researching a new target scope for 25 yard benchrest. At the moment I am using a Leupold fixed 36X which is excellent but am wondering about getting a variable from about 10X upwards as I may change rifles soon. The problem is getting a high magnification scope that will focus at 25 yards. I tried the big Hawke 10 - 50X but the highest that it will focus at 25 yards was only about 12X. Any suggestions for a suitable scope?

[DaveT]

This could well be just my ignorance but why do you want such hi-mag for 25 yards?

[Wapinschaw]

2 hours ago, DaveT said:

This could well be just my ignorance but why do you want such hi-mag for 25 yards?

For .22 Benchrest. The X ring is minute, the target is shown actual size here: http://www.ukbr22.org.uk/index.php/home/ukbr22-targets.html 

[DaveT]

Point taken!

[The Burpster]

There is a HFT version of the Sightron S111 10x50-60. It’s not cheap but focuses from 10-300yds. 
iMHO one of the best VFM scopes there is . 

[terryh]

Not sure on your budget but the March scopes will go down sub 10 yards on full magnification, they doe some high power big zoom models with real fine cross hairs or dots.

T

[One on top of two]

A Kahles K525i will go down to 20 yards 

[Woodlander]

Pm11 12-50?

[mactavish]

On 2/25/2020 at 10:57 AM, Wapinschaw said:

I am researching a new target scope for 25 yard benchrest. At the moment I am using a Leupold fixed 36X which is excellent but am wondering about getting a variable from about 10X upwards as I may change rifles soon. The problem is getting a high magnification scope that will focus at 25 yards. I tried the big Hawke 10 - 50X but the highest that it will focus at 25 yards was only about 12X. Any suggestions for a suitable scope?

I wonder which 10-50x Hawke you're using?

Out of interest over your comments, and because they don't ring true with my experiences, I've just had a wee go of my Hawke Sidewinder ED 10-50x60 to check out its close focus abilities. As I seemed to remember, even on 50x it focuses a good bit nearer than your Hawke... all the way down to 9 metres on 50x, in fact (measured just now).

Mine's on a Sako Quad in both .22LR & .17HMR, and I use it anywhere between 25 & about 300 metres. It's proved to be a great scope for everything I do (and was actually brilliant when I had a go with the .22 at 50 metre Benchrest a year or two back).

I notice, like me, you're in NE Scotland, so you're more than welcome to drop by sometime to compare performance, especially if yours is still in warranty.

[phoenix]

Have a look at the Delta titaniums and Strykers.

Optics warehouse sell them

 

Cheers

 

Bruce

[Wapinschaw]

2 hours ago, mactavish said:

I wonder which 10-50x Hawke you're using?

Out of interest over your comments, and because they don't ring true with my experiences, I've just had a wee go of my Hawke Sidewinder ED 10-50x60 to check out its close focus abilities. As I seemed to remember, even on 50x it focuses a good bit nearer than your Hawke... all the way down to 9 metres on 50x, in fact (measured just now).

Mine's on a Sako Quad in both .22LR & .17HMR, and I use it anywhere between 25 & about 300 metres. It's proved to be a great scope for everything I do (and was actually brilliant when I had a go with the .22 at 50 metre Benchrest a year or two back).

I notice, like me, you're in NE Scotland, so you're more than welcome to drop by sometime to compare performance, especially if yours is still in warranty.

Thanks for the feedback. Mine was the same model, I have looked through a couple of others and found them to be the same, so it's my vision rather than the scope. I have needed several sessions of laser surgery to stop retinal haemorrhaging which may be why I don't get on with some scopes.  As mentioned I am currently using a Leupold fixed 36X with fine cross hair and 1/8 MOA dot, that works well for 25yd benchrest on my Sako Finnfire P94S. That is Heavy Varmint Class, I also shoot Sporter Class with another Finnfire. What I am considering is moving to one rifle/scope to cover both classes. There are loads of scopes with high magnification, but getting one to focus at high magnification setting and 25yds is another matter. 

[Wapinschaw]

2 hours ago, phoenix said:

Have a look at the Delta titaniums and Strykers.

Optics warehouse sell them

 

Cheers

 

Bruce

Thanks Bruce. 

[mactavish]

18 hours ago, Wapinschaw said:

Thanks for the feedback. Mine was the same model, I have looked through a couple of others and found them to be the same, so it's my vision rather than the scope. I have needed several sessions of laser surgery to stop retinal haemorrhaging which may be why I don't get on with some scopes.  As mentioned I am currently using a Leupold fixed 36X with fine cross hair and 1/8 MOA dot, that works well for 25yd benchrest on my Sako Finnfire P94S. That is Heavy Varmint Class, I also shoot Sporter Class with another Finnfire. What I am considering is moving to one rifle/scope to cover both classes. There are loads of scopes with high magnification, but getting one to focus at high magnification setting and 25yds is another matter. 

No worries. I guess with your particular eye issue, trying before you buy is going to be key to a successful choice.

But I'll still second the shouts for March & Delta in this thread.

My March 5x-40x56 in particular focuses nearest of all my scopes on max mag (at just 6m, measured just now), while my Delta Stryker Target Ultra ED 5-50x56 HD (the latest 0.05Mil, Locking Turrets model) has the best & clearest sight picture I've (i.e. for me & my eyes) yet seen through any high-end scope... and I've looked through a few (though for our subject purposes, I've just measured its nearest focus and it only matches the Hawke, at about 9m).

Anyway, cheers & good luck with your search.

[Deker]

On 2/25/2020 at 3:45 PM, The Burpster said:

There is a HFT version of the Sightron S111 10x50-60. It’s not cheap but focuses from 10-300yds. 
iMHO one of the best VFM scopes there is . 

 

If it helps and there's a 2nd hand bargain around you can get the standard Sightron SIII re-parallaxed to the HFT, I had to do the opposite when I bought one that had been advertised incorrectly

[Nick 53]

I purchased 10 - 50x60 S111 from Optics warehouse fantastic scope. It all depends on how much money you have to spend. 

Thanks nick 

[pengo]

Just a thought, but.....if you're going to use that amount of magnification at those distances, the target is going to be rather close up, so I might suggest a scope with 1/8th MOA clicks would be better suited, rather than 1/4 MOA and definitely much better than any Mil clicks.

That should give you a better target acquisition in my opinion.

Good luck with whatever you choose and try to see if you can have alook through some of your fellow shooters scopes.

Cheers.

Paul

[The Burpster]

9 hours ago, Deker said:

 

If it helps and there's a 2nd hand bargain around you can get the standard Sightron SIII re-parallaxed to the HFT, I had to do the opposite when I bought one that had been advertised incorrectly

I did not know that! Top tip! 👍

[les]

The Falcon X50 is an excellent scope for the money - especially with its Japanese optics.

https://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/falcon-x50-10-50x60-long-range-sfp-moa-1-8-moa-rifle-scope

[Leeman]

23 hours ago, pengo said:

Just a thought, but.....if you're going to use that amount of magnification at those distances, the target is going to be rather close up, so I might suggest a scope with 1/8th MOA clicks would be better suited, rather than 1/4 MOA and definitely much better than any Mil clicks.

 

Pengo,

bear in mind that at 25 yards each click of a 1/4 MOA scope turret would move the point of aim 1/16 inch, subject to it's internal mechanical integrity, surely fine enough for any target.

[pengo]

2 hours ago, Leeman said:

Pengo,

bear in mind that at 25 yards each click of a 1/4 MOA scope turret would move the point of aim 1/16 inch, subject to it's internal mechanical integrity, surely fine enough for any target.

Leeman,

That's a fair point, but some of these 25 yard targets are inward scoring and the "x" can be extremely difficult to cover without catching the outer line so, to me, finer is better.

[ds1]

The best scope that I have had on my Sako .22 p94s Range was a S&B pm2 12-50x56, this was for 50m shooting. It will parallax down to 10m. I would guess for desired purpose second focal plain would be preferable. I would also look at the “air gun” FT version of this it should give more precise parallax adjustment - however it will be a lot more specialised.

Similarly Kahles do a 10-50x56 FT version of their 10-50x56 scope. On the spec sheet of the FT version parallax ranges from 9m to 60m so you can tell it will be a very precise parallax ( in fact Air FT shooters use parallax for range finding purposes for their sport). 

[forbie]

Wapinchaw. I have an IOR 12x52x56 on one of my rifles. You are more than welcome to look through if you like.

Good glass in the IOR. You know me from the clubs we have been and are in.