What is your scope recommendation for an LR308 rifle without breaking the bank?

Cpl Dennis F. — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 22:35:48 -0500

Within the next week I will be completing the build on a LR308.
It is built around a 24" fluted SS barrel and due to that I am attempting to add as much lightness as possible (Fixed tube stock, short floating railed fore end, etc) This is to be my 1000M+ rifle.

Keep in mind I was Marine trained at 500 M with an M14 in the 60s, but am also aware of PDAs, rangefinders and BDC equipped scopes. Things have come a long way since the leatherwood ART scopes used un Vietnam. I am considering use of this old school gear with some modern enhancements to the total package.

So, all the true shooters out there, what is your considered opinions?

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Dec 9 at 2014 10:55 PM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 22:55:22 -0500

Dennis, such a technical question, hopefully we can provide a nice reputable SNIPER type shooter for you to get an appropriate answer. I have not shot a Remington 700/M24 in two decades plus as I now wiggle sticks in helicopters. Those 1000 meter days are gone. Hope you get an answer soonest.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2014 1:45 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 01:45:21 -0500

What's your budget? A Leupold VX-2 can be had for around $300.

Response by CMC Robert Young made Dec 10 at 2014 1:59 AM

CMC Robert Young — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 01:59:17 -0500

Consider anything from Meopta. It's German grade glass for about half of what Zeiss and a third of what Swarovski cost. They have a wide variety of tubes and features. I have a 3x9x40 on a Tika T3 now. Wouldn't trade it ....or the Tika for that matter..for the world. Good stuff!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 10 at 2014 3:22 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 15:22:08 -0500

Try vortex optics, i sold optics while i worked at cabelas before i joined. they are American owned veteran owned company, they made a quality product that rivals zeiss and swarovski optics.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Dec 10 at 2014 7:14 PM

SGT Richard H. — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 19:14:51 -0500

"without breaking the bank" is pretty subjective. How big is the bank? I'm a huge fan of the Leupold Mark IV, but it's a tad pricey. BTW...if you ever want a great scope for one of your AR's the leupold Mark AR will make you a believer for around $400...you can get it for less with different reticles, but trust me, the firedot TMR reticle is worth the $.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Dec 11 at 2014 4:12 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 16:12:17 -0500

Cpl Dennis F. A good friend of mine once pointed out that a person should spend as much on glass as on a rifle for any semi precision or full precision role. For true 1000+ you're going to need to follow that rule (I just read down and see you already mentioned it). The .308 is limited at those ranges, technically capable of man-sized accuracy, but .300 win mag, .338 Lapua and some other options are more consistent.

If you were trained in the 60s I'm not sure if they were using MOA or Mils at that time, consider which range measurement system is preferable to you (meters-mils-CM or yards-MOA-inches).

Definitely get a scope that is brilliant in the basics, high quality glass with a strong reticule in your preferred measurements. All the Gucci precision gear can be added on or used separately, but good glass with a good Mil-dot system is irreplaceable.

My preference for reticules is Horus (their Hr37 extreme long range is the image attached), it eliminates a lot of the guess work of the old Mildot system, and with good training can be used very well for BDC and windage, as well as on-the fly- adjustments (no need to click). Horus sells some scopes directly, but their reticules are also available in top of the line scopes.
https://www.horusvision.com/reticles.php

Top of the line names: Premier, Schmidt & Bender, Zeiss, Middle: Horus Vision, Leupold, Vortex

Horus Vision

Horus Reticles

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Jan 26 at 2015 9:09 PM

Cpl Dennis F. — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 21:09:08 -0500

Well guys this looks like the decision.
I wanted a Leupold with a H25 Horus reticle, (cant find one)
Or a Horus with decent magnification, (cant find one)
I will probably go with the Vortex 6-24 X 50mm with front focal XLR reticle.
It has the magnification I want, a reticle similar to the Horus, nice 1/8 moa click turrets and came in under the new $1100 cut off at $899. A lot of good features for the money. Looked at a shit pot of scopes!
Opinions?????

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Feb 6 at 2015 2:19 PM

Cpl Dennis F. — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 14:19:18 -0500

Thought you guys might like to see the finished product.
I will be shooting this beast from a Caldwell chair-pod.
I hope the results prove worth the expense.
Thanks to all who helped me with this decision.

Response by PFC Tuan Trang made May 9 at 2015 7:27 PM

PFC Tuan Trang — Sat, 09 May 2015 19:27:02 -0400

Try Night force, they have good scope selection.
I think researching would be the best bet.

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Aug 20 at 2015 10:46 PM

Cpl Dennis F. — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:46:48 -0400

Finally got my 200M zero, shooting off a Atlas bipod and a bag. Much more confident with this set-up. Need to get back to basics and sharpen my rusty skill set. Spent the rest of the day blowing a silhouette with 1" colored dots out of the frame and ringing a 12" gong shooting through smoke clouds from the 50M line tannerite shooters. Also zeroed my friends AR carbine and trouble shot his pistol that I helped him build. My .300BLK is also still great fun.
On to the 500M range soon.