What do you consider the best "Scope" for F/Std?

[Hilly-WA]

I am working my way through the complete rifle setup, so now I ask what do you consider is the best overall scope to put on my F/Std rifle system.....

With so many choices to choose from what should i look for in regards to - price, value, model, MOA, fixed/vari power, illumination, magnification, objective lens, recticle style, light transmission, mounting, rings, base picatinny or weaver etc etc

Options -

US Optics
Premier
Nightforce
March
Leupold
Nikko
Bushnell
Zeiss
Burris
Sightron
Weaver
Redfield
Others???

Please give me your top 3 picks for a competition scope, also what are the current top shooters using?

Asking all the big questions, hilly

[Seddo]

Hilly,

I went and watched my first f class match 2 weeks ago and saw everything from nikko sterlings through to nightforces. The best score (all 6's) i saw was shot with a old fixed 24x nikko at 900 yards by Dave WIlliams.

If it helps, i am in the same boat as you and are just about to start shooting f open. After lots of reading forums i decided on a 36x weaver for my omark and a i cant decide on a sightron 6-24x50 SIII or a 8-32x56 for my 260 rem.

Seddo

[Paul Janzso]

I have 36x Weaver T Series, 1/8 Dot on my F Class Open rifles, Barnard action with there tapered scope rail and Leupold medium qd mounts.
I favour the 1/8 min scope adjustments for F Open.
On my F Class standard rifle I have a Sightron S111 6-24 same rail and mounts. It has 1/4 wind and elevation adjustments, but I think I should have gone with a 1/8 min adjustable scope.

I am more than happy with the Weaver T Series scope, well worth the price.

Cheers
Paul

[Matt P]

Depends on your budget.
I've had most of the brands you mention, the March is the best by a long way but @ $3500 it's buy once cry alot once. Of the rest Nightforce, Weaver but optics can be hit and miss with quality, Leupold good optics but tracking can be hit and miss but they have life time warrnty, I've had several Leupolds one went back to them so many times it had frequent flyer points, I've also got a 24BR model which is the best scope I've had other than the March.
On a budget I'd buy a T24 or a secondhand Leupold BR24 (no longer made) next level a BR Nightforce 8-32, money no object the March.

Matt P

[AlanF]

Hilly,

Probably best to give us your upper limit on price. If you have a total budget, then you should consider spending a third of it on the scope. If your total budget is less than $2000 I'd allow a minmum of about $600 for the scope because its a struggle to get anything worth having under that amount (unless you chance on a bargain quality brand used scope).

Alan

[Woody_rod]

US Optics
Nightforce
Weaver

These are the ones I have used, or looked at closely. The US Optics are really superb units, but HEAVY (and expensive), the Nightforce need no introduction, but the NXS can be a bit hard to swallow at over AU$2,000, the Weaver seems very popular these days, and is pretty good value at under AU$700.

[stu_bear2002]

As others have said it depends on your budget,
I'm not bashing the big name brands its just that some people cant afford them for whatever the reason
Due to my limited budget i use a BSA contender 8-32x which does the job on my omark in .308 and before that it was on a winchester m17 in .308, it has 1/8 click adjustments, adj objective and target turrets. and the best thing at the time of purchase was the price($280) delivered to my door. it might not be an NSX or WEAVER but it still gives great clarity at long ranges and has helped me get a enough 6's
Stuey

[Steve 2141]

i think as well as being able to hold point of aim and track is that the scope suits your eye, i find it difficult to use a weaver or march scope for any long period of time without getting a headache, i prefer leupold or nightforce.

if your buget allows it get a 8-32 nightforce benchrest, if you intend to shoot fly then a 12-42.

[Hilly-WA]

Opppss!, forgot about Schmidt n bender scopes..../..one of the best!