IOR Valdada

Benz · Post by **Benz** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 11:52 pm

Hi guys, would like thoughts on anyone with real experience using this brand of scope.
Cant say I see a lot of them in Australia, rare in fact, my research has shown me they may be half respectable and usable magnification range suitable for Fclass. Looking at all options of quality optics for a first scope.

Craig McGowan · Post by **Craig McGowan** » Sun Jul 20, 2014 7:56 am

Which model are you looking at?

Looking at there prices you would be better off with a more common "trusted" variety. i.e. Nightforce, Sightron, etc.

Cannot say I have ever seen it listed on a equipment list following a Queens.

Regards.

Benz · Post by **Benz** » Sun Jul 20, 2014 11:55 am

4-28x56 40mm MX-7 Tactical SFP Illuminated MP-8 Dot Reticule, not a cheap set of optics. I have a friend with one for sale but also am looking at NF and Leu and S-tron, as my budget dictates for a first scope I cannot afford a new scope of the IOR in question. I have budgeted 1500 for my fist but am looking for 3000 < pricerange at new price which will get me into a suitable set of optics for my first F open rifle
Have read varying opinions on the second focal vs first and seems to be a hotly contended feature of many competition shooters, I guess it really comes to personal preference. I have used Leu VX6, NF bench, to be totally honest I thought the optics were lacking a bit. I sighted through a S&B very nice but those are considerably out of this little black ducks budget even in a used condition.
The IOR in question gives 1 moa at 25.5x which I think is not bad for SFP scope. I also am only really interested in scopes with lifetime warranty as this says to me the manufacturer is prepared to standby their product. Also the 40 mm tube will give me all the range I will ever need without having to squish the erector which I figure will also give me a more reliable repeatable elevation. I have heard some bad raps on NF from highly respected club members on the repeatability side of things.
It is very important that I get things right the first time, I am very fussy, I cannot afford screwy optics and am not prepared to lay down good money on a weak set.

BATattack · Post by **BATattack** » Sun Jul 20, 2014 8:26 pm

I don't know mate. Night force BR is pretty hard to beat value for money.

Repeatable elevation issues with night force?? Interesting. I've got 3 of them and find they are all within about 1/2 moa of recorded zeros and are quite often dead on or within a 1/8th of a recorded zero. Light and temperature would most likely be the cause of fluctuations that small.

KHGS · Post by **KHGS** » Sun Jul 20, 2014 8:39 pm

BATattack wrote:I don't know mate. Night force BR is pretty hard to beat value for money.

Repeatable elevation issues with night force?? Interesting. I've got 3 of them and find they are all within about 1/2 moa of recorded zeros and are quite often dead on or within a 1/8th of a recorded zero. Light and temperature would most likely be the cause of fluctuations that small.

I agree, I consider that Nightforce as the Holden/Falcon of "F" Class scopes.
I have 4 BR Nightforce scopes & 1 Nightforce NXS & find them all repeatable to the level of the quoted statement above. The optics in all of them are very good.
Keith H.

RDavies · Post by **RDavies** » Sun Jul 20, 2014 9:48 pm

I do have a friend who has had one for a few years on his hunting/informal F class rifle in 300 Win Mag. It wasn't a heavy rifle and the scope is till holding together well. I cant comment on tracking etc though. Like others said, unless the scope is a real bargain and money was an issue, I would rather a Sightron S3.

Benz · Post by **Benz** » Sun Jul 20, 2014 11:22 pm

Thanks guys for your feedback, I don't mean to sound like I am writing off NF as I know that there are plenty of f classers and benchies out there that have not had any issues.
Sighted through a March and a Weaver today also and shot on a Sightron(was not s111) well you cannot compare those optics, no surprise really when you look at the dollars involved.
I guess for the coin the Sightron isn't bad but once again I found the glass to be poor, just clarity and definition doesn't seem to be there, to my eyes anyway. Interesting though I made a PB today 118.7 on the Sightron, first time I have shot a full detail though too.
Thanks for every ones input, I will continue my research and trying out different brands and types.

Brad Y · Post by **Brad Y** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 2:09 pm

Ben

I remember talking to you yesterday about not being able to build two guns and choosing the 6.5x47L as a first cal and just running the one rifle.

If you go down the route of march/IOR you are basically building two rifles cost wise...

Yesterday was not a clear day for viewing through a scope anyway. My details in FS were quite poor visibility wise compared to the first ones before the rain while shooting FO. Rarely is the sight picture going to be 100% perfect through a scope anyway (dirt on the lens, rain, mirage etc)

A sightron will serve you well- if its good enough for plenty of shooters then Im sure you will do fine with one. Being new to the sport you wont be advantaged by spending alot more money on a different scope.

Benz · Post by **Benz** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 6:00 pm

Thanks Brad, I know Kathryn had some issues with visibility yesterday as well.
We are building with a Barnard P action to be able to accommodate for .308 as a switch set up, that is when we settle in and future allows us to expand to a different cal. The 6.5 x 47 seems a good starting point for target as it is accurate over range and Kathryn can handle the recoil and cost wise for reload it is economic as well as having barrel longevity.
I have been very observant over the last few months and keep track of members set ups, though I may not say much it is all relevant for our application and duly noted. I will not be entering S&B territory, March or any such expense any time soon, as you have mentioned we are new and good scopes can be had that get the job done a lot lower in investment outlay.
While I am new to target shooting, I have had a fair amount of experience, in Air .177 this was my chosen training rifle for many years before stepping up to .22 hornet and then higher power and finally higher cal but that was along time ago when I was a young lad. I did not have any options in those days either it was more like here's a rifle now learn how to use it, until proficiency was learned.
I appreciate your advice and will willingly take this on board. I was a bit spoilt for optics along time ago as most were from the senior generation and they did not compromise on glass, but I can remember clarity like it was yesterday, the skills learnt seem like a lifetime ago.
Wouldn't mind sighting through one of your s111's next Sunday if you don't mind.

Brad Y · Post by **Brad Y** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 8:10 pm

I will bring some extra ammo for the 7mm and you can have a shot through that. You will be pleasantly surprised recoil wise, its not as much as a 308 as its very close to 10kg in weight.

Southcape · Post by **Southcape** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 8:31 pm

Ben, when you used my rifle did it have the Sightron SIII 10-50X60 or the new Leupold CDS 7-42X56 on it?

Benz · Post by **Benz** » Mon Jul 21, 2014 11:20 pm

Thanks for that offer Brad, sounds like a great opportunity.

Linda the Leupold was pretty well much new out of the box when I first had a go at FTR on your set up, and that was a fine set of optics too, exc reticle and since I have taken up the sport is the best scope I have shot on yet, the joypod is ...well... joy, I fully understand why these are just not available anymore, lightweight, strong, fully joystickable, did I say light and a nice wide footing base and they even look like the stuff too. So impressed was I, I was looking for one just in case I happened to get into FTR in the future.... which I will do, a nice challenge I think and we cant just have one member on FTR at our club.

ShaneG · Post by **ShaneG** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 6:51 pm

For $1500 you will buy a new 8-32 BR or maybe a $100 more a 12-42.
It will have all the optical quality required to win any match in the world.
They also have the best reliability / repeatability turrets currently available
My personal experience is that I own and use BR;NXS;Comp 15-55;Mark 4; March; Swarovski and S&B 12-50. I have shot all these scopes on small game at long distance and most on an accurate F class 308.
I have a new Leupold 7-42 on order and look forward to assessing same in a few weeks. Similar pricing to teh NF Comp 15-55.
Though for the life of me I can't figure out why you would do 1/8 elevation and 1/4 windage adjustments? The perfect wind zero is just as critical as the elevation!!
Just buy a BR and shoot!

Benz · Post by **Benz** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 4:12 pm

hmm not sure of Leupolds reasoning, surely it would be easier to hold over than it is to accommodate slight windage deflection.
ShaneG, all I really can say about the Leupold CDS scope is the reticle was a dream to use and the optical side of things certainly has made an impression, the rifle equipped with this was Lindas, being a champ shooter for Australia I wont argue her motives for scope choice and based on that you are in for a treat when you do receive your new Leu. Linda has kindly offered her sightron s111 or her nighty, so for the time being my scope woes are resolved.
Thankfully that leaves me more time to try out different options and put the coin away for the time I am ready to purchase...the chosen one.
I am so lucky, my two Mentors and coaches are absolute gold....solid, and from my experience for me and my partner Kathryn, that is something we can take to the bank. One day, somehow I hope to be able to return the favour.

Post by **AlanF** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:11 pm

ShaneG wrote:...I own and use BR;NXS;Comp 15-55;Mark 4; March; Swarovski and S&B 12-50. I have shot all these scopes on small game at long distance and most on an accurate F class 308.
I have a new Leupold 7-42 on order and look forward to assessing same in a few weeks...

Shane,

You are going to be in a very good position to compare all of these scopes. Would be interesting to set them all up side by side at the same magnification and compare the optical clarity. I'm interested in the new Leupold (have a soft spot for the brand :-({|=

) , didn't realise from their website that the 1/8 clicks are only for elevation (but that's all I need). I personally would prefer a simple cross-hair - when I used your NXS I occasionally found myself ready to squeeze the trigger on one of the tick marks :shock:

. If Leupold don't look like coming out with a plain cross-hair, I'll be looking closely at a NF Comp - they do offer one.

Alan