New 25mtr .177 competition optics advice please

[Sundance]

You could look out for a used Sightron 36 x 42 or a Leupold BR36 or a Weaver T36. These scopes and slight variants are designed specifically for bench rest. Look for a fine, thin reticle...

They would likely have better quality optics than the Falcon or Nikko....in fact better all around.. also at 16 mag you're going to struggle to pick out which bit of the pip you are aiming at.


My advice re scopes would be to buy the very best quality you can afford. If you give up the sport you will still get your money back on a high quality used scope.

If you get into the sport then you will very quickly wish that you hadn't bought an intermediate scope....buy quality and buy once....

If you have an off day you might wonder 'what if I had a better scope'....it would always be on your mind...

There are lots of comps that do not have weight classes. All comps have rules though and they differ from comp to comp so check them out..

I really enjoy bench rest shooting...it's really addictive

...good luck !!

[mrgeoff]

I have 2 x benchrest rifles, both with sub 200 scopes (OK, just sub, and 2nd hand!)

On my rapid, I run a Simmons 36x42 fine target cross hair. Very similar to the Sightron 36x42. Glass not quite as good as the sightron, but it put me at the top step for January, and it only cost 150.

On the FWB300 springer, I use a Bushnell Elite 6-24x40, its mil-dot, but quite a fine cross hair in the centre, un-cluttered at max zoom, again, thats good enough for top step in Jan and Feb and was 200. I think the 24x is the minimum zoom, but only on higher quality glass. I had a 24x Hawke, it wasnt a patch on the Bushnell, and useless for BR, really quite foggy by comparison at 24x, where the Bushnell is crisp and sharp.


I would trade either out for a 2nd hand Sightron 36x42, and for 25m benchrest on an air rifle, you do not need anything better, the scope will be much better than you, the rifle and the pellets for a couple of years to come ;-)


Enjoy!

[Rich]

Yes there are nicer scopes than the T35 for this application but the budget was set at 200 max, and I've not yet been lucky enough to see a Weaver or a Leupold at that level.

[zephyr]

Agree with Rich, UKBR is but one organisation, which is why I said check the 'prevailing' rules.

I can't disagree with the opinions expressed about the scopes mentioned. However, decide which particular flavour and class of BR you want to pursue, check the rules and then make your decision on scope, it would be a shame to buy a scope and then find out it cannot be used or only in certain classes.

Do you feel the need to compete against others? If yes, you'll have to play by their rules, if not then do your own thing and continue enjoying it as you seem to be doing with whatever rifle/scope combination you desire.

Just my own experience - I shot with a 'thick' lined reticle to start with, this wasn't the disadvantage it first seemed. At 12x mag and my eyesight I couldn't see the fine (inner) rings of the target, instead I used the mildots to bracket the darker outer ring.

Because of my eyesight (maybe I haven't learnt the correct technique for the lower mag!) I prefer to use a higher mag (36x) but this choice imposes limits to the class I can use it in.

[derrenk]

Hi, thank you all once again for answering my questions i must apologise again for getting mixed up with the different disciplines, it will not happen again.

Zeph, competition wise i don't absolutely have the need to compete, i just happened to notice my club did competition shooting and it was something i always enjoyed during my service, and i thought i would try my hand this is the very first time i have ever entered any sort of civilian competition

I will be leaving the 'Bench Rest' shooting to a much later date, perhaps once i have learnt to control my overly enthusiatic urges and concentrate on A just enjoying the sport and B shooting whatever it is we shoot at my local club.

Seriously thank you all for your help and time its very kind and greatly appreciated

keep safe
D

[JLB]

Yes there are nicer scopes than the T35 for this application but the budget was set at 200 max, and I've not yet been lucky enough to see a Weaver or a Leupold at that level.

Optics Warehouse have some very good deals on Weaver scopes at the minute.

John