BangBangNik Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 Well it looks like I have given the ok for my first centre fire in .243 after my mentoring condition has been met. I quite like the look of one of the howa 1500 packages with a stainless varmint barrel. As I understand it the varmint has the reinforced houge stock. Now IF I was to go down this route I would probably sell the scope(nikon Stirling diamond 3-12x56) straight away as new as I don't think it would be much cop. I'd put the money towards a better scope. The rifle would be used mainly for fox and in time maybe the odd deer. My question is how much should I be looking to spend on a good scope and in what direction should I be looking. Thanks in advance Nik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cawdor118 Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 Schmidt and Bender, Zeiss, Swarovski - second hand. Remember the mounts are just as important though. Buy cheap, buy twice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bewsher500 Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 better a high end fixed than a cheap variable that said my .243 sported a 1970's Japanese Nikko Stirling in 8x50 format for 3 years, cost me £40 on the Bay prior to that it was wearing a Leupold VX3 6.5-20x40 worth 4x what I paid for the rifle! you won't hit any more targets or quarry with a massive zoom get a 6-8x fixed of decent quality 2nd hand glass and spend the rest on shooting Zeiss, S&B, Meopta etc all very good optics for £100-400 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 Don't dismiss the scope, they are very clear with a very usable magnification and the illuminated reticule it also very good. I got a 308 package and a mate got the 243 one,I would be more worried about the mod as the one on his didn't do much in the way of moderating the noise sonic smaller than mine. Mine on the other hand is very good which was a sonic 30cal. Make sure the stock is the strengthened one as mine wasn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 Well it looks like I have given the ok for my first centre fire in .243 after my mentoring condition has been met. I quite like the look of one of the howa 1500 packages with a stainless varmint barrel. As I understand it the varmint has the reinforced houge stock. Now IF I was to go down this route I would probably sell the scope(nikon Stirling diamond 3-12x56) straight away as new as I don't think it would be much cop. I'd put the money towards a better scope. The rifle would be used mainly for fox and in time maybe the odd deer. My question is how much should I be looking to spend on a good scope and in what direction should I be looking. Thanks in advance Nik Always look from the butt end towards what your shooting at! If your 150 yards away from an night time fox on the lamp its a long shot You don't need more than 6x but 8x will also be fine. Don't be blinded by the trend for higher mag levels 4x mag is as the numbers imply like looking at your quarry at 25 yards when its 100 yards away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 Remember. You have to carry the rifle ( unless you have a buddy gun bearer ). For what you want a sporter barrel will be fine. I once stalked with a .308 rem700 varmint. Only once mind. Soon got a scout rifle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BangBangNik Posted July 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 Thanks for all the replies guys. Plenty to go away and think about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 (edited) Has the good sense bug struck? Light gun > 6x >> 8 x fixed good quality per £. Cheap variables tend to shift POA on varying mag and its when dusk or dawn that the differece is most noticed. Remember that if you get a gun weighing a ton you'll need a wheelbarrow to carry the lump and a tripod to hold the thing up steady whilst you weigh up the shot. Edited July 7, 2015 by fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 You do know the varmint barrels were for shooting scores of prairie dogs one after the other! Send me a grand and I will sort you a scope out :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 I'm an ft boy at heart and shot on 50x mag for years in competition and now I leave my .223 on 4-8x mag in the field . Anymore than 8 is pointless to me hunting . I also have a 1500 stainless sporter barrel and love it. It gets very warm after 5-10 shots but that doesn't happen hunting for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 For me it would be a good European scope with fix mag, my money is S&B8x56. If you must go variable look at vortex if you can afford European glass I've been really quite impressed. If you near me you welcome to pop over and have a look at a few scope I've a few different options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BangBangNik Posted July 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 For me it would be a good European scope with fix mag, my money is S&B8x56. If you must go variable look at vortex if you can afford European glass I've been really quite impressed. If you near me you welcome to pop over and have a look at a few scope I've a few different options. That's a very kind offer but it would be quite a commute, I'm about 40miles North of manchester. To be honest I hadn't thought about a fixed mag scope but it does make sense I never really touch the mag on my rim fire and the prime lense(fixed zoom) I have for my camera are far superior to any of my variable zoom lenses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert 888 Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 As said the varmints are heavy. And with a mod they don't balance too well. All my rifles are varmint weight,but I mainly do target.As I said before the nikko you will get in the package are extremely good for the money. I have a 20x efr leupold, 14xmk4 leupold and a sightron siii 30x. I target shoot with fine reticules and high mag and for hunting I would be happy to use the nikko stirling diamond illuminated firedot reticule,it compares very close at 100m in all conditions compared to my other scopes. If you want to improve on the package buy some better mounts. Kelbrook did some good deals on howas your way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reggiegun Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 That's a very kind offer but it would be quite a commute, I'm about 40miles North of manchester. To be honest I hadn't thought about a fixed mag scope but it does make sense I never really touch the mag on my rim fire and the prime lense(fixed zoom) I have for my camera are far superior to any of my variable zoom lenses. Get a zeis on 12 months interest free from uttings, buy a good scope and it lasts for ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 A friend of mine had a fixed 8 Leopold for years. Did well with it. I have zoomers and find it a pain hunting. Just more fiddle than shooting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BangBangNik Posted July 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 A friend of mine had a fixed 8 Leopold for years. Did well with it. I have zoomers and find it a pain hunting. Just more fiddle than shooting! I know what you mean, I did use the zoom on my rim fire when I first got it but that soon passed. Just leave it at a happy medium now, couldn't even tell you what it's set at without looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 I know what you mean, I did use the zoom on my rim fire when I first got it but that soon passed. Just leave it at a happy medium now, couldn't even tell you what it's set at without looking.Same here, around 6-8, think lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 22lr 4x36 17 HMR 6x42 222 8x56 243 8x56 308 8x56 30/06 6x42 375 H&H 1.5-6x42 All German glass clear simple the 375 either on 1.5 moving target or 6. Mag is addictive IMHO and like fags it needs to be beaten for hunting rifles. Long range stuff yes there is a need but not for most normal use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew f Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 Since your new too stalking I would recommend a fixed scope. You can get a 8x56 S&B for £500 in sportsman. I got and 8x56 and a 6x42 S&B Best glass around in my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pg123 Posted July 7, 2015 Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 Meopta 7 x 50. Simple fixed mag, good low light gathering, very decent scope without paying German money. You shot very very well when you used mine..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BangBangNik Posted July 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 Meopta 7 x 50. Simple fixed mag, good low light gathering, very decent scope without paying German money. You shot very very well when you used mine..... I did seem to shoot ok with yours I must admit. Tightest grouping that rifle's ever shot 😋 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kernel gadaffi Posted July 8, 2015 Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 Look at the Vortex range of scopes, very good quality and a guarantee that cannot be surpassed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted July 8, 2015 Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 Foxing I like magnification, try shooting a cub at 200 yards under the lamp and you can forget it with an 8x56 I'd try the scope in the package and just see how you go, low light won't matter if you move onto a lamp. If you use a nv add on you might find its quite a good scope for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted July 8, 2015 Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 I use to shoot with a 6x to 200yd fox's alright, and in the lamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted July 8, 2015 Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 8x56 works fine for me under the lamp at 200m. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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