What power scope do i need?

[kevinmfduane]

I hope to do some distance shooting in the near future down in Quantico. I have never shot at distances over 100yrds. I have a 3-9x on my .303 Brit Enfield and a 4x scope on my Mossberg slug. Both work fine at my distances. But how much power do I need to shoot at 300 yards? I will be using an 18" .308 PTR-91 with 145grn fmj silver bear.

I am thinking I need 12x as a minimum but I want to hear from people who do long distance shooting. I am thinking a 12-20x might be just what I need. I like Nikon and they have a 6-18x40, would that be good enough to use at 300yrds?

[grumpyMSG]

It is all about what kind of shooting you are doing. If you are trying to hit clay pigeons or groundhogs at that distance, you will want the higher magnification. If you are going to use it on deer, the higher magnification will make seeing the deer tougher, because your field of view gets smaller. To put it in the perspective the military use 1X for each 100- 200 yards/ meters is adequate for a man sized target. The commonly used ACOGs are 4X. The Leupold Mk. IVs used on the M24 sniper rifles are only 10X. For smaller targets like groundhogs you would probably want 3-4X per 100 yards, so if you go much over 12X, you are making your field of view size so small it will make you crazy just trying to find the target, not to mention magnifying your breathing and every other motion you make.

[kevinmfduane]

I guess to me more specific I will only be shooting targets at 300 yards, at Quantico. I will not be taking long shots at game. I am really just trying to hit the range and put my shots as close to the bulls eye as my rifle, eye, and scope will allow. I like they way my 9x looks at 100yrds but does that mean at 300 yards I need 27x to get that same magnification? If so my wallet won't allow that and 20x might be what I have to settle on.

[jrswanson1]

It really depends on the size of your target. If you're trying to hit a 1" circle at 300 yards, 9x won't cut it. 12x won't, either. There's a reason the Benchrest shooters use really high magnification scopes. If you want to hit man sized targets, you want 1x per 100 yards of distance. If you want super precision, you'll want higher.

[jdonovan]

But how much power do I need to shoot at 300 yards? I will be using an 18" .308 PTR-91 with 145grn fmj silver bear.

I am thinking I need 12x as a minimum but I want to hear from people who do long distance shooting. I am thinking a 12-20x might be just what I need. I like Nikon and they have a 6-18x40, would that be good enough to use at 300yrds?

First, you are significantly limited on the PTR-91 on objective size. 40mm is about it, before your objective and the cocking handle start to get too close. Also overall scope length can be somewhat limited because of interference as well.

Secondly the PTR's are in general about a 2-3 MOA gun... 2 MOA at 300yds is 6". So don't go in with the expectation you're going to tear the 10 ring out of the target.

The long range scope for the military for many years was a fixed 10x. The issue scope by the Germans for the G3, was a 4x.. and calibrated to 600M for drop. Some later models got a S&B 1.5-6x42.

I'd say get out there and try out what you got before you dump cash into fixing something that may not be a problem.

Oh, silver bear, and long range I don't think are going to be the best matchup. SB is not know to be high quality ammo.

[kevinmfduane]

Thanks for all the good information guys.

I know the PTR will not be giving me bolt action groups. The 40mm advice is great because I was maybe thinking of a 50mm. I know the Silver Bear is not quality ammo. But I do want to shoot that right off the bat until I am on paper and I'm dialing it in then I have some Prvi and Winchester Silvertip to see if either of these tighten up my groups. The PTR eats brass so Silver Bear is my go to until I go to TN and get some reloads from my Grandfather.

[kevinmfduane]

That leads me to my next question. What is an affordable quality .308 case for reloading since they will get chewed up? I have bolt guns to shoot at quantico but all in calibers that the range does not accept. So that is why I am trying to squeeze as much long distance fun as I can get out of my semi auto.

[jdonovan]

What you need is one of these:
http://www.hkparts.net/shop/pc/Port-Buf ... 9p1271.htm

helps keep the brass from getting so beat up.

I'd buy mil-surplus 7.62 and use those cases...

if you want to know all about the PTR's/HK come join us over at hkpro.com... to say the place is a wealth of knowledge would be a gross undervaluation of the expertise that's available there.

I've got a PTR tuned up and producing about 1-moa groups, if I do my part . I'm running, federal gold medal match ammo, a set-trigger, PRS stock. This is 'ban years' gun so it has a plain, non threaded muzzle, and this is one of the older model JLD guns.

[jrswanson1]

I got over 1000 7.62 NATO brass from some guys on VA Guntrader through their reloading section. Most was Lake City. I run a CETME, so I have the same issue with brass.