Target Scope Or Hunting Scope

[grizzly340]

I Shoot In A Varmint League from march thru oct. The past 2 years I have been using my coyote Rifle A 700 LVSF 22-250 with A 4-12 even with reduced loads I realy couldnt compete my barrel heates up after 10 shots and then I had to add lib buy holding accordingly. I have bought A 700 VLS with A 26" heavy Barrel in 223 that should help with the barrel Heating up. I am looking at the Leupold VX-II 6-18X40 Scope. The Format is 20 Shots for Score at 4 targets in 30 mins. with unlimited sighters. My Question Is am I better off with the Target model and make addjustments on the fly during the shoot. Or the hunting model and just addjust my hold like I have been doing.

[terminator]

My thoughts would be the target model.Oh yeah,you missed the 8 ball on the target. 

[grizzly340]

LOL Thanks Roger 1 for the target model. Of course I put  one of my better tagets up there im sure I have hit it in the past but never made the connection. Im quick lol
Where are you balistic? Im counting on your 2cents I think you would like this compition but kinda glad your not in it. lol

[terminator]

Grizzly340:Ballistics is on a hunt this week,left Saturday morning.Hoping he will be posting Picts of a successful hunt later on.

[grizzly340]

Thanks Roger. Im sure if its in range its down. Would love to see his photos myself.

[zonie]

Griz,    Sounds like a fun match.  Are there any specific rules as per calibers, guns, scopes, bi-pods, improvised positions, off the bench,  etc, and more importantly ranges ?    What are the other guy's that are winning using, i.e.  rifles, calibers , scopes etc ?  Any modifications to the rifles allowed ?  

[grizzly340]

Hey Zonie
its 25 to 30 grown Men laying on the bellys you can use A bi pod or front and rear rest. The guys to beat both shoot A savage belive it or not. and I think 25 power scopes. And yes A couple use  .308 wich helps them score with the larger hole but they do have more recoil as well. But most shoot .223 with bull barrels and the  ar's do suprizingly well allso. PS its all at 100 yards just small varmint targets one you have to hit A fox in the head he is souronded by hounds hit A dog and losse 10 points.

[NMARKANITE]

what weight 223 round are you planning to shoot in that rifle? I have a Leupold Mark AR 6-18x40 on a 223 but it is set up for the 55 gr rounds and has T1Turrets on it which are calibrated to the 55 Gr 223 round. I suppose you are shooting a different twist rate in your rifle?  It has a MIL-DOT reticle and the t1 Dials are similar to the Tactical M1 Turrets? I just use JBM for dope data and it works out nicely!

[grizzly340]

Yes I do plan I using nosler balistic tip 55 gr. I havent yet shot the rifle or even worked up A test load yet. Thank You.

[zonie]

Griz,  You are really talking purpose built set-ups here, basically 100 yd benchrest.   I wonder how many of these guys are using Norma 6mm BR cartridges ?  That's what I would use in an off the shelf Savage target model.   They are very accurate without going to a full blown BR gun.  I agree some AR's can be extremely accurate as are some M1A's.  These Savage Benchrest types are almost full on bull barrels and don't have the heating problem quite as bad as a varmit bbl.  A lot of the walking problem is correct bedding.   The down side to this you are stuck with a purpose built gun & scope that I wouldn't want to lug around varmit hunting.   If this is somthing you guy's are going to continue or you like as I do sitting at a bench and just having fun I'd probably opt in the Savage direction or have a rifle built on a trued 700 action, match bbl  in a 6mm BR.  Not a whole can beat one of the 6mm variations  in the shorter ranges.  Scopes I really don't know what to tell you I think you are limiting yourself with 18 X as the others are using more powerful versions.  More than likely I would go with a Leupold  fixed FX-3  25x or 30x with a fine duplex or dot.   You could always go into the competition series, but that may be a little much on power both would be fixed powders, due to variables zoom in & out not tracking exact, the fixed powder just takes that out of the equation.   It's a hard decision having a purpose built rifle or one that you can take out and hunt with if you want,   you almost can't have it both ways and expect to win all the time.   On the flip side you could always go with a Leupold VX-3  8.5 x 25 and go have fun with it and would reduce mirage by cranking it down.   That's a good one I can't answer.

[Chip]

Griz I have one that is not purpose built exactly but it sure could have been. If you want to build a rifle and can get your hands on an old Rem 722 action they make for a great little 223 or 222 Mag.  I have an older 10X fixed Leupold target scope on mine with the fine cross hairs and I use it in the field and at the range.  I like it a lot.  That rifle has shot a lot of .2 inch 3 shot groups and I can usually keep five under a dime at 100 with it.  I shot a 3 shot group this summer at 330 yards it was 1.3 inches.  The old 222 mag in the heavy barreled worked over 722 action was a real sweetheart back in the day.  I'm sure a 700 in a 223 would be just as good. Not as cool but just as good   The rifle is in my pics if you want to have a look.
Oh and I shoot Hornady 50's in mine with BLC-2 snd Rem 7 1/2 primers.  They do a little better than the Noslers for me.   I think I'd go with a fixed power target scope though to answer your original question. One like Ron mentioned. 

Chip

[wyldgene]

...I've got one of each a VX-II 6X18 w/ turrets on my .223, w/o turrets on my .25 WSM. I'd probably get the turrets for you app., & then keep my grubbys off of them once I got my load down. Take the money you save on more expensive (not better) glass & invest it in a trigger, bedding if required.

[grizzly340]

Wow so much good advice. I wish I knew of this web site before I bought the VLS and zonie and chip u hit it on the head it realy is A one purpose rifle and I do love this compitition.and no joke chip I wasl looking for A 722 in 222 because the 700 BDL Varmint is no longer made and they go like hot cakes on gun broker. I am lucky to live close to williams gun site and guns galore both have about A thousand rifles in stock new and used. But I jumped at the VLS when I seen it. And I guess A fixed power scope isint all that bad of an idea if it truly is A one purpose rifle. Trouble is I would like it to be A loner for freinds who dont own A varmint rifle but want to go with me as I like to have A buddy when calling in varmints. Your 222 chip is A beauty is it A 1 in 12 twist. I have wrote down the bullet and powder and will give it A try.

[zonie]

I would never ever knock a 722 they are a best buy if you can find a clean hardly used one.  Many good old school BR rifles built on that action.   I have a 721,  I gave to my son and it's a shooting fool.   Believe it or not I would take a 720 series over the newer 700's.  I think they are built better  ( not as pretty), and you can find them for cheap and use as is,  or have a donor for a new barrel.    That little 222   in it's day used to be the caliber to beat until the 6mm's came about.   They can be extremely accurate.   If you can find a good 722 in 222 not all shot to pieces I'd jump on it.    I don't know a whole lot about the 222 mag, seems like a cool caliber, I'd still opt for the regular 222 only because you would primarily use it for 100 yds.   A good friend has a really nice one and won't part with it, darn .   

Scopes given what you are doing a variable will work as long as you get a good one.   Might look at Sightron fixed powers.   The old Weavers were very good in it's day,  I think now if not mistaken are more into the higher power fixed and I don't know how good they are.  A really good scope is a Vortex Viper 6.5 x 20 x 44mm,  I have one and it's 30 mm tube, re-setable no tools zero , very clear and it tracks, and they are not expensive around 400 or a little less.    I like it a whole lot,  mine is a mil-dot for long range, but they do make it in a target dot.   That's one I would really look at.

Another rifle often over looked is a Remington 788,  no longer made and will beat the pants off most 700's,  Yes they are an entry level rifle and look like a club, probably needs a timney trigger although I do well with stock trigger.  These rifles flat ass shoot and one of the reasons remington discontinued them  they were out shooting the 700's,  they do have a few weird things about them one was the safety not being cleaned and maintained.   Easy fix buy a Timney trigger with bolt stop & safety which you should probably do anyway they didn't have the best triggers,  but overall if it's in good condition  these rifles can be tack drivers.   They have 9 rear locking lugs, stiffer than a 700, and prices are going up every year on these.    I have one in 243,  it's scarey accurate and extremely consistant.  One problem with them is use high rings at least in the 243 the  ejected shell will come up and hit the windage turret, not a big deal use higher rings.   I coud see you showing up with a 788 and beating the pants off some guy with a 2 K set-up.   They did make a short barrel and longer barrel get the longer barrel.  I have never seen one yet that didn't shoot that was in good condition. 

[grizzly340]

I will keep an eye open for A 722 in 222 am I hereing you right that the 222 is apples for apples is more acurate than the 223?   I did just look up that are club is having An Angel Tree Christmas Shoot for all dissaplens Dec. 11th That will let me see how The VSL in 223 shoots and if I need to go any further with the Rifle end. And it comes with A hiddous Millette 4.5-16 target Scope you know the one with the anti aircraft Turret dials on it. Sorry if anyone owns one ( Looks good on your Rifle ) lol  I was just going to ebay it before I did anything else but I will dial it in for this shoot. And see what the Rifle does. and that will give me the winter to make A Scope Choice Providing the Rifle Does what im Banking on.