I just got my Whisper upper with 10" barrel, and have been researching scopes and reticles. The .300 Whisper is difficult because it drops so quickly at sub-sonic velocities. It does have a very linear drop curve, though.

The best theoretical solution I have found for a reticle is the new Leupold SPR (Special Purpose Reticle). This offers Mil-dot marks at 2.5 mil intervals all the way out to 15 mils (vs. 1 mil intervals out to 5 mils in a standard Mil Dot scope). This gives you 215" (18 feet!) of drop path in the reticle.

According to my Oehler Ballistic Explorer program, the 2 1/2 mil marks closely match the 50 yard drop points for Corbon 220gr sub-sonic, all the way out to 400 yards, when sighted in with a 90 yard zero (this puts you 2.5" high at 50 yards, and 1.5" low at 100 yards). You could also zero at 100 yards, but this add a few inches of error at longer ranges.

The only problem with this reticle is that it is available as standard on just 2 Leupold scopes - the Mark 4 1.5-5x20 PR and MR models. Leupold will add it to any Mark 4 or Vari-X III scope for about $200 in their custom shop.

The advantages of this SPR reticle from Leupold are (in theory):

+ 2.5 Mil-dot Aiming marks calibrate to within 2.5" for Corbon 220gr sub-sonic load out to 400 yards

+ Max 2.5" error at every range can probably be corrected to < 1" error by slight power selector adjustment

+ 15 mils of drop marks instead of the standard 5 mils (yields Whisper aiming points out to 400 yards)

+ Has excellent range estimating capabilities on man-sized targets

+ Illuminated Reticle is possible with Custom Shop add of this reticle to illuminated scope

+ Even with the custom shop add, it's an all-Leupold product with single-source lifetime warranty

+ Re-usable/re-sellable for standard rifle calibers (Leupold pitches the SPR reticle for use with .223 and .308)

+ Can recalculate drop tables and use the 2 1/2 mil marks with super-sonic/any .300 Whisper loads

The disadvantages are:

- Expensive, about $200 to add SPR reticle in Leupold custom shop (but competitive with Premier Reticles prices)

- Needs range testing to confirm drop calculations

- Doesn't really work as well as 1 mil dots for standard rifle calibers or super-sonic Whisper loads


I have bought a used Mark 4 1.5-5x20 PR scope on eBay in order to test out the drop points with this reticle, and will post results when available. If this works, my plan is to buy a VX-III 4.5-14x50 Illuminated scope (#54922), send it to the Leupold Custom Shop for installation of the SPR reticle, and re-sell the low-power scope on eBay. I don't think you need the Target Knob version since the reticle should give you all your drops, at least for 220gr sub-sonic. I hate those things, anyway, since I always forget to reset them.

Here's the scope I bought used ($360) for testing:
http://www.leupold.com/products/tact...-5x20mm_PR.htm

And, here's the SPR reticle:
http://www.leupold.com/products/tact...ticles_SPR.htm

One last thought - the .300 Whisper 220gr sub-sonic at 400 yards still has more energy than a 45 acp at point blank range. I like to shoot gongs and varmints at long ranges. Even though 300 yards is usually considered the max, I believe that with a laser range finder, the right scope and a 1MOA rifle, you can make consistent hits in a 8" circle at 400 yards.

I apologize for the extended "Scope Nerd" discussion above, but thought some of you might find this useful.

John3,

I found your post EXTREMELY useful. I eagerly await your follow-up.

Before I read your post about the SPR reticle, I was thinking of an IOR scope with the MP-8 reticle.

I agree... great post... please let us know how that works out as I am pretty much a click counter but with this round that can get to be a PITA in a hurry!

If this works it sounds like what I will be needing, when it comes time to sell off your 1.4x5 test scope let us know as I don't want any more power then that in a scope for shooting a shorter range caliber.

I am getting 4 MOA groups with my new SSK Whisper upper, and won't be able to confirm the data on the Leupold SPR reticle until I fix my accuracy problem. This may take a few weeks if I have to send the upper back to SSK.

I did take a few off-hand potshots today at my 200 yard steel gong, and hit it every time using the predicted aiming mark (5 mils, bottom of circle in SPR reticle).

Any updates, John?

Well, I've always thought of the 300Whisp. as a short- to medium-range caliber. I've never thought of shooting it past 150-200yds. I like to look at it as the best round for the M-4 Carbine (and shorter) versions of the AR-15/M-16 platform for CQB. Something that hits hard, penetrates deep, is suppressible, and actually effective vs. that miserable 5.56mm that has all the power of a 22WMR out of the short-barrelled guns... Therefore, I've been very happy with an Aimpoint Comp II w/ the 12moa triangle. The tip of the triangle will be zeroed for about 85 yards for "precision" work from 50-130 yards or so, and for closer shots, one need only put the triangle on the torso of the bad guy and squeeze the trigger.

However, this thread has got me thinking that it might be interesting to play around with a higher-powered scope, such as the Leupold mentioned above. That would be quite impressive to be able to put suppressed 300 W. shots on a man-sized target at 300+ yards.

Do you have a need of killing somebody? Because it seems that you do not see any other use of that caliber (hunting, plinking). I find having that mentality a bit silly.

ND

Don't know about him, but since moving to a big city and 9/11 terrorist attack and other news items from around the world I am taking more interest in Human shaped targets than Deer shaped targets.

I just got back from where I used to live where you don't lock doors and can still leave the keys in the car when you go in for lunch - people waving at people every one remembering me...though I forgot many names I was forgiven.... I live in a different world than the one I left. Times are a changing ....

I can understand your fear. But do you reaslly think that Arizona will be the next target of El quada?

ND