Choosing the right Optics

[LouBoyd]

> I have but one question regarding scopes, Whispers and long range shooting. WHY?

Why do you need to shoot at short range either? Do you need to shoot at all? I've never needed to shoot anything in my life. I shoot subsonic and at long range because it's a hobby and a challenge that I enjoy. If I didn't enjoy it I wouldn't do it.

> Come on, guys. I have and regularly shoot my bolt action 300W and love it for what it is and does but to fool myself into thinking that I need to reach out past 200 yards is foolsplay. <

Shooting under 200 yards is mostly just boring to me. I do carry a pistol and practice with it but I don't consider it as entertainment. Just a necessity for a very unlikely need for self defense.

> Yes, it can be done but I can also open beer bottles with my teeth-does it sound like a good plan ?<

Why would I want to open beer bottles with my teeth? Why would I want to drink alcohol at all?

> Use the right tool for the job- I have, and probably so do the vast majority of you, something other than a suppressed sub-sonic big assed slug to shoot long distances.<

I have four rifles which will shoot supersonic to over 2000 yards. One is very "big assesd" All use very low drag "slugs". They're all very noisy. The subsonics aren't.
The subsonics are also very efficient, not that the cost of powder is major concern.
It's my small contribution to the "green" save the planet movement ;-)

> I have a hard enough time getting what I want at 600 yards with my 6mm BR that has been tweaked, bedded, and otherwise massaged. Why oh why try to use the Whisper.<

No one is forcing you. If you don't want a challenge then don't bother.

> Get a scope that best fits what you use the gun for. I have a wide variety of scopes ranging from Muellers(pretty good value, by the way) up to NightForce NXS's and try to pair the scope with the rifle and its intended use. <

I do agree with that. When I have a rifle with unusual properties, like being able to shoot over 500 yards subsonic I equip it with whatever optics are needed to allow it to function. That requires a scope with around 100 MOA of elevation adjustment. The price of a rifle does not need to be matched to the price of a scope, only to it's function.

> OK, my ranting is over, the coffee has kicked in and as always, just my humble opinion<

Isn't it nice that we live in a country where everyone can express their opinion!

[nwcid]

I have a 250yard range in my back yard. I want to be able to shoot that far. Since the 300W was designed to be a 300 yard gun why not. I shoot my .22 rifle accurately at 250 yards often even though many seem to think they are 50 yard guns. While the other poster seems to shoot his 300W at 500 yards I think that is awsome but I have no desire to do so. I want to run it at 300 yards because that is what I WANT to do.

Not sure what the problem is with your BR, I shoot my target .223 AR-15 to 600 yards often with good success.

Of course get the right scope for the right gun, that is what this thread is about.

[este]

You both completely missed his point. Which is perfectly valid.

At 300 yards, a subsonic whisper bullet will drop so much that you had better be damn sure of your distance you you'll miss by feet in drop alone. Not to mention the effect wind has on the bullet by that distance.

If I have a range finder and really really want to hit 400 yards on a perfectly clear day I know that is possible. I had better know the -exact- distance and be really lucky with the wind though. Even then it's more luck than skill imo. I would also suggest using whisper for no more than 200yards ideally and get a scope to match.

Is it possible to get a longer distance scope with more adjustment? Yes of course. Is shooting that far, at the point where it just becomes a toss up fun ? Not so much to me. If you know better than just get a 10-25x scope and post your results instead of arguing with someone saying something you don't want to hear.

[Alleycat]

We have a range set up at one place out to 800 yds. The second range goes out to 1000 yds. From 500 yds out we use steel plates. I shoot a 6.5 WSM with a Berger 140 with a .640 BC from 500 out to 1000 yds. It's a lot of fun. I also shoot my Whisper at the same two ranges. Usually between 100 yds and 300 yds. 250 yds is as far as I would shoot at deer with subsonic rounds. 300 yds is as far as I would shoot at deer with supersonic Whisper rounds, but that's just me. If you were looking at a 500 target plate and had a 300 Whisper you would send one down range too. Why do I do it? Because I can. The Whisper with supersonic 125 BT will hold 1 MOA at 500 yds. Steel doesn't feel so why the hell not. I have never shot the 240s for groups @ 500, but you can hit the 3' x 3' plate with regularity.(If there is little or no wind) If you're ever in middle TN let me know, we shoot on Sundays except when hunting. I'll show you some more crazy shit we do.

[d-mon]

What about these babies guys?

http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-Scopes-C1719.aspx

All of you who live in the US of A can buy them.
But he would not ship to international countries (even if our boys are fighting alongside your boys in Middle east). But he has his reasons that I respect.

I use a leupold vari xll 3x9x40 with a mildot reticle and I also have the target turrets, but I have not enough elevation with the current set up to use them. So I am zeroed at 100m and use the mildot for shooting out to 200m.

ND