So my other scope stopped holding zero on my .300 WTFever and was a second focal plane BDC reticle which was only true on 9 power (which was more than needed for a shorter range subsonic Short Barreled Rifle), so I decided to get another scope while I wait on the warranty for the other - it was a Hawke Endurance, which didn't endure.
I wanted something under the $200 range since a Nightforce or IOR is out of reach financially and the 300 WTFever is just a fun plinking/training gun due to its quiet nature and steep trajectory. To all the "if your rifle rig doesn't cost as much as a sports car it isn't good" crowd, I have other guns for hunting and defense with bullet proof higher-end optics (Nightforce and IOR). I built the upper in its current configuration using Spook's barrel and used parts from Arfcom for less than $500, and my plinking load costs as much as cheap steel cased 9mm rounds so it is affordable, quiet and fun. No, it is not a post apocalyptic end-all firearm setup that needs to last a continuous 200,000+ full auto rounds through Zombie War III.
Back to optics, I was initially leaning towards the Millett DMS-1 since I didn't feel that I needed or wanted a large amount of magnification, but I really wanted a reticule that would work well at multiple ranges for holdover with subsonic loads. I came across the Sightmark 1.5-5x30 with First Focal Plane Mil Dot for $130 and thought I would give it a try since each mil is pretty close to 25 yards with 50 yard zero with my load of 7.8-7.9 grains of Alliant 2400 (using a Lee Pro Disk measure on a progressive) with pulled M118LR 175 Grain Sierra Matchking HPBT bullets. It chronies right at 1030 FPS with this load at around 55-60 degrees & an elevation of 4,200 Feet.
When I got it, I was very impressed with the quality for a cheaper Chinese made scope. The glass was clear, the clicks were audible and distinguishable, and the FFP reticle looked great with the 1.5 power looking like a Leupold Fine Plex and from about 2.5x up the mil dots are easily distinguishable. The knobs have 20 MOA of adjustment per rotation and several people have gotten over 200 MOA in total adjustment out of their scope, far more than I need to get to 300 yards (it takes .98 seconds to get that far with my load).
I knew my trajectory data for my load by plugging in my the bullet and conditions along with my velocity data into the JBM Trajectory website which produces free data tables for whatever loads you might have. With the 20 MOA knobs, there was plenty of space on the knob to make a poor man's ballistic turret (a la the kind Leupold and Kenton Industries make for well over $100/knob), so I had my wife print out 25 yard increments starting at 75 since my zero is at 50 yards on her digital label maker. She printed the smallest font it would do and they have an adhesive back.
Using the data, I cut them out into small pieces and stuck them on the knob to the closest quarter MOA. It was a hell of a day to have cut my fingernails first!
I also wanted a very visible zero marker so that I don't get confused by the now partially obstructed 0 and 1 due to the 300 marker being on the third rotation between these numbers (40.5 MOA). So I got some of my Birchwood Casey orange target pasters to make two sticky orange triangles - one for the turret, and one for the turret tube. The final step was sealing them on with matte Scotch Tape.
The best part about this process is that it only took about a half an hour with a cost of just a few cents in materials. Also, I can easily change my load if I want to and not have to throw away a knob that I payed $120 for just by pulling off the Scotch tape and repeating the process. While I'm sure this won't hold up to the Tactical crowd's durability requirements, it makes a fun little range toy that actually provides great long range training by setting clay pigeons at unknown distances (to 300 yards) and having to range and adjust 40 MOA without needing a 1000 yard range and $2+/round long range ammo.
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