Scope tracking test results!

FOTIS

Range Officer
Staff member
Oct 30, 2004
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Not sure if these have been posted before or not but found them very interesting... Not the most scientific test but should open a few eyes as to what some of these scope brands are capable of right outta the box...

On the March scope the reason it's off on the tracking is that March uses a Mil value of 6400 verses the standard 6283... The 6400 is an old Army artillery value and not common in todays scopes... In 2015 March will begin using the 6283 value...

If you put in a value of .097 (6400) mil adjustment in your ballastic calculator verses the .1 (6283) mil value the March tracks perfectly... Just a side note...


Leupy Mark 6 3-18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6joBXXyoAUA

Vortex Razor HD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_xJ-3NH8JM

Bushnell Elite Tactical
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jedS8gy60Bo

March 3-24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKBh6QPmdQk

Mark 4 6.5-20 M5A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICSX_SOlGew

NightForce F1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgpqpT0VYgo
 
I’m not surprised by the night force, the ones that Ihave had were all dead nuts accurate. I am surprised that the leupold didn’t stack up as well and I’m surprised that the Razor HD was so far off.

Very interesting comparison. Thanks for sharing that
 
Good info Fotis. Thanks for posting this.

JD338
 
Very interesting concepts!
 
Well...that was unexpected...I've messed with 2 Vortex scopes (both Viper HS models) that tracked fine...surprises me the HD model was that bad.
 
I noticed that the first Leupold on your test sure appeared to me to be not set perfectly level. The cross-hairs were angled down to the right.

I know scopes can be adjusted and expected to track accurately and even if they do when new, there is the prospect that over time with them being moved frequently, that something will go wrong with them. I think that is why for me at least I would want a Z600 reticle or B&C reticle that is matched for the ballistics of my rifle. Just keeps it simple with less to worry about.

David
 
Ridgerunner665":3cw1tfh5 said:
Well...that was unexpected...I've messed with 2 Vortex scopes (both Viper HS models) that tracked fine...surprises me the HD model was that bad.
every company makes a lemon from time to time
 
One interesting thing we noticed while working as instructors at the SWAT sniper school, was that the value of the "clicks" could vary widely from scope to scope.

All were supposed to move 1/4 MOA per click.

We checked every student/shooter's scope, and found that some were on the money. Some moved 1/2 or 1/3 MOA... It was interesting. I'd never run into that with my own scopes. Most of these scopes were Leupold. The value was constant - if it was a 1/3 MOA adjustment, it stayed that way, but it was interesting all the same. Pays to check that stuff on any scope intended for precision shots & longish ranges.

Regards, Guy
 
Guy Miner":nsy1ydt1 said:
One interesting thing we noticed while working as instructors at the SWAT sniper school, was that the value of the "clicks" could vary widely from scope to scope.

All were supposed to move 1/4 MOA per click.

We checked every student/shooter's scope, and found that some were on the money. Some moved 1/2 or 1/3 MOA... It was interesting. I'd never run into that with my own scopes. Most of these scopes were Leupold. The value was constant - if it was a 1/3 MOA adjustment, it stayed that way, but it was interesting all the same. Pays to check that stuff on any scope intended for precision shots & longish ranges.

Regards, Guy

How do you check Guy? It looks like from the videos they have the gun and some kind of vise is that how you guys did it?
 
That is the best way.... so nothing moves but the scope adjustments
 
That's why I shoot every 100yds, out to as far as I shoot at things, to check actual drops compare to what a calculator says. Not all BC's are accurate just like not all scope "clicks" are true 1/4 MOA. I've seen Leupolds run closer to 1/4" rather than 1/4 MOAin the past but they have been much more accurate and repeatable for me than most other brands in their price range. I'll probably try a Sightron SIII soon to see how they stack up in in the VX3 price range. From what I've read the SIII glass is as good a Nightforce (they are made in the same place as Nightforce in Japan) but aren't as tough or as heavy.
 
I have not done this yet. However a regular rest such as this you can do it.


rests_00-02.jpg


Another way is clamp this type of a rest down to the bench with C clamps or what ever clamp you can get on the bench


7550.jpg




There are a multitude of clamps to do this


https://www.google.com/search?q=rif...hanics.com%2Fhome%2Freviews%2F4288700;470;353


and tons of ways to hold the rifle steady in the rest
 
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