Advice on Leupold Selection for a new comer to the sport

[aliascraig]

Guys and Gals,

I just wanted to get your advice on rifle scope selections for small bore metallic silhouette. I have been looking around on articles and am thoroughly confused, especially when trying to read the articles on here about reticle selections. Unfortunately I reside in Australia and while I can get Leupold and Weaver etc branded scopes we have no facility to modify any of the reticles. As such these products are only imported through an agent and we can only get a warranty if we buy Australian stock compared to a grey import. I have only just started the sport and am having trouble enough at trying to hold a 6 power scope but don’t know how high a magnification I will eventually reach. Can people actually hold a 20x power scope or is a 14x maximum magnification better suited?

It looks like the most popular model is the 6.5-20 by 40 mm EFR Leupold scope which is imported as a model LE66565 which has the fine duplex reticle and the LE66570 which has the target dot. Considering that I can’t change the reticle as this facility is not available here in Australia and I can’t import and export these products as they will trip import export duties all of the time (even under a warranty repair) which reticle would you recommend and why?

The other option is also to get a 4.5 to 14 power scope that I could use for field hunting as well as MS and just leave it on there. I don’t know if the power up to 20x is that useful or if I can even hold is steady at the power. How large/small are the targets at these powers?

Any advice or light that you could share on this would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks in return.
Craig.

[Bob259]

A lot of it is personal preference but I prefer the Leupold 6.5x20EFR with the Leupold Dot (although I usually get a larger Dot through the Leupold Custom Shop). To me the dot is easier to use then the heavy duplex for Silhouette.

As far as power that too is a personal preference. I know someone shooting 40x and I know of a few that are steady enough that use more power then that (makes the chickens look like they are a foot high, but they run and duck a lot faster too ;) ), but I'd say the majority of the folks are in the 20x to 30x range. You will find that as you progress and your hold becomes better you can handle the higher power. I had the 18x-40x Premier boosted scopes and went back to the 6.5x20's as I found the lower power was where I was shooting at more comfortably.

Great bunch of guys down there (althought there are a few down there I think you should stay away from judging by their posts ), so go to some matches and ask around and I'm sure any one of them would gladly let you look through their scopes, maybe even let you shoot a match with it, then make your decision.
Welcome aboard!!!

PS:

............. Unfortunately I reside in Australia...... Many thanks in return. Craig.

Craig, there is NOTHING unfortunate about living in Australia... I love it there and can't wait to get there again.

[Boyd L.]

Craig,
I agree with Bob's excellent advice. One other detail about the selection of 6.5-20 EFR scopes is that you can purchase one with the "Leupold Dot". Granted its not as large as many experienced shooters like, but its large enough (for me at least) to be more effective than a fine or duplex crosshair.
I personally have used the same 6-24 Weaver scope to shoot nearly identical scores a number of times with the power setting on 6X for one match and then turned to 24 for the next. Its really all about which setting allows you to maintain the best sight picture while executing trigger control.

Good luck and welcome.

Boyd

[Innocent]

Craig,
Amen on Bob's advice, the 6.5X20 will give you the most versatility and I would go with the largest dot available.

Mary

[BlauBear]

All I can add is a vote for the 3/8's MOA Leupold Dot - the middle sized one. The 6.5-20x40 EFR is the most versatile scope I know, followed by the 6-18x40 VXII with cross hairs (a 3/8's dot isn't offered in this model.)

[aliascraig]

Thanks a million for you responses. It looks like the 6.5 to 20 EFR is the way to go. I will just need to try the target dot before I hand over the hard earned cash. Not many people use these scopes here but hopefully I can find someone.

Can anyone recommend what type or brand of scope ring to match this for mounting onto an Anschutz 1416? I am quite sure they are drilled and tapped and have an 11mm dovetail. Any idea weather to use alloy or steel, or what size (height) to use or what brand to use or stay away from or is this more just personal preference?

I have read about the shimming of the back bottom of the scope ring to help with adjustments and have also read to shim all of the four spots to help protect the scope from ring marks. Can you place two pieces or aluminium under the rear bottom ring or would you simply place a thicker piece of aluminium or am I being over cautious about marking the scope?

I certainly appreciate all of the assistance that you guys (and Mary) have given me.

While I do love living in Australia, I guess the comment that `unfortunately I reside in Australia' referred to the fact that we have very limited products being imported into this country. We usually only get 10-30% of the range imported, and many of the smaller or more specialised equipment is simply not available. If it is available it is somewhere between two and four times the USA price. This is with everything here, not just firearms related products. I guess that this is not unique to us, if you live outside USA, Canada or Europe then I suspect that all people suffer this problem.

Kind Regards,

Craig.

[Bob259]

Thanks a million for you responses. It looks like the 6.5 to 20 EFR is the way to go. I will just need to try the target dot before I hand over the hard earned cash. Not many people use these scopes here but hopefully I can find someone.

Can anyone recommend what type or brand of scope ring to match this for mounting onto an Anschutz 1416? I am quite sure they are drilled and tapped and have an 11mm dovetail. Any idea weather to use alloy or steel, or what size (height) to use or what brand to use or stay away from or is this more just personal preference?

I have read about the shimming of the back bottom of the scope ring to help with adjustments and have also read to shim all of the four spots to help protect the scope from ring marks. Can you place two pieces or aluminium under the rear bottom ring or would you simply place a thicker piece of aluminium or am I being over cautious about marking the scope?

I certainly appreciate all of the assistance that you guys (and Mary) have given me.

While I do love living in Australia, I guess the comment that `unfortunately I reside in Australia' referred to the fact that we have very limited products being imported into this country. We usually only get 10-30% of the range imported, and many of the smaller or more specialised equipment is simply not available. If it is available it is somewhere between two and four times the USA price. This is with everything here, not just firearms related products. I guess that this is not unique to us, if you live outside USA, Canada or Europe then I suspect that all people suffer this problem.

Kind Regards,

Craig.

Crait,
I use BKL's on most of mine. http://www.bkltech.com/

[BlauBear]

BKL's are pretty inexpensive, particularly after the Leupold scope, but it really doesn't get much better.

[aliascraig]

Once again thanks for that guys. So for an Anschutz 1416 11mm dovetail mount with a Leupold 6.5 to 20 with a one inch scope tube would recommend the simple two piece standard height scope BKL scope rings? I am assuming that the BKL 257 (linked below) is the best option. Sorry about all of the question as I need to order this from the UK and really wanted to make double sure that this was the most suitable setup.

http://www.bkltech.com/1x0_6_Wide_Dovet ... kl-257.htm

Once again thanks for all of the advice.

Kind Regards,

Craig

[BlauBear]

Craig, that's the set up! Later, you may want more magnification but you will want to keep those parts forever - that is the most versatile setup I have ever used.

[aliascraig]

Thanks again Blaubear.

Kind Regards,

Craig