Last year everyone said start with 9X which I did. Found that is was good for indoor for me. Went outdoor and the Rams were so far away, I could not see with my senior eyes........ w specticles. Moved up to 6.5 - 20X44 I found new at gun show and works for me. Even focuses down to 50ft! I adjust to 12X for chickens and up from there where rams are at 20X. I can handle the wobble at lower power at appropriate distances, as a Sr. beginner. Paid $90.00 for my discontinued model Simmons Scope. A little heavy mounted on my Marlin 39a, but works for me on a beginner budget. I get a lot of looks with my lever action gizzmo. Some in your club might let you use their rifles with different powers to help you select , which helped me in the current power I have now or second scope. My 9x is collecting dust. With a variable type scope, may I suggest with turret adjustments. Good luck with your scope selection!

Ok Question here for everyone,

I too am looking at smallbore silhouette, as well as hp, but will probably start with smallbore to keep initial cost low. I currently have a Leupold VX II 3-9x33mm EFR rimfire scope on my left handed Cz 452 American. I was debating about sending it back to leupold to have the M1 turrets put on for ranges that smallbore silhouette is shoot at with my ammo of choice...it will cost $140. Now that I've read this post, I'm wondering if the money would be better spent buying a higher magnification Weaver scope?

So can I get everyone's feedback as to this decision: send Leupie EFR scope back to get turrets or buy weaver higher mag scope?


Thanks!

Leo

Given the choice, go for the Weaver. Cry once and get it over with... (Thanks a lot, Kitty...)

There are aftermarket target turrets available for the Leupy's, at around 40-to 50 bucks, they attach to exsisting scope, so you may want to look into that.

Mary

That little 3-9x Leupold you have is a wonderful scope, just not wonderful for silhouette. You can set it on 9x to get started into silhouette and it will be OK until you get something with higher magnification, though.

Can't pick thel Luepy lovers here can ya? Hey I have some Weavers also, just not as bright a scope as the Leupy, but that can be a disadvantage for someone with sharp eyes, the eye fatigue will bother you in a bright scope.

Innocent M

Well, I know that I'm sorta a Leupie fan/slut myself. However, their prices are getting beyond my reach, especially since I like the VX-III and higher models

I'm also approaching silhouette from hunter background, not a competition shooter. Those big high mag scope, we hunters make fun of them calling them "Hubble scopes" usually are a detriment to hunting although I see the benefit for silhouette. I'm beginning to think that one almost has to specialize their scope to the purpose they want to pursue. Meaning that a good scope for hunting would not be optimal for silhouette. Even if one was to chose a compromise scope in magnfication, it would still be "compromise" neither optimal for hunting nor silhouette. Interesting dilemna, no? lol

I haven't look at the weaver in a long time, but they weren't that expensive from what I remember, but then again I wasn't looking at target scopes. I'll take a look at Weaver again. Any particular magnification power range I should look at, with the caveot that I'm new to the sport? Thanks!


Leo

Weaver and Sightron are high value, and I'm curious about Redfield. Leupold bought the name and has less expensive scopes just coming out but I haven't heard any first hand reports.

I shoot with a few guys who swear by their $100 tasco's and simmons. I'll always spend the extra bucks for a weaver. the better glass is worth it.

My cheap Simmons, mag 44 old style, did not last long. Nine months and lost repeatability. I replaced with a Vortex Viper, 6-24, Target Dot two weeks ago. I returned the Simmons yesterday and will see if they replace with newest/revised 44mag. I am now of the opnion to buy a better class scope to begin with. I didn't listen the first time. Hopefully the Vortex Viper will hold up.

teetertotter wrote:My cheap Simmons, mag 44 old style, did not last long. Nine months and lost repeatability. I replaced with a Vortex Viper, 6-24, Target Dot two weeks ago. I returned the Simmons yesterday and will see if they replace with newest/revised 44mag. I am now of the opnion to buy a better class scope to begin with. I didn't listen the first time. Hopefully the Vortex Viper will hold up.

Save your pennies for a Leupold, Weaver, or other good scope and you'll never regret it....

A member told me to look at Vortex followed by Weaver. I am in love with the VORTEX Viper 6-20X44 with Target DOT. Nice distinct readable turret markings too. He was right about the OPTICS with favorable pricing. I had to buy 30mm dia alum xtall rings which was no big deal. Next year I plan to move up to AA.
This new scope will make a big difference............if I don't wobble so much. I feel like a new kid with this Vortex Scope.

The Simmons came back repaired by Bushnell and remounted for indoor winter season practice which begins January. Our outdoor season ends late September. The parallax on the Simmons goes down to 50 ft and is sighted in It took 2 weeks from time sent into Simmons until I received back, NICE! $10.00.

Yup, Bob, save the penny's for the better scope to begin with. I learned.

Natchez has Sightron 6.5-20x42AOs again for $299.

frog5215 wrote:Natchez has Sightron 6.5-20x42AOs again for $299.

Sounds like a good deal to me!

If you are starting out, you should take everyones advice here, but I would recommend getting a variable power scope over a fixed power. With a variable power scope, you can set you power on maybe 12x for your first few matches. With higher power settings, you may get frustrated with the animal wobbling around all over the place and that will affect your score. With a lower power setting your wobble will be less noticeable and you will gain confidence. So if you go with something like a 6-18 power scope, you can start with 10x or 12x until your wobble area starts to decrease and then bump up the power on your scope until you are at full power.