Hi all, so from what I've read here the scope can be a very important decision for beginning in this sport. With out breaking the bank... or will I have to break the bank? What do you all recommend as a good scope for silhouette? And is it possible to stay under $500?

Broad subject with lot's of variables besides price...All that said and done it's hard to go wrong with a Weaver V16. Variable 4X16, around $260.00 thereabouts, a lot of scope for the money.

Kitty

If you are just getting interested and have at least a 9x scope, just use that. There is no sense in spinding the money for the equipment unless you reall know you are interested in the sport. (unless of course you have the budget for it and it just doesn't matter) I have a page titled "equipment" on my website where I go into some detail on my feelings about the scopes. In general if you are buying one, a target type adjusting is very important to be able to go back and forth to the required settings. Personally I use the Weaver T36 and find them very trustworthy. Most people prefer about 24x though. Weaver makes the T36 and T24 for about $400.

You can find Weaver KT-15's under $200, and they are a great scope (Weaver's legendary tracking) with a duplex reticle, adjustable objective, and fixed 15X magnification which is a great place to start.

SteveM.

Remember the rule. If you buy cheep, you will buy twice.

Jerry G wrote:Remember the rule. If you buy cheep, you will buy twice.

Yes I've heard the rule, but I guess what I'm really wondering is how cheap is too cheap? Should I spend 500 plus right away for my first one then?

I started with the Weaver KT-15, which was fine for then as I also was using the rifle for indoor position matches, and it focused to 50 ft. When I got my 54.18, the KT-15 went with the old gun. What I did get was the Weaver 6-24 (now $360), which is a scope you won't have to replace. Why the 6-24 over the 4-16? I found the target too small most times at 15x as I adjusted to the sport. Most folks I shot with moved up in scope power as they were longer with the sport. I used 18-22x most of the time. On my Hunter rifle, a NS-522, I have a straight 24x Tasco because variables would make it over the weight limit. For that rifle, a $130 scope mated with a $275 (1995?) gun made sense. It replaced a $50 pawn shop Marlin with a $40 4-12x AO. The Weaver 6-24 will also focus down to 50 ft.

Leupolds, Weavers and Sightrons are the best when it comes to the mechanics of the adjustment, especially for elevation, a very important part ofthe silhouette game. Glass is a matter of personal preference, and I prefer 4 click minutes over the 8 click minute adjustment. Put the money in the scope the first time, if weight is that serious of a problem then look to cut weight with aluminmum rings, or out of the stock.
Mary

Sigh.... Here's noob getting excited about this game, assembling a starter, CZ American (lefty) and a Nikon 6.5-20 that was sitting on the shelf.
Since I've seen no mention of Nikons can I expect problems with consistency when dialing up and down?
Thanks.

Can't answer for the 6.5x20 in a Nikon, but I have a 3x9 Monarch scope on my Deer Rifle, and I have another one in the safe, waiting to go on another rifle. The glass is excellent. You don't see too many Nikon's at a silhouette match, I was looking around at one time and I was told they are a tad heavy, I couldn't say!

The Nikon's I've seen had great glass and seemed like good value. I just can't speak about their reliability over time - nothing bad, I just don't know.

Nikon and Zeiss....great glass but heavy, and not usually enough power in the long run and yes....not really good at the repetitive movement of elevation adjustments, aside from from nearly always requiring a coin/screwdriver for adjusting.
Tha being said, I have two Monarch's....on rifles that have been used for hunting, love the Nikon camera lens.

Mary

So we're back to Leupold, Weaver and Sightron. Kitty warned me to watch what experience shooters used, but of course I had to experiment! Our gear gets accelerated wear testing even though it gets very good care. The weak stuff stays home or goes away, but it doesn't get to play on match day.

Remington makes my favorite rifles, but the one I trust for record is an Anschutz 1712. This is great fun, but hard work, too, so we don't trust dicey gear.

Toys, toys and more toys....you should hear from some of the old timers complaining about the Annies...but then the use that we put these rifles through in one season is more than most people shoot in a lifetime.
BTW Burris is another great glass, but heavy scope.
Innocent Mary

In asking the same questions back this past summer, I went with a Leupold VXII 6-18. I now use a 50ft focus adaptor for 20yd indoor shooting.

I wish I'd bought two now that I'm going to dabble in high power this summer. I keep it on 12 for the chickens/pigs, and dial it up to 18 for turkey's and rams. Great scope, just the right amount of magnification, and reasonable on the pocket.