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What scope to buy?

Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 2:03 pm
by wphill
I just acquired a cz 452 silhouette. This seems to be similar to a trainer rifle but without open sights and the stock
is synthetic (plastic). As an aside, I like the shape of the stock but kind of strange to be holding plastic. Does have cheek piece design/monte carlo.

Needs a scope. I will probably get high mount rings like the bkl. What's the best that I could get in the 350.00 range?
The intended use is for shooting silhouette, though I'm just beginning to practice offhand shooting 50yrd paper targets.

I have a weaver v 6-16 AO on another rifle. Bought it on sale for under 250 if I recall correctly. At 100 yds I feel like I am going to miss not having higher magnification. Eye relief does shorten, as well. So, at 50 yrds I go no higher than about 14 mag.

The cz was on sale. Might be considered an impulse purchase. What I really want is an anschutz 1422 as a companion to a 1712 which has the above mentioned weaver scope. My reasoning for a second sporter is that I want to have the variety of a lighter rifle for offhand shooting. The 1712 is feeling on the heavy side, though I am determined to adjust. So, there is a side issue that involves adapting to the 1712. I have a question on that but will post it as separate topic. I mention this more as context if someone of greater wisdom has an enlightening comment.

Re: What scope to buy?

Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 4:16 pm
by cedestech
Good rifle to start out with. Get some spare mags so your not constantly reloading. 4 total is good. BKL offset rings and throw that V16 and go shoot. If you want more magnification save up
for a Leupold FX3 25X or VXII 6.5-20X. You can get either from the factory with a large dot and if you decide to get a nicer rifle later the scope simply transfers over.

Don't skimp on the glass. It is WAY more agravating then cheap ammo....

:-bd

Re: What scope to buy?

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 5:55 am
by wphill
I agree that good glass is more important to me than good ammo...if I may phrase that way.
BUT, how much money do I need to set aside to have "good glass." Sales can be quite dramatic..
sometimes. Almost one third off. Weaver and Sightron have had such sales, but does Leupoold.
To get VXII 6.5-20X seems that 700.00 is the price range. Ouch.

As for a next better rifle. Not going to happen. Keep in mind that I have an anschutz 1712..new.
Broke the bank as well as my frugal ego on that one. Getting older has something to do with this.

As for the synthetic stock on the cz, the plastic stock has me wondering about harmonics.
Am I sacrificing accuracy with this material?

Re: What scope to buy?

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 6:22 am
by cedestech
The 2 standards you will see are both the Leupolds listed. The FX is a bit less. You can get if from Chicken George here for less then $700 I believe.
I just sold a spare FX3 in the $500 range. If you keep a eye open you can find a deal but glass generaly holds it's value.

Re: What scope to buy?

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 6:29 am
by cedestech
Get the trigger tuned to no creep and 2#. Play with ammo and action screw torque. The gun will like Eley Club or SK standard then just shoot it. Many people have shot into the 30's with that exact set up. It's a very good quality gun for the price.

Re: What scope to buy?

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 8:10 am
by BCloninger
Another scope to consider is the Leupold VX2 6-18x40. They cost a bit less than the VX3 - Midway had some blemished units on sale recently - and retain the lifetime guarantee.

Re: What scope to buy?

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 8:18 am
by snaketail2
I bought two Mullers - the first one is great, 1-4 power that I use on a 10-22, clear and easy to use.
Then I bought a 8.5-24x44 for my CZ452 - not so great. At 8.5 the image is sharp and clear, but around 12 power things stat to fuzz up. Completely useless at 24 power.
If I were starting over I'd go with a Weaver that has a fine crosshair and small dot. You may spend a bit more, but you won't regret the purchase and it will serve you well on the CZ and the next rifle, and the next...
You bought a good rifle, buy it some good glass and you'll both be happier.

M
PS: Look at the YoDave trigger kit for CZs - this is a bargain priced accessory that works well and helps you shoot better.

Re: What scope to buy?

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 10:57 am
by oldrifleman
My daughter has the Weaver V16 on her CZ452 American, nice but I personally prefer the higher Magnification. I have both the Sightron 6-24 and the Leupold 6.5-20. I personally like the glass on the Sightron better. Got all of them from Chicken George at a great price.

Re: What scope to buy?

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 12:16 pm
by wphill
I'm a newbie but I yes, yes...I am fortunate to have a buddy that right out of the box he helps
me with a trigger job...y0Dave kit. I actually have three cz's (452 16inch barrel..my favorite; UL452, and the current mentioned silhouette) and and a brno tgf model one. And, then there's the Annie...1712.

Lot of money flying out the door. Yet, I agree that the glass is important. Classified here and at RFC have had some nice offerings. As all know,one has to be the early bird and ready to pull the trigger.

I really found it helpful to hear about the Mueller scope. Another buddy has a red dot by them. Very nice and as good as most that cost a ton more. The issue, though is reliability over time. But, I do favor the notion that some products are better value...like Weaver and even Sightron. As for Mueller, again thanks for closing the door on their high mag scope.

How do I find Chicken George?

I just googled him and sent him an email. Thanks guys.

Re: What scope to buy?

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 12:45 pm
by Orion899
recently got a CZ 455 American for my son. yes out of the box the trigger was terrible but Yo Dave cured it. Put a Mueller 8.5-32 on after buying the 6- 24 for myself.
So far they both work great for the money. My concern is repeatability when changing zeros on the turrets. At 50 feet in my cellar I can't get it to fail, but when at a match it I'm not sure it goes to the same settings, but some time on the bench at 50 yards should tell me, I will post my findings.
I'm real impressed with the CZ, what a nice quality gun for low money.

Re: What scope to buy?

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 7:38 pm
by Innocent
wphill, in answer to your thoughts on repeatability, Leupold, Weaver and Sightron have that part of the scope quality beat over all others. It is extremely important in silhouette shooting because of the constant movement of the settings for the different distances. Leupold and Sightron have lifetime warranties on their products and Weaver has the best tracking system in the their microgroove system. so it gets down to what your eyes like best as to which glass and magnification/crosshairs/dot you like.
THere are a number of others that make some great glass, but they don't have the other things needed in silhouette, Burris is one as an example, lifetime warranty but the weight is heavy and they do not offer much in reticle choices, and poor quality on heavy use of elevation/windage adjustments.

The top three also hold good resale value should not keep it, but remember, each makes different grades of scopes.

Mary

Re: What scope to buy?

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 9:25 pm
by Jason
I'd probably agree that the old Weaver Micro-Trac system was as good as the current Sightron ExacTrack system, but the new Weaver Micro-Trac system isn't quite as good. I think Weaver has the edge when it comes to value in a scope that's good enough to rely on for silhouette. Sightron has the best combination of adjustment systems and glass, as long as an SII Big Sky model is chosen. The SII models before Big Sky did not have such high quality optics, as I painfully found out. Leupold has the most options for reticles, along with a good adjustment system and glass better than Weaver. Their FX3 silhouette models are particularly good, as they are both lightweight and offered with the most commonly desired sizes of dot reticles. They are expensive, though.

Re: What scope to buy?

Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 6:14 pm
by wphill
http://www.tactical-store.com/ts-tn-rs-siib62442md.html

How good of a sale is this?

Weaver v series have great sales here and at Natchezz.
I have had both weaver and sightron. Frankly, feel that sightron
has the better glass and eye relief. Then again, double the price.

I would prefer a nice solid dot with fine cross hairs but mil dot has its advantages.

Re: What scope to buy?

Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 6:27 pm
by BCloninger
It's a good price if you like Mil-Dot reticles.

Re: What scope to buy?

Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 7:16 am
by wphill
BC...

Tell me more about mil dots. My experience is limited. Is it a lack of defined focus where the eye just
prefers a unique dot to put on target? The other option was a duplex image.

Well...I called opticsplanet...actually tactical store...they gave me the same price for sil reticle...but I had to ask.

BC...thanks, I was up last night worried about those fussy mil dots.
RE: pricing. I'm not sure that this a "great" sale price. But, if one wants Sightron, instead of what I consider the other value choice...Weaver...it's the best price. Not many links to big sky sightron with higher mag.