what scope for 1,000yd. accuracy?

[emt1581]

Let's say I have a Remington 700 in .308.

And lets say I want to shoot a varmint (ground hog, prarie dog, etc.) at 1,000yds...

what scope magnification would I need to do so?

Also, what brand and model would make such a scope?

Thanks!

-Emt1581

[freakshow10mm]

First off, a lot of ammo and a lot of practice. I have been actively shooting at distances of up to and including 800 yards for about 10 years now. It definately takes practice to become a proficient marksman. Just because you have a fancy scope on your weapon, doesn't make it a 1000y tack driver. It is the shooter behind the gun that makes it happen. There is more to shooting long range than a decent scope with wizzbang magnification.

That said, my longest kill shot on an animal was 416y with a 7mm-08 120gr HP on a coyote. It was done with a 2.5-10x42mm scope and a fair amount of skill.

Scopes I have used have been no greater magnification than 15x. For 1000y, maybe the 36x Leupold target scope might serve. Most makers will offer target type scopes in magnification ranges of over 12x to 40x at the top. In all practicallity, I wouldn't go over 24-32x for prarie dogs. Especially at 1000y. You will be bouncing all over the target with that high of magnification. One thousand yards is a magically far distance, as a mile is 1760y, you are talking about putting a .308" object into something at over a half mile away. Most benchrest and competitive shooters struggle to keep a 10" group at 1000y, let alone hit prairie dogs consistently at those distances.

To browse a fine selection of riflescopes, go to swfa.com (or riflescopes.com if that one doesn't work, they are the same company). Nikon, Bushnell, Burris, Leupold, Schmidt and Bender, Zeiss, US Optics, Nightforce, Kahles, Swarovski, Swift, Tasco, Simmons, BSA, Sheperd, etc all make some models with target shooting high magnificaion. Some are affordable and some require quite a heavy wallet. Don't overlook the cheaper brands. The best scope I have ever owned in my 25 years on this planet has been the aforementioned 2.5-10x42mm scope. It was a cheap Tasco Target-Varmint that I paid an Earth-shattering $61 for, including shipping. The worst scope will never cost the least and the best scope will never cost the most. Keep that in mind. You may go thoough a few scopes before you settle on one you like.

Also, seeing your other posts regarding this rifle, which is an excellent choice by the way, is it is hard to justify putting a 6-24x scope on a weapon used for general big game hunting and use it for 1000y competitions too. For roles that broad, I suggest purchasing another rifle and using that one for your long range shooting and save the one you have for general hunting. Long range shooting is more of a shooting system rather than just a gun and scope.

Hope it helps. I am no expert, but I have been there before too. Some of the above I have learned the hard way.

[8541/9999]

As you can see by my designation 8541 I do have a little experience with shooting .308 remmington modified rifles at 1000 yds First of all there are 2 scopes that I have tried at that range and would recomend, first would be the Leupold m1 or m3 mark 4 series scope depending on how much you shoot diferent loads will depend on weather you want the M1 or the M3 both are fixed power scopes that you can get in 10x or 16x I prefer 10x as it has less eye fatigue dont know if that is a factor in your decision. The unertal 10x is also a good choice sturdy and will do the job since the corps is starting to phase these out you may get a good buy on one as unertal tries to play more in the civilian market. The new schmidt and bender we have on our new semi-automatic sniper rifle shows promise but there are problems there not glass related but ring and mount issues so I would not recomend that combo right now. Now having said all that none of this makes a darn if you dont have good consistant ammo and a place to practice shooting. We find our most challanging shooting only starts after the 800 yd line. Study wind, advanced balistics, bullet coficient, and have a good coach checking your shooting position and trigger control each and every shot till your body can preform the mental checklist of the seven factors common to all good shooting positions becomes subconscience muscle memory.

Good luck and good shooting.

[emt1581]

I understand that it is the shooter that determines if one can hit 1000yd targets, and not neccessarily the equipment. But in order to see specific targets/parts of targets at that distance, I'm taking the first reply to mean I would need at least a 36x magnification...correct?

Even with open iron sights, given the right shooter, the rifle can still be aimed to hit targets at that distance, but in order for the shooter to better see what he/she is shooting at specifically, that's where the magnification comes into the picture...right?

Thanks!

-Emt1581

[8541/9999]

36x would give you target I.D. you will be able to see their eyeballs, weather permitting, remember the hotter it is the more mirage you will see with the higher magnification, and I mean it doesnt have to be Iraq hot or even California hot. At 10x we have no problem telling good guys from bad guys. Our spotting scopes are 20x and we can usually see what type of patches he is wearing. Also at 36x you have a very narrow field of view. But then again I guess you dont have to worry about ground hogs trying to outflank you lol.

[TimP]

I use a Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x56 with a Rem PSS 5R milspec 308. Using handloads 1000 yard shots are not too terribley hard. They aren't easy, but its not impossible.

The 308 is reaching its "limit" once it gets to around 1000 yards. I'm not saying its no good after 1000, but that a about as far as I would want to engage a target.

If you can afford it I would get the highest magnification you can, within reason. Like 8541 said, 36x would probably be overkill, and obviously the 10X they use works fine, but something around 15-20X would probably be perfect for you. Thats why I chose the Nightforce 5.5-22x

That being said there is a big difference in leupold ( good ) Nightforce Nikon ( better ) and S&B, kahles, US optics, Swaroski (best). Not a lot, but the clarity of the glass is amazing. For the money its hard to beat a Leupy Mark 4 though.

I have taken Pdogs @ 750 yards with my 280 ackley and 6.5-284 with a Leupold 14.5x VX3, and taken them @ 800 yards with the 308 and the nightforce. Its ALOT easier with the extra 7.5x that the NF gives me, its alot easier.