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Scope with zero stop

6K views 8 replies 7 participants last post by  dhafelein 
#1 ·
I am looking for a scope for my bolt gun.

I see that Leopold offers "custom" dials for their scopes based on your load data.

I would like a scope that has zero stop, that I can range a target, dial in a yardage, and aim dead on with the crosshairs.

I am pretty good at "kentucky windage" or holdover out to 300 yds but would like to start playing around with longer ranges.

Anyone have experience with a scope with dials?

Thanks in advance.
 
#3 ·
Not sure that Leupold has an offering with a Zero Stop, unless it's brand new.

Like 82nd said, Nightforce has a Zero Stop option. I have it on my 5.5-22x50mm SFP scope. NF's a good step up from the Leupold Mk4 line, IMPO.

The custom turrets like you mentioned are a great idea in theory, but fall short during actual applications, especially at long range.

Wind is the single greatest variable to effect external ballistics (EB is what happens to the bullet from the time is leaves the muzzle until it strikes something). But, even in the absence of wind, you have factors such as altitude, temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure that effect external ballistics.

So, you get a favorite load, and sight your rifle in at 721ft of altitude, on a day that is 62 degrees with a humidity of 38%. You take all that load data and send it to Leupold and they make you a custom turret. Life is great!

Then, you go out and shoot at 112 feet of altitude, on a day that is 48 degrees with a humidity of 12%. You dial your fancy dial in and kick up dirt several feet in front of the 900yd target. What happened!? Differing variables on the different day conspired to greatly effect external ballistics and make your new turrets not nearly as nicky-neat as they were before.

Get a good, solid scope (like the aforementioned Nightforce) with adjustable turrets in the .25MOA range and learn how to use 'em. No reason to spend extra scratch for a set of turrets that probably are not capable of doing what you think they are.

You best bet once you acquire said scope is to take some formal training from someone who knows what they are doing. That will serve you WAAAY better than those turrets.

Semper Fi!
 
#4 ·
Thank you.
 
#6 ·
Won't a standard Leupy M3 Turrent hit a mans size torso target, when dialed in? If you are looking for precision shooting, go with the Leupy M1. The front focal ones you can range at any magnication, more$ though. If your looking for zero stop, Nightforce is your option.
 
#7 ·
I don't know if it's technically a zero stop, but my 1.5x5 Mark 4 does have a stop.

So if I zero at 100, and then adjust the dial to line up with the 100 yard hash mark on the turret, no matter how many clicks I go up from there...it always goes back to 100, minus one click.

Maybe they consider it a 50 yard stop, a zero stop, I don't know....but it is one less than the 100 yard zero. Easy enough in the dark to roll it all the way back and count from there.
 
#8 ·
NoExpert is on the money with that advice. I highly recommend what I call the "same-same" setups on optics nowadays, i.e., the reticle subtensions and the turret adjustments are in the same "measuring" system.

If you haven't messed around with milliradians before, then I don't recommend getting into it. With the NF scopes, just get the NPR-1 reticle (MOA-based) with the .25MOA adjustments and you're set. Excellent for holdoffs, and I find with my students that most Americans have an easier time using MOA's than they do mils. Additionally, the formula for ranging with an MOA reticle is easier than the formula for mils.

With that being said, when I ordered by new NF, I went with the MLR reticle (mil-based) and .25MOA adjustments. I've been doing this for over 20yrs now and that's what I'm used to using, so I stuck with it. I can work those adjustments, and the ranging calculations, in my sleep.
 
#9 ·
SWFA.com offers highly regarded fixed power scopes with mil-dot reticles and mil turrets, starting at $300. They do not come with zero stops, but you can google how to make a zero stop for a couple of bucks. This would give you a chance to try out decent turrets without breaking the bank.
 
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