.30-06 target shooter, rethinking scopes

chasen7

New member
I have a Ruger American that I absolutely love shooting. I've only stretched it out to 200 yards accurately, but I'm finding that I really like shooting 50 and 100 yard targets...and I've recently gotten in to building an AR for 200-600 yard target accuracy. The Ruger has a Leupold 3x9 VariX IIc on it, and I'm thinking of pulling it off to try something else, but I don't know what would be a good choice to look at for 50-100 yard shooting. The Leupold is a great scope, but a bit overkill for these distances.

Thoughts are welcome...
 
There is no such thing as over kill lol if that scope works with that gun leave it on
I think what he's really saying is he wants the scope on the AR

I agree though that it's nearly perfect for it's present application

I'd leave it, and get a more powerful AO scope for the AR
 
That did honestly cross my mind to move it to the AR, but my goal for this summer with the AR is to learn to shoot it out to 100 with irons, then put a good scope on it for increasing the yardage.

The Leupold on the Ruger may not be overkill, but to put it another way, it's almost too easy at 50 and 100. Looking for a little more challenge at these distances. :eek:
 
And by no means do I mean I'm "that good"...far from it, it's just the gun shoots so nicely that the scope does make it easy.
 
Try iron sights if you think that a scope makes accurate shooting too easy. I have a 1928 Springfield 1903 with a Lyman 48 receiver sight with target knobs and a Lyman front Globe sight. It is a very accurate rifle but much harder to shoot accurately than my scoped Remington Model 700.

If receiver sights aren't challenging enough, you might try shooting over your shoulder sighting in with a mirror. I haven't tried it but I've heard it is somewhat challenging.
 
A good set of irons, especially a receiver peep sight can be surprisingly accurate. Although anymore, I need a scope to really shoot well.

Honestly, I never get bored with rifles that are tack drivers but I was just giving you a hard time about the over the shoulder mirror shooting.
 
For best results on bullseye targets with metallic sights, nothing equals aperture front and a receiver mounted aperture rear sight. In competition, there's not much difference in the top scores shot with either. A small advantage goes to scopes as a slight wind change can be seen through them and corrected for by aiming off 1/4 to 1/2 MOA. Can't see a slight wind change using metallic sights.
 
Thanks guys...I'm gonna look around for a nice set of irons for it.

By overkill, I mean that I love the scope for 200-300 yard shots, but I feel like I'm cheating at 50-100...and again PLEASE don't take that as though I'm saying I'm just that good of a shot...I'm very much an amateur, but I feel like this gun is so accurate at those distances that a scope isn't necessary.
 
"...a bit overkill..." Leave it on 3X. A scope just lets you see the target better. If you want more challenge, not seeing the bullet as close is one way of doing that. Another is to use smaller targets. You can download distance simulator targets for free. Look at the Short-Range 100/200 Benchrest Targets.
http://www.6mmbr.com/targets.html
Mind you, a Ruger American isn't a target rifle. Dandy deer rifle though. You have it set up for that nicely.
 
Excellent! Thanks for the target link.

I agree it isn't a target rifle...but I don't hunt either, so it only gets wrung out at the range.
 
At 52 years old I wish I had your problem chasen7, I need a lot of scope power to set my crosshairs.
Well when I was twenty, I could shoot decently with any type of irons, especially when I shot on the National Guard rifle team while using a Remington 40X and front and back target aperatures.

My advice to you, which has been mentioned, is to testvyour skills with the rifle in all shooting positions, both supported and nonsupported.
 
How about reactive targets, like clay birds.
Small dishes and saucers, from Goodwill and such.
Apples, oranges, 'etc.
The list goes on.
 
When I was about 14, a friend and I had to clean out his dead aunts shed, in it we found two cases of old tin Falstaff beer. Back then it wasn't worth anything to anybody, so we took it to the local dump where you could also shoot at rats and what have ya. Boy let me tell you, it was 100 degrees out, and when you hit one of those suckers it made a hell of an explosion of hot beer....memory is priceless.:D
 
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