Leupold Vari-XIII M3 ???

Q

Q-Man

New member
I haven't posted here in a long time, but if you remember, I've been meaning to buy a scope for my M1A + ARMS mount + low ARMS rings. I thought for sure I'd have one by now, but between not wanting to rashly spend money and keeping busy with other projects, I've managed to keep putting it off.

I've been doing a little more research on scopes and thinking about what I would like to have. Recently I've been going to practical rifle matches and having a blast. I've been using my AR15.com LEGP rifle with the OKO reflex sight and it has been serving me well... except at the longer ranges (out to 315 yards) that they sometimes like to thorugh into the practical rifle stages. So I'm thinking that it would be nice to try my M1A and really knock down those steel plates with some authority.

The problem is that there is plenty of 10 to 15 yard shots in these matches too. For those stages, it would be great to have a low power optic. This makes me think that it would be a good idea to get a variable power scope in the range of 3.5X to 10X.

Another issue is that, at the long ranges, it would be really usefull to have some kind of bullet drop compensation.

The Leupold Vari-XIII M3 ( http://www.snipercountry.com/LeupoldLRM3.htm ) has the bullet drop compensation and a variable power zoom. Which, with my current reasoning, may be just what I need. I was reading ( http://www.snipercountry.com/roster/AllArchives/duty052001_03_12.htm ) that the M3 scopes have issues with finding the right cam to match what ammo you're shooting, which makes me wonder if the Leupold Vari-XIII M3 is a good idea.

I've also been thinking of the Springfiled Armory scopes with the bullet drop compensation in the reticle. Of course Trijicon makes a ACOGs callibrated to 308.....

HELP!!!
 
I think the M3's knobs can also go in MOA increments. You then just have to have a table of MOA click vs. range for the particular load you're shooting. You can ignore the range markings printed on the knob when the load doesn't match.


The M1, on the other hand, has 1/4 MOA clicks, which you might want for shooting at long range - 500 yards or more.

-z
 
Q-Man,

I've done the same research. Have one rifle set up with a Leupold LRT 3.5-10X M1, and am setting up another with the M3 version. If you need surgical precision, get the M1, which has 1/4 MOA clicks. But from what you are describing, sounds like the M3 (1 MOA clicks) would be the way to go. Main advantage of the M3 is that you get the full elevation adjustment in one rotation of the turret. With the M1, you need to remember how many times you've gone around to dial in, say, 42 MOA. With the M3 it's just 42 clicks. Big advantage if you want to zero at 100, dial in for 350 yards (or more) and then quickly back to zero.

I'd follow smithz's advice and ignore the BDC; just look at the MOA markings and work from there. The M3 is fine, though, all the way out to 1000 yards.
 
Leupold also sells a blank dial for around $20 so if you didn't want any confusion you can buy that and mark it yourself with a dremel too. On the scope itself, they are very nice. I have one on my bolt gun and it's clear and easy to use. I highly recommend it.
 
Thanks for the help. Does anyone have any reticle suggestions? I was thinking if I got a mil dot, it might come in handy if I actually learn how to use the mil dots, but otherwise a duplex would work fine. What about fine duplex?
 
Get the mildots and then pick up a good piece of equipment called the mildot master. It's like a slide rule for mildots and makes them easy to use. Mildots are not only good for ranging but for target leads and also hold overs/unders. They are worth it.
 
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