What is the best current ft scope

[Lee unsworth]

After many high end manufacturers making dedicated field target scopes from the likes of march-Khales-sightron-falcon- what is the ultimate scope for range finding repeatability and temperature stability?

 

[BeemanHW100]

I don’t have a definitive answer to your question, just some observations on what I myself use and have seen at other matches I have been to. I use a now discontinued Hawke ED 10-50 x60 that has been the best I have tried in the 900 dollar price range. I like it so much that I called around to different vendors about a year ago in the hope that someone still had one in stock and I in fact did find one and purchased it. I was pleased to find it worked just as well as my original. In other matches I have noticed the above mentioned brands being used with good results, except for falcon, I have not talked to anyone using a falcon brand scope. Another model not mentioned is older Bushnell front focus models which have not been available for many,many years.

 

[Lee unsworth]

There is a few using the front focus bushnell 8-32 and also a lot of Leupold competition or the premier boosted 20-50 . Like you say all very hard to get hold of now . I’m currently using a delta STRYKER ed 5-50 very good glass but super fine reticle

 

[hameditor]

There's an interesting sample of the scopes being used in FT in the USA in the report on the Broome County Sportsman's Association shoot in the "Target Shooting" area Field Target - BCSA June 3rd 2023 FT AND HP FT Match Results (Binghamton, NY)

 

[Eric Brewer]

Athlon and Element seam to be the newest thing to try. Are these scopes springer rated?

 

[Solo1]

Athlon and Element seam to be the newest thing to try. Are these scopes springer rated?

I’ve used my element on a hw 97 for a bit but its long enough to be a pain when loading

 

[Solo1]

I don’t have any real high end scopes (would rather buy guns lol) but i like my athlon argos gen 2 6-24 ffp for field target, have 4 of them now recticle is about the same thickness @ 16 as the element on 24. I would loose the element sometimes in the shade and with the light on the athlon i like that better. Like the element though for target work

 

[Frankly]

Not a FT shooter any longer (and minimal at that, I liked buying and playing with the gear tho!). Owned the FT Sightron, a 40x Leupold, several others came and went but in the end the best all around scope I enjoyed the most was a modern Nightforce 4-32 NX8. It had the build quality commensurate with a quality gun, very clear glass, good ranging and I liked the reticle although it is probably a bit thick for the real pros.

For general use the 2.5-20 NX8 is wonderful. The higher end Athalons are a great value as well. I wish Leupold would make airgun specific scopes, they are missing an opportunity. If you have a $2000-plus airgun you want to put a nicer scope on it.

 

[BeemanHW100]

There is a few using the front focus bushnell 8-32 and also a lot of Leupold competition or the premier boosted 20-50 . Like you say all very hard to get hold of now . I’m currently using a delta STRYKER ed 5-50 very good glass but super fine reticle

I have that same scope on a Daystate Wolverine that I use for Extreme FT and Benchrest. Don’t know how well the rangefinding is because I have never used it for that. For target shooting it works very well. A little pricey but I think it is worth it.

 

[Badwolf]

The best scope for FT pound for pound is the Leopold X Comp. Light accurately for ranging,If you can find with a reticle with thick lines is fantastic.

 

[Lee unsworth]

The best scope for FT pound for pound is the Leopold X Comp. Light accurately for ranging,If you can find with a reticle with thick lines is fantastic.

I did love my leupold comp 40 but I really wanted the option to drop the magnification for standers

 

[Badwolf]

That is the only thing with it but if you can get used to it they're great. Also they don't suffer a lot with temperature

 

[oOmpH]

No experience with some of the high end scope mentioned so im off-topic i guess but here in Europe the more budget Optisan CP series are very popular in the FT circuit for their low weight, more than decent paralax and fairly good glass. Far from ultimate but a worthy bit of kit.

 

[BeemanHW100]

No experience with some of the high end scope mentioned so im off-topic i guess but here in Europe the more budget Optisan CP series are very popular in the FT circuit for their low weight, more than decent paralax and fairly good glass. Far from ultimate but a worthy bit of kit.

I have an Optisan Viper on a marauder that was my first serious FT gun that worked fairly well. The ranging was good but the glass just wasn’t as clear at least with my old eyes. Something that I have noticed over the years is that as my eyes have gotten older (mid sixties) some scopes that other people say are great aren’t necessarily so, at least with my eyes. I also had cataracts but have since gotten that fixed surgically and that made a big difference for the better. Kinda roundabout way of saying that most of the scopes with bigger tubes and better glass have worked better, at least for me.

 

[Eric Brewer]

I am primarily a Sightron lover. Clear glass and good range finding but these Athlon scopes are becoming popular. Lots of people are mentioning the Falcon X50 as well.

 

[Lee unsworth]

I am primarily a Sightron lover. Clear glass and good range finding but these Athlon scopes are becoming popular. Lots of people are mentioning the Falcon X50 as well.

Yes the x50 has good reviews here in the uk and there are now 2 options 503 and 505 . 503 very snappy when ranging like the sightron and the 505 version is more gradual focus like a traditional leupold competition etc

 

[Eric Brewer]

Good to know Lee, I didnt know there was 2 versions. Is the 503 only snappy on the higher magnifications or will it work good at 16X. Hawk is definitely a front runner as well. Good glass and a moderate price.

 

[Lee unsworth]

Good to know Lee, I didnt know there was 2 versions. Is the 503 only snappy on the higher magnifications or will it work good at 16X. Hawk is definitely a front runner as well. Good glass and a moderate price.

I’m not sure on 16x as I only normally range on 50 mag . Some people I know range and shoot on 30 and have no issues

 

[Alan]

Scopes, regardless of the use, are personal things rather akin to tooth brushes! You really don't want to be Victorian, and share one, nor do you want the same features that turn on your best buddy. Needless to say, what's good for FT isn't good for hunting, albeit some folks try to make them so. And the beat goes on. But... If there is one attribute which needs to be adhered to, is the quality!

Going cheap IS NOT the way to go! Even inexpensive scopes often have the same features expensive ones have, but the real difference is the glass and coatings. The only way to get the best, is to pay big monies! Real dedicated FT guys will spend as much for a scope, as they do the gun they mount them on. If you doubt this, attend the next nearby gun show, pickup a $2,000+ Swarovski scope and look through it.

 

[Solo1]

Scopes, regardless of the use, are personal things rather akin to tooth brushes! You really don't want to be Victorian, and share one, nor do you want the same features that turn on your best buddy. Needless to say, what's good for FT isn't good for hunting, albeit some folks try to make them so. And the beat goes on. But... If there is one attribute which needs to be adhered to, is the quality!

Going cheap IS NOT the way to go! Even inexpensive scopes often have the same features expensive ones have, but the real difference is the glass and coatings. The only way to get the best, is to pay big monies! Real dedicated FT guys will spend as much for a scope, as they do the gun they mount them on. If you doubt this, attend the next nearby gun show, pickup a $2,000+ Swarovski scope and look through it.

I think what you’re saying is somewhat true but also believe that scopes in the $400-$600 range have closed the gap enough to be classified as a good scope especially for ft and hunting especially when your longest shot is in the 75-100 yd range. I know i like both my elements and athlons for all my shooting and if i was spending $2000 on a scope id have a lot fewer on my guns!