Happy Thanksgiving

[Snow]

well im new to the forums this is my 2 post and so much great info here
i just ordered a sps tactical in .223 hope its here on friday

Happy Thanksgiving to all

[diggler1833]

Happy Thanksgiving to you.

I got an SPS Tactical in .223 earlier this year.  Was a solid MOA rifle with FGMM 69gr stuff.

Dropped it and bedded it in a McM A5, took the factory trigger down to about as light as I could reliably get it, and started working up a load for it.  Best load so far is 69gr SMK over 25.5gr of Re-15 at 2.280 COL, for four different 5-shot groups it has averaged .543 at 100yds with two groups coming in under 1/2" and the worst was almost 3/4".  It also likes the 68gr Hornady over 25.5gr Varget for a .658 average.

[Snow]

i was thinking about tryn the 75 gr amax also have u?

[diggler1833]

Yep, best I could get out of it was 1.5"@100yds.  That was also with the primers starting to crater bad, and the bolt was becoming a bit sticky to lift.  On the lighter loads with that bullet it was opening up to 2-3".  Some 1:9 twists will stabilize those 75gr A-Maxes, some won't, obviously we know that mine won't.

I'm anxious to actually see what this rifle will do with some brass prep though.  Every handload that I've put through it so far was with unprepped brass that I picked up from the range.  We are talking dents in shoulders/side walls, scratched bases etc...  But the Lake City '08 brass has at least been consistant in weight and now I've got about 200 cases fireformed that are actually good and ready to go.

[Snow]

thanks for the info i cant wait should be here today ive got a few ( as in 10 different loads )
 worked for it now to help with the break-in 

[diggler1833]

You might be able to keep your break in to a minimal amount.  If you have shot 5-10 shots and you aren't pulling copper out then you are good to go.  I shot one, cleaned one twice, then shot a 3-shot group, then a 5-shot group, then a 10-shot group and was ready to go from there.  Used cheapy 55gr FMJ PMC stuff.

[Snow]

ya i used 55 gr remington ammo to help with the break in
now for the 75 gr amax with 4064 pushing ill get some
groups very soon  also i was thinking about the mueller 8.5-25 scope for a descent
glass on top let me know what u think or should i wait for better glass

[diggler1833]

Hmmmm...Mueller glass I would put on a rimfire, but not a centerfire rig.  I know that some of the old crusties on there will probably start to flame away at me (especially since Mueller is a sponsor here) for not giving less expensive optics a chance, but here is why;

I've broken multiple scope that were referred to as a good "bargain" optic (see optics discussion towards the top of the forum categories page).  All but one of the cheaper optics I broke were also on rimfires.  I like to dial in my range when I shoot, rather than holding over.   The cheap scopes were made just that way...cheap.  The internals fell apart after just a few times out inducing a bit of stress on the system.  You generally get what you pay for in a scope, just like the rest of the things in life, although there are a select few exeptions to this. 

I know not everyone can afford a S&B, USO, Nightforce, PH etc...I'm one of them as well.  I will make every effort though to buy the best scope that I can afford, and I will wait to shoot a rifle now until I can afford that scope, rather than buying something to make due and then having to upgrade later.  It is just a waste of money IMO since you will more than likely take a loss on the first scope reselling it anyways.

If you have $200 to put into a scope, I'd recommend a Bushnell Elite 3200 10x.  They are a proven, economic scope that has allowed many shooters to get their feet wet.  If you have $300, then take a look at the older model Super Snipers.  I had one in 16x for a while and it served me well.

Hope this helps.  Here is my SPS Tac as it sits now:

[Snow]

well thanks for the info but i had read on other forums that
 the SS scope were not quit up to par either.
i seen a guy on the SC forums had a digi cam lookn thru the
eye piece of his Mueller in a rain storm and all i can say is wow.
 i dont mind bushnell i have a couple  have u seen or shot a springfield armory
scope. i was lookn at this one too

http://www.bodermansports.com/Optics/Springfield_Armory/springfield_armory.html      the one on top


 love ur rig looks great im lookn for the H&S police

[diggler1833]

For $300 the SS pretty much trumps all in its price range for tacticool scopes, I'm assuming you want a more tacticool scope to put on your SPS Tactical.  For $800 the new SS seems like quite a bargain as well, but that is another topic.  My SS was repeatable, and tracked well.  More than a lot of scopes in that price range and even above it could offer.  If you want to read up a bunch on scopes lean toward www.snipershide.com .  SC is a great website, but for some reason the more "serious" crew seems to hang out on the 'hide (a lot of good guys are on both sites).  The big problem about the hide is that a lot of newbees get flamed immediately for not knowing what is "in", and that can turn off a lot of people.  Good thing about that though is that it reduces a lot of the "my $100 brand-x scope is so great..." threads.

Here is a fairly non-biased review by the late Ian McMurchy on the Bushnell 3200 and SS scopes if you don't want to take my word on them.  http://www.longrangehunting.com/articles/low-priced-long-range-scopes.php

[sniperVLS]

diggler speakers, errr types the truth. Reading reviews is fine and dandy but getting several different models onto your rifles and comparing is where diggler and myself can give 1st hand testimonies. I'm about to jump on the new super sniper 3-9 variable because I KNOW it is comparable to scopes that are twice its price. The one or 2 bad reviews you might have read on the super snipers were *probably* owners who spent 2 grand on their USO, Nightforce, S&B or whatever else and feel to the need to sneer down at those of us who can't spend what they did. I'm not detracting from those excellent scopes, If I could afford them I'd own them, but at some point ya gotta ask yourself if spending 2 grand on a scope will pay off and for me it, it just isn't logical to spend that much $$ when other models that are much cheaper and are over achievers in their own right.

The 10x Bushy 3200 is simply put the BEST buy of a scope that you will not be able to abuse, and shot after shot it will put the bullet where you want it. If there's a problem with the targets downrange, it's shooter error.

Same goes for the Super Snipers. For the shooting and hunting I do, they are overkill but they come at such an affordable price point that it's a no brainer. I was a huge fan of the Bushy Elite 4200 I've been using for a year but it just never gave me that peace of mind the super snipers I owned in the past gave me. The 4200 was perfectly repeatable, the glass was good but at almost the same price as the new SS 3-9x42, it's time to change and won't regret this decision a bit. Plus it's FFP(first focal place) so the POI won't change if I were to change the ring from 3x - 6x or what have you. Same goes for using the Mildot, I won't have to keep it at a set power to use it effectively. To me that is huge and most other FFP scopes are waaaay out of my price range(except for a few Nikons I believe).

diggler, any personal hands on time with Weaver tacticals? Specifically the newer ones based off the Super Slams? They are about 700.00 and I wouldn't mind trying one of them at some point. On another note, I've missed reading Ians stories over at LRH, he will always be missed.

Back on topic...I've never looked thru a Mueller so can't comment on them.

I'll change my signature pic when the SS Variable sits atop it

[diggler1833]

I've been able to play with one SS variable, great scope for the money it seems at first look.  Never have been able to play with the new Weavers.  I'm in the process of trying to find a new home for my Leupy Mark4 on my SPS Tactical and get my hands on a USO ST-10.  Not trying to hijack the thread here so I'll end with that.

If one is not concerned about internal elevation adjustment the 6-24x50 Bushnell tactical scope is a good buy.  The new Vortex Vipers are pretty damn nice too if you don't mind pop-up turrets.  Those all fall into the 3-9x SS price range, and just further the dilema for potential buyers, although for a tactical oreinted (read: match shooting) optic the SS gets my nod.

sniperVLS, before you buy hit me up in PM land, I might be able to shed a bit of light on a few items that could be of use to you in your next scope buy.

[sniperVLS]

The Vipers are always in the back of my mind, the excellent warranty might be the clincher. They are 2 states away and they take it back to repair or replace without question. The new Vortex Razor was on my list for a year when the supposed price was going to be around 1,000.00. Well we both know that price point didn't happen lol. I never shoot past 600 yards so the 4200 has served me well indeed. When Im ready to buy I'll PM ya 

[Snow]

ill see what i can do for a SS scope  i know i can get a vortex for a good price
the guy got me my  tactical for 520  and he can get me the BDC viper or the diamondback for 200 right now