Comments on: Fixed-Power Optics for F-Class — Testing in Competition

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 19:41:02 +0000

Rule 1: Never chase the spotter

Rule 2: Have a look at what you are doing – I think there is a bit of group think that needs shaking up. The flags are there for a reason. Ottawa was an aberration, something to prepare for, but not something seen every other shoot.

Rule 3: Never chase the spotter.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 17:31:59 +0000

Responding to Richards comment above I suppose in my efforts to remain brief I suppose I was also vague.

I relatively calm conditions and when shooting single string you have the luxury of shooting quickly and to a large extent you can chase the spotter. Under these conditions a high power scope may have some advantage.

I think there may be an advantage at 300 yards/meters since the target is close and less washed out by mirage and is usually shot early in the day before wind and mirage kicks up. Here you are shooting for the bull and at ½ minute, you need the resolution to pick and place.

As we move later in the day and wind and mirage tend to run, and then add to that the variable talent and speed of other shooters in your squad chasing the spotter is more often the road to the bottom of the pack.

In such conditions, (unlike at 300 when calm) a precise aiming point is of limited value. Once in the general area many shooters no longer change the dial unless really large changes are going on. Either way on the Canadian side, few shooters run more than 32x. I myself have never used more than 20 and seem to do very well.

I suppose the main point here is that we are aiming all over the target to compensate for WAG changes and sometimes 2 targets over when conditions are bad enough. When the duration between shots is extended, (as is the case during a squadded event) so does the size of the change and in my opinion that negates the value of such high magnification which may even act as a handicap in such conditions.

By: killick

killick — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 19:30:15 +0000

Just spit-balling here, another advantage I see is that with a fixed scope there is less to go wrong, fewer moving parts to get out of alignment, as mentioned less glass to look through making the the sight picture clearer. It seems to align with ‘Ockham’s Razor’.

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 19:18:41 +0000

Very true – but squadded shooting relies on solid record keeping at the firing point – which benefits from watching your squad shoot.

Not sure what “dialing it down” achieves.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 17:17:26 +0000

Seems this is a very context specific discussion and I’d like to see a poll of international shooters, not just USA. The reason this is key is when shooting single string, meaning one shooter per target, as opposed to how most of the rest of the world shoot f class in squads of 3 that share the target and shoot one shot at a time per shooter then repeat.

Single string shooting leans toward chasing the spotter, but you cant do that in a squaded match.

If you expect to shoot outside the greater USA, you better have the ability to dial it down especially when the wind kicks up over 40 MPH like it did a Ottawa last year. That’s a lot of wind at the 900 meter firing point.

By: shiraz

shiraz — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 15:02:22 +0000

Wish this comment section had a “review post” button so you can check your post properly before submitting.

By: shiraz

shiraz — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 15:00:40 +0000

I use the 10-60 March and usually have it set at 52X. I shoot through all mirage conditions and in “bouncing” target mirage as well, without changing the power. I would rather see the bounce than hide it and pretend it does not exist by trying down the power. On an F-open gun, your return to battery is usually good if your set-up is good and so bounce or no bounce, you need to have a good set-up.

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 05:11:45 +0000

A lovely article and some very valid points made. Noting the quickest way to start a bar brawl in cyber-space is to “like” a brand, let me just say the findings presented replicate my experience in F-Class. I tend to run my March 10 – 60x at between 45 – 50 power.

What the nay-sayers tend to ignore is glass quality. March glass is great, better than most, in the standard fitting. The High Master racks it up several notches. Add an MD disk and you can see the target more clearly than other brands.

Oh, one final point, re-read the paragraph about reticle focus then go out and check your equipment. Your scope has probably never been focussed.

By: mikee

mikee — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 03:11:04 +0000

Agree with Mr T. Buy an IOR 35x for half the cost. I have one on an F-Open Surgeon .284. Excellent combination.

By: Alex Wheeler

Alex Wheeler — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 01:13:14 +0000

One thing not often talked about that we have learned with scope testers is the rather large poi changes that can occur when changing power. You should NEVER change power during a record group or string. Unless you have tested your scope and its one of the rare ones that does not move poi.