700 Yard Optic choice -

[sadmin]

I would like to take Mr. Howes, Long Range Hunter class and ill admit, im going in green as lettuce. I know bupkiss about shooting at distance, and, not coincidentally, know bupkiss about optic choice for the application. His syllabus states shooting out to 700yd; what is a beginner / quality optic and power to meet that? I dont want to go all in and spend 4k on a scope, nor do I want to slum it with something that is of sufficient power but has a terrible reticle.

I would be planning on using my .243; don't have a .308. I suppose ill ask one more if anyone reads this: If my only choices are a .243 and .223 AR, will the .243 even be a better choice?

Thank You

[orkan]

Vortex Viper PST 4-16 mil/mil/FFP

Want more scope?
Bushnell 3-21 G2DMR

[Pappabear]

Vortex Viper PST 4-16 mil/mil/FFP

Want more scope?
Bushnell 3-21 G2DMR

These two scopes are so popular for good reason. I've run many Bushnells, never a a vortex.

243 is much better for 700 yards. .223 will get there but wind will eat your ass up.

Good luck.

[orkan]

.223 will get there but wind will eat your ass up.

ALL the way up!

[austinN4]

Vortex Viper PST 4-16 mil/mil/FFP

I'll second this. I like mine a lot. It sits on a 20" Remington 700P in .308.

In hindsight, however, I wish I had gotten the PST 6-24x50 mil/mil/FFP instead for my tired old eyes. Making matters even worse, I am a right hand shooter, but left eye dominate.

[taliv]

don't want to be a neg-boy here, and hopefully it goes without saying that ethical hunting demands a shooter have a reasonably chance of hitting a vital area on an animal.

if you're shooting p-dogs or crows, or just taking the class for the shooting experience, nevermind. but for the love of God, don't try to shoot a large game animal past 200 yards without the right equipment and a ton of experience.

243, even with a fast twist and 105-115g bullet, hit with appreciably less energy at that distance than 260, 308, and other larger bullets. ok for steel. prob not the best choice for game.

missing a wind call and putting a small bullet in the ass or leg or gut and having to walk 700 yards before you start tracking it just doesn't sound much fun to me

that said,
either of those scopes are excellent options

bushnell just released a 4-30x version as well.

[sw1911]

cameralandry has the vortex viper 4x16x42 for 299$ if you're on a budget.

[1slow01Z71]

You need a bigger bore rifle for that kind of shooting if you really are going to hunt animals at distance. Its one thing to punch paper but an entirely different thing to try and take a living animal. With how light of a bullet the 243 will be shooting any real wind and youre going to have a tough time compensating.

[agc]

Take a good look at the SWFA SS HD 5-20x50 Tactical 30mm Riflescope. Very good optics and mechanicals for the price and you can sometimes catch it on sale. Similar quality in other brands would cost $2000+. This will easily get you to 700 yards and beyond.

[Guns-up.50]

don't want to be a neg-boy here, and hopefully it goes without saying that ethical hunting demands a shooter have a reasonably chance of hitting a vital area on an animal.

if you're shooting p-dogs or crows, or just taking the class for the shooting experience, nevermind. but for the love of God, don't try to shoot a large game animal past 200 yards without the right equipment and a ton of experience.

243, even with a fast twist and 105-115g bullet, hit with appreciably less energy at that distance than 260, 308, and other larger bullets. ok for steel. prob not the best choice for game.

missing a wind call and putting a small bullet in the ass or leg or gut and having to walk 700 yards before you start tracking it just doesn't sound much fun to me

that said,
either of those scopes are excellent options

bushnell just released a 4-30x version as well.

200 yards is not that far for hunting esp with a .243. Is a .243 ideal maybe not but it will get the job done. Not to mention the op stated a 243 is the best he has for the class. no telling what he will be taking his 700y game with.

as for optics I like the Leupold 4-14