Scopes with the most Wins

[cavedweller]

Sometime back i posted a thread about the "most winning FT guns" https://www.airgunnation.com/threads/most-successful-ft-guns.1278169/

This is a similar thread / discussion.

Which Scope(s) most often adorne or get mounted on top of the most winning FT platforms?

I am well aware of the hot debate between FFP = first focal plane and SFP = second focal plane, but in the end, i would imagine data and records of matches would indicate that a particular 2-3 scopes rise to the top over and over again?

I am aware that a scope is a very personal choice for lots of reasons, this is a thread that tries to slip past our feelings and examine results. To date every FT match i have been at asks me for type of gun, type of scope, type of pellet.
I am also aware that WFT scopes and clicking may have different requirements than HFT
I am also aware that OLDER eyes need more help... such as illuminated reticles
but
i am hoping to see a couple of winners pop up that seem to work well across the board.

 

[Franklink]

Historically I'd say the:
Sightron S3 10-50
Falcon T50 and X50
Nikko Stirling 10-50
Bushnell 4200? (Older with front focus)

Currently the above + there are a lot of Hawkes and Athlons being used on winning rigs. March and Khales are in the mix too, but less of them, probably $$$ based.

 

[cavedweller]

Historically I'd say the:
Sightron S3 10-50
Falcon T50 and X50
Nikko Stirling 10-50
Bushnell 4200? (Older with front focus)

Currently the above + there are a lot of Hawkes and Athlons being used on winning rigs. March and Khales are in the mix too, but less of them, probably $$$ based.

Thanks.... to date i have seen lots of sightron 10-50x60's and Falcons and Kahles, but i haven't looked through anything but the sightron 10-5-x60's. I own several different types, including March, Hawke, Athalon, but have yet to settle on the one that absolutely says I'm your glass.

 

[Keith Rush]

I’ve always liked the Sightron’s, and that’s what I used at the Cajun. In Hunter class, however I found that I was getting caught between the reticle lines for hold overs. For a dialing, the reticle would be awesome. Had zero problem ranging other than not having them all marked, but the ones that were, was bang on everytime.

I also have the Kahles FT, and the reticle is very nice on it. I haven’t shot with it yet as I’m having a parallax wheel made for it.

Today, the brown truck dropped off a Falcon X50. I love the reticle on this one and it is essentially Sightron’s brother, without illumination. Excited to try it out at next month’s Grand Prix match in North Carolina.

Keith

 

[stann]

Well, I would add two more scopes, which are top of the top and are very popular among the FT shooters; Shmidt&Bender and of course Leupold Competition. While Schmidt&Bender is mostly used by the European competitors, I think the Leupold is a sort of an icon for the American FT shooter and mounted on a good rifle it could definitely be a winning combination. Though it cannot be used for HFT, there are a few really good shooters who are still using it with great success. I will mention two names: Harold Rushton and Keith Walters.

 

[Motorhead]

Personally ... As a Hunter class FT shooter limited to 12X threw 2017 and 16x post ..... Been using the MTC/OPTISAN VIPER 4-16x50 optics.
This specific scope series has served me very well having been onboard my RAW TM-1000 .20 cal for 2 National Championship wins and 9 other west coast State championships titles & 2 National GP championships over these past @ 8 years.
This optic was a UK exclusive up until @ 2014/15 and was only available here in the states a couple years post before production stopped and obsolete status followed.

Threw the years have used / tried a lot of optics in the HUNTER class and found few that parrilax range as accurate & repeatable. Still own 3
IMO for FT duty, a solid SFP optic with retical fixed in size & dope calibrated to the X factor your going to shoot at works best in personal testing.

In search of the holy grail in optics for a specific task ... priceless

 

[Geezerhood]

Quite a few March scopes are used in the championship matches outside the USA if I recall correctly. I only saw 3 March 8-80x56 models in the list for the 2022 Nationals / Puerto Rico. ( I am assuming that was the USA nationals?) . My guess is that there are a lot of Sightrons because of their low price point and that they work well enough for the job. If the cost was the same, I would go with the March every time but can't afford to put a March on every gun I own!

I have used Sightron 10-50x60 SIII and SV scopes as well as March 8-80x56mm and 10-60x56mm High Master and the 30mm tube 10-60x52mm. The SV 10-50x60mm is pretty close in IQ to the March 8-80x or the March 10-60x52mm when both are set at 50x, but the SIII has significantly lower IQ to my eyes. That said I do still own one because I got it on closeout for $650. I wish Sightron would make the 8-32x SIII with a close focus distance of 10 yards. It has better IQ at 32x than the 10-50x56 SIII does at the same power setting.

The March 8-80x56 gives you 62% more magnification when you need / want it which I do like for various disciplines besides FT Hunter Class. Aim small miss small - plus I can see bullet holes at longer distances so no need for a spotting scope. I have been able to see 50 cal holes at 1000 yards on white paper with my 8-80x56 March. The March 10-60x56 High Master has better IQ than any of the other March scopes I mentioned or the SV Sightron. Strikingly better IQ to my eyes than the SIII. I am anxious to look through the new March 8-80x56 High Master in June or July when they start shipping.

 

[jps2486]

As an HFT shooter, the most important features are accurate ranging and a good reticle that you feel comfortable using for ranging. These may preclude glass quality. My favorite reticle is the Hawke Sidewinder 20X 1/2 mildot SFP. Some of you scope snobs might turn up your nose to this but the proof is knocking down the target. It is a personal choice.

 

[cavedweller]

Quite a few March scopes are used in the championship matches outside the USA if I recall correctly. I only saw 3 March 8-80x56 models in the list for the 2022 Nationals / Puerto Rico. ( I am assuming that was the USA nationals?) . My guess is that there are a lot of Sightrons because of their low price point and that they work well enough for the job. If the cost was the same, I would go with the March every time but can't afford to put a March on every gun I own!

I have used Sightron 10-50x60 SIII and SV scopes as well as March 8-80x56mm and 10-60x56mm High Master and the 30mm tube 10-60x52mm. The SV 10-50x60mm is pretty close in IQ to the March 8-80x or the March 10-60x52mm when both are set at 50x, but the SIII has significantly lower IQ to my eyes. That said I do still own one because I got it on closeout for $650. I wish Sightron would make the 8-32x SIII with a close focus distance of 10 yards. It has better IQ at 32x than the 10-50x56 SIII does at the same power setting.

The March 8-80x56 gives you 62% more magnification when you need / want it which I do like for various disciplines besides FT Hunter Class. Aim small miss small - plus I can see bullet holes at longer distances so no need for a spotting scope. I have been able to see 50 cal holes at 1000 yards on white paper with my 8-80x56 March. The March 10-60x56 High Master has better IQ than any of the other March scopes I mentioned or the SV Sightron. Strikingly better IQ to my eyes than the SIII. I am anxious to look through the new March 8-80x56 High Master in June or July when they start shipping.

I’ve owned both March scopes you mentioned but in hunter class there is no clicking and you are limited to 16x, that said a reticle needs solid numerical markings that are visible in difficult lighting conditions to make holdovers easily visible and understandable.

 

[jps2486]

What about PFT?