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I have been shooting for 40+ years, apart from the blackpowder and "classics" my main interest has been Target Rifle at which I have had some modest success, albeit a few years back now. I have had various Target Rifles, No4s, Mausers, Musgrave, Accuracy Int, Swing etc., In recent years I have always used a corrective lens in the rearsight. I find wearing glasses a real pain, quite literally, as I shoot very "tight" and the rearsight having made contact with the glasses frame I find it difficult to see with blood running down across my eye!!

So why am I admitting defeat? Well, I have come to realise that over the last couple of years I just cannot see the target, especially at the longer ranges. I have tried using an Eagle Eye but find that whilst I get a bigger image it is distorted and somewhat confused to the eye. I have therefore come to the conclusion that I will have to go scoped. I have tried a friends "F" Class but the required position with rifle rested does not suit me. I cannot manage to keep my head in the more upright position needed to get clear eye relief for more than a few seconds as I have an arthritic neck.

I think my only option is to try the Match Rifle style which is basically the same as Target Rifle but with the option to have the left wrist supported. I am not thinking of doing competitions, I just shoot for "fun" so do not want to spend a fortune on either scope or rifle. At present the only rifles that I have that I could scope are two 7.62 No4s but I think that I need something more suitable such as a Swing or similar.

So to the required advise......what scope do I get? I need something that is relatively inexpensive of about 16X max, either new or 2nd hand...........any suggestions would be most helpful.

Options that have been mentioned to me are Optimate, Menace, Fox, Tasco.....I know nothing of scopes other than the PE scope on my Nagant............HELP........

Brian Fox http://www.foxfirearmsuk.com sells some Chinese 'scopes that used to be around the GBP100 mark are relatively cheap and cheerful and I am yet to hear a bad thing about. Not sure about eye relief though.

If you shoot tight to the stock and find getting a sight picture hard with scopes, would long-eye-relief scopes help at all?

I find the same - shooting with a scope feels... "odd", but when I've used long-eye-reliefs I find that I don't have to shoulder the rifle any differently then if I were using iron sights.

Regards
T

Alternatively, lengthen the legs on the stand and don't use a back bag, use your shoulder alone. That way it will allow you to lift your head a bit. I have a problem with my neck & although I use a bag, it is quite high & even then I find myself using just my shoulder if my neck is playing up.

Heather

targetman wrote: I have tried a friends "F" Class but the required position with rifle rested does not suit me. I cannot manage to keep my head in the more upright position needed to get clear eye relief for more than a few seconds as I have an arthritic neck.

Targetman - That's why the Americans invented benchrest!

Scope? Good scopes cost money but, one of Fox's 8-32 Chinese specials at £100 should do nicely. If you don't get on with Match Rifle you haven't spent too much. As Match Rifle is shot at 1000 - 1200 yds, 16 power is a bit lacking.

Incidentally, I shoot just about everything - but when I tried Match Rifle (in the Imperial 'Any Rifle' many years ago) I found the 'rested wrist' position to be most uncomfortable shooting position I'd ever adopted.

Vince

Hi Vince.....

"Targetman - That's why the Americans invented benchrest!"

When I have to sit down to shoot, I shall give up altogether, Ha, Ha...

I wont in fact be shooting in Match Rifle disciplines just our normal club 900 & 1000 practices and I have been told that 16 power will be all I need, although a higher magnification might be useful.

I will keep a lookout for the Fox 8-32 scopes, somebody in the Club has one and speaks well of it.

targetman wrote:Hi Vince.....

"Targetman - That's why the Americans invented benchrest!"

When I have to sit down to shoot, I shall give up altogether, Ha, Ha...

I know you're not as old as my father (76) - but last season he got to the point where he could lay down to shoot - but couldn't get up again. This season, he's been shooting my TR from a bench (on a bag), which also means the eye relief and head possition is ok with his normal glasses - He still enjoys it, and shot a 47 at 900 last week....so don't rule it out in the future.....

Regarding shooting prone being untenable - it is for me as the pain becomes unbearable. Give up shooting - not a chance! I have bought an Idleback which isn't 100% the solution but it means I can shoot, enjoy it and not go home crippled. I can also use it deer stalking as well (walking is not a problem I am glad to say).
Adapt, don't give in. Benchrest is fun too.
Good luck to you in finding a satisfactory solution, old age creeps up on all of us.

I have not been able to shoot prone for over 10 years and yes my mates find me amusing when I haul out the bench rest or look for a fox hole when on a military range. :-P

If it wasn't for benchrest, I would not shoot target rifle.

Try it Targetman, and continue to shoot into your dotage!

Try it Targetman, and continue to shoot into your dotage!

Some would say I am already there!!!!!