MVA scopes and barrel lenghts?

[Eric Johanen]

The rifle I have on order will be a 34 inch barrel and I asked for Shiloh to drill and tap it for the scope blocks. They quoted me with block spacing for the MVA series 6000. I also have a 30 inch barrel I might want to scope in the future and hope to get some information from shooters on which scope will be useful with both barrel lengths. I compete in Creedmoor matches so posing the question for 1000 yard shooting. Is the block spacing the same for the 6000, 4000 and 3000 series? If using a shorter length scope, would the 4000 or 3000 be to short in the tube to have a clean sight picture on the 34 inch barrel? I would like to go shorter if possible to be useful on both barrel lengths and avoid the possibility of debris blowing back to obscure the front lens. The mount would be the new Creedmoor and I am thinking of using the 7 mil dot reticle. Any advise appreciated.

[Don McDowell]

The block spacing is the same for each scope length, no matter the barrel lenght. The 23 in scope uses 10 1/4 , the 28 uses 17 in.. etc.
That 7 mil dot recticle is a good one.
The 23 inch scope works pretty good on barrels as long as 32 inches, and I believe Kenny Wasserburger uses that 23 inch on his 34 inch barreled guns.

[Eric Johanen]

Don, I like the 7 mil dot reticle. Very much like old school High Power when you were taught to shade the center for small corrections. Worked well then and still works today if you know the concept. Hope some user's chime in who has a series 3000 or 4000 scope mounted and can answer my questions. Like the 3000 as it has less unsupported length between the mounts. I'd really like to purchase only 1 scope for both barrel lengths. I have many paper patched bullets worked up and ready to continue load development. Next try is 1.5 OE with a .060 vegi card and a felt wad in 2.100 Winchester neck sized brass with CCI BR primers.

[Don McDowell]

Send Kenny a pm and ask him but I'm pretty sure he's using the 23 inch scope on all his rifles and Dora may have a 36 in. barrel on it.
Yes that mildot comes in handy, but you really have to test each rifle and load for the correct amount those dots equal.

[Hiwall55]

Years ago when I bought my MVA scope I asked at MVA which scope they sold the most and was told that they sold more 28 inch scopes than all the rest combined. So I bought a 28 inch Creedmoor and it works great .

[Eric Johanen]

Thank's Don and Hiwall55. I really like the 28 inch scope as it has the least of unsupported length of the long scopes and I think it would be long enough to get past 1000 yards without the 34 inch barrel getting in the way. I'll pm Kenny and ask his advise . Picking out and equipping a new rifle is really fun!

[Kurt]

Eric I have a 28" MVA scope on a 35" barrel and it makes it past 1000 with the creedmoor rear mount.
I also have a 20" DZ scope and it will make the 1K also. With the .225 rear base and the .175 front base I have 200 minutes of elevation, more then enough for the 1K for my rifles.
Both scopes have good glass but I have a problem with the MVA scope with the reticle barrel twisting from the torque of the rifle. I had it in the shot twice to correct this problem. I'm not the only one that has this happen with the MVA scope.
I ended up gluing it in using fingernail polish.

[Eric Johanen]

Thank's Kurt! That's exactly the kind of information I was asking for. When the time comes, I'll go with the 28 inch scope and secure the reticle barrel prior to shooting.