OK, Free advice is worth what you pay for it. I have considerable experience as a rifle shooter I retired from High Power as a High Master and a Distinguished Rifleman.
Might I suggest the following:
Rifles generally have shorter stocks because a shorter stock works better for standing, aitting, and prone positions since a rifleman stands more beside the gun than behind it and sitting and prone lean the shooters head over the gun.
Competitive shooters use adjustable stocks to adjust for the different positions. Having said that, I spent most of my shooting career with a non adjustable M14. With this type of rifle, the shooter adapts his position to the gun. My nose always touched my thumb shooting M14s and this is desirable and known as a spot weld. It assures consistent gun mount and better recoil managment in rapid fire.
Most rifles have the ability to mount the scope so you control the eye relief with the scope mount. When you mount the scope, take into consideration the position you'll shoot in and your comfortable stance. Make sure rifles with a lot of recoil are at maximum eye relief for obvious reasons.
Scopes are almost always a benefit in hunting because accurate shooting requires focus on the front sight. If the target doesn't contrast the background, Proper focus on the front sight causes the target to dissppear. You can always adusst the scope to compensate for your glasses and should use the scope with your glasses on.
If you are older and having trouble seeing iron sights, have your eye doctor make you a set of glasses with +.50 or +.75 on your shooting eye. This allows older shooters to see the front sight without preventing them from reading the number board at least to 600 yards. I can still read the board at 1,000 yards with this arrangement.
You don't have to pay the price of a nice used car for an excellent 1-4 scope like the one mentioned. Nikon makes a great 1-4 scope that sells for about $350 with target turrets, the M.223 1-4. It also can be furnished with SPOT ON turrets that are custom marked for your caliber/bullet weight/velocity to compensate for drop out to as much as 1,000 yards. A great scope at a very reasonable price.
Last edited by Dick Jones otp; 11/17/11 12:32 PM.
