What to expect from a 3-9x42?

Realistically, at what distances am I going to be able to reliably get on target with a known to be accurate rifle? The scope in question is an SWFA, mil/mil, ffp. It does not have parallax adjustment.

500 will be very easy with that scope, at least it was to my 58 yr old eyes. Probably a bit further than that actually.

Yup, 500 is more than do-able, if you've got the eyes, target contrast, and target size. Little practice, and you can extend that distance. Good reticle in that scope, and reliable turrets.

I have done 500 off the bench with a 3-9x40 on a .270 Win. My scope was nowhere as good as what you have.

Thank you folks for the information. If I can get to 500 with that scope it will have exceeded my expectations.

A cartridge that requires more elevation correction than many others, to 500 yards, is the .308 Win. Even then, it's not a big gap.

Example:

.308 Win, 178 gr, 2700 fps MV= +/- 3.0 Mil
6.5 Creedmoor, 140 gr, 2800 fps MV= 2.6 Mil
7mm-08, 162 gr, 2700 fps MV, = 2.8 Mil

So, you have loads of elevation travel available, even after getting to 500 yards. The only thing making it a little bit difficult is only 9X. But even then, 9X is not too difficult for 500 yards.

The scope you have might be on the list (IMO) that everyone should own at least one. It's a good-un!

I believe that is pretty much what you replied when you recommended it to me a couple years ago. Unfortunately, I put it on the wrong rifle. It was on a M&P10 in .308. I just never liked that rifle and I only took it out to 200yds a few times. The whole rig pretty much sat at the back of the safe, forgotten.

This time it's going on a fairly light weight 6.5 Grendel that I do like. I had a 1-6.5 on it, but outgrew that after a couple of range trips. I don't know why I didn't think to put the 3-9x on in the first place, it just slipped my mind.

The farthest I can shoot is just under 400yd within a reasonable drive. I likely don't have the skill or technique to hit 12" steel consistently much farther.

I guess I have poor eyes. If im shooting at something smaller than a car I want more than 9x at 500 yards.

Ask Big Pig about the drive between my place and Forney. He knows, I don't.

I look at the map and see how I'd go, and it would NOT be through Greenville. That town might as well be sitting up againdt Dallas, it's so busy.

I put a lady friend behind a rifle and with my calling scope adjustments she had first shot hits out to 600 yards.... when she claimed she could not see the 700 yard target I checked the scope, she was still on 6.5 power, I failed to instruct her on zoom and parallax. We fixed and she hit 800 first shot......never got the 700, that target at JG’s is possesed!

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Ask Big Pig about the drive between my place and Forney. He knows, I don't.

I look at the map and see how I'd go, and it would NOT be through Greenville. That town might as well be sitting up againdt Dallas, it's so busy.[/quote]

I guess I better update my profile. We've been living down by Corpus Christi for a while now.

A friend and fellow THF member, Kelly Hanna, and I had been talking about taking your class before I moved. It just got too hectic getting the house on the market, starting a new job down here, and making the move. I'm still hopeful I'll make it up there and learn a thing or two. In fact, I may need to make a trip up there mid July.

I'll PM when and if I have some certainty.

I’ve shot a 1-4 out to 600 in 3 gun.

What size plate?

If you are good you can hold 2 MOA @600 with a 4.5 power scope, prone, out of a sling (no bags and the rifle not touching the ground) with an AR in 556

The SWFA 3-9 HD is one of the hidden gems in their lineup. Excellent choice.