FT Pistol Optics

MTC Connect .....

I will tell you what not to buy. Do not buy a AEON 4-12x (or maybe it's 3-12x). It is a clear scope and has an etched reticle but range finding is terrible as it seems clear nearly all the time. You really have to concentrate to notice any difference turning the wheel might have made and I put a 5" Sightron wheel on it). The next problem is a combination of a busy reticle and no lighted reticle (which I normally can get by w/o a lighted reticle). Many of time I shot using one of the hash lines thinking I was using the main cross hair. This happens in shady conditions. I bought the scope as I mearly looked thru one and remembered how clear it was, price was not to bad, and the big deal it seemed to have the longest advertised eye relief (which is why I wanted it for my FT pistol).

I think UTG just announced a new 3-12x with an etched reticle as the SHOT show. I would look into that.

MTC Connect .....

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Thanks, Motörhead. I assume the 3-12x is SFP. Do you know if the reticle is “calibrated” for a particular power? Do you recommend one reticle over the other?

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IIRC ... SCB2 which is a modified 1/2 mil dot ... 3-12sfp and again IIRC calibrated at 10x tho used at the max legal 12x





Used one now for a couple seasons in PFT

Will make note they really don't range find super well, but work out within PFT ranges of 10-35 yards. The Zero eye relief is whats key being rules allow eye cup contact to your face & there eye cup is an adjustable solid piece you can rest on your brow bone. Wink wink

Hawke Airmax 3-12x50 is really good choice for PFT.

Add eye cup and you have great support.

This is a pistol that won many competitions. And guy that shoots it can shoot rifle course with it and still be competitive. Great reticle for hold overs, great ranging capability for 12x, great spacing for bracketing.

I like the utg SWAT 3 - 12 glass etched scope for pistol field Target if your budget is around $100.



I'm currently used a Hawke Air Max 3 - 12 50 on my custom field target pistol and use a Sidewinder 3-12 on my wife's 1720t. 

They are both heavy but are excellent ranging scopes and are both rate for clicking.



Cam

I don't know if it's the best, but the UTG/Leapers 3-12x44 SWAT is probably the most common scope in PFT (even among the top shooters).

They come in compact or full length, and wire or glass reticle. I prefer the design of their wire reticle.

I read one article about using the MTC Connect in Hunter class rifle, but Motörhead says it doesn’t range well? Well enough for pistol but not rifle? How about the Hawke Airmax 3-12 x50?

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MTC ... It sucks at the rifle ranges requiring 35+ ... It don't ! At 12x where we're allowed 16X in Rifle Hunter ... It don't go 16 and your handicapped there too.

OP had stated PISTOL ... not what does BOTH well ?

And there is a BIG problem ... AATFA Pistol rules for "Hunter" say scope CAN NOT go above 12X which miens no higher max scope turned down ... IMPORTANT !

"Hunter" rifle is allowed 16X where a higher mag scope CAN BE used so long as turned down to 16 .... IMPORTANT !



These two disciplines don't allow a single optic to do both ... that is unless your willing to shoot at 12x in rifle while others are at 16 ?

These two disciplines don't allow a single optic to do both ... that is unless your willing to shoot at 12x in rifle while others are at 16 ?

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I’m new to the FT rangefinding technique. Does the rangefinding work better at higher magnification?

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Absolutely ... as magnification INCREASES the optics DOF "depth of field" decreases. As the DOF decreases so does the range/distance a scopes parallax correction shrink. in distance.

Sadly scope manufactures set optics up for use in the POWDER BURNER world where the distances shot are at the low side within AG distances, but much more so further out.

While there are quite a few scopes that will parrilax focus down to 10 yards, there calibration MECHANICALLY is more biased towards the further distances than in close.

What this does, is ... let say said scopes SF/ parrilax has 360* of rotation, Many scope will have 10-55 yards only using 100-150* of this range available from 10 to infinity.

Where at times we get scopes that calibrate mechanically utilizing more rotation .. say 180 to 240* to cover the 10-55 distances.



In the FT game WE WANT MORE ROTATION which gives us better range estimation and separation markings once range distances get marked onto a larger SF wheel.

* Some scopes SNAP into and out of parrilax focus crisply while others are muddy and less definitive. Thus the on going search for the Holy grail of Hunter FT optics.



There a lot more to the equation of scope selection etc ... just hope this gives you insight you may not have been aware of or considered.



Scott S

Just use a pair of tactical quick connect rings on the two scopes in whatever mount rail type the Thomas is using ( Dovetail or Weaver / P )

Have each scope zero'ed and there ya go.

Ior pitbull. Or Minox 1-8. Very pleased with them. 

I’m new to the FT rangefinding technique. Does the rangefinding work better at higher magnification?

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That said, some scopes don't rangefind worth a crap and some are better than others, even expensive high end scopes. IMO, for FT, rangefinding and reticle uselfulness and quality supersedes all other scope qualities such as focal plane, optical clarity etc. That narrows down scope selection quite a bit. I would put optical clarity third on my priority list. I shoot a Hawke Sidewinder 30 and find it best for me.