Good Deal on Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x50 MC

[Hozzie]

Don't know if anyone else is interested, but Cameraland NY has the 4.5-14x50 Conquest with either the hunting or target turrets on clearance for $499.  They are normally $699 most other places from what I could find.  It's a good deal if anyone is looking for some better than average glass at a fairly reasonable price.  I needed something to go on my soon to be 204 Ruger AR.

 

Note that these are only available in the #20 Zplex reticle which was ok for me.

 

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/zeiss.pl?page=521490

Edited January 10, 2014 by Hozzie

[R_Bert]

Do you already shoot 204?

[Hozzie]

Yes, I currently have one other 204, a Savage LRPV.  I had a CZ 527 Varmint and Ruger Mark II Target, but sold both of them.  I have been looking for an AR version for a while so I can take it Prairie Doggin.  I was holding out trying not to have spend the money on a Les Baer, so when I saw the other thread where RedX bought some Sabre's from the bank, I bought the last upper they had.  We'll see how it shoots.

[R_Bert]

Ok, I was just curious.

 

My eyes ain't so good, so I am looking for a bigger scope for my 204s. 

 

I need to play with some decent scopes, but my 14x40 & 16x40 just are not enough over about 300 yards on small stuff.

 

You are running better stuff than I, though.

 

Question (sorry about jacking the thread) - On your AR, which barrel are you using?  The 24" Shilen 9 twist?  I have been looking for a decent barrel on the shelves, and there are not many out there at the moment.

 

Most of the good ones are 6 Mo lead time, it seems.

 

I really wanted the 20" Shilen government profile, but cant find one. 

[Hozzie]

Mine will be an actual Sabre barrel, 24" with 1/12 twist. I have Rock River Varmint in 223 and have been very happy with it for the price, and I was kind of waiting for a Rock River 204 to come back in stock, but haven't seen one in a long time that was available.  I just happened to see this one when someone referenced in one of the other threads that RedX had some old Sabre uppers.  I think this one was actually made up of a Sabre Upper and barrel, then the other parts were added, but the Sabre barrels are supposed to be pretty good, so I figured I would give it a try.  I thought the price was decent.  This is a link to what I ordered. http://shop.redxarms.com/24-FLUTED-SABRE-DEFENCE-204-RUGER-UPPER-1-12-WITH-BCG-CH-SABRE204UA.htm  If you take into account the Sampson rail, BCG, and charging handle, the barrel and upper comes in at $350-400 which I think was pretty good. I will only know if it was a decent deal when I get it and shoot it.  I am getting another TGO lower and putting a Geissele HS Match trigger in it, so it should shoot if it is decent at all.

 

If I was going to order a barrel, I would probably get a 1/11 twist as I mostly shoot lower grain bullets.  I have a few thousand 32gr and 34gr bullets as well as some 26gr varmint grenades.  If I ever find a great deal on some 39gr Sierra Blitzkings I will order a couple thousand of those as well.  I am confident my 12 twist will work for all of those, but an 11 twist would be a bit better for the 39's.   A 9 twist is just a bit too much for the very light bullets which I also like.  

 

Not sure what brands your scopes are, but I can appreciate wanting more magnification.  I do think that you can get by with less magnification in better quality scopes, but sometimes it's just nice to be able to dial it up.  Mirage makes a huge difference on the prairie dog field so most of the time you have to dial it back a bit anyway, but for target shooting, I also prefer more magnification.  

[R_Bert]

I sent RED X an email asking about future endeavors in .204 Ruger.

 

I agree on good glass, just can hardly afford it until I get a decent job and maybe sell some toys.  I have a very nice little Nikon 1-8x40 that is marvelously clear, but the larger scopes are just cheap 4x16x40mm Center-Point from WalMart. They do an awesome job for a <$100 scope (and better at long range than my Nikon due to the magnification).  I am running sub-MOA at 300 yards with them on a Howa and a Encore. 

 

I am however,  looking forward to better glass. I developed cataracts & glaucoma, and had a retinal detachment several years ago.  It has been a real problem learning how to shoot again.  Nothing is ever where I think it is anymore.

 

I am looking at the 24" Shilen with matching bolt, largely because I can get one quickly.  I understand via the guys at .204ruger.com that the 32 Gr Sierras and VMAX will still stabilize with it, and one guy even reported that the 26 gr Barnes did fine. 

 

I mostly play with load development on 34gr Dogtowns, which do surprisingly well for a very cheap projectile (I am running ~.375 to .5 MOA in some loads). 

 

B.