Hello All,
    Looking for some guidence! I'm getting close with my rifle project.
.32 miller on a Brochardt. I will start off with a bench rifle first. Want to know what type scope I should be looking at. Please don't say Unertl!!
Pockets too shallow!!!  I also plan on having a offhand stock made for the same rifle. I have a Fecker 14x. Will this set up work for offhand?
Thanks Plumloco (plumconfused)

Years ago I asked some shooters: "Why do you use a 36X scope?"

The answer was, "Because I don't have a 40X"

I used to stear clear of a higher power scope, until I tried a STS 30x.
Even offhand I used it and sgot the best OH score I ever shot and got a second place medal.

There are some good buys on scopes @

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Something I learned, spend as much as you can afford for good eqipment the FIRST time. Or you'll end up paying more for the learning process.

I think about it modern vs traditonal.   

If Traditonal is your direction externals are the way to go and Fleckers are generaly less expensive than Unertils. Offhand I use a pair of 20's one Unertil and one Lyman. The Unertil is a little fat for offhand, sits too high on the rifle.   And a 12 Unertil on my 38/55 offhand Black Powder gun. It kicks more and needs longer eye relief.  12 will not shoot as high a score as a 20 offhand but compromise is what you have to accept sometimes.

Modern offhand shooters use at least 20 x and many use more,  Our clubs best offhand Shooter uses a pair of 36 x Weavers on his Miller 32 and rimfire offhand schuetzens.   

My modern scope offhand guns are all Silouette rifles and carry Leopold 6.5x20's which never leave 20x  My old one on a 03 Springfield from 20 years ago carrys a Weaver 16x  That shows progression in custom. If I was starting fresh in modern rifle silouette I would use a 36 x for sure.

Boats

I recently purchased a Redfield 3200 in 20X on ebay and I'm delighted with it for rimfire bench shooting.  I paid $350 and the scope was about 93%. Compared to the Unertl I'd have to pay $800 plus to get the same condition.  I wanted it to look authentic and the 3200 does that plus it's got great glass and positive clicks.   

I use a 12X Lyman STS that I've had for years for Offhand.  Can't spot shots but the higher powers overpower my concentration.  I don't really want to see the legs on a fly on my target, I just want to hold the crosshair in the center and make every effort to squeeze it off.  Just remember, a 30 power magnifies your every movement 30 times, as well as the target!   

My 2 cents worth,
Bill (Hold Center)

I used to use a 12 power scope indoors and a 24 power scope outdoors. (All offhand).  Then My son and my daughter took up shooting, so my daughter got the 10x and my son the 12x.  Which left me with the 24x to use both indoors and out.  I think the higher power has helped indoors, and not changing back and forth has helped outdoors.

I think the secret to not getting vertigo with the higher power is to concentrate on the target rather than the crosshairs.

Chris

Plum

Some good advice here on magnification.  I think one of  your questions was price vs suitablity for Schuetzen.  Since Schuetzen is shot at the same distance the whole match scope adjustments are not a critical issue.  Adjustments are one thing thats better about the more expensive scopes. 

Inexpensive scopes can work very well though.  I have a closet full of target scopes and can say some of the Imports work as good as the high dollar models.  My Airgun carrys a Weaver fixed power 15x. Used to have it on a smallbore silouette gun.  It cost 150 bucks is well over 10 years old and performs perfectly.  While I don't own one I see a lot of our competitors using the newer imported Weavers in High power.  I suspect they are the best value in a high performance target scope.

Boats

Buy once and be done with it. You have to make-up your mind if you want to go long scope or short. For the money and the fact that the Sightron wins in a lot of benchrest competition just about answers for a lot of shooters.

Shop the net for a price on one and you will be vary surprised. 

The fact they have the best internal adjustments should in no way influence your choice.

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True, short scopes have shorter range of adjustment, but if you use the Burris signatures you can ussualy find a bushing combination to allow you to go from 50 ft. to 200 yard. (you can also do it with regular shimming). And that is something to look at before buying (moa of adjustment). I prefer a varible power scope, but I like a scope that will give me higher power as well. The smallest I have is 6.5X20 but I really prefer 8x32 (or higher). My lowest I ever go is 18, but my wife will go as low as 12 on her guns. If you are having concentration issues it helps to be able to lower the power, if not it sure is nice to see it up close.  My perfect scope would be a 20x40, anyone have one other then maybe Premier reticle?