High power scopes?
- Thread starter BeaverMeat
- Start date
canadaman30
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Far from the City
I use 1-4 and don't ever feel a need for more
Most of my scopes top out at a nominal 10 or 14 power. Although I carry them around at the lowest power more often than not, most of my animals are shot at the highest power if there's any sort of time available.
There's all sorts of reasons for that, starting with I do so much target shooting at top
power that it's the new normal. Not all, but most of my subtension reticles are set up to work at top power.
I freely admit that much of the worlds hunting is done at ranges that don't even require smokeless powder, never mind any scope. I suppose that it's human nature to think that if they don't need it, nobody does, and that if they can't do it nobody should.
There's all sorts of reasons for that, starting with I do so much target shooting at top
power that it's the new normal. Not all, but most of my subtension reticles are set up to work at top power.
I freely admit that much of the worlds hunting is done at ranges that don't even require smokeless powder, never mind any scope. I suppose that it's human nature to think that if they don't need it, nobody does, and that if they can't do it nobody should.
Well in my humble experience hunting here in Ontario 1.5 x 5 -- 2 x 7 -- 2 x 8 is all the scope your ever going to need. And in close bush you'll be thinking 1.5 is almost to much. Shot a moose one time at 20ft. and 2x was way to much power, had a hard time figuring out which part of all that brown hair I was looking at. Furthest shot was around 400 yds. Scope was set at 4x, hit her twice off hand, more good luck than good management. Most everything I have shot is in the 100yd, range and under.
If a fella was hunting in the mountains and plains of the west I would imagine at times you would want all the magnification you could get. So I would say scope magnification depends on the terrain one is hunting in and the distances one expects to make his shots. The lower the setting the wider the field of view. For example if one is hunting deer in bush where your shots are max 50 yds, and your scope is set on 4x on up your first job is trying to find the deer in your field if view. If the deer is running your probably not going to find him in the scope before he is long gone.
If a fella was hunting in the mountains and plains of the west I would imagine at times you would want all the magnification you could get. So I would say scope magnification depends on the terrain one is hunting in and the distances one expects to make his shots. The lower the setting the wider the field of view. For example if one is hunting deer in bush where your shots are max 50 yds, and your scope is set on 4x on up your first job is trying to find the deer in your field if view. If the deer is running your probably not going to find him in the scope before he is long gone.
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BeaverMeat
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nanaimo, B.C.
That's the docterine I grew up on. If you can't see what your shooting at, get closer. That's why I started this thread. Anything over 9x makes no sence to me... I like to keep the power low. A quick, close range shot is a common probability.
I had no issues seeing the deer at that distance with plain old eyeballs, how do you think I spotted it?
It's a little harder to see a 1/2" diameter 4" spike (about the size of your #### or my middle finger) at 120 yards even with 4x glass.
BeaverMeat
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nanaimo, B.C.
There again is what I've learned. Simular to hunting in Africa. Sure you can hit a Thompason Gazel at 400 yards. But you might cross a lion on that 400 yard walk.
prairie lover
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern MB
I find that generally, but not always, you will find scopes over 3-9 on rifles of guns who don't hunt much. some people need more magnification due to not the best eyesight or hunting longer than normal ranges. I have zero issues with a 3-9 out to 600 yards on deer and I doubt I would shoot past 400 in the field from normal hunting positions. its rare to be able to find a slightly elevated position to use a bipod at longer ranges where I hunt. I usually carry shooting sticks set for about sitting position heights, or nothing at all. I have shot one deer at 350 yards off a bipod, worked great, but usually cant get that low and have a clear shot.
coyote/varmint/lr rigs I have 16 20 and 24 power, although all my light weight varmint rifles have 3-9 scopes. my main coyote gun is a modded t3 with a 3-9. I don't want more due to weight and it screwing up the balance. heavy barrels get big scopes. I have friends with monster scopes on light weight guns. they done balance well, carry awkward and are top heavy shooting from field positions.
coyote/varmint/lr rigs I have 16 20 and 24 power, although all my light weight varmint rifles have 3-9 scopes. my main coyote gun is a modded t3 with a 3-9. I don't want more due to weight and it screwing up the balance. heavy barrels get big scopes. I have friends with monster scopes on light weight guns. they done balance well, carry awkward and are top heavy shooting from field positions.
I like this logic...
Similar to the difference in two-wheel and four-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive will get you stuck further in...
M12shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- East St. Paul, mb
Depends on what type of country you're hunting...and for what species. 9X might be plenty powerful in the east where bush hunting is common and shots are relatively tight. 18X wouldn't bee to much scope for a posted hunter in open country where shots could average several hundred yards or more. U.S. Army adopted the AR and decided on the 223 as its main battle rifle back in the early 1960's. It was deemed the most infantrymen couldn't see or properly distinguish targets beyond 300 metres...the max effective range of the 223 on humans. Short of it, make sure your equipped and capable of long shots if you choose to take them.
BeaverMeat
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nanaimo, B.C.
Saskatchewan...
I guess if you hunting from the hood of your truck a high magnifaction makes sence. My boots hit the ground. I camp, I stalk, I push bush...
If you shoot with both eyes open, FOV means little. I shot a charging Cape buffalo at 10 yards with a variable set at 2.5 once, and nobody got squished. That particular rifle has accounted for close to 200 head of game, much of it with the scope maxed out at 8. The biggest problem I have in close range bush hunting in threading bullets through tiny gaps in the foliage. That gets easier when you can see both what you're trying to hit, plus everything you're trying to miss.
I got rid of my 1.5-4.5 range variables a long time ago.
I'm talking about seeing a tiny wee antler on a deer I've spotted already with my eyes, not scanning the bush at every sound or movement with my rifle...how does looking at a deer equate to glassing another hunter?
I am pleased to hear your technic is working well for you.
Had a 6-24 on my STW and hunted with it for 15 years. I have to admit that I missed a couple of great opportunities on big bucks too close to the truck when I bailed out on 6x. 6x also is not that great in the bush. I can't afford to have expensive scopes on all my rifles but what I think would be a good idea is mount those pica tinny rails on all of your rifles and have two good quality scopes (one up to 24 or 30 power for working up hand loads) and one for hunting 2.5x10 or 3x9. Get a good quality set of those quick release ring sets and you have the best of both worlds. PS I have found that a pair of binoculars with a 50 mill objective are a must at last call on the fence line on the edge of a hay field. They grab a lot more light than any scope. Those yellow tinted safety glasses will also give you an extra 10 minutes at last call just before true dark.
The most magnification I have on a rifle is 4-12x on a .243, because I might use that for a coyote further away than I would shoot at a deer. I haven't actually shot at anything with more than 6x, and I could have done that one with 4x, that was a deer at about 250m. The next longest shot I have made to take a deer was my first, it was 200m with 2.5x scope on a Lee Enfield No.4.
I think most people have more magnification and bigger objective lenses because the makers and sellers push more is better, bigger numbers must be better, and buying new, supposedly better stuff is more fun and easier for most people than practising with what we have. Not for you, of course, whoever you are, you really know what you are doing and have sound reasons for buying scopes with bigger numbers, but the rest of them are suckers.
I think most people have more magnification and bigger objective lenses because the makers and sellers push more is better, bigger numbers must be better, and buying new, supposedly better stuff is more fun and easier for most people than practising with what we have. Not for you, of course, whoever you are, you really know what you are doing and have sound reasons for buying scopes with bigger numbers, but the rest of them are suckers.
