Would you deer hunt with a 10x scope?

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subneural

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I need some help. Up to now all my hunting experience has been with shotgun and bows. I have my first centerfire rifle on order - a rem 700 in .308.

For 50 weeks of the year, it will be used as a target/precision rifle at 100-300 yards. I was planning on buying a Bushnell 3200 Elite 10x40mm as I really liked the mildot reticle and the taller target turrets - and this scope is a good value for the money.

It was suggested to me that a fixed 10x might be too long for hunting deer (WMU 46), which is what this rifle will be used for the other 2 weeks of the year ;) So I'm considering the Bushnell 3200 3x9x40. In this scope I loose the mil-dot reticle and the tall turrets.

Does anyone have an experience hunting with a fixed 10power scope? Do you find that it is too limiting, especially when faced with shots at less than 100yds? Any advice on which of the two Bushnell scopes to go with is appreciated.
 
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the bushnell 3200 10x is a great scope for the money,but blurry up close and a small field of view make for better choices in the bush. The 4200 2.5 -10 x40 is a great glass for both the woods and those open beaver marshes.
 
I have a 3200 10x on my 223 and I like the scope for targets but somtimes when coyote hunting they sneak up on you it's not as easy to find them in the scope if they are close. I have a 4200 2.5-10 x40 on my 270 and I really like the scope ( the rainguard is awsome). Another scope that might not be bad would be the burris FF2 4.5-14 x 40 if you want to target shoot and hunt, plus it has the ballistic retical.
 
My scope stays on 10x 99.9% of the season. I have no trouble acquiring a target at close range. The only time I move it is to 14x for long shots.

I know my opinion here is probably the minority, but it's worked for me for years.
 
The mildot isn't the best for low light hunting,10x would be OK to hunt from a stand.If you want to hunt with with the same rifle your gonna target shoot with you'll have to compromise 2.5-10x40 is a good choice hunting and playing arround at the range.
 
Are your shots going to be less than 100 yards? 50 yards? If so, it could be tough to find your target, especially if it is blending in against bush or it is moving even a bit.

Lower power the better, or even open sights (peep sight or ghost ring)
 
it also depends on YOUR EYES- i moved from 3x9s to 4x12s years ago, but i've got a LOT of yardage twixt me and the target- and they're mulies or bigger, not whitetail- i can always drop back if needed- typically it's somewhere around 7
 
I would agree with previous statement - lower power better. I use a Leupold VXIII 1.5x5 20mm it has a #1 German Post reticle so target aquisition is very fast. I tend to set it at 4 or 5 power in the open and turn right down to 1.5 to 3 power in thick brush. lower power allows you to see more field of view through the scope.
 
ZF95 said:
I would agree with previous statement - lower power better. I use a Leupold VXIII 1.5x5 20mm it has a #1 German Post reticle so target aquisition is very fast. I tend to set it at 4 or 5 power in the open and turn right down to 1.5 to 3 power in thick brush. lower power allows you to see more field of view through the scope.
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might even pick up the 12 pointer in the backround eh?;):cool:
 
Where are you guys hunting that you want the power as low as possible? I'm in alberta and I want more than 10X. At 250-300 yds. I want to clearly see where my shot is going. I find that to be difficult with less than 10X on a whitetail.
 
I wouldn't, because a shot that needs more than 4x in the scope is too long to be ethically taken with the combination of the rifle I use and the amount of shooting practise I get in. But it may be all right for you, as it is for some. As ffwd says, he is taking shots at 250-300 yards, and he wants 10x magnification for that. Maybe you will, too. I just don't take shots that long. Hunting wouldn't be so interesting and satisfying if it didn't include that element that is about deciding for yourself how to go about it and being responsible for your results.

At this point in my life, I'm still more interested in the challenge of getting close than the challenge of a long shot. As I am getting older, slower, stiffer, and creakier, that will probably change.
 
Like many are saying, a straight 10x is not idea for hunting close in. It will be narrower, and darker then you will find on lower mag.

I use the same rifle to hunt with that I use for long distance target. I find a mildot reticle helps find the crosshairs in dark brush. I use a leupold mark4 3.5-10x40. When I hunt, 3.5, maybe 6. At distance, 10x. Is it ideal for target shooting, or hunting, no, but I'd rather use one gun as much as possible then have a cart full of guns for different apps. I just don't shoot enough to know a cart full of guns.

I am not sure what style of shooting you are wanting to do, but 4x is plenty for <300m. seriously. The problem with it is that when hunting, you might not be able to count the points if that is important to you.
 
If it's in an area your used to using a shotgun and bows(close range) buy a 30-30 and a low power scope and leave the 308 at the range.
 
ffwd said:
Where are you guys hunting that you want the power as low as possible? I'm in alberta and I want more than 10X. At 250-300 yds. I want to clearly see where my shot is going. I find that to be difficult with less than 10X on a whitetail.
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east of here- the country's smaller back there- i'm in the same boat as you and i use a 4x12 variable- but i also have a harris bipod and make sure i'm darned near rock steady before i take the shot- besides, their deer are not as flighty as ours
 
I am of the opinion that higher power is needed when hunting. The low power scopes do give a clearer view close in but I want to see the background behind the animal. Too often shots that go thru the animal cause damage to background things. One instance was a 4x power used at 200 yards, the bullet passed thru and struck the window of a truck parked in plain view of the hunter if he had a more powerful scope. He claimed he could not see the truck thru his scope. I never shoot without checking where a bullet may end up. I found that my 3200 10x was great at both the range to 200 yards( limited range) and any varmint in as close as 50 yards.
 
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