I hunt on Vancouver Island and southern Saskatchewan mostly, opposite ends of the spectrum. Most of my scopes for target and hunting are Nightforce ATACR 4-16x42, I own 4. The 4-16 gets double duty on my 300 WM, 6.5 PRC, they are great for the prairies where the majority of the shots are 300-450 range(coyotes,whitetail,mulies,antelope, oddly enough we are getting elk now as well but I haven't got drawn yet). Scope stays at 4 power when moving or stationed in trees or along a fenceline or ridge. Opposed to others I don't carry a spotter, I carry a Leica range finder. I will set up on a hill above a coullee or high bank over a river a couple of hundred feet up, glass with my Leica ranging various points and watch game. The 7 power on the Leica isn't enough for checking racks, when i identify a buck I will get in position and confirm the rack cranking the scope to 16, then crank magnification down for the shot, ideally for me I like 2x per hundred metres, so most of the coulee shots are in the 6-10x range. 4x is not great for pushing bush or river bottoms though, if that is the style of hunting for the day, i will use a 2.5-10x32 NXS on my 243 the 2.5 is quick up close, and has lots of magnification for longer shots if they present, simply lacks the ability to confirm racks on the longer shots. I prefer smaller objectives for a lower profile, limit snags on brush etc, all my scopes are in the 32-42mm range, except my 338LM Timberwolf target rifle which uses a ATACR 5-25x56. All my scopes are set up in a similair fashion with the same or similair reticles Mil-R or Mil-C, higher magnification scopes are first focal plane, lower power are second as i won't be using holdovers for wind, elevation unless at max magnification. I have seen many hunters and target shooters with high mag scopes of questionable quality, with cheap mounts, that aren't levelled or torqued properly. We all hunt different areas, for different animals, different conditions the requirements will vary accordingly.
Are hunting rifles over scoped?
- Thread starter chuck nelson
- Start date
I have found that with my rather elderly cataract infested eyes love the Nikon African 1-4 German #4 to be a godsend. For low light the Bushnell AR FFP,1-4. It's illuminated. I'm only starting ti get used to it.
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
In golf, the obsession is the newest Nike or Taylormade driver, but most shots are wedges, chips and putts.
Much the same with hunting, most shots will be short. Perhaps if your a prairie/antelope hunter, or for sheep or goats then big magnification makes sense. But with big top magnification you still need a low minimum magnification, say 4x or lower. Otherwise all you see is undefined hair.
Its been my experience that when rifles start to speak in the fall, game goes thick and nocturnal.
Much the same with hunting, most shots will be short. Perhaps if your a prairie/antelope hunter, or for sheep or goats then big magnification makes sense. But with big top magnification you still need a low minimum magnification, say 4x or lower. Otherwise all you see is undefined hair.
Its been my experience that when rifles start to speak in the fall, game goes thick and nocturnal.
Yeah, hunting rifles are often over-scoped now. I've seen a lot of big optics in the field that are set to their lowest magnification or turned down while on target to get a better picture. A few misses in there as well. I stick with 3-9x or 2.5-10x depending on budget - perfect all-rounders for hunting. And I usually start my day with them set to 4x - I started hunting with an old Enfield and cheap Tasco 4x and it was just fine for most hunting scenarios I came across.
That said, thinking of a 4-12x on my .257 Weatherby, but I think that's justifiable since it's mostly used for long range shots only, preferring a BLR in .243 with a 2.5-8x Leupold for up close stuff.
That said, thinking of a 4-12x on my .257 Weatherby, but I think that's justifiable since it's mostly used for long range shots only, preferring a BLR in .243 with a 2.5-8x Leupold for up close stuff.
My last few big game out here on the prairies were a cow moose at 401 yds using a 3-9x set at 9x and a whitetail buck with 4.5-14 at 305 yards. If i recall correctly it was set around 10x. I've also taken animals at as little as 40 yards in the bush, but my variability in terrain definitely requires variable powered scopes.
My Leupold VXHD 1-6 gives me better resolution at 6x, especially in low light than a lot of crappy Vortex or Bushnell at 9x. On top of that, the FOV and forgiveness is unbeatable, the fiber optic is very bright and the locking turrets are quite nice if I need to dial a wee bit. For deer hunting under 150 yards, my 6.5 lbs 16" 300blk is perfect.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
How's this for a broad generalization, but it is how I feel the situation is best summed up:
Hunters use low power scopes, and are effective because they know how to hunt. Shooters use high power scopes, which they think will make them more successful hunters. The majority of people out hunting in the last decade or two are shooters, not hunters. The market for scopes reflects that reality.
Hunters use low power scopes, and are effective because they know how to hunt. Shooters use high power scopes, which they think will make them more successful hunters. The majority of people out hunting in the last decade or two are shooters, not hunters. The market for scopes reflects that reality.
Seen enough hunters who are just playing around wasting time to crawl up on deer instead of shooting two in the same time. Some hunters just get thrown out of our areas because they are not effective enough at reducing deer numbers. I think the best is to be a combination... hunter and shooter. Hence my 3-20 scope. If I see a deer 5 or 400m I just shoot it. Most of the places we shoot the deer just need to be reduced... otherwise we would leave them alone.
edi
edi
for a broad generalistion....thats BS
thatmikeguy
Regular
- Location
- Steinbach, Manitoba
I target shoot a lot so I like the higher magnification option. When I hunt, the scope stays on 4x. I've never had a long shot present itself. I've shot all my game inside 200 yards on 4x.
Absolutely! My favourite mountain rifle for many years was an old Husqvarna Featherweight in 270 Winchester with a Leupold 3x scope. Carried that outfit many scores of days and hundreds of miles. Never had a problem killing game at any distance.
My father in law killed a huge ram with that outfit at well over 300 yards when he was 76 years old.
A three power scope makes an animal 300 yards away look about the same size as one at 100 with the naked eye. You would have no trouble hitting an animal at 100 with iron sights, and it is much easier to hit at 300 with the scope because all the sighting is in one plane, rather than a rear sight, a front sight and the target.
Ted
They don’t add 10 points to the antlers or 50 pounds to the carcass if you shoot it with a lower power scope, or a smaller cartridge. There isn’t a special rate at the butcher shop or taxidermist if you have a fixed power scope, and attaboys for the same are also rare. The club doesn’t have a special trophy for people who never take their variable off 3 X either.
The “mine’s smaller game” is just a variation of the “mines bigger game”.
The “mine’s smaller game” is just a variation of the “mines bigger game”.
They don’t add 10 points to the antlers or 50 pounds to the carcass if you shoot it with a lower power scope, or a smaller cartridge. There isn’t a special rate at the butcher shop or taxidermist if you have a fixed power scope, and attaboys for the same are also rare. The club doesn’t have a special trophy for people who never take their variable off 3 X either.
The “mine’s smaller game” is just a variation of the “mines bigger game”.
So shooting big game at long distance with a low power fixed scope doesn't make you a better marksmen? Or hunter?
I'm in Eastern Ontario and have a 3-9 and that is more than I need. I can't think of anywhere where we hunt that I would need to more than 4x due to terrain. I'm looking at getting a 1-6 as that would be most ideal..
