High power scopes?

Because most people shoot far more at paper targets from bench than they do at game from field positions, and they want to see bullet holes in the paper through the scope.
Because way too many people use their rifle scope instead of binoculars or a spotting scope to spot game with, and don't care that their bad habits are dangerous.
Because most people do not have the skills to shoot close, fast moving game, and so they only shoot stationary animals from a rest. Nothing wrong with that at all, and if you don't mind a higher power scopes more critical eye relief and generally "fussier" ergonomics, more magnification can help make more accurate shots at farther ranges.
Because so many hunters want the maximum technical ability to shoot tiny groups at the greatest distances possible, but do not ever practise reading animal behaviour, study and practise their stalking skills or train by shooting from unsupported shooting positions.
That's what i've observed anyway.
 
Longwalker said:
Because most people shoot far more at paper targets from bench than they do at game from field positions, and they want to see bullet holes in the paper through the scope.
Because way too many people use their rifle scope instead of binoculars or a spotting scope to spot game with, and don't care that their bad habits are dangerous.
Because most people do not have the skills to shoot close, fast moving game, and so they only shoot stationary animals from a rest. Nothing wrong with that at all, and if you don't mind a higher power scopes more critical eye relief and generally "fussier" ergonomics, more magnification can help make more accurate shots at farther ranges.
Because so many hunters want the maximum technical ability to shoot tiny groups at the greatest distances possible, but do not ever practise reading animal behaviour, study and practise their stalking skills or train by shooting from unsupported shooting positions.
That's what i've observed anyway.
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Personally I would never shoot at running game, who wants to harvest an adrenalized animal? I prefer to hit them before they even know I am in the game. To do that I have many blinds well out of the travel corridors requiring shots at longer ranges for which I prefer higher magnification and a steady rest. I also try to shoot just about every coyote I see while big game hunting and that takes magnification IMO. To each their own I guess.

That said I took last years muley at 40 yds, broadside standing looking at the strange thing that just appeared, me, with my Contender in 7-30 Waters with Vortex 2.5-10 set on 2.5 so I guess I can do it both ways and still not need the skills to shoot "close, fast moving game"
 
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like anything, technology and those that willingly adopt and practice with it are able to make ethical shots at much longer distances today. There will always be those hold outs that believe anything different than what they do is unnecessary or outside their comfort zone and therefore you are a bad guy, but don't let them stop you from enjoying what is available.

I can tell you that training to make ethical long shots on animals is more difficult than spot and stalk, calling or still hunting in my many years of experience at all of the above.

For all around hunting I use a 3 or 5 to 15 power and long range a 6 to 24 power or better
 
I'd rather go hunting without a scope than go hunting without binoculars. From 200 yds away I've been able to tell that that doe is actually a spike buck. I've also spotted a dark lump under a tree and could tell through the binos that it was a deer. And sometimes you can't stalk closer for a look. I have no problem, once you've determined that is a legal target, with evaluating an animal through the rifle scope. It could save valuable seconds if you decide to shoot. But glassing should be done through binoculars.
 
My coyote gun wears a 6-24x44. I carry it on 6x and have no issues with close shots. I do hunt open farm land and the higher magnification has saved 2 Shepard husky mixes that even at 6x looked like coyotes crossing the bean field. I've used that gun for bear and deer as well. It's a 25/06
My 300 wm wears a 3-9x50
My 45/70 wears a 2.5x20
My 458 wm wears a 2-7x32

I guess I like them all
 
elimsprint said:
Personally I would never shoot at running game, who wants to harvest an adrenalized animal? I prefer to hit them before they even know I am in the game. To do that I have many blinds well out of the travel corridors requiring shots at longer ranges for which I prefer higher magnification and a steady rest. I also try to shoot just about every coyote I see while big game hunting and that takes magnification IMO. To each their own I guess.

That said I took last years muley at 40 yds, broadside standing looking at the strange thing that just appeared, with my Contender in 7-30 Waters with Vortex 2.5-10 set on 2.5 so I guess I can do it both ways and still not need the skills to shoot "close, fast moving game"
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I guess it can depend on the hunt. We have neighbors who run dogs so a running or moving deer is usually what's in store. I like a very low power 1-4 scope as things can happen close and fast. A lot of different terrains and types of hunts in this huge country
 
9.3mauser said:
I'd rather go hunting without a scope than go hunting without binoculars. From 200 yds away I've been able to tell that that doe is actually a spike buck. I've also spotted a dark lump under a tree and could tell through the binos that it was a deer. And sometimes you can't stalk closer for a look. I have no problem, once you've determined that is a legal target, with evaluating an animal through the rifle scope. It could save valuable seconds if you decide to shoot. But glassing should be done through binoculars.
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I don't even load my gun until I'm going to shoot something, it's a ####ty trek up a loose rock mountain in dense bush, too much risk of a real serious tumble so it ain't loaded. I don't lose any sleep over missing a deer on the way up or down​, they are running 99% of the time and no point taking a shot in those conditions. They stick around when you aren't shooting and missing them.
At my sit I can see to about 80 yards max, which is why the 1-4 was always fine. Again I only load when I'm going to 100% dinner something​. I'm not that hardcore into killing stuff where I need to have one in the pipe 8 hours a day, I'm good with having one in for 5 seconds before it's dinner.
Accidents happen with loaded guns, mine are loaded seconds before they are fired.
Different situations I guess.
 
Those high power variable, big objective scopes serve admirably for stand hunting in the near-dark to good-and-dark in the bush. Then there's the opportunities for long shots across clear-cuts, or open fields, or slopes.

The guy who uses different equipment than you might be doing it because he doesn't have a clue what he's doing. However, there is a very good chance that he's using it because he knows exactly what he's doing.
 
nimfonate said:
US military used a fixed 10x forever, made all kinds of ridiculous shots with them.
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I dare say they had a lot more practice and a lot more targets. Not to mention not worrying about a clean shot! Lmao

Dogleg said:
Those high power variable, big objective scopes serve admirably for stand hunting in the near-dark to good-and-dark in the bush. Then there's the opportunities for long shots across clear-cuts, or open fields, or slopes.

The guy who uses different equipment than you might be doing it because he doesn't have a clue what he's doing. However, there is a very good chance that he's using it because he knows exactly what he's doing.
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I use a 6x24 optic for squirrel hunting... So yeah... (not being sarcastic)

Dial it down to 6-9 ish area when walking/stalking them... When sitting in the deer blind knocking off the tree rat population trying to eat the deer feed... 24x head shots all day.

I got a buddy who can hardly figure out his 3x9 optic for his yote gun. I would die watching him try to use a larger scope. I start talking about focal planes, adjustments, eye relief, constant sight pictures in the optic ect ect ect... He just holds up his lever gun with irons... lol
 
BeaverMeat said:
I'm trying to understand the rational of high powered optics when hunting large game. I get it if your target or varmit shooing... but in the field I can't see the point.

I've seen allot of new rifles set-up for deer with a 4-12x scope. I don't get it.

Discuss and tune me in
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Depends on where you live and how you hunt. I can see a 4-12 being very useful in parts of Sask, but here in the eastern parts of Canada a 1.5-5 or 2-7 is fine.
 
I use 3-9x40 for varmint but larger game I use 6-18x50 because of eye injuries, cataracts and eye implants. All I can say is 'getting old sucks'!!
 
Low fixed or low to intermediate variable power scopes work fine for me. The Leupold VX-3 1.5-5x20mm and the Nikon Monarch 1.5-4.5x20mm are favorites. Both are fairly bright with good clarity. I prefer the look and handy feel of a rifle with a lightweight compact scope.

I can't say I really need much more than about 4x on any of my hunting rifles. I've downed Elk out to 400+ meters using a Leupold Compact 4x scope on my 416, and Moose out to 200 meters using a Leupold 2.5x Scout scope on my 358 BLR.

I have a Nikon Monarch3 4-16x42mm on a 308. It's a fun range toy.

416%20RM%20Carbine_e_zps28hexhk2.jpg

416 Rem. Mag. custom Zastava LKM70 Fullstock Carbine with Nikon Monarch 1.5-4.5x20mm

93x74R_VX3_15-5x20mmA_zps14dc0fd5.jpg

9.3x74R Ruger No.1-S with Leupold VX-3 1.5-5x20mm

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358 Winchester Browning BLR Lightweight '81 Takedown with Leupold FX-II Scout IER 2.5x28mm

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308 Zastava LKM70 Stainless Synthetic with Nikon Monarch3 4-16x42mm
 
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DILLIGAF said:
I hunt to provide for my family, Not to hang some trophy on my wall.
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BS,
If it's soley to provide for your family, the grocery store is cheaper.

Sounds like there might be some "sport" and your "own reasons" at play as well.....
 
My post was not meant to diss anyone's choice in style of hunting, I was just making observations. It is interesting, however that a few seemed to take offence. I have hunted from high seats and blinds a lot, and have stalked, called, and still hunted a lot too. Driven game hunts are exciting and productive too. i have hunted in Germany where extremes of both are practised, high seats in pitch dark and driven hunts with all sorts of running shots in close quarters. Enjoyed every minute. Appropriate scopes are big high powered variables on one end and low power or red dot on the other. I do take small offence at people who think that shooting moving game is somehow wrong if the shooter has the skills. A moving animal within 100 yards is a 80% chance for me, higher if I have time and space for two shots. Some others do better. Not sure why someone would say that shooting game at long range is "better" or that shooting close in with iron sights is better either. We all do what we like, what we are capable of within reason and with respect to the game and within the law.
I stand by my observation that "hunting" skills of observing habits, stalking close, calling, or being able to effectively hit moving game is on the wane, and long distance shooting of game from fixed positions is on the rise. So high powered scopes on long-distance capable rifles is on the rise too. I have no problem with any of that. The only real criticism I have is with people who use rifle scopes instead of binoculars to find or identify game. There is no excuse whatsoever for that practise.
 
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