How much magnification for 500 yards?
- Thread starter KDX
- Start date
That's long... my old varmint rifle had a 32x Unertl telescope on it... and at 300m I was able to hit dime sized targets - the crosshair was very fine, and it covered the center circle completely at that distance...
If I were going to set up another rig, I don't think I'd go any bigger than a 2-16....IMHO
If I were going to set up another rig, I don't think I'd go any bigger than a 2-16....IMHO
It depends. If its a heavy barrel bellygun, throw a 20 to 25 power on it. Anything that helps to pick gophers out of the grass will help there. I also like watching my groups form on paper, and a good big scope makes that easy.
If its more of a coyote gun, or a sporter weight then a smaller 14-15 might be more appropriate. Maybe even a 12.
For casual target shooting it doesn't matter as much, because you get to pick the target. If you can see it, you can hit it.
A guy once told me that 3 X per hundred wasn't a bad plan. I probably said "oh ya" and rolled my eyes politely
, until I started looking through the ole arsenal and at what scopes I had on things and occasionally what I wished was on them. I don't think he was that far off.
If its more of a coyote gun, or a sporter weight then a smaller 14-15 might be more appropriate. Maybe even a 12.
For casual target shooting it doesn't matter as much, because you get to pick the target. If you can see it, you can hit it.
A guy once told me that 3 X per hundred wasn't a bad plan. I probably said "oh ya" and rolled my eyes politely
, until I started looking through the ole arsenal and at what scopes I had on things and occasionally what I wished was on them. I don't think he was that far off.
And as you look through the threads here, you'll find that quality of optics is a factor as well. There are F-class shooters shooting half the power I am, and they're able to see the targets clearer, as they have better glass.
That is beyond world championship shooting right there.
Hammerhead
Member
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Don't go too crazy on the magnification... You're not going to be using it to look at the holes you make in the paper @ 500yrds. Most times it's better to use your scope on lower magnification so that your picture isn't distorted by things such as shimmer. If you're shooting out to 500 then you won't need anything over 10x.
I use a Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24x40 to shoot at 300 yards and use 24x magnification at that distance. 10x would probably be enough as military snipers used 10x scopes for many years however I just find a higher magnification easier to shoot with.
The confusion arises because people don't just want to see the target they want to be able to see their bullet hole. Assuming a reasonable size target - say centre mass - then, of course, a 10X is perfectly sufficient. A smaller target - say F Class V Bull - ought properly to be viewed through a scope with greater magnification but not necessarily through one that will allow you to see your bullet holes as that work is better left to a spotting scope.
While I do use a 8-32x56 on my best rifle, it is fair to say that a 6-24x50 scope of good quality should be more than adequate to see targets clearly at almost any distance one is shooting at.
While I do use a 8-32x56 on my best rifle, it is fair to say that a 6-24x50 scope of good quality should be more than adequate to see targets clearly at almost any distance one is shooting at.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
European glass to me is the best Zeiss, Swarovski, etc..............
This is where you get what you pay for.
Zeiss is notorious for medical and observatory style optics, Swarovski for their crystal. To me companies that have a long history of quality glass manufacturing have a bit of an advantage over the rest.
Zeiss gets my vote as well.
On the zoom topic, snipers use 10x because of range and drop with mil dots.
If u want to zoom in and see ur hits a little more zoom is nice. I as well had used the bushnell 4200 6x24x50 in the past and it's a great scope. Good glass, good size crosshairs and has parallax adjustment.
Ps. Nikon has good glass like the zeiss IMO as well
On the zoom topic, snipers use 10x because of range and drop with mil dots.
If u want to zoom in and see ur hits a little more zoom is nice. I as well had used the bushnell 4200 6x24x50 in the past and it's a great scope. Good glass, good size crosshairs and has parallax adjustment.
Ps. Nikon has good glass like the zeiss IMO as well
I actually just bought a new sightron scope (SIII 10x44 MMD) from peterdobson a member on here who owns a store in Nova Scotia. Can't wait to get it, pretty excited.
Anyway, sightron has a lifetime warranty if you keep ur papper work. I had talked to there office direct b4 buying as well. Very good customer service.
Sightron seams like a real good brand for a great price.
All the features I wanted in a scope was limiting me to the leouphold mark 4 m1... That's a $1500 scope. The sightron is just as good but at half the price. $600.
I got a Zeiss 3X9 on my 308. I was hitting the 12 inch gong at 500 meters. Used my friends vx-3 lr 4.5x14 leopold on his 22-250 and had to go to town and get me one. the extra 5 power made a world of differance for me. the leopold retical is alot finer also which is nice also.
Just my 2 cents
Just my 2 cents
Most scopes can't be used at there full power due to heat mirage. I use a x10 MK4 Leupold on my 308 to 1000yds with no problem. That's only x1 per 100yds.
I have just order a NF 3.5x15 F1 that will be replacing my MK4. Most of my friends use this scope and shoot it on x12 only due to this problem with heat mirage.
Look up what the military snipers use for optics and why. It translates very well into what we all do at the range and during hunting season.
I have just order a NF 3.5x15 F1 that will be replacing my MK4. Most of my friends use this scope and shoot it on x12 only due to this problem with heat mirage.
Look up what the military snipers use for optics and why. It translates very well into what we all do at the range and during hunting season.
I would agree with this 500 yards 10x or 12x will work fine
