Magnification "Confort Zone"

[Howard]

OK, I have one for you. Over the last few months, I've been shooting all my rifles (30-06 and 30-30) offhand at circular targets at 200 yards. Even my 223 Rem (seems like a waste of good handloads, I know). All but one of my rifles is scoped (open sights on the 30-30). I did this to improve my marksmanship well before hunting season. And it's worked.
All my practice has been with my riflescopes dialed down to the lowest magnification (2x or 3x, except for the .223, whose lowest mag setting is 4x). For offhand shooting, I've found that movement is far less noticeable when the magnification is low.
Here's the problem. I've become so used to shooting at low magnification that I'm now a bit uncomfortable shooting at higher magnification. Even off the bench. It just doesn't feel right.
Is this just in my head? Or have I really *&%$ed myself up? It occurred to me that I might be subconsciously changing the position of my cheek on the buttstock to accomodate changes in eye relief when going from 3x to, say, 8x or 9x.

FUBAR

 

[redleg]

Higher magnification offers very little in most circumstances. Most folks think it will help them shoot better. As you point out it has its own problems. Mirage is another issue. Why sweat it. Lower power works for you, go with what works.

 

[manitou210]

Two things I have learned mostly off bench, working out loads, or trying some groups at longer distances, mostly 300 and + yards.
Your scope should be at max power, so you can see if you are doing your job holding gun steady, Note you have to back off power if mirage is present.
And to shoot tight groups you have to have A/O adjustments on your scope to remove paralex