Scopes

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Kenny

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Is there such a thing as too much scope ? Is there a sistuation where too high powered scope is a disadvantge even a distance?. I spoke with a varmit shooter who told me he didn't like high powered scopes because they were too touchy and the cross hairs bouncing about too much.
Maybe this is just a matter of personal choice. I notice even law enforcement and military snipers most times shoot 10 power scopes
just wondering
 
yes and no....

for field use a good 3.5/10 or 4.5/14 or a scope like a Nightforce 3.5/15 or 5.5/22 is just the ticket any shooter would need


Jamie Barkwell
 
I had an Elite 4200 on my Remington VSSF in 220 Swift and didn't much go over 16x. Scope got fuzzy much past 16, mind you the Elite 4200 is a cheap scope compared to what alot of dedicated long rang shooters and varmint gunners use.
10x is good for swat and snipers because generally their targets average around 6 ft and about 2 foot wide (human) vs 6 inches and 2 inches wide (gopher) At 400 yards a gopher is pretty small :D

Cheers!!
 
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Is there such a thing as too much scope ? Is there a sistuation where too high powered scope is a disadvantge even a distance?.
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Very definitely. But it's condition and game dependant.

it's a common mistake for those hunting big game to have their scopes turned up too high. It's a bad thing.

Varmint hunters TEND to prefer the higher power stuff tho. Consider however that they're often shooting at smaller targets and deliberately at longer ranges.

It all depends based on what you're hunting, what the terrain is like, etc etc.

I will say this - a variable tends to give you options - so buy a decent one and when you start your day hunting, tend to have it on the lowest setting. Then adjust upwards as needed when you get settled in, based on where you think the game is going to be etc.

And when you sight in, sight in on the power you think you're most likely to use. Don't sight in on ten power and hunt at 5. If you think you'll use 5 power most, sight in on that. Changing the power especially on cheaper scopes can change point of impact slightly. If you're not sure, split the difference and sight in on a slightly higher power.
 
I'm not generally a fan of variables, but as per Foxer...they give you options.
I used to use my B&L straight 36X in the gopher fields, but anymore my eyes get sore from a long session with it (OK.....I'm old...)....6-24 more ideal for that use, can turn it down to scan for targets, then up for the shot.

The idea that the reticle jumps around on high power is a good thing....larns ya how to shoot.....you're just as unsteady on a low power, just don't see it.
 
The most common mistake people make is to think more power is better!!
In my humble opinion any game animal you can't shoot with a nice 1.5-5 scope is too far to hit! I can see bullet holes with my B & L at 5x that means I can point at a target no bigger than an inch or two at 300yds. How many can shoot better than that in hunting conditions??
Varmint hunters are in a diff class needing more power of course.
 
I agree with others that many shooters are opting for higher power scopes which I think is a big mistake.
I will separate the scopes in three classes.
1. Big Game Hunting 2. Varmint 3. Target
I favor field of view over high power in any big game hunting situation and in fact the lomgest shot I ever made was made with a 1.5-6x42 scope while set at 6x, estimated range was 4-450 yds, on a bull moose.
For deer and the like I favor a low power fixed like a 2.5 or a low power variable.
For target shooting I like a 16, 20 or 24 power fixed scope or a high power variable if versatility is required. The high power tends to work against you when the shooting gets hot and mirage is present from the barrel or the surroundings. For varmint hunting anything goes but my preference is a high power variable like a 4-12 etc.
It's interesting that alot of the "Tactical" types are opting for the really high power variables this is completely oposite to my way of thinking, I think the best power for a tactical rifle is 6X with a 42mm objective and a solid rangefinding reticle with a calibrated cam in the elevation turret with a return to zero. If variables are on the menu then a 3-12x42 with features as above but the reticle must be on the first focal plane.
bigbull
 
I find that I usually only set my scopes to 10x more often than not when gopher shooting, but will max them out when shooting paper.
 
Jamie said:
yes and no....

for field use a good 3.5/10 or 4.5/14 or a scope like a Nightforce 3.5/15 or 5.5/22 is just the ticket any shooter would need


Jamie Barkwell
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I guess I live in the real world. But how much would one of those Nightforce cost?
 
Win/64 said:
Ya think the Nightforce might be overkill?
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this is just my opinion but for deer out to 300 meters a fixed 4 power or 3-9 varible is your best best. if its only for hunting you needent worry about trading in your first born for the scope, look at the mid level * $300-$500* ranges. basickly get one with decent eye relief and is clear enough in your situations
 
this is just my opinion but for deer out to 300 meters a fixed 4 power or 3-9 varible is your best best. if its only for hunting you needent worry about trading in your first born for the scope, look at the mid level * $300-$500* ranges. basickly get one with decent eye relief and is clear enough in your situations
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True, although there can be advantages to the light gathering ability of some scopes at those ranges at higher power. Depends a little on where you're hunting and what.
 
Here are my choices on my primary rifles.
Deer gun #1, .44 mag, mostly bush, occasional 100yd: 1.5-5X32 variable
Deer gun #2, 7mm-08, mostly open shots to 300,occasional shorter 2.5-8X36 variable
Moose Gun #1 300Ultramag, mostly long shots: 2.5-10X40 Variable
Varmint #1 .17HMR, 6-24X44 Variable
Varmint #2 .220 Swift 8-32X44 Variable
Target #1 Rifle varies from .17 HMR to .17 Rem to 6mm PPC, but the scope is always a fixed 36X

Ryan
 
Levi Garrett said:
4 power scope is enough glass to kill deer at 300 meters plus:)
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My dad used a 2.5x on his .270 for many years and he was by far the best shot and best hunter I've ever seen. I once seen him pick off a coyote with a neigbor's chicken in it's mouth about 300 yards away using a springfield 30-06 with a barrel hacksawed to 18 inches and a bent up hacksaw blade for a peep sight! :eek:
 
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