Short Range Instinctive shooting with a low power scope whats your experience

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delboybc

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Hi All

Wanted to do some shooting yesterday but only had enough time to go to my local indoor range shooting 5- 30 Meters. I don’t own any handguns so was just going to take the shotgun, but then also decided to take my 308-bolt rifle that has a 1-4 scope.

I have never shot this rifle at such a close range on X1 magnification.

I always thought my shotgun with just a bead would be really fast at such a close distance, but I wish I had a timer because that X1 scope was really fast as well.

At 25M you also really noticed the ability of that X1 to place shots so much more accurately when compared to the shotgun and bead when shooting fast.

Again, its just my perception but I feel the time difference between the two was not much as for both your looking at the target with both eyes open, bring the gun up and firing. When firing more than two shots you defiantly noticed the pump was faster with getting the 2nd shot down range.

Del
 
I think the lower power 1-4X or 1.5-5X scopes are some of the most versatile optics you can buy.
They are light and fast in heavy cover and in reality 4 or 5 power is plenty for any shot out to 200 yards for most shooters.
Set up the eye relief properly and you have an instant target picture when the rifle hits your shoulder.
Much there to like.
 
Most indoor ranges do not allow high powered centerfire usage... but low power scopes do work well, but a no-power red dot, such as the Vortex Sparc II, works even better in that scenario... for speed shooting, leave both eyes open and look through the optic, very quick sight picture and quick confirmation of hits.
 
My shorty 303 has a 1.5-5 with lit dot mounted. She is super fast at plates from 20-100 yds. My 30-30 with ghost peep and firesight front bead is almost as quick
 
We have a 20m range , shooting a Lithgow 101 in .22 w/ Bushnell Elite 2.5 - 16 x 42 is quite the card cutter / tack driver challenge on 2.5 power .
 
My earliest experience was back in the 1980s when SA80 was introduced in the British Army, with the SUSAT (Sight Unit, Small Arms Trilux), a 4x optic with a post aiming mark illuminated with tritium. I found it very easy to shoot with both eyes open and very easy to get on target quickly and reacquire for follow up shots (5.56mmNATO's light recoil in an eleven pound rifle helps with the latter.) I still like hunting with 4x or less, either fixed power or as the bottom end of a variable range, and I still usually shoot with both eyes open unless working with higher magnification. I do have one fixed 6x scope but unless I am setting up a rifle knowing it's going to hunt only in open country, that one gets used for range practice only.
 
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I thought the 4x on the SA80 was stretching it a bit at the time, I felt I had to check I was wasn't shooting at the target next door. But I have fixed 4x on my ARs so I got used to it. I do have a 1-4 illuminated centre reticle on my Remington 700, and I keep it on the lowest setting by default so it is a non fuzzy red dot. But it often gets cranked up to 4x. Out to 300m, I just appreciate being able to focus on one clear target plane with a little bit of magnification. It depends on what your maximum range is. And the need for full auto :).
 
Very good, but I don’t think that’s a surprise, pretty well most military sights are optics in the 1-4x range now. I still prefer irons for inside 50 yards and shoot fast and close a lot with heavy rifles. But if I want a more utilitarian rifle with some reach the 1.5-5x Mark 4 illumated I’ve been playing with is absolutely stellar, especially scout / forward mounted.
 
I might start looking around for a low power scope with illuminated reticle would be interesting to try at close range.

Do like the red dots would be nice to have one that has a bit of magnification. Eyes have been getting worse so need to wear corrective glasses as the red dots were washing out too much.

Didn't think shooting on such a short range would be fun but could really see how a 22 and small targets would be good practice.

I don't know what they have made the range out of but its rated to 50 BMG I don't know of any other range in my area that has such a high rating. They rent out a 50 cal, I haven't been on the indoor range when someone has done this, can imagine it would be quite the bang.
 
I started going big magnification so i could use top power for a range spotting scope.

Now that i have a nice spotting scope and live coastal i enjoy lower power. Have several 1-4 nikons, and a 1.5-6 balvar i really like. There is a reason 3-9 is a popular range. Its hard to find anything except a mass of hair if you get much higher than 3x at point blank.
 
Open sights for speedy use of shotgun inside 30m (I shoot a Versamax Tactical and a 930) but everything else wears a Vortex SParc or SparcAR. PCCs and shorty ARs are quick and effective out to 100m with these lightweight optics.

Tried all kinds or Prisms but they are big and heavy and really just do the same job as the little Sparc.. but with far more weight and bulk.

1-4s live on longer barreled ARs and are a great compromise but nothing seems as fast as a little red dot or possibly a reflex...
 
Steel challenge and other speed games are good barometers for what works well at speedy short range sighting systems. It is tough to beat the Sparc type red dots in this arena... they also work well in quick shooting hunting scenarios under 100 yards.
 
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