I originally bought a 6-24X variable scope for my .22 because I wanted to do benchrest rimfire target shooting.
Come the need to hunt rabbits at rimfire ranges, I VERY swiftly discovered this was WAY too much scope, almost unusable except at the low end, and it was down to the shop for something less... 2-7X, I think.
The higher-mag scope went onto my long range centrefire rifle where it was to my mind barely enough scope for 600yd work, and both more aperture and more magnification would have been nice; the lower-mag scope went on the bunny buster and stayed there, and usually ended up wound down to the 3-4X mark.
Shot a .303 after three years away from them today, and my first ten handloads suggest exciting possibilities for the local big game hunting season next year (run, Bullwinkle, run!). But I want to be sure of this, and I feel a lower-end scope (Magnification wise) might help me to keep my shots to ranges that are within my competence.