Is 8x too much for hunting?

J

jwaldrop3

Inactive
Being a newbie, I want it all and I want it now! I bought a Rem 700 SPS tactical .308 that I mainly will use for target shooting. I'm looking at the Bushnell 4200 8-32X40 scope. My problem is, if I do want to hunt with it, will the 8x be too much magnification for hunting?
 
Yes, as you suspect, it will be too much for hunting. Way too much, in fact. My personal preference is a 2X-7X kept at its lowest setting unless I really need more magnification (which hasn't happened yet). A 1X-4X is even better.
Anything over 4X, you find yourself looking at a lot of bushes where you thought the critter was.
 
ok, the 8x is fine, the 32x is overkill unless you're going for 1000 yard shots. I usually think a 2.5-10 is a good choice, you have the low setting for moving targets, and a 10x for the well aimed shot from the stand.
 
8X minimum is WAY too much for hunting... especially for newb. Unless you're talking prairie dogs or woodchucks, then it's fine.

I've never owned a long gun that wasn't scoped. I generally go no more than 3X for minimum, although I usually walk around with it at about 5.
 
What are you hunting and where? In general however, a scope that starts at 8X is WAY too much scope.

A 3X9 adjustable would be where I'd start for hunting and or target shooting.
 
No unless its fixed at 8x hunting you wanna get low vareable powers.
8x is about where you wanna cut it off. a 2.5-8x is fine or anything around
that you wont really need anything more than that like ever. :rolleyes:

If your looking to target shoot up to 15 is good. But if your looking for a hunt/target
scope go with a 2.5 or 3-8 or 9x and your fine. But dont be
looking to long range shoot out around 1000 mark youll need a little more
power than that. But the 3-9x is perfect for what your probably going to go for
 
I would only go down on power a little so you can use the scope for both target shooting and hunting, 8 power is a little to high as mentioned but if you can get that down around 4-5 you should be fine, maybe a 4-16 would be a better choice to have a balance between a hunting and target scope.
 
Another vote for 4-16ish. My son has 4-16 on his 270 and I use a 4-14 on 223 for yotes and prairie dogs. In the woods and brush even lower would work as suggested in the 2or3-9 range.

Whichever you pick, YES 8 is WAY to high for the low number
 
Though I have never looked through one, I suspect that a Bushnell 8-32X40 would be a big disappointment. I have a Luepold 8.5-25 and the brightness and exit pupil really suffer in this range. I expect the Bushnell would be a lot worse. I would want a maximum of 4X for the low number for hunting. These super high magnifications do not buy you much and sacrificing the FOV you get at low power is a high price to pay. I have a Nikon 2.5-10 with a 30 mm tube that I like a lot. Unless you shoot benchrest competitions you give up little with 10X maximum.
 
For hunting I believe it will be to much. Target shooting is another matter. For hunting I like the 3x9x40mm or 2x7x33 mm. I leave them set on 4x most of the time.
 
For varminting, 8x is fine, for anything larger it is way to powerful.

I agree with the other posters. on a 308 go for a fixed 3x or 4 x or a 3-9x30 or 2-7x variable.
 
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