I feel bad for a shooter with eyes that have gone south to the point where he can't kill what needs killing at 300 yards with a $150 nikon set at 9x. My eyes ain't what they used to be but dang.........
Let's stay in focus.
I wear moderate progressives, but my eyes have not 'gone south' to any great degree. (And I paid more than $150 for the ProStaff, but maybe that's another thread.)
When I go out to the range, I figure it is my first shot with any rifle that really counts (as I hunt). Saturday I went out and my first shot was at 7 o'clock and a little over 4" off center using iron sights at around 200 yards (sitting with a sling). With a different rifle my first shot was at 8:30 and just under 4" off center at around 300 yards using my Nikon at 9x (prone with a sling). It's not impressive, but either shot would have killed a deer.
Since picking up rifle shooting again, after 38 years away, I have a lot to learn. In the last 38 years all the big four legged critters I've hunted has been done with a bird barrel and a slug. I've killed plenty of deer at 100 yards or less with just the little silver BB at the end of the barrel. (I've never wounded a deer either; all have taken their last breath within 50' of the hit. Although I have missed twice.) Even when I was a kid and hunted deer with a rifle, it was with iron sights on a 303. I've never hunted anything other than squirrels with a scope (a 4x Bushnell on a .22). Until a few months ago, I'd never shot a large caliber rifle with a scope. This is all new to me.
I appreciate the input, advice, and correction I've received on this thread. For example, I see for my uses that I'll want to stick with a low end magnification of 2 to 4.5x, so I can acquire hunting targets quickly and it's all I'll need for Texas deer and hog. This will limit the high end. But I'm learning that going too high has limited advantages, even for my ongoing attempts at long range accuracy at the rifle range.
I also appreciate the input on your experience with brands other than the big names I've heard about. I am budget conscious and a Leupold is likely not in the picture for a number of years. I'm also not in a hurry. I'll probably go another year with just my Nikon. But I want to start asking the questions now. This forum is a great place to learn.
Thanks again,
Andrew
