What power scope?

C

Charles Johnson

New member
What would be a good power scope for target shooting at 200 yards (and maybe farther) that would still be effective for close range hunting? My priority would be for longer range. For hunting, I would plan on careful shot placement so follow up shots hopefully wouldn't be necessary. I was thinking along the lines of 4.5-14X. Would that be good?
 
The tendency for the past several years is to over scope. The thinking that more is somehow better. As you go up in magnification the wobble is also magnified and it seems like the reticle will never settle. Consequently the shooter is hesitant to break the shot.

I shoot out to 1200 yards using a 10X and use a 1.5X and 3.5X out to 300 - 400 yards. A low power variable is also a good option 1.5X -- 6X.

If your shooting varmints off a rest you can benefit from the higher magnifications.
For field shooting positions less is better and the reticle will appear to be more stable.

Another pitfall is to purchase a scope with an unusually large objective lens, 50 - 56 mm. The thinking that the light gathering ability will extended the hunting periods at dawn and dusk. While this may be the case, it places the scope high above the bore and obtaining a consistent cheek weld is difficult and degrades marksmanship.

FWIW a low power variable or fixed power with a 30 mm tube will handle the requirements of the serious hunter.

Fred Darling
http://www.frontsight.com
 
On my pet hunting rifles, the '06 has had mostly a 3X9; the .243 a 2X7. The majority of the time in my hunting, I've had the scopes set on the lowest power while walking. In a stand, maybe up on 4X or 5X. Field of view is actually more important than magnification...

FWIW, one of the longer deer-kills I ever made was out around 350 yards, and the scope was on 3X at the time.

I've been doing some 500-yard "plinking" with a 4X10 on my '06. (A Simmons 44Mag I bought 'cause it was on sale, I needed to play with a new toy, and all that sort of excuse.) I've gotten two four-shot 4" groups; one ten shot string produced two called flyers and eight hits in about a seven-inch group. I doubt that "more scope" would make me shoot much better.

The odds are that a Leupold Vari-X II in 3X9 will do well for you over the next 30 years or so...

:), Art
 
IMHO, a good fixed-power 4x would do the trick just fine. Leupold has 4x33, Weaver 4x38... or you could go with variable like 1.5x6, like Art just said, at the expense of a little more lenght and weight. Just my 0.02
 
Charles, if you are talking about big game hunting, I would also recommend a low power scope. As a general rule I go with 2X for each 100yds, eg:2X @ 100, 4X @ 200, 6X @ 300 etc. So figure out the longest shots you are comfortasble making and work back from there. Works for me.
 
Well, I have an opinion too.

It's true that it is tempting to believe that higher magnification is a magic thing. It's true that too much of a good thing is NOT a good thing (why else would they say it is "too much"?). BUT...it's hard to beat the Leupold VariX-II 3-9X for all-around use. Three power magnification is easy to handle, and it makes all the sense in the world to leave the scope set at 3X while stalking or searching. And having nine-power magnification on tap can be a real asset when developing handloads or trying to thread shots through brush. Once in a while you may even find the 9X setting useful on a 350-yard clear shot at a deer.

If you want a little higher quality, get the VariX-III in 2.5-8X, or 3.5-10X. You can't go wrong with a well-selected Leupold scope.
 
Thanks all! I think I'll get the Leupold VariX II 3-9. From what y'all say, that will be versatile enough to hunt with and bench rest shoot to 200 yards.
 
Charles:

Bass Proshop has 3x9x40mm Vari-X II for $219.00 including shipping. I got one few weeks ago... my 3rd one :) FYI I use this scope to shoot out to 500 yards with my 7mm Mag.
 
taco, thanks man! I'm getting ready to order one now. I see the $219 price is for gloss. Will some super fine sandpaper take the gloss down or would that make it look like crap? Just wondering if you've tried that.
 
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