Anyone else noticing...long range scope mag too high
 

Anyone else noticing the long range shows lately a lot of people, guys/girls alike, struggling to find the targets in the scopes and you see a fair bit of fussing around then ultimately they are backing off the magnification on those big mag scopes before they finally shoot?

Which brings about the question again...how much mag do you guys like and what are your rules of thumb for distance vs magnification etc.???

I've def heard some rules of thumb from both hunters and target guys that run similar in 1x for every 100 yards being more than enough. Make it helpful and educational if you can.

Ie; target guys often heard saying that they can aim no prob at single digit inches size targets at 1000 yrds with quality 10x optics. Hunters talking about coyote or deer size and up targets with similar rule of thumb. The only exception being the varmint crowd shooting at smaller than coyote size stuff at distance...the prairie dog set like a fair bit of mag for the prairie poodles....lets exclude that for our discussions.

Coyotes and bigger...hunting, share your thoughts pls.

I don’t have a high mag scope. That being said my scopes are set at the lowest 2-4 setting when hunting. Dialed to max once game is found in scope, if more than 100 or so yards.

For coyote hunting I prefer a 4-12 or 4-16 power scope. For long range target shooting I have a few 5.5-22 and one 8-32. For out to 1200 yards the 32x isn’t required. I have had no problem hitting my 24” target at 1100 yards with my scope set on 5.5x.

For normal hunting applications out to 300 yards I would imagine the majority of us could still kill most animals with a fixed 4 or 6x scope.

That's outstanding info right there! Agree with your whole post but love that data! Thanks.

Tagged for interest......................I don't or at least have never shot at anything over 500 yards........................and that was at gongs.

My current scopes are 3-9X Zeiss Conquest RZ 600, Leupold VX3 1.5-5X illuminated, Leupold VXR 1.25-4 Firedot and 1X EOTECH 512.

I don't have a problem finding anything with these scopes.....really liking the low mag on 100 yards and less game, both eyes open. 1X for every 100 yards is reasonable...on medium/large game.

For me it depends on the quality of optics. The better the glass the less magnification needed to a point. I've shot to 1700yards on 14x no problem 24'' target.

Another bit of experience to draw from!

That came up in my research many times over the years also....quality image can trump more magnification with crap image...as you say, to a point.

:happy0034:

I like higher magnification scopes overall. For tree stand hunting I like 4.5-14x50. Long range the highest I have is a NF 8-32x56. When shooting groups or doing load development, I set my scopes in the highest magnification. Helps me get a more consistent hold. I think it really depends on each persons eyes. I know my eyes aren’t as good as they were a few years ago. If mirage wasn’t a problem I’d like to try something up to 50 power. I agree you can hit targets way out there with a lower power scope. But I know I wouldn’t be able to shoot a decent group because of inconsistent point of sim.

Does paralax not become a issue when you are using the high magnification scopes. Most elk ,moose or wolves do not give me time to fart around making 2 or 3 scope adjustments before they run.

My understanding about it is it can make a difference, generally not a huge one but as long as you have a good cheek weld and eye is centered down the scope it won't be an issue. If your looking through scope from say an angle or edge so to speak you can get minimal poi shift. Most scopes 10x or less generally don't have parallax adjust.

Agree, no time to play with that in most hunting situations but the long shots with set up time then sure. Personally like simplest systems possible for hunting regardless of range...so i don't seem to go for the over 10x type scopes very often but just wanting to feel out the current mood on these subjects and see if much has changed with all this long range saturation etc.

More parallax experts jump in here anytime. ;)

im by no means a paralax expert nor a real long range shooter but am not afraid to poke an elk out to 600 of the 2 scopes Ive used out past 500 1 was a 6x with dots and the other a swaro 4-12 with a tds reticle they work well if you practice and dont mess with stuff too much I do like the 12X it seems almost perfect for my needs

I use a 6-24 on my savage 12 243 for coyotes. Alot of coyotes have wizened up to calls, as there are so many using them. They will hang up out around 400-700 yards now. But I am usually in between 10/16 power. Mostly around 10 I find is good, because I want the field of view. But while waiting, I usually back right off to 6, just in case they come dashing in close, which is still too much imo. But my partner has a lightweight 22 250 with a 3-9, plus his shotgun if they really come in close, or surprise us from another direction. I've been thinking of selling it for something like a 3-18 VX-6, or something similar.
But I enjoy making those long shots, and for now it works fine.

For most hunting distances parallax won't be an issue. I have been shooting at 24' targets at 1000 yards and the 9x scope I was using had no parallax adjustment which made hits difficult as the reticle was moving around. The same set up and rifle shot great to 600 yards.

the theme does seem to be trending close to 1x for every 100 yrds as pretty safe rule of thumb to go by...target and hunting comments alike

keep it coming, any other known or suggested rule of thumbs out there?

I have scopes with Parralax adjustment but for hunting I just set at about 150 and go.

My favorite all round scopes are VXII 3-9. For stubble fields and prairie and coulees I always leave them on 9 power. I never spend too much time in deep cover, but when I am in and out I usually set to about 5 power. Even though I own a few that go to 16, my longest shots have been with the VXII on 9.

I started my hunting career with fixed balvar scopes and the leupold fixed. I wish I could find a reasonable deal on a fixed 6.

Still use those old Balvar scopes with the tapered crosshairs. Use 1.5x6 scopes for bush.
Also use 4x12 power for open fields. 6x24 for varmints.

Personally I leave mine in 9x and just shoot more until you get the hang of finding your target.It worked for me maybe but maybe not everyone

My first love is wing shooting and I usually do not have much difficulty keeping my eye on target while pointing my rifle an inserting the scope on target.

The first balvar scopes I used had no turret dials and all adjustments had to be done on the mounts.

I only shoot max 9x.
 

I only shoot 600 yrds and I like 1.5x per 100.
Generally I shoot 9x all the time unless I’m shooting in very close 75 or less.
I never have issues getting on target because I shoot with both eyes open.

Rim fires generally 6x
Center fire Varmint rifles 10-14X
Deer rifles 2.5-10x depending on terrain.
big boomers 4x or lower..
Iron sights to 200 yards.... (lever guns and classic/dangerous game calibers)
Target guns to 32X but mirage can be an issue.
I am not a fan of the 3x9 power scopes but that just me.

All the scopes on my big game hunting rifles are 3x9-40. While I'm still hunting the mountains I generally leave my scope set between 3-5x, while I'm sitting glassing I turn it up to 9x. A good fixed 6x power would probably do everything I need but I do like the option of cranking back to 3x in the big timber. Lesson learned after sitting and glassing a mountain meadow with my binoculars, rifle on 9x, hiking back to the truck I forgot to turn it back to 3 or 4x. Shortly before I reached the truck a whitetail buck stepped out, at 20m. All I saw was hair, luckily he stuck around long enough for me to turn it down so I could tell which hair I was aiming at.

Parallax can be eliminated from any scope by backing your eye up from it to the point where you see an even black ring around the edge. You'll be looking through the optical center.

I leave my hunting rifle on 5 power. It never moves. 22 stays on 9 power and my 223 I shot on 9 as well can spot shots easier when plinking steel out to 400

Wow! That is a really good tip! I will check it out. My longer shots are always from a rest and it would be no big deal to pull my eyes back a bit to look through the optical center:)

I mount my scopes so that they are forward enough to be at the very edge of a full sight picture. Then i just need to bring my head back a smidge to see the black circle.

As a bonus, it'll keep you from getting a nice red smiley face on your eye socket.

I like to use 3X for every 100 yards or so.
I'm not a fast shot, nor do I shoot running animals therefor enjoy the time and magnification.

I use a 4-16. Keep it on 4 until in the sights and adjust as warranted.