Are hunting rifles over scoped?

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by chuck

Kurt, use what you like.

I do, I’m still trying to understand what you mean by over scoped and at what point is a guy over scoped. I’m not trying to yank your chain, it’s a serious question.

[260 Rem]

The connotation of “over scoping” implies a negative ... which has not been demonstrated as it seems that every poster has good reason to support their choice.
My current hunting rigs have short actions. If I wanted to lose an argument, I could claim they are superior to long actions ... but hold on ... if I put on a variable power scope that is a couple of ounces heavier than a fixed power ... the whole rig would match the weight of that trim fixed power scope on a long action

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

I do, I’m still trying to understand what you mean by over scoped and at what point is a guy over scoped. I’m not trying to yank your chain, it’s a serious question.

I haven’t defined it anywhere here. But a lot of others who disagree seem to have.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by dave99

My 6.5CM wears a z5 3-18x, and my 30.06 has a z3 3-9x.

I fully admit that the 18x is over scoped for hunting, but I sure love seeing the hits when doing work on paper at 300 yards without reaching for the spotter. Have not had any issues with tracking or quality out of either scope, although they are not exactly entry level scopes.

My issue with fixed 6x is target acquisition at close range. I would much prefer an over scoped 3-18x set to 3x while still hunting thick bush than a fixed 6x.


Am I the only one?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I 1000% agree

[teledogs]

I like the scopes and magnifications on my rifles. And that seems to be the theme of the thread.

The Leupold VX3 2.5-8 is ideal for me on a big game rifle.

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by chuck

I haven’t defined it anywhere here. But a lot of others who disagree seem to have.

Can you define it? Can you maybe narrow it down for me? Is it a physical issue, an optical issue or both?

[Jerry D]

Do fixed power scopes have wider fov?

Some spotting scopes have wide angle eye peices or camera lenses etc.

A wide angle fixed power I could probably live with.

If its the same fov as a variable, I think the variable design has proven itself reliable over the years.



Sent from my SM-A530W using Tapatalk

[cody j]

Different things work for different people, if what you are doing works, who cares what everyone else is doing.

[hawk-i]

Low powered scopes are sold for those that don't have the coordination to shoulder a rifle and be on target...

[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by hawk-i

Low powered scopes are sold for those that don't have the coordination to shoulder a rifle and be on target...

Lol this

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by hawk-i

Low powered scopes are sold for those that don't have the coordination to shoulder a rifle and be on target...

And higher powered scopes are sold to those who need to compensate for.....

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by marky_mark

Lol this

I think he’s talking about the variable crowd.

[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by chuck

I think he’s talking about the variable crowd.

Are you sure lol
I have scopes that start at 6x not max out @ 6x Lol
🤷*♂️

[Pathfinder76]

There Kurt. That’s over scoped for hunting.

[wind drift]

When I see a Marlin .45-70 wearing a 1 inch 3.5 - 10 x 50 scope, I confess it triggers wonderment.

[elkhunter11]

I am just watching a program where the guy is hunting grizzly with a 6.5-20 scope on his rifle. I just don't see the logic in that.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by 6.5 shooter

And higher powered scopes are sold to those who need to compensate for.....

Failing eyes.

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by chuck

There Kurt. That’s over scoped for hunting.

What is?

I’ve used a 2-7x32 and found myself wishing I had more magnification, never have I been using a 10x scope and thought “man I feel over scoped, I wish this was only a 6x”. Also, when I’m still hunting I’ll crank my scope down to 2X9, or 3x, I’ve never wished my scope only went down to 6x.

Also, if you shoot a deer with a 6x scope and walk up to it only to find it’s not as big as you thought when you had it in the crosshairs, you can’t crank up the Magnification to make it look bigger

I get the whole K.I.S.S. logic, however over the years I’ve learned the advantages of a variable scope far outweigh a fixed scope, after all, it’s not like we’re using a 1985 tasco 3-9x32 scope, I think for the most part that the mechanism should be fairly sound.

[W921]

My ruger m77 in 300 win mag had I think a 4.5 to 14x Leopold with a 40mm adjustable bell. Once I got loads worked up for it I switched the scope to the compact one inch tube with no bell1.5 to 5 x Leopold.
Out to a 1/4 mile or 440 yards I could shoot just as good with the small compact scope as I could with the big bulky one.
I used to target practice a lot years ago but I wasn't into bench rest shooting. Prone, sitting and off hand hunting or field positions is how I mainly practiced. Honestly even from a bench I dont think the big scope would have made much difference for me.
Most of the time when hunting the scope was left on 5 x.
We used to live in grizzly country. Used to pasture our cows on north slope jungles or Creek bottoms that were sometimes as bad. Without going into details but when worried about face to face with bears the scope got cranked down. That and for other special circumstances with vartmits. But the rest of the time it was on 5 x.
I'm thinking a 4x or a 6 x would do just as well.
I dont like the fixed power scopes as much because for some reason they make them physically bigger than the old 1 to 5 variable or the newer 1 to 4 x.

[bsmitty27]

I think so. But it's an oppionion, an they are like ........
I like a trim 1-5/2-7 or fixed 4/6 scopes. There is nothing wrong with anyone's set up, if it makes you happy and works for you then perfect!. It's when the banter starts and new hunters hear you NEED x15, to hunt alberta. Same as the you need a 300wm, but let's not go there!!! 8-)
Everything has a place. Watch less garbage TV hunting shows, get outside more and find out what actually works for you.

[fishnguy]

Not as nearly experienced as most (everyone?) here, but I would think different strokes...

Originally Posted by Kurt505

Also, if you shoot a deer with a 6x scope and walk up to it only to find it’s not as big as you thought when you had it in the crosshairs, you can’t crank up the Magnification to make it look bigger

I laughed.

[urban rednek]

A rifle is only over scoped if it's owner:
1. is easily confused by the controls
2. can't remember what the settings are without looking
3. can't use it effectively 100% of the time

In the wrong hands, a fancy scope is the equivalent of a lifted, deleted, and tuned, turbo diesel grocery getter.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by hawk-i

Low powered scopes are sold for those that don't have the coordination to shoulder a rifle and be on target...

aaand scopes are for people who cant use iron sights properly....

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by urban rednek

A rifle is only over scoped if it's owner:
1. is easily confused by the controls
2. can't remember what the settings are without looking
3. can't use it effectively 100% of the time

In the wrong hands, a fancy scope is the equivalent of a lifted, deleted, and tuned, turbo diesel grocery getter.

Marketing? Ego? Interesting.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by wind drift

When I see a Marlin .45-70 wearing a 1 inch 3.5 - 10 x 50 scope, I confess it triggers wonderment.

ohhh my....me too....ugly lookin'bugger….buy at 750 yards....

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

aaand scopes are for people who cant use iron sights properly....

And iron sights are for people that can't figure out how to adjust scopes.


And the rhetoric goes on and on.

[Stinky Coyote]

oh man, too many funnies on this page to quote them all, bravo

i may have just over scoped my latest rig, a 6.5 grendel beanfield build

i still had the scope so it went to korth for the new cds-zl turret, leupold vx3i 4.5-14x40 (30mm side focus) wide duplex, exactly 15 oz of too much scope with gobs of adjustment and still mounts low, but it will be my long range bomber ha

the beanfield build is my cz 527 american 6.5 grendel that Henry Rempel just masterfully stuffed a 24" proof carbon barrel into, one sexy little grendel now

i call this one my 'moose gun'

the bare rifle jumped up in weight a half lb to 6 lb 11.5 oz, now over scoped it's exactly 8.0 lbs in leupold medium cz rings

[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by Stinky Coyote

oh man, too many funnies on this page to quote them all, bravo

i may have just over scoped my latest rig, a 6.5 grendel beanfield build

i still had the scope so it went to korth for the new cds-zl turret, leupold vx3i 4.5-14x40 (30mm side focus) wide duplex, exactly 15 oz of too much scope with gobs of adjustment and still mounts low, but it will be my long range bomber ha

the beanfield build is my cz 527 american 6.5 grendel that Henry Rempel just masterfully stuffed a 24" proof carbon barrel into, one sexy little grendel now

i call this one my 'moose gun'

the bare rifle jumped up in weight a half lb to 6 lb 11.5 oz, now over scoped it's exactly 8.0 lbs in leupold medium cz rings

Not really sure how this relates to the topic?

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

And iron sights are for people that can't figure out how to adjust scopes.


And the rhetoric goes on and on.

true too many knobs sticking all over the dang place and the little writing that requires 4x reading glasses that fog up or get lost....dam...dam...dam....there goes 180" whitey as I sit in my blind fiddling with my knob.....

[Stinky Coyote]

Originally Posted by marky_mark

I had a red dot ZEISS 2.5-10 victory scope on my xcr. Was great for running shots. It was just like playing buck hunter. Just didn’t like having to shoot a deer multiple times with those small cartridges. I learned that they are pretty unethical and sold that rifle
🤷*♂️

relevant?

maybe playing buck hunter with real deer was the issue

cartridge was 'unethical' in this example? like this couldn't have had anything to do with the nut behind the wheel?

don't get me wrong, i'm down for leading the duck when called for and plenty of bush pushin gets done, but you done stepped in it there lol

call it even on the irrelevant posts then