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

[Stinky Coyote]

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.

[boah]

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.

[Smokinyotes]

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.

[Stinky Coyote]

Originally Posted by Smokinyotes

I have had no problem hitting my 24” target at 1100 yards with my scope set on 5.5x.

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

[CNP]

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.

[shorty]

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.

[Stinky Coyote]

Originally Posted by shorty

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.

[Beeman3]

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.

[Big Grey Wolf]

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.

[JTRED]

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.

[propliner]

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.

[Slicktricker]

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

[covey ridge]

Originally Posted by propliner

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.

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

[propliner]

Originally Posted by covey ridge

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.

[Xiph0id]

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.