[pangris]

Greetings, campers. When I was 19 I bought a Leupold 6x18 Vari-X II and have since had target turrets added. I bought the scope because I thought I was in the process of building the ultimate snipe rifle ;Q At 26, I have come to realize that I bought a bit much scope for my talent level.

I am looking at some new glass and am trying to decide whether I should keep this 6x18 or sell it. I want to get a 4X fixed initially, so I can *really* learn how to shoot, and then a 3.5x10 when my ability justifies the purchase.

What are the common/practical purposes for a 6x18? I know I am going to take a beating on the scope if I sell it, so I'd rather not regret it later if I have a use for it in the future...

Paul

[Kaylee]

depends on where you are, but I've seen more than a few folks using those for hunting elk, sheep, and such out in the Big Wide Open of Idaho, Montana, etc etc..

-K

[JohnBT]

Since it's already paid for, why not set it on 6x and pretend it's a 4x? There isn't that much difference.

To answer your question, I use a Leupold 6.5-20x40EFR for shooting .22 targets at 50 yards. Well, to be honest I only use it when I'm not using one of my Weaver T-36's. I am going to mount the Leupold on a .22 mag this week and use it for targets at 100 yards and some light varmint hunting.

Instead of losing money on your scope - say $100 - why not buy a Weaver rimfire scope for $100. By my convoluted logic it's going to cost you $100 either way so you might as well have 2 scopes for your money. Then sell the one you like the least if you must.

John

[pangris]

I've noticed that a lot of people use really high power scopes on .22s. Why is that?

I have a 10/22 I am planning on building up to a work of art - but I am not sure what I am going to top it with. What is teh rationale for the high power on a .22?

Paul

[Larry Ashcraft]

I've noticed that a lot of people use really high power scopes on .22s. Why is that?
Wait until you're over 40. Or better yet, over 50. I have a 4x12 on my .17 HMR and a 6x18 on my wife's 22-250. A high power scope really helps when you're using a bipod or rest on a really long shot. I shot a coyote at 450 yards last year with my 25-06 and 3x9 Weaver, and he looked pretty small in that scope.

[AR-15Nutt]

"I've noticed that a lot of people use really high power scopes on .22s. Why is that?"

i think it is the misconception of making the target look bigger, therefore, easier to hit !!..., NOT taking into consideration the magnification of barrel tip movement along with a "bigger" target.....



opinions are like butts :D

[Dave Markowitz]

One use is field target shooting with air rifles. I used to be into this and it's tough . We shot at mostly animal-shaped targets at ranges of 10 - 50 yards with high powered pellet rifles. The kill zone on each target ranged in size from a dime to a quarter. The targets were knock-down, i.e., if you got a good hit in the kill zone the target dropped and you scored a hit. If the target didn't fall you scored a miss. High magnification scopes are essential for this game.

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

I currently have a 6x24 mounted on a 1937 vintage Walther Sportmodell V .22 single shot. I enjoy seeing my hits as they impact my target at distance.

Occasionally I mount this same scope on my HBAR for the same reason.

I've used high-quality high mag optics on my air rifle to shoot empty pistol brass at 50 to 75 yards. It ain't bragging if you can do it...and do it in front of witnesses.

I have a weakness for good optics at high magnification. Not all my optics are high magnification, though. I just happen to like this one this way.

Regards,
Rabbit.

[JohnBT]

Bingo - guilty. I just turned 53 and like seeing the holes in the paper without using a spotting scope. Check out the USRA IR50/50 target.

www.ir5050.com/target.htm

25 targets on a page and you get 25 shots from 50 yards.
The diameter of the 10 ring is 1/4" and the X is a 1/32" dot. A perfect score is 250-25x.

I wish I could remember who said it, but the general statement was "That's fine if you're shooting soda cans, but we're shooting at the dot over the i in Pepsi."

Sporter class is restricted to a max of 6.5x, but there are a lot of 45x scopes in the heavier classes.

Having said all that, a big scope makes the gun top heavy and is unwieldy to lug around in the woods. I'm putting an order together for some .22 scopes and right now it looks like: Leupold 3-9EFR, Weaver V16, maybe a couple of small or medium Swifts and Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24x, but there's a Galyan's opening here in about a week so I'm thinking I'll fiddle with the list some more and then see what they have to offer before I order.

John