20X overkill for 200 yards?

I have used a 9x at 100 yards and was fine with it, so I wouldn't think a little over twice the scope at twice the range would be overkill. Targets don't move, so it isn't like you need a huge field of view like when hunting.

Note: 10X is at the upper end of "hand holdable", when talking binoculars. I imagine it's not much different with scopes.

--Ray

Buying the big .50? Good on ya!

200 yards won't even make that rifle blink. Zero at 200 if you wish; but then move that target out to at least 500 and commence!

Also, learn how to use a mil-dot scope properly, if you don't know how to already. Then make some targets of different known heights and put them at different ranges. There's nothing as fun as making a proper range determination, dialing in your dope and putting a round on target. Safe shooting!

There's a big difference between known range and unknown range.

It should be obvious from the fact that bench rest shooters use very high power scopes that very high power scopes can be used very effectively at known ranges. There is no over-kill. On the other hand as John Dean Cooper was so fond of pointing out being able to see better is no guarantee of being able to shoot better - the shooting still takes skill and practice. Given skill and practice a lower power gun sight often works just fine as a gun sight. See e.g. Aimpoint, Eotech or S&B short dot.

On the other hand good focus and parallax adjustment are essentials to use very high powered scopes at any particular range and at unknown distances as when shooting prairie dogs or ground squirrels it becomes necessary to constantly adjust parallax and focus. The depth of field through the scope is extremely limited. Again at a known range this is not a handicap and some say it even helps to have the mirage out of focus a little bit - some folks deliberately take the scope out of focus on the target to see the intervening air movement. Still true that it can be possible to see a target clearly with the naked eye or through binoculars and not be able to find it in the scope or worst find the wrong one and cross-fire.

No, how else are you going to see the tacks?

I have to agree with Clark. I have a 6x20 variable; parallax adjustment and focus is important and difficult. I would not buy another 6x20 for anything other than pure target shooting.

agree with slicer and clark here. Have a 6x20 on my bench 223 with focus and parallax adjustments. Awesome for bench shooting. A bit much for coyote hunting, I've tried. Wouldn't worry too awful much for squeaks, but it could definitely make a big difference since they are so small.

A range finder reticle should be on the checklist with any scope of this size IMO.

I have been using the objective focus for range finding for my sub 300 yard shooting but i think i wont be able to use that ball park method at any farther distances.

I think i am going to have to start practicing using the mill dots as range finders too.