How to use Adjustable Scope?

[carnaby]

I'm a rifle newb, and I can't find any info on this topic in the forum after an exhaustive 47 second search.

So I've got a new rifle that came with an adjustable 3x9x40 simmons scope. It's pretty cheap, but for a newb will be adequate for me to learn with. The thing is, I don't understand the purpose of an adjustable scope. At 100 yards, the best look I seem to get is at full power, so why would I want to adjust it down? I presume the scope is good out to 200 or 300 yards, so if I don't want to dial it down at 100 yards, then when would I?

Thanks for the help

 

[dakotasin]

field of view.
at 15 or 20 yards, or less, it can be difficult to pick up your target on 9-power, especially if that target is moving.

 

[Bullet]

carnaby
You might not adjust your scopes magnification down unless you want a bigger field of view. Depends on what you’re trying to do.

 

[1911 guy]

Dakotasin is right on

The field of view narrows as you go up in magnification. For strictly target work, you may indeed want to leave it at it's highest setting. For hunting or other non-range scenarios, setting it at lowest setting will give you the best view and longer shots will often allow enough time to twist the bell to raise the power setting. Close shots won't allow the time to dial it down.

 

[carnaby]

Thanks guys. That's sorta what I figured, I just wasn't sure if there was something more to it.

Do you guys practice at different power settings? Or just dial it all the way up and shoot?

 

[dakotasin]

depends on the scope... many scopes will shift poi w/ power setting shifts so it is wise to at least check that (simmons are notorious for this). at 100 yards the shift isn't usually too bad or obvious, but at a couple hundred or more, it could be significant.

as for practice w/ different power settings, not really. i used to do that so i could recognize what targets would look like at different ranges and such, but since i use a laser now i stopped.

 

[Essex County]

I prefer fixed power scopes, but I own a number of variables. Ishoot off the bench quite a bit and some of my best groups are shot at 6 or 7 power..... Essex

 

[USSR]

carnaby,

You may want to make sure your POI doesn't change when changing power settings, other than that, as previously noted, hunt with it at low power and zoom up as needed.

Don