Scope magnification?

[cpt-t]

Orange90: Years ago when I got my first 3x9x40 scope, I just couldn`t belive I would ever need any more than that. Then I go older and 4X12X40 was nice. And I got older still and a 6X18X40 Denver Redfield had to be enought. But now I am 70 Yrs old and 6X24X40`s and 8X32X40`s set on my Varmint Rifles that I use most of the time. If I can`t see that dad burn Coyote sneaking in or that PD just barley sticking his head up over his burm at some where between 250yds and 350yds, I might as well stay home. And do all the chores my Wife has on Her honey do list. ((( I HATE DOING CHORES ))). Good luck on your choice.
ken

 

[Russian Hammer]

Ever since I bought a leupold 1-4x scope to use on my 458 Lott I've been convinced that for me at least the ideal hunting optic for the majority of situations is a low magnification variable optic with high quality glass. The 1x setting is unmatched for close range and thick brush and the 4x is good for several hundred yards. Where I used to hunt I would always see guys with giant tasco and nc star optics in an area where your longest shot might be 50 yards and they were always missing or wounding game animals.

 

[Walkalong]

Low power for hunting and gun games. High power for target and varmints.

 

[22-rimfire]

3-9x variable is a good all around choice. It is commonly my choice. These scopes tend to be small enough to remain functional (practical) in the field (hunting etc) or have sufficient magnification for bench shooting at normal distances.

If you are hunting in a field and see a deer at 200 yds, by all means crank the maginfication up if you have time and can make consistant hits at that range.

I for one have never taken a shot at a deer beyond about 75 yds. I have passed on shots at an estimated distance of 200 yds. I have taken whistle pigs at longer distances.

Scopes are really nice as they place the target and the sighting device (cross hairs) on the same focal plane. Hence it is easier to make consistant shots even at lower powers like 4x at 100 yds. They are also nice first thing in the morning and towards evening.

I have never been very good with iron sights myself and always was amazed when my Dad would crank out three shots in a 2" group (or less) with open sights on his trusty old 760 Remington 30-06. My groups were usually tighter, but he always scored, did it humanely, and had fun which is what hunting is all about.

 

[akodo]

a few things to consider:


-Field of view.

Bigger magnifications means you are looking at a smaller chunck of the world. You need a low enough lowest magnification to work for YOUR hunting conditions. For some this may be 3x, for others 4x or even 6x would work.

Once you have your bottom, it's simply a matter of using your dollars to best suit you needs. If there was a 3-9x scope and for the same price you could buy a scope of equal quality that was 3-12x having extra zoom isn't going to hurt anything. Heck, 2-12x would be even better!

-Value for your dollar.

If you are going to spend $200, you want a 3-9x 40mm because there is an economy of scale that goes with this popular choice. With $200 you can get a very good 3-9x for cheaper than you could get the same level of quality 2-7x.

The difficulty of crafting a great lens and properly building a scope goes up as magnification increase. A $200 3-9x 40mm can be a very good scope. A $200 6-24x 50mm is most likely junk. What's really sad is I just opened up Midway's scope page and sorted variable scopes by popularity, a 6.5-20 x 50mm 'simmonswhitetail hunter' is currently most popular...for $100. If you are doing 20x, a $100 scope probably isn't going to cut it

I don't think it's a case of needed or wanting too much power that hurts, it's wanting too much power and being unwilling to pay for it.

 

[Robert]

The OP made his choice so let's call this one done.