Mag?

[jasper65 6]

Been looking at alot of scopes lately with different Mag ranging from nice and low to some hitting x20 .

 

I remember the first scopes we had a good few years ago they peaked at x4 usually by 40mm! I then went to a low powered Tasco scope which was 2.75x40 and even lower with another which was a variable 1.5-5x40 all these was plenty for me expecially in low light conditions where they was a big advantage.

 

the scope I have now will go down to X3 and seldom turned up near X12 unless I want to view a POI on a taget! even then X12 certainly isn't needed, nearly all my shooting with this Air Rifle will be at X3 and no higher. My point is do we really need all these power scopes for Air Rifle shooting? ok it can be handy for a centrefire rifles but personally I can get by without these extreme Mags! if somone can convince me otherwise I'm all ears ...

 

atb Jasp

[andyfr1968 772]

I couldn't agree more, Jasper

 

I've never understood why some folks need a high mag scope for such close range shooting, I like to see what I'm shooting at clearly but I don't feel the need to count it's hairs or whatever and the other thing is when I'm out and about and a close range shot presents itself, I don't want to have to start dicking about with the scope so as I can see the bloody thing..

 

I leave all my scopes on around 6x unless I'm ratting when they'll go down very low, or as you've said, up a bit higher if I'm spotting or target shooting. Each to their own, I guess....

 

Cheers.

[mikeyblue 28]

Hi Lads,

 

The higher mag scopes tend to be used for Field Target shooting. After cranking the mag up to maximum you can use the Adjustable Objective for very accurate range finding, and after dialling in to your elevation turret there is no need to hold over/under.

 

Regards,

Edited January 3, 2011 by mikeyblue

[andyfr1968 772]

Hi Lads,

 

The higher mag scopes tend to be used for Field Target shooting. After cranking the mag up to maximum you can use the Adjustable Objective for very accurate range finding, and after dialling in to your elevation turret there is no need to hold over/under.

 

Regards,

 

I know what you're saying, Mikey but I just can't be arsed with all that, I just need to point and shoot. I guess if you do a lot of hide shooting, you've got time to do that but most of mine is walking and shooting standing, maybe sitting if I'm lucky.

 

I s'pose I'm maybe a little set in my ways but it works for me

 

Cheers.

[ghillies 209]

distance..

and matching mill dot patterns.

and of course the FT scopes use the mag to make the paralex as crutial as posable.

 

3-9' 4-16's are plenty otherwise, (2.5 comes in handy close up and bad lighting)

[zini 1,939]

My Hawke Sports HD on my Ultra is the 4-12 model and is crystal clear when you look through it with your own eye and not the scope camera which auto focuses on the ret sometimes and the back ground others leaving the ret out of focus.

 

Joys and challengers of scope camming.

 

This scope handles low light ratting well and focuses well on x4 down to 5 metres for the close rat or feral if I ever get to shoot one with the new rifle.

 

On x 5.5 to 6 I can take targets 1 inch in diameter to a decent range and on x 10 once I fully calibrate that will be able to extend my range.

 

The Mildots allow me to stalk and shoot with no need to muck about with dialing in distances and if you keep the paralex set at 30 metres on normal shots and x6 mag you don't really need to change anything as long as your shooting around your zero range or 5 metres each side.

 

On x10 or 12 the scope is good for static work where you always will know what range your target will appear at so your set correct for parralex and can use the correct mildot for the job.

 

I highly recommend this model.

 

You sort of get the best of both worlds but at a good price.

 

I do see the need for a super power scope though if your doing FT and using it as a range finder as well.

 

I think in some situations a high power mag scope would make a brilliant static hunting tool, especially when your well hidden and have time to adjust your AO and dial in the distance to hit the target.

 

Si

Edited January 4, 2011 by zini

[hunter1989 91]

hi si

 

 

i have 6-24x50 scopes and use 12 mag for all my shooting its this to high buddy?

 

atb steve

[zini 1,939]

Hi Steve,

 

No buddy if it works for your kind of shooting it's perfect.

 

On my baby girl, my r10 I have another scope that I like to shoot on x14 mag in the day for longer range sniping.

 

Shots from 25 out to 55 metres say.

 

The accuracy I can get with this rifle and scope is very good.

 

I would wind down my mag though at night to x6 which is it's lowest mag and shoot as on x14 the picture is far too dark.

 

Rats at 7 metres are clear on x6 but on x14 would be out of focus as will yours on x 12 mate.

 

You need really to know a lower mags aim points as well buddy that's all for closer range work or drop your nag to 6 for all your shooting.

 

Si

[hunter1989 91]

hi si

 

thanks mate

 

atb steve

[pianoman 3,587]

Hi Jasp.

There is a simple cross-over capability from target shooting to practical hunting to consider. In all my shooting, I've gone from fixed-mag scopes to 3-9X40, to today where I use 4-14 and 6-18 mag scopes with 40, 44 and 50mm Adjustable Objective, variable focus lenses. I find this level of mag very useful for giving me a clear picture of my target and what my shots are doing in zeroing and target sessions, to searching out wary Rabbits, Rats and Mink hiding out in thick scrub, holes and grasses at ranges that, otherwise, I'd probably miss.

 

Higher mag also highlights your level of wobble and helps you to correct this and improve your hold over distance shooting. All I really demand of a scope is that it maintains zero in 1st Focal Plane through the variable mag range; IE, it's dead on at 4X or 6X-mag in very low light as it is on 14 or 18 or whatever the top end is and doesn't lose it, or disintegrates from the whiplash recoil of a spring rifle.

 

ATB

 

Simon

[theinvisiblescarecrow 0]

The highest mag scope I've got is x32.

That's on a target rifle, more like plinking than serious FT / HFT though.

I've had & still got a variety of different scopes & use between 8x to 12x mostly when hunting which is my main use for rifles.

[matt_hooks 188]

Are high magnification scopes necessary? Not really. I took a deer in Scotland before christmas at 185 paces with a 4x mag scope. (With my .243, before we get the deer/airgun debate) Of course that's probably not ideal, and the larger mags allow you to be more precise and more certain.

 

However, a high mag scope on a short range tool like an air rifle will often turn out to be more of a libility than an asset. I use scopes with magnification up to x16 on my PCP, and I will use this when zeroing the rifle. Other than that, it very rarely goes above about 6X for rabbits, pigeon and tree rats. I find that higher mag accentuates any wobble, and also makes it difficult to keep the target and the reticule in focus at the same time.

 

I've now got a 6-24X scope on the .243, which makes things easier at the longer distances, but lower mags can be very useful in the right conditions!

[aaronpigeonplucker 32]

i'm sorry, for me 16x mag does it for msot of my shooting. obviously in rat and ferl situatioins i crank it down to 6x. but really i like high mag. high mag dosent increase your wobbles, it just makes them mroe aparent, therefore making it easier for you to lessen them. also i do most of my shooting off a pod. it may jsut be me, but with good quality optics like mtc i dont see any difference in the brightness of the image unless the light is really fading in which case i'll turn it down qo 10 or 12.

[hunter1989 91]

hi lads

 

ive just zeroed my scopes n with 14xmag.

 

before was using 12 but 14 make a whole lot of differents in my grouping for me

 

all of my shooting befre was on 12xmag no less,and i always was steady with the wobbles.

 

atb steve

[jasper65 6]

Are high magnification scopes necessary? Not really. I took a deer in Scotland before christmas at 185 paces with a 4x mag scope. (With my .243, before we get the deer/airgun debate) Of course that's probably not ideal, and the larger mags allow you to be more precise and more certain.

 

However, a high mag scope on a short range tool like an air rifle will often turn out to be more of a libility than an asset. I use scopes with magnification up to x16 on my PCP, and I will use this when zeroing the rifle. Other than that, it very rarely goes above about 6X for rabbits, pigeon and tree rats. I find that higher mag accentuates any wobble, and also makes it difficult to keep the target and the reticule in focus at the same time.

 

I've now got a 6-24X scope on the .243, which makes things easier at the longer distances, but lower mags can be very useful in the right conditions!

 

Cracking posts guys but I'm in total agreement with Matt on this one

 

If I crank my scope up to say X10 mag at 40 - 50yds it brings the target virtualy into the whole lens area, I then lose all that field of view with just the one object taking up my full focus. for some people that may not be a problem but I don't need to be able to count the feathers or eyelashes on my quarry, if I have a clear view for a vital headshot at say 40 - 50 yds which I have with X4 I'm happy! its also nice to gather all that extra light from the extra field of view on a lower Mag.

 

I'm also in agreement that High Mag will exagerate any gun movement expecially when shooting freehand. I would like to think I can hold a gun fairly stable but crank it up to X10 and the slightest movement <even your heart beating> will show up in the scope. Pianoman has a good point saying it can help in holding the gun more steady at higher Mag!! Unfortunatly I havn't quite reached the stage of perfection where I can hold a gun totaly static while shooting freehand .

 

Just a opinion lads! it would be a sad old world if we all thought the same way

 

cheers Jasp