What's the highest magnification you need?

jwaldrop3 · January 26, 2010, 12:27 PM

What's the highest magnification you need, in general, if you want to shoot targets at 500 - 800 yards? I'll be shooting a Rem. 700 SPS Tactical .308

zoomie · January 26, 2010, 12:28 PM

What size targets? I think a 3-9x would be enough for big game at those ranges. Paper, I'd like double that.

Brian Pfleuger · January 26, 2010, 12:53 PM

A lot of it is what you're used to having, plus the size of the target.

I shoot woodchucks out to no more than approximately 300 yards and I use 25X. They're pretty large, really. 15 inches by 6, give or take a couple. I don't think most long range guys go 25X at 1000 yards.

CK_32 · January 26, 2010, 01:16 PM

Im actually picking one up today in about an hour

Id go with 15x is about all you will need. Nothing more unless your planning on shooting eggs at that range.

But 3-9x is a good range. 10 fixed powers are good if you want a fixie. Not really recomended tho.

PM me some grouping and your set up when you get her all finished.
I kinda wanna see another SPS tac in action.

GL!

James R. Burke · January 31, 2010, 05:00 PM

Just myself I would go with the 6.5x20x50mm Leupold. But that is just myself there are some nice ones out there. Sometimes with that bigger bell you wont get a good check to stock weld looking up. But most target or tactial rifles take that into account so the stock is fit correct for them.

NESHOOTER · January 31, 2010, 05:57 PM

I use 3x9 for larger targets but because of my old eyes I use 18 on a vari-pwr scope and I can say it helps me in all my long range shooting....

James R. Burke · January 31, 2010, 08:36 PM

For hunting I use the 3x9x40mm plenty big enough for me. I keep it set on 4x most of the time anyways.

southernmaninla · February 4, 2010, 08:51 AM

I shoot 6 and tinker with 1000 I like a 8.5-25x Leupold mil dot

kraigwy · February 4, 2010, 10:45 AM

Quote:

What's the highest magnification you need?

Hunting = 4X
Long Range Targets = 10X

Hunting you want field of view.
Competition you want to see the target, but with anything over 10X you start washing out your target by magnafying the mirage.

MOREAMMO · February 4, 2010, 07:45 PM

Am I the loner here? I am not a hunter, just paper puncher. I started with a 3-9x then a few 6-18x's and now have 8-32x's. That would be on rifles that are a .308, .223, and a 22-250. I love HIGH MAGNIFICATION! My uncle has the fixed Leupold 45x. Do I need it, probably not, but I guess I really like to see what I am shooting at. Now a 32, 36, or 45x for hunting is not very practical, but being able to read fine print at 200-300 yards is awesome!

Bolosniper · February 5, 2010, 06:30 PM

No, your not a loner. I punch paper, and hunt year round. I started my career as a shooter as a sniper in Vietnam. We used a 3-9x40mm Redfield ART scope.

I now use a 3-18x42mm (35mm body) as the smallest, and have only occasionally used it, with my primary scope being a 6-24x50mm (35mm body). I use it on everything from 22-250 Rem to the .33 caliber "Super Magnums". The large body and objective bell diameters give me a very wide field of view and can be used easily for close shots (300 yards and closer), but when I reach down range the higher magnification allows me to pinpoint the strike of the round on the target rather than the cross hairs covering the whole target. Most everyone I know that loves the long range rifle game as I do will generally be using a variable power scope with a lot of magnification on the top end.

ForneyRider · February 26, 2010, 05:56 PM

I had a Tasco 3-9x40 that was on 7mm Mag for hunting out to 300 yards. It was fine when I was 19yoa, but not at 40yoa. I upgraded to 4-14x42mm and am comfortable out to 500 yards.

I ran the 4-14 on my .223 AR for 100 yards and 200 yards shooting. 200 yards was iffy at 40yoa. I got the 8-32x for target shooting the AR.

World champion F T/R (1000 yards) won with a Leupold 8-25x VX3 scope.

March scopes is coming out with 8-80x scope this year. Leoupold, Nightforce and Schmidt & Bender have scopes at 45x.

fastforty · February 26, 2010, 06:12 PM

If you're shooting at 500-800 yards and your target is smaller then say, a semi trailer you're going to wish you'd got at least a 18-25 power scope. Anything less powerful and the crossed hairs or mil dot is going to completely cover any standard target- no chance for zero'ing in on the bullseye.

azredhawk44 · February 26, 2010, 06:30 PM

1x per 100 yards that you know how to shoot.

Making the target bigger in your eye doesn't negate the fact you have to know your cartridge's ballistics from your rifle.

January 26, 2010, 12:27 PM	#1
jwaldrop3 Junior Member Join Date: January 21, 2010 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 7	What's the highest magnification you need? What's the highest magnification you need, in general, if you want to shoot targets at 500 - 800 yards? I'll be shooting a Rem. 700 SPS Tactical .308

January 26, 2010, 12:53 PM	#3
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	A lot of it is what you're used to having, plus the size of the target. I shoot woodchucks out to no more than approximately 300 yards and I use 25X. They're pretty large, really. 15 inches by 6, give or take a couple. I don't think most long range guys go 25X at 1000 yards. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

January 26, 2010, 01:16 PM	#4
CK_32 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2009 Location: Orange County, Ca Posts: 450	Im actually picking one up today in about an hour Id go with 15x is about all you will need. Nothing more unless your planning on shooting eggs at that range. But 3-9x is a good range. 10 fixed powers are good if you want a fixie. Not really recomended tho. PM me some grouping and your set up when you get her all finished. I kinda wanna see another SPS tac in action. GL! __________________ Bullet placement over bullet wastement

February 4, 2010, 08:51 AM	#8
southernmaninla Member Join Date: November 26, 2007 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 31	I shoot 6 and tinker with 1000 I like a 8.5-25x Leupold mil dot __________________ A wise man knows which hill to die upon.

February 5, 2010, 06:30 PM	#11
Bolosniper Member Join Date: September 10, 2005 Location: Dillon, Montana Posts: 70	No, your not a loner. I punch paper, and hunt year round. I started my career as a shooter as a sniper in Vietnam. We used a 3-9x40mm Redfield ART scope. I now use a 3-18x42mm (35mm body) as the smallest, and have only occasionally used it, with my primary scope being a 6-24x50mm (35mm body). I use it on everything from 22-250 Rem to the .33 caliber "Super Magnums". The large body and objective bell diameters give me a very wide field of view and can be used easily for close shots (300 yards and closer), but when I reach down range the higher magnification allows me to pinpoint the strike of the round on the target rather than the cross hairs covering the whole target. Most everyone I know that loves the long range rifle game as I do will generally be using a variable power scope with a lot of magnification on the top end. __________________ Mike McIntyre VP Operations MPI Rifles, LLC [URL=http://www.mpirifles.com]

January 26, 2010, 12:28 PM	#2
zoomie Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2006 Location: GA Posts: 1,862	What size targets? I think a 3-9x would be enough for big game at those ranges. Paper, I'd like double that.

January 31, 2010, 05:00 PM	#5
James R. Burke Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2009 Location: U.P. of Mich/Quinnesec Posts: 1,897	Just myself I would go with the 6.5x20x50mm Leupold. But that is just myself there are some nice ones out there. Sometimes with that bigger bell you wont get a good check to stock weld looking up. But most target or tactial rifles take that into account so the stock is fit correct for them.

January 31, 2010, 05:57 PM	#6
NESHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2009 Posts: 517	I use 3x9 for larger targets but because of my old eyes I use 18 on a vari-pwr scope and I can say it helps me in all my long range shooting....

January 31, 2010, 08:36 PM	#7
James R. Burke Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2009 Location: U.P. of Mich/Quinnesec Posts: 1,897	For hunting I use the 3x9x40mm plenty big enough for me. I keep it set on 4x most of the time anyways.

February 4, 2010, 07:45 PM	#10
MOREAMMO Senior Member Join Date: October 5, 2009 Location: Southeast WI Posts: 144	Am I the loner here? I am not a hunter, just paper puncher. I started with a 3-9x then a few 6-18x's and now have 8-32x's. That would be on rifles that are a .308, .223, and a 22-250. I love HIGH MAGNIFICATION! My uncle has the fixed Leupold 45x. Do I need it, probably not, but I guess I really like to see what I am shooting at. Now a 32, 36, or 45x for hunting is not very practical, but being able to read fine print at 200-300 yards is awesome!

February 26, 2010, 05:56 PM	#12
ForneyRider Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2007 Location: Forney, TX Posts: 725	I had a Tasco 3-9x40 that was on 7mm Mag for hunting out to 300 yards. It was fine when I was 19yoa, but not at 40yoa. I upgraded to 4-14x42mm and am comfortable out to 500 yards. I ran the 4-14 on my .223 AR for 100 yards and 200 yards shooting. 200 yards was iffy at 40yoa. I got the 8-32x for target shooting the AR. World champion F T/R (1000 yards) won with a Leupold 8-25x VX3 scope. March scopes is coming out with 8-80x scope this year. Leoupold, Nightforce and Schmidt & Bender have scopes at 45x. __________________ When all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done.

February 26, 2010, 06:12 PM	#13
fastforty Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 1999 Location: In a kornfield in kalifornia Posts: 1,161	If you're shooting at 500-800 yards and your target is smaller then say, a semi trailer you're going to wish you'd got at least a 18-25 power scope. Anything less powerful and the crossed hairs or mil dot is going to completely cover any standard target- no chance for zero'ing in on the bullseye. __________________ When Banjos are outlawed, only Outlaws will have Banjos The Bible is my lawbook. I turn the other cheek when applicable, and spend the rest of my days resisting evil at every front, until I have breathed my last breath.

February 26, 2010, 06:30 PM	#14
azredhawk44 Junior member Join Date: September 28, 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 6,465	1x per 100 yards that you know how to shoot. Making the target bigger in your eye doesn't negate the fact you have to know your cartridge's ballistics from your rifle.

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