Is 8x too much for hunting?

jwaldrop3 · January 28, 2010, 08:35 AM

Being a newbie, I want it all and I want it now! I bought a Rem 700 SPS tactical .308 that I mainly will use for target shooting. I'm looking at the Bushnell 4200 8-32X40 scope. My problem is, if I do want to hunt with it, will the 8x be too much magnification for hunting?

Limey46 · January 28, 2010, 08:53 AM

Yes, as you suspect, it will be too much for hunting. Way too much, in fact. My personal preference is a 2X-7X kept at its lowest setting unless I really need more magnification (which hasn't happened yet). A 1X-4X is even better.
Anything over 4X, you find yourself looking at a lot of bushes where you thought the critter was.

mapsjanhere · January 28, 2010, 09:44 AM

ok, the 8x is fine, the 32x is overkill unless you're going for 1000 yard shots. I usually think a 2.5-10 is a good choice, you have the low setting for moving targets, and a 10x for the well aimed shot from the stand.

Brian Pfleuger · January 28, 2010, 12:02 PM

8X minimum is WAY too much for hunting... especially for newb. Unless you're talking prairie dogs or woodchucks, then it's fine.

I've never owned a long gun that wasn't scoped. I generally go no more than 3X for minimum, although I usually walk around with it at about 5.

Kreyzhorse · January 28, 2010, 07:42 PM

What are you hunting and where? In general however, a scope that starts at 8X is WAY too much scope.

A 3X9 adjustable would be where I'd start for hunting and or target shooting.

CK_32 · January 29, 2010, 03:06 PM

No unless its fixed at 8x hunting you wanna get low vareable powers.
8x is about where you wanna cut it off. a 2.5-8x is fine or anything around
that you wont really need anything more than that like ever.

If your looking to target shoot up to 15 is good. But if your looking for a hunt/target
scope go with a 2.5 or 3-8 or 9x and your fine. But dont be
looking to long range shoot out around 1000 mark youll need a little more
power than that. But the 3-9x is perfect for what your probably going to go for

bejay · January 29, 2010, 11:39 PM

I would only go down on power a little so you can use the scope for both target shooting and hunting, 8 power is a little to high as mentioned but if you can get that down around 4-5 you should be fine, maybe a 4-16 would be a better choice to have a balance between a hunting and target scope.

LarryFlew · January 30, 2010, 12:18 AM

Another vote for 4-16ish. My son has 4-16 on his 270 and I use a 4-14 on 223 for yotes and prairie dogs. In the woods and brush even lower would work as suggested in the 2or3-9 range.

Whichever you pick, YES 8 is WAY to high for the low number

Suwannee Tim · January 30, 2010, 07:51 PM

Though I have never looked through one, I suspect that a Bushnell 8-32X40 would be a big disappointment. I have a Luepold 8.5-25 and the brightness and exit pupil really suffer in this range. I expect the Bushnell would be a lot worse. I would want a maximum of 4X for the low number for hunting. These super high magnifications do not buy you much and sacrificing the FOV you get at low power is a high price to pay. I have a Nikon 2.5-10 with a 30 mm tube that I like a lot. Unless you shoot benchrest competitions you give up little with 10X maximum.

James R. Burke · January 31, 2010, 04:46 PM

For hunting I believe it will be to much. Target shooting is another matter. For hunting I like the 3x9x40mm or 2x7x33 mm. I leave them set on 4x most of the time.

Lawyer Daggit · January 31, 2010, 11:39 PM

For varminting, 8x is fine, for anything larger it is way to powerful.

I agree with the other posters. on a 308 go for a fixed 3x or 4 x or a 3-9x30 or 2-7x variable.

January 28, 2010, 08:35 AM	#1
jwaldrop3 Junior Member Join Date: January 21, 2010 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 7	Is 8x too much for hunting? Being a newbie, I want it all and I want it now! I bought a Rem 700 SPS tactical .308 that I mainly will use for target shooting. I'm looking at the Bushnell 4200 8-32X40 scope. My problem is, if I do want to hunt with it, will the 8x be too much magnification for hunting?

January 28, 2010, 09:44 AM	#3
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	ok, the 8x is fine, the 32x is overkill unless you're going for 1000 yard shots. I usually think a 2.5-10 is a good choice, you have the low setting for moving targets, and a 10x for the well aimed shot from the stand. __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

January 28, 2010, 12:02 PM	#4
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	8X minimum is WAY too much for hunting... especially for newb. Unless you're talking prairie dogs or woodchucks, then it's fine. I've never owned a long gun that wasn't scoped. I generally go no more than 3X for minimum, although I usually walk around with it at about 5. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

January 28, 2010, 07:42 PM	#5
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	What are you hunting and where? In general however, a scope that starts at 8X is WAY too much scope. A 3X9 adjustable would be where I'd start for hunting and or target shooting. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

January 29, 2010, 03:06 PM	#6
CK_32 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2009 Location: Orange County, Ca Posts: 450	No unless its fixed at 8x hunting you wanna get low vareable powers. 8x is about where you wanna cut it off. a 2.5-8x is fine or anything around that you wont really need anything more than that like ever. If your looking to target shoot up to 15 is good. But if your looking for a hunt/target scope go with a 2.5 or 3-8 or 9x and your fine. But dont be looking to long range shoot out around 1000 mark youll need a little more power than that. But the 3-9x is perfect for what your probably going to go for __________________ Bullet placement over bullet wastement

January 28, 2010, 08:53 AM	#2
Limey46 Member Join Date: August 31, 2008 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 22	Yes, as you suspect, it will be too much for hunting. Way too much, in fact. My personal preference is a 2X-7X kept at its lowest setting unless I really need more magnification (which hasn't happened yet). A 1X-4X is even better. Anything over 4X, you find yourself looking at a lot of bushes where you thought the critter was.

January 29, 2010, 11:39 PM	#7
bejay Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2008 Posts: 195	I would only go down on power a little so you can use the scope for both target shooting and hunting, 8 power is a little to high as mentioned but if you can get that down around 4-5 you should be fine, maybe a 4-16 would be a better choice to have a balance between a hunting and target scope.

January 30, 2010, 12:18 AM	#8
LarryFlew Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2009 Location: Minnesota CZ fan Posts: 902	Another vote for 4-16ish. My son has 4-16 on his 270 and I use a 4-14 on 223 for yotes and prairie dogs. In the woods and brush even lower would work as suggested in the 2or3-9 range. Whichever you pick, YES 8 is WAY to high for the low number

January 30, 2010, 07:51 PM	#9
Suwannee Tim Senior Member Join Date: June 27, 2009 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 320	Though I have never looked through one, I suspect that a Bushnell 8-32X40 would be a big disappointment. I have a Luepold 8.5-25 and the brightness and exit pupil really suffer in this range. I expect the Bushnell would be a lot worse. I would want a maximum of 4X for the low number for hunting. These super high magnifications do not buy you much and sacrificing the FOV you get at low power is a high price to pay. I have a Nikon 2.5-10 with a 30 mm tube that I like a lot. Unless you shoot benchrest competitions you give up little with 10X maximum.

January 31, 2010, 04:46 PM	#10
James R. Burke Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2009 Location: U.P. of Mich/Quinnesec Posts: 1,897	For hunting I believe it will be to much. Target shooting is another matter. For hunting I like the 3x9x40mm or 2x7x33 mm. I leave them set on 4x most of the time.

January 31, 2010, 11:39 PM	#11
Lawyer Daggit Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Posts: 1,181	For varminting, 8x is fine, for anything larger it is way to powerful. I agree with the other posters. on a 308 go for a fixed 3x or 4 x or a 3-9x30 or 2-7x variable.