Magnification Requirement for distance???

7.62 · July 14, 2005, 09:20 AM

What Magnification is good for seeing .22 holes at 10 yards and 100 yards? ie, what should the spotter be set on. I am not asking this for exact setting advice, I just need to know what power would be good to get. Would 12-50x50 be adequate??

Jim Watson · July 14, 2005, 10:01 AM

Serious target shooters mostly use fixed power spotting scopes in the 25-27X range, even the very best variable power scopes are not as sharp and you can seldom get any good out of the high magnification. I have a nice Kowa 25X-60mm for the real thing and leave an old 20X-40mm in the truck. It is adequate at 100 yards in good daylight. Your 12-50x50 ought to get you by.

ocabj · July 14, 2005, 10:13 AM

I also use a Kowa with 25x magnification (Kowa 661 with 25x LER eyepiece).

My Bushnell Spacemaster is a 20-45x60 with a LER eyepiece. I rarely use the upper range of the variable magnification. I usually keep it dialed down to 20x because it's clearer and easier to see if mirage becomes an issue (and it usually does in California heat).

For the most part, a 12-50x50 should suffice at 100 yards.

Remember: The key to spotting scopes isn't the magnification, it's the quality of the glass.

July 14, 2005, 09:20 AM	#1
7.62 Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2005 Location: Middle TN Posts: 376	Magnification Requirement for distance??? What Magnification is good for seeing .22 holes at 10 yards and 100 yards? ie, what should the spotter be set on. I am not asking this for exact setting advice, I just need to know what power would be good to get. Would 12-50x50 be adequate??

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July 14, 2005, 10:01 AM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,535	Serious target shooters mostly use fixed power spotting scopes in the 25-27X range, even the very best variable power scopes are not as sharp and you can seldom get any good out of the high magnification. I have a nice Kowa 25X-60mm for the real thing and leave an old 20X-40mm in the truck. It is adequate at 100 yards in good daylight. Your 12-50x50 ought to get you by.

July 14, 2005, 10:13 AM	#3
ocabj Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2000 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 205	I also use a Kowa with 25x magnification (Kowa 661 with 25x LER eyepiece). My Bushnell Spacemaster is a 20-45x60 with a LER eyepiece. I rarely use the upper range of the variable magnification. I usually keep it dialed down to 20x because it's clearer and easier to see if mirage becomes an issue (and it usually does in California heat). For the most part, a 12-50x50 should suffice at 100 yards. Remember: The key to spotting scopes isn't the magnification, it's the quality of the glass.