Appropriate Min/Max Scope Power for Squirrel Hunting?

For me the baseline 3-9 seems to be ideal. Usually I end up on 6 power.

I generally keep my Hawke Sidewinder 4-16x on my Impact .30 on 10x to keep target acquisition easier. My binos are 8x, so it's a good match. I generally have no problem seeing out to 100 yards at 10x, but it is nice to zoom closer if need be.

Agreed with the 3-9. I made mistakes this season since this is the first year to hunt with an air rifle instead of a shotgun. (http://www.airgunnation.com/topic/prepairing-for-next-years-squirrel-season/#post-163024). The link is from my experiences this year. I hope you find the link helpful.

I used to like the 3-9, but find now with old eyes that the 4-16 is best for me. I recently got the Athlon 4.5-27 & that it is even better. When I was a kid everyone I knew used open/peep sights. I was the first person in my family to put a scope on a .22. I got a Weaver V22, think it was 3-6 & had a 7/8" tube. I thought I died and went to heaven. I still have old friends who use a fixed 6 or 8 power & they do fine. They like the simplistic of it and don't have to be bothered with cranking a power ring. I would think a person under 40 would be well served with a high quality 3-9.

i have a hawke vantage 4-12X50. i use it at 4-6 power for squirrel/rabbits, and 12 when shooting targets. a lower power gives a wider field of view for faster target acquisition, and makes it easier to track them nutters in a tree. 

"cea1960"i have a hawke vantage 4-12X50. i use it at 4-6 power for squirrel/rabbits, and 12 when shooting targets. a lower power gives a wider field of view for faster target acquisition, and makes it easier to track them nutters in a tree. 


True & that is what I really appreciate in the MTC Connect. I think on 12 power they may have as much FOV as most scopes have on 4. You never lose the squirrel with the MTC. I kind of wish they would come out with one in 4-16. 

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I have a an FX 6-18 and generally zoom in to 18 if they are 40+yards out. At 70 yards 18x makes head shots much easier.

10 power if closer.

I keep my 2.5-10x set at 5x. This makes the half mil reticle into a full mil reticle.

When hunting I just set the scope at 6x and don't adjust. That works well for any distance out to 75 yards.

R

I prefer 16x for most yardage as that gives me the best pellet placement. I only go for headshots and this gives the best range out to 75 yards.

I have target acquisition and hold-off sensitivity issues @ 16x; I've found 10x to be a good compromise at the distances I shoot. Whatever works, I always say.

For hunting, fixed 10 is a good way to go. take a look at the SWFA fixed 10. I started using one for long range with my .308. Out to 1,000 yards. They run $300 new. The turrets track with presision and will allow for dialing in a firing solution over and over. The glass is very clear. they have an AO down to 10 meters. There are MOA and Mill Quad versions. There is a side focus version for $400, but the $300 version parallax adjustment is at the rear of the scope where the zoom would be on a variable scope. I like it better on a hunting gun.

They were originally designed for seal work and are built to take abuse. And the only airgun I've ever seen one on, is mine.

I feel in use 4x is a good minimum power for hunting squirrel, a 4-12x 44 is a great scope. Max I don't see the need to go over 20 power unless you have a real tack driver and I mean drilling tacks at 100yds. but there is a reason the standard 3-9x40 is so popular, Just a good all around hunting scope, need more light thru the scope just turn it down a bit in power.

Well everyone has said their widly varied opinions and backed them all up with a great reason. Squirrels can either be moving all the time or just freeze. I used 12x on my 2.5-15x Midas on a 'frozen' tree rat up in a...tree. Worked great for me.