Admissions of a High-Magnification Scope Fanatic

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JungleShooter

JungleShooter

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Admissions of a High-Magnification Scope Fanatic




🔶 I admit that I'm always lusting after scopes with relatively high magnification.
I'm always on the lookout for a 4-24x56 FFP scope I can afford.
And I admit that I looked down on hunters using small 3-9x magnifications. 🙄

Now after last weeks pigeon shoot I had to face reality and admit something....





🔶 I explain:
Last week I visited a couple of cow corrals and liberated the farmers of 75 feed-stealing, defecating pests. And I really really liked my Falcon 3-18x50 FFP for helping me do it. 

🔸But I have to admit that I lost a good amount of shots because I was busy with all the bells and whistles of that scope.
A big time waster was trying to dial it up to maximum magnification instead of leaving it on a medium setting and letting "good enough" be just that: "good enough."

🔸And I have to admit that at my biggest pigeon bash ever the largest amount of critters (3/4) were taken with my "backup gun" running a 3-12x44 scope. Yeah, sure, that the gun was smaller and lighter had something to do with it, too.
But I have stopped looking down an 3-9x and 3-12x magnification scopes.
Because I realize that most shots are at a range where these magnification ranges are sufficient!




🔶 Now, in my defense for higher magnification scopes:
▪ My eyes aren't the youngest anymore!

▪ It's nice to have a pigeon fill my scope image from edge to edge.... But there is NO NEED for it.

▪ And it's nice to be able to go to 100 yard target shooting and be able to see your impacts with the same scope that took pigeons at 20y. But then I need to learn to discipline myself and not always first search and acquire the critter at a low magnification, and then dial it up to high mangification.... 

▪ And it's nice to be ready for those hunting shots at the way-out-there range requiring a high magnification. But those shots actually happen mostly in my imagination, NOT in the field....


Another conclusion I draw from this experience:
Since I use alround-guns with alround-scopes meaning they have to do a little bit of everything — I do not want a scope that has less than a 30ft field of view. 
(That means if I still want a higher magnification....: The 6-24x and 5-25x are out. 4-24x seems ideal, 4-20x and 3-18x also work well.)


What are your experiences? What do you think? 😊

Matthias
 
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Our mind/muscles are capable of some crazy stuff. Lots of shooting and you'll find yourself developing the hand eye coordination and muscle memory to shoulder the gun and have the intended target be in the scope view, regardless of magnification power. 

I've shot lots and lots and lots of critters with 20x fixed power scopes. For semi-stationary targets like Euros and pdogs, I prefer the extra magnification. Even bug hunting starlings on the ground or English house sparrows flitting around in the brush will occasionally pause long enough for that muscle memory to come into play and let you find them in the scope quick enough to get a shot off. 

The place where the 3-9x and 4-12x scopes make the big difference are running/dodging/darting stuff like jacks and cottontails. Moving targets, (and especially rapid changes in speed and directions) make too much scope magnification tough. 
 
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my experience is anything more than 9 and the squirrels around here would kick my as lol ... at realistic 'pesting' ranges high mag doesnt get on target fast enough .. and no, that squirrel in the tree way out in the field at 150y isnt a 'pest' .. 4X is more like it .. maybe up to 6 .. and that rabbit at 45, ok we'll go to 9 if i got the time, he's dkin around so we'll dial him in lol ...
 
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Our mind/muscles are capable of some crazy stuff. Lots of shooting and you'll find yourself developing the hand eye coordination and muscle memory to shoulder the gun and have the intended target be in the scope view, regardless of magnification power. 

I've shot lots and lots and lots of critters with 20x fixed power scopes. For semi-stationary targets like Euros and pdogs, I prefer the extra magnification. Even bug hunting starlings on the ground or English house sparrows flitting around in the brush will occasionally pause long enough for that muscle memory to come into play and let you find them in the scope quick enough to get a shot off. 

The place where the 3-9x and 4-12x scopes make the big difference are running/dodging/darting stuff like jacks and cottontails. Moving targets, (and especially rapid changes in speed and directions) make too much scope magnification tough.
Click to expand...

I could not agree more! If I'm in my office and I spot a detrimental critter, I know my property enough to already know the range and it takes a split second to preset the side focus to be good enough for the shot.

This skill didn't come overnight, but what good skill does??

Will
 
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My low powered guns get the low powered scopes 3x12 for my air pistols and a couple of my 22LR guns that seldom see over 100 yards. Higher powered guns both air and powder powered get the 4, 6.5, 8x24 or 25 get the higher powered scopes. Yes, field of view is everything when you are close up and personal with your target so lowered powered scopes rule at that time.

But I do know what you mean I love the higher powered stuff as well.
 
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I got used to low power scopes because I used open sights for so long,like 4x was the cats meow,then I older and got 3-9 x32...yea decades ago. When I was shooting at 100 yds. 20x was tops...now I want a 24x.....Been shooting for 60years,things have changed a lot,my eyes have not changed much,my shooting skills are about the same....for me though it is not so much the power,it is the light gathering ability of the scope,the quality of the lens.....a good low power scope can be better than a not so good higher power scope.

What has changed about scopes is there are so many more brands and so many more variables to choose from,also you can get a better scope for less money.....then again the better the quality the higher the price.

On a another note I have found fixed power scopes can be an advantage,especially when you shooting within a given range....

For sure I want a wide-field of view in a hunting scope.


 
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Admissions of a High-Magnification Scope Fanatic




🔶 I admit that I'm always lusting after scopes with relatively high magnification.
I'm always on the lookout for a 4-24x56 FFP scope I can afford.
And I admit that I looked down on hunters using small 3-9x magnifications. 🙄

Now after last weeks pigeon shoot I had to face reality and admit something....





🔶 I explain:
Last week I visited a couple of cow corrals and liberated the farmers of 75 feed-stealing, defecating pests. And I really really liked my Falcon 3-18x50 FFP for helping me do it. 

🔸But I have to admit that I lost a good amount of shots because I was busy with all the bells and whistles of that scope.
A big time waster was trying to dial it up to maximum magnification instead of leaving it on a medium setting and letting "good enough" be just that: "good enough."

🔸And I have to admit that at my biggest pigeon bash ever the largest amount of critters (3/4) were taken with my "backup gun" running a 3-12x44 scope. Yeah, sure, that the gun was smaller and lighter had something to do with it, too.
But I have stopped looking down an 3-9x and 3-12x magnification scopes.
Because I realize that most shots are at a range where these magnification ranges are sufficient!




🔶 Now, in my defense for higher magnification scopes:
▪ My eyes aren't the youngest anymore!

▪ It's nice to have a pigeon fill my scope image from edge to edge.... But there is NO NEED for it.

▪ And it's nice to be able to go to 100 yard target shooting and be able to see your impacts with the same scope that took pigeons at 20y. But then I need to learn to discipline myself and not always first search and acquire the critter at a low magnification, and then dial it up to high mangification.... 

▪ And it's nice to be ready for those hunting shots at the way-out-there range requiring a high magnification. But those shots actually happen mostly in my imagination, NOT in the field....


Another conclusion I draw from this experience:
Since I use alround-guns with alround-scopes meaning they have to do a little bit of everything — I do not want a scope that has less than a 30ft field of view. 
(That means if I still want a higher magnification....: The 6-24x and 5-25x are out. 4-24x seems ideal, 4-20x and 3-18x also work well.)


What are your experiences? What do you think? 😊

Matthias
Click to expand...

Matthias, The details of your posts are, well, fantastic, and, they tell much of where you are coming from, with much appreciation to say the least! 

It is comforting to find a new place in which to center and gather new perspective.

Patrick 
 
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I'm similar. However I've been using lower powered for years and tried higher power and just can't like it. I shot fixed power 10x scopes for a few years 100yds plus. Now my favorite is a 2-12x42 Helos BTR Gen2 I use on 6x-8x out to 100yds no problem. Young eyes though. But I did enjoy my Ares ETR UHD 3-18x50. I wouldnt go any higher magnification than that though.
 
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From my view...I had earlier a 1x40-50 and now using a 10x50-60 (Falcon X50), but that doesn't mean I am using a max power, no, 25x to 30x @ 100 is enough, but when I need it there is that 50x.

But again, I got used to high magnifications, below 10x...nah

Got recently this IO 14x50 (honestly I was aiming for MTC but could not get it out from UK to Canada), the field of view is WIDE....I don't think I would ever need that wide....not a rabbit or a squirell but a whole tree is in the view just distracting what I want to see ;)
 
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Our mind/muscles are capable of some crazy stuff. Lots of shooting and you'll find yourself developing the hand eye coordination and muscle memory to shoulder the gun and have the intended target be in the scope view, regardless of magnification power.
Click to expand...

Agree on that also. I only have a few air rifles, but one I shot daily for a year is my most familiar and it has a 3-12X. Fills the need when pesting close and plinking 60-100YD out, and is most often set at 8-10X for target work, lower when over-caffeinated. Practice and familiarity was the key for me.

The Optisan CP 3-12X32 has a FOV 36ft at 100YD at 3X. Just got one. Seventeen ounces and 9.5" length. Surprisingly bright for a 32mm obj, but am a newb for judging these things.


 
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biohazardman said:
My low powered guns get the low powered scopes 3x12 for my air pistols and a couple of my 22LR guns that seldom see over 100 yards. Higher powered guns both air and powder powered get the 4, 6.5, 8x24 or 25 get the higher powered scopes. Yes, field of view is everything when you are close up and personal with your target so lowered powered scopes rule at that time.

But I do know what you mean I love the higher powered stuff as well.
Click to expand...
I know thats me too I like the higher power its a trade im in between 2 epl4 in 4x16 and 2 in 6x24, contemplating making it 3 6x24 and 1 4x16, I find my self using the x24 for varmint work, But I was testing my 6 x and tracking cars on freeway turned it to 8x to simulate the difference at distance an I find I do want more fov so in that instance 4x is better when say a coyote is under 50 yards an I shoot an he starts running away tracking em would be more ideal with 4x that 6x is fine but its a trade off fov vs magnification an arken is like same price same weight pretty much for the same magnification really gets me thinking as I do use x24 for target an varmint work ahhh its hard decision to make
 
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(1)
Sorry, I never got back to you guys on your posts in this thread. I appreciate your input and your perspectives — that help me understand other shooters when I advise them on scopes. 👍🏼

(2)
Thank you, Patrick for your kind words. 😊


(3)
We all develop over time, especially when we are in the first few years of shooting.
So, I have another perspective to add to my OP: the filming perspective.

I have since gotten a scope cam and like to film my hunts. And for that, a high magnification usually gives more dramatic footage when filming (or ⁍"killming") than a low magnification.
Sure, it's a compromise: Less quick shots, but better footage.


(4)
Since posting the OP I have purchased a 5-30x56 FFP.
It has a FoV of ≈25y at 5x.

So far I only had it out on a little pigeon hunt with fairly patient targets.
And I am happy to report that the somewhat limited FoV of 25y has worked fine — at least for these kinds of targets (and the gain in magnification, 30x instead of 18x, is huge 😊).

Now, if I was stalking after squirrels or rabbits I'm not so sure if 25y FoV would be sufficient. I'd love to try it out — but those kinds of targets are a 20-hour drive away from where I live.... 🤦🏻‍♂️



(5)
😄 For those that like more FoV at the bottom end — AND more magnification at the top end — there are still the 4-32x56 scopes out there:
▪ Vector Continental X8 ED SFP
▪ Riton Conquer 7 FFP (and Conquer 5: 4-28x56)
▪ Apex Rival FFP
▪ Nightforce NX8 FFP

And the scopes with dream magnification ranges: 😇
▪ Discovery ED-ELR 5-40x56 FFP
▪ Sightron SVIII ED 5-40x56 FFP
▪ Trijicon Tenmile 5-50x56 SFP


Matthias


PS: Yes, of course, the scopes listed above all have 10y or 15y min. parallax, exposed turrets (at least Elev), and a holdoff reticle. ✅
 
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JungleShooter said:
(1)
Sorry, I never got back to you guys on your posts in this thread. I appreciate your input and your perspectives — that help me understand other shooters when I advise them on scopes. 👍🏼

(2)
Thank you, Patrick for your kind words. 😊


(3)
We all develop over time, especially when we are in the first few years of shooting.
So, I have another perspective to add to my OP: the filming perspective.

I have since gotten a scope cam and like to film my hunts. And for that, a high magnification usually gives more dramatic footage when filming (or ⁍"killming") than a low magnification.
Sure, it's a compromise: Less quick shots, but better footage.


(4)
Since posting the OP I have purchased a 5-30x56 FFP.
It has a FoV of ≈25y at 5x.

So far I only had it out on a little pigeon hunt with fairly patient targets.
And I am happy to report that the somewhat limited FoV of 25y has worked fine — at least for these kinds of targets (and the gain in magnification, 30x instead of 18x, is huge 😊).

Now, if I was stalking after squirrels or rabbits I'm not so sure if 25y FoV would be sufficient. I'd love to try it out — but those kinds of targets are a 20-hour drive away from where I live.... 🤦🏻‍♂️



(5)
😄 For those that like more FoV at the bottom end — AND more magnification at the top end — there are still the 4-32x56 scopes out there:
▪ Vector Continental X8 ED SFP
▪ Riton Conquer 7 FFP (and Conquer 5: 4-28x56)
▪ Apex Rival FFP
▪ Nightforce NX8 FFP

And the scopes with dream magnification ranges: 😇
▪ Discovery ED-ELR 5-40x56 FFP
▪ Sightron SVIII ED 5-40x56 FFP
▪ Trijicon Tenmile 5-50x56 SFP


Matthias


PS: Yes, of course, the scopes listed above all have 10y or 15y min. parallax, exposed turrets (at least Elev), and a holdoff reticle. ✅
Click to expand...
Appreciate the reply I have to tune out 5 guns so 4x32 would break the bank a bit , I just have to choose between 4x16 or 6x24, Its the work I do mostly varmint il targetshoot/plink sometimes out to 150 yards small targets so 24x is good for that or here an there or in the backyard for fun an I use x24 for target shooting at 20 yards an when I compare it at 16 and 24 I can desern more detail with the x24 tried it on a newspaper I had more trouble reading it clearly on 16 an couldnt make out words but on 24 was no problem as arken has the glass to back up the x24 not fully but its to a pretty usable point and I enjoy it on clear days in fact seeing whatever I hit far downrange explode when pellet contacts on x24 is fun to watch but then again its not needed I think I will get 3, 6x24, and 1, 4x16 as I mostly do varmint work /plink out to long ranges small targets but I will be doin some huntin an fov is important if whatevery your hunting is bigger than a squiril an can run at a decent speed. Makes me wanna get 2, 4x16 ,so i dont have to unmount it from the blitz an mount it an relevel it all over again as the aea airguns I am getting have dovetail unfortunately its not as simple as just getting the 4 base screws gotta relevel the scope an everything. This is hard decision its trade off I still been thinking about it I gotta prioritize 1 though hunting workor more varmint oriented work I cant choose its like the same price pretty much for the x24 same weight pretty much too just makes it harded to decide.
 
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How about an in-between magnification.
Instead of 4-16x
or 6-24x
➧ get a 4-20x? 😊


I always thought the Athlon Helos BTR (Gen. 2) 4-20x50 was a good in-between scope.
It has a wider field of view than any 6-24x scope. And it has 4x more magnification than the 4-16x scopes.
Fully loaded with features. Good glass. Good price (on sale for $500). 27.6 oz light. 13.3" short.


Matthias
 
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