Scope Magnification: What’s The Right Amount?

[Talyn]

When it comes to your rifle’s optic, how do you determine the right level of scope magnification for your needs?​

Scope Magnification: What’s The Right Amount?

Is there a right answer when it comes to scope magnification? Here's what you need to know about picking the power of your rifle's optic.

gundigest.com

 

[Belt Fed]

I usually keep my scopes set at 10 power even though some of them will go higher.
When hunting huge cutovers and fields i find a higher field of view to be better.

 

[Scevaph]

I have always favored fixed powers for my use. A good 4x (Leupold) on my .22 and on my varminter I started with a 10x Bushnell then upgraded to a 12X Leupold, When I went to a 40X-BR varmint rifle I used a 24x.

Variables are very practical thou; I would use a 2-7x on a rimfire and a 4 or 5 - 20 x covers a nice range.

 

[Hammer67]

"....There is no right answer—just your circumstances and how you choose to address them."

BLUF

 

[KillerFord1977]

"....There is no right answer—just your circumstances and how you choose to address them."

BLUF

This…

I use everything from an RDS, 1x4, a 4x24 to a fixed power 10x and thermals.

I hunt from 25 yards in the woods to 400-500 yard open pastures

 

[Bassbob]

Depends. Deer hunting in Missouri a 3-9 left usually on 3 is fine. Shooting targets at 200 yards with a .223 I usually have it dialed up to about 24 because why not.

 

[BruceMc]

In the past a 3-9 or 2-7 was just the ticket for the open senderos in South Texas. My favorite 270 featherweight mounts a 2.5-8. I've always tried to minimize the weight on my hunting rifles but as my eyes get old I'm considering a 4.5-14 on the featherweight. I find the variance in eye relief on the variable high power optics to be a problem.

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

Not just the right power, but cartridge choice also. Although you might not use the full power, you can use it for identification on long ranges.