Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Guns N Gear Which scope magnification

As title states what do you use and why. I am in the market for a new scope and with all the different magnifications I didn't know which was the best. Longest shots will be 500 yards.

Depends on your preference and how far. You can shoot a 10x scope at 1000 yards pretty easy. That being said most of my regular scopes go up to 10x. My long range rigs are a 22x and 36x.

As my eyes get worse a 3x9 is only good in the woods for me less than 100yds...thinking hard about a24x or bigger and 50mm

IMO, the best all around power range for a scope would be 3-12 or 4-16.

Is 500 yards common for you,or is under 100 a lot more likely?

Personally I'd get an 18x

Most of my guns for just general hunting have something in the 2-10x or 3-12 flavor. As long as the reticle isn't real heavy 500 yards is no problem for 10x. The military standard for probably 30 years was just 10x. It isn't "tacticool" and your buddies won't think you are a badarse though.

If your rifle will spend it's hunting career poked out a shooting house window I would do something in the 4-14x range.

If you hunt in the woods at all, I'd do 3-9, 2-10x, maybe 2-8 on a compact rifle... and try and read some reviews by Optic's guys and become as knowledgeable as possible in things like field of view, contrast, etc. Those can make/break a scope and what set the high end stuff apart so pay attention to the specs. Disregard reviews that go something like "I mounted this on my 30-30 and shot a hub cap at 200 yards first try. This is the clearest scope I ever looked through. I pointed it at the sun and I couldn't see out of my right eye for 2 days. Way better than my cousin's Tasco. Can't wait to shoot my first doe in the arse with it. War Eagle."

Though 3-9 is the most common for deer rifles, I really like my Zeiss 3-12x50. The 12 power can really come in handy at longer ranges.

Nothing with a power range with the upper end over 12X.

I've always used a 3x9. I own a couple of higher power and use them for target but the higher power scopes aren't as good at light gathering. There might be some on the market but in my experience the higher the power the less clarity at dark when it counts.
Thats the reason I use a high power set of binoculars

I have found that a 3.5-10 or 2.5-10 is perfect for me. Low enough to pick out tree limbs that may deflect a shot and 10x is enough to make a 3-400 yard shot. I can make much longer shots but for practical hunting situations, I'm just not gonna try a 300+ yard shot off my knee or tree limb.

I can shoot up to 1000 yards but choose not too. 500 is bout my max.

I currently have a 3.5x10-50 monarch on my deer rifle. I have another rifle and want to equip with a quality scope but was just curious if I should go with something else. Think my best bet is to buy another monarch in a similar power

That's not what I asked. I asked the distance of the majority of your shots,not how far you might possibly shoot. I would buy a scope maximized for the most common distance.

Ok. I killed three deer last year. One at 4 yards one at 35 and one at 405. When the deer I want to shoot steps out I kill it.

i would say something in the 12-15x on the top end. i use a 3-12 zeiss for my general hunting. i use a 5.5-22 for my long-range stuff...

4x16x50 is a good choice. Vortex Viper PST is a really good midrange scope. With 4 power you can hunt in woods. With 16x power you can kill deer out to 500 yards. Main thing you need is knowledge. If you dont have a dial up turret scope, rangefinder,ballistics cart, and know the BC of your bullet and guns exact MV then 500 will not happen.

Then if it were me.I would be looking at something in the 4-12 range with a SF.The Bushnell 6500 2.5-16 comes to mind also.

93 Confirmed, 360 Unconfirmed with an 8x or 10x including a 2500 meter kill with this 10x Unertl:





Hubble Telescope NOT NEEDED.