Magnification

[JackReid 35]

Alright guys,

 

I'm back at Uni for a few weeks at least so wont be hunting for a bit until I have all these major deadlines out the way. I shot almost everyday over easter so I got my worth!

 

Anyway my topic today is regarding magnification. What do you guys use and at what distance? In what position e.g standing/prone, does it vary?

I bet there is alot of variation. I always presumed even on a fairly good scope that over zoom (e.g over 8x at 25-30 metres) would just be innacurate, or would lose its point of impact.

 

After getting my new scope Hawke Varmint II 3-12x44AO which is a really really good scope I turned it up a bit for precision shots.

 

As it stands at the moment this is how I shoot very roughly:

 

0-15 meters 3x/4x magnification, Standing prone or sat, doesnt matter.

15-20 meters around 5x maybe 6x mag. If standing using the lower of the two.

 

When I zero at 25 meters I zero on 7x magnification. So give or take the situation, anywhere where I have a really stable shot I will use 7x magnification for maximum accuracy. However free standing I just cant shoot straight at all (something will work on when getting back). SO I suppose I use 6x mag if standing from 25 meters, however usually I would rather slip down onto my arse where possible and take the shot.

 

I use 7x magnification between 25-34 meters as I've currently got my mildots worked out for the drop in that 9 meters (not much).

At 35 meters I then use 7.5 magnification.

I dont make habbit of shooting much further than 40 at the moment as I'm a bit shakey, probably as I was shooting everyday in easter and had tired arms.

 

Lots of you will think I use very low mag I'm sure, but seems sufficient to me.

 

So how about you guys??

 

Jack

[andyfr1968 772]

Hi, Jack.

 

I keep all my scopes on 6x unless I'm shooting at very short range when I'll lower the mag.

 

I've been looking out for a good 6x44 (ish) for ages as for me, it's an ideal airgun spec but the only ones available are made for CF rifles and so aren't much use to me.

 

Cheers.

[JackReid 35]

Interesting mate thanks for feedback.

 

Jack

[aaronpigeonplucker 32]

fo anything past 25m i use full 10x mag. i dont get why everyone keep stheir scope se on 6x. i find full mag really helps me get good shots on my quarry. under 25m i use 6x and under 15m i use 4x

[davyt63 1,845]

hi

i have mine on 10 and only change when im loosing the light

if i was to change my mag alot like you! jack i wouldnt have time to shoot any rabbits,

 

and far to many POI to remember! as changing mag will move your POI slightly, it will vary each time .and i aint got time for that!

 

when lamping i take it down to 4 mag and this week end meet at the AAAOC meet it will be staying on 5 mag and see what happens

 

regards

 

davy

[Phantom 631]

I used to use 4 to 6 mag for all shooting, Now though, During the day I use 9x and on a night when light is falling, I'll use 3 mag or 4 mag then crank it up to max when I have my quarry sighted.

 

When zero'ing, it has to be the highest mag for my own prefereance

 

Phantom

[Sweeney-Todd 208]

Never change my Mag.......to much to remember as Davy say's.

 

Bushnell.........7x nice.

 

Hawk SW30.......12x nice.

 

 

Bill.

[silentshot1 206]

I'm mainly on 10.

[JackReid 35]

hi

i have mine on 10 and only change when im loosing the light

if i was to change my mag alot like you! jack i wouldnt have time to shoot any rabbits,

 

and far to many POI to remember! as changing mag will move your POI slightly, it will vary each time .and i aint got time for that!

 

when lamping i take it down to 4 mag and this week end meet at the AAAOC meet it will be staying on 5 mag and see what happens

 

regards

 

davy

 

Yeh thats why I started this topic I thought we would have so real differences.

 

I just feel when I look down a scope at 10x at less than 30 meters that you scope is really trying to look through your target if you know what I mean? I will have a fiddle with them when I go back.

 

Jack

[jenksi87 3]

the higher the mag the more exaggerated any movement is. so while you can aim a lot better, you also have more to compensate for in movement. i use 6x myself

[sibaldib 6]

I'm with Davy on this one. I have my scopes set to 10x following some advice from Zini a few months ago and my shooting has improved no end. I only have to remember one set of holdover figures (which is difficult enough for me anyway!) and once the rifle is set up on this basis I'm not to worried about slightly out of focus shots at under 30 yds. In fact only about 15% of the rabbits I shoot are under 30 yds.

 

Cheers

 

Sib.

[Alexisrouzee 6]

i have a 10-40x60 scope and very rarely go above 10x to be honest a rabbit at 220m in a field out the back of mine is still clear at 10x so seeing as my longest ever shot was at 60m then thats fine for me!!

 

i had a hawke 3-9x40 before that and that was always set between 6-9x

 

its worth noting that as your mag changes so does all of your mil-dot adjustment and seeing as i have spent bloody ages working that out i try not to change it!!

 

ATB

[davyt63 1,845]

i have a 10-40x60 scope and very rarely go above 10x to be honest a rabbit at 220m in a field out the back of mine is still clear at 10x so seeing as my longest ever shot was at 60m then thats fine for me!!

 

i had a hawke 3-9x40 before that and that was always set between 6-9x

 

its worth noting that as your mag changes so does all of your mil-dot adjustment and seeing as i have spent bloody ages working that out i try not to change it!!

 

ATB

 

EXACTLY!!!

[aaronpigeonplucker 32]

hmmm....if im doing rats around barns or ferals i know that 90% of my shots are going to be below 20yrds soi go down to 4x or 5x. i can easily check my zero at this mag and it will be not be too hard to correct. yet if i know i'm amubushing rabbits in a field, doing static hunting most of my shots are going to be 30yrds +. this is when i have it on 10x. so yes i do change my mag on different hunts.

Edited April 24, 2010 by aaronpigeonplucker

[andyfr1968 772]

Hmmmm.

 

Thinking about this mag thing... A lot of you lads (and lasses) shoot mainly with PCPs so a lot of you will shoot from a bi-pod or whatever, so you can get away with a higher mag 'cos you're not so bothered by the exagerated wobble that comes in when the mag goes up.

 

Maybe I'm old school but I've shot with springers for many years and you can't really do that with them unless you're shooting off a rest the whole time 'cos your POI will change when you change position. Resting, standing, whatever... I'm fairly new to PCPs.

 

I guess I got used to 6x as it seemed ideal. We only shoot out to 40 odd yards FFS and most good quality dear stalking scopes don't tend to go much higher than 12x and they shoot out to 300+ yards, in skilled hands.

 

I like to see my target well but don't feel the need to be able to count the hairs on it's head...

 

Just my opinion...

 

Cheers.

Edited April 23, 2010 by andyfr1968