lamping foxes

[smasher 1,055]

Just a quick question,when shooting foxes on the lamp what mag do you like to have your scope at and why?

[rabbitshooter 0]

I like to keep the mag low to give a wider field of veiw and low mag will pull in the light better

[SportingShooter 0]

I normally keep mine on x6 through a x50 scope, as stated a low magnification will draw in the light better.

 

I keep mine on x6 for everything pretty much as I am used to it, I may crank it up for a particularly long shot off the Bi-Pod.

 

Regards

SS

[smasher 1,055]

I normally keep mine on x6 through a x50 scope, as stated a low magnification will draw in the light better.

 

I keep mine on x6 for everything pretty much as I am used to it, I may crank it up for a particularly long shot off the Bi-Pod.

 

Regards

SS

at what yardage would you normaly crank it up

[rioulike 2]

like to use 8/56 no messing about with a fixed mag and the big lens gives a good bright picture just my opinuion

[Guest JohnGalway]

This is my understanding of light gathering. First thing is that fixed magnification scopes will pull in light better than variable magnification scopes. How much better I do not know. Personally I like the options a variable scope gives me. You'll see fixed magnification scopes set at 6x42, 7x50, 8x56. Those are the best light gathering settings, a lot of it is to do with your eyes ability to use a certain amount of light in darkness.

 

Anyhow, I usually have my scopes set at 8x. The reason for that is my foxing scope has a 56mm objective lens so 8x56 is optimal for it, though it may be less than 8x for variable but I am not really sure on that, so I leave it at 8x. Another reason I have it set at 8x instead of changing it a lot is when I look at foxes at different rangers I have a better idea of how far away they are, seeing as most of my experience now is going on a basis of 8x magnification. (I call that the Dougal factor, he's not small, he's farrrrr away....)

 

I'll sometimes crank up the magnification for longer shots but on a fox under 180 yards I don't usually bother to be honest, as I always go for heart/lung shots and not head shots.

 

So first thing I would suggest you do is look at the objective lens of your scope, if it's 50mm I would suggest you set your magnification at 7x and so on. I used to know the formulation for finding out the most usuable light and scope setting etc but I've forgotten it. Low magnification will give you a better field of view, but it does not necessarily follow that the lowest setting will give you a brighter image as your eye simply may not be able to use that much light. Saying that, it's a matter of personal choice which you will prefer As long as you can consistantly hit and kill that fox cleanly then whatever setting you pick will be right for you

 

Sorry if that's a bit convoluted and hard to follow, I just started typing.

[SportingShooter 0]

I normally keep mine on x6 through a x50 scope, as stated a low magnification will draw in the light better.

 

I keep mine on x6 for everything pretty much as I am used to it, I may crank it up for a particularly long shot off the Bi-Pod.

 

Regards

SS

at what yardage would you normaly crank it up

200+ then it goes to x8.

 

SS

[IanB 0]

I normally have mine cranked at x12 mag.... I suppose its all personal choice.

[sikastag_1 689]

iv got a schmidt and bender 8x56 on my 22-250 and i think its perfect, never any hassle to see anything etc? its jsut my opinion though every person has different preferences and opinions but in my opinion i couldnt be bother going up and down different variations my scope is perfect for me i think i have a variable scope on my .22 and to be fully honest i never move it.

[sounder 9]

thats depends on you mine is x12 i leave it on that way all the time can still shoot them at 20 yards out to 300

where you from mate

cheers sounder

[smasher 1,055]

This is my understanding of light gathering. First thing is that fixed magnification scopes will pull in light better than variable magnification scopes. How much better I do not know. Personally I like the options a variable scope gives me. You'll see fixed magnification scopes set at 6x42, 7x50, 8x56. Those are the best light gathering settings, a lot of it is to do with your eyes ability to use a certain amount of light in darkness.

 

Anyhow, I usually have my scopes set at 8x. The reason for that is my foxing scope has a 56mm objective lens so 8x56 is optimal for it, though it may be less than 8x for variable but I am not really sure on that, so I leave it at 8x. Another reason I have it set at 8x instead of changing it a lot is when I look at foxes at different rangers I have a better idea of how far away they are, seeing as most of my experience now is going on a basis of 8x magnification. (I call that the Dougal factor, he's not small, he's farrrrr away....)

 

I'll sometimes crank up the magnification for longer shots but on a fox under 180 yards I don't usually bother to be honest, as I always go for heart/lung shots and not head shots.

 

So first thing I would suggest you do is look at the objective lens of your scope, if it's 50mm I would suggest you set your magnification at 7x and so on. I used to know the formulation for finding out the most usuable light and scope setting etc but I've forgotten it. Low magnification will give you a better field of view, but it does not necessarily follow that the lowest setting will give you a brighter image as your eye simply may not be able to use that much light. Saying that, it's a matter of personal choice which you will prefer As long as you can consistantly hit and kill that fox cleanly then whatever setting you pick will be right for you

 

Sorry if that's a bit convoluted and hard to follow, I just started typing.

Cheers for all the imput lads,much appreciated it would seem a lot of it is down to personal choice,but with no real high mag, 12 being the max and 6 to 8 the most commonly used,ill be setting mine at about 9,happy medium.any more veiws or opinions would greatfully received.

[SNAP SHOT 194]

personally i find it vary's over certain distances, i like to get zoomed in on a fox and bang lights out, normally leave it on 6 then zoom in once the target is in sight, you try shooting a fox over 350 yards at night on 7x or 12 x and see how you get on....................

As stated its personal choice and ability............

[brno17 5]

This is my understanding of light gathering. First thing is that fixed magnification scopes will pull in light better than variable magnification scopes. How much better I do not know. Personally I like the options a variable scope gives me. You'll see fixed magnification scopes set at 6x42, 7x50, 8x56. Those are the best light gathering settings, a lot of it is to do with your eyes ability to use a certain amount of light in darkness.

 

Anyhow, I usually have my scopes set at 8x. The reason for that is my foxing scope has a 56mm objective lens so 8x56 is optimal for it, though it may be less than 8x for variable but I am not really sure on that, so I leave it at 8x. Another reason I have it set at 8x instead of changing it a lot is when I look at foxes at different rangers I have a better idea of how far away they are, seeing as most of my experience now is going on a basis of 8x magnification. (I call that the Dougal factor, he's not small, he's farrrrr away....)

 

I'll sometimes crank up the magnification for longer shots but on a fox under 180 yards I don't usually bother to be honest, as I always go for heart/lung shots and not head shots.

 

So first thing I would suggest you do is look at the objective lens of your scope, if it's 50mm I would suggest you set your magnification at 7x and so on. I used to know the formulation for finding out the most usuable light and scope setting etc but I've forgotten it. Low magnification will give you a better field of view, but it does not necessarily follow that the lowest setting will give you a brighter image as your eye simply may not be able to use that much light. Saying that, it's a matter of personal choice which you will prefer As long as you can consistantly hit and kill that fox cleanly then whatever setting you pick will be right for you

 

Sorry if that's a bit convoluted and hard to follow, I just started typing.

 

 

johns right, the most usable ammount of light to the human eye is 7mm this is why 6x42, 8x56 etc are good because you divide the objective by the mag and in both these cases you get the magic 7mm exit pupil, as you crank up the mag on a variable scope you make the exit pupil smaller and you start to lose clarity and light. hope this helps. i use an 8x56 schmidt by the way great scope no muckin about with mag.

 

alan.

Edited July 11, 2008 by brno17

[SNAP SHOT 194]

7mm is the average size of a human pupil At night So any more than 7mm and the light gathering ability is loss as the eye cannot process it.

Hence average being the word here.............this is why scope manufacture's make their fixed power scopes to this average standard 8x 56 eg.

to get the exit pupil divide the objective size by the ocular size gives you the exit pupil.......................

[Deker 3,478]

7mm is the average size of a human pupil At night So any more than 7mm and the light gathering ability is loss as the eye cannot process it.

Hence average being the word here.............this is why scope manufacture's make their fixed power scopes to this average standard 8x 56 eg.

to get the exit pupil divide the objective size by the ocular size gives you the exit pupil.......................

 

 

 

General response on this directed at several who have raised it ..not just SNAP SHOT!!!

 

That makes sense but what happens then with a 25 or 30mm tube, variable power and lens quality/coatings.

 

If these figures are the optimum for the reason stated, should they not all be a bit bigger, ie bigger tube, bigger objective, etc, to compensate for light LOSS and still therefore provide the optimum amount of light at the eye.

 

If the formula is correct, we are still all getting less at the eye than the eye can process, because of light loss in the scope!

 

Don't shout and scream...just my analytical mind asking an obvious question! I can understand what is being said but it still leaves a question or two, or have I missed something!!

 

...and just as a matter of interest ...for shooting I use 6x almost exclusively, on all my guns from air rifle to centrefires, crank it up a bit for looking around sometimes but seldom shoot at anything above 6x!!!

Edited July 12, 2008 by Deker