Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Competitive Shooting Scopes and Mirage

I didn't want to hijack the other thread about scopes so I thought I would start my own. I'm going to be shooting in some f-class competitions this spring; 200 yard reduced at first and then hopefully some at 600. I'm considering upgrading the scope that I have on my 308. Right now I have a Buckmaster 4.5-14x40. I may just go ahead and use this scope if the tracking is good. However, I've been thinking about something different. My question, then, is would a variable or fixed be better. I like the simplicity of a fixed but I'm worried a little about mirage at 600. Those of you that shoot long range, what power do you normally set your variable on while you shoot in heavy mirage conditions? I'm worried that a fixed 24x scope might have problems with this. Would a fixed 10x be a handicap at those ranges. Thanks for the information.
BP

Go with a better scope with more power..........

I shoot out to 500 meters with a fixed Leupold 24 and have no mirage problems at all. Need a spotting scope to read the mirage.

I use a fixed power scope because of weight class limitations. (they are lighter in weight)

Mirage and scintillation (the more common phenomenon and accurate term) are both real conditions which cause distortion of light, making things appear to be different than they actually are. No ordinary optical lense can "undistort" or undo the temperature affected air. You can't see "through" it anymore than you can see through rain or snow. Since the effects of scintillation and mirage work to fool one's mind just as magnifying lense system does (to make things appear closer than they are), however, some optics may fool one's mind better than others.

Mirage is your friend. -Al

up to a certain point. I've been unfortunate in that many ranges we shot on the mirage is flat to start the match and wont' get any better as the winds howl.

Use the same magnification as your spotting scope, so you can read the mirage the same.