Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Survey #2 - what Scope Power used for big game killls ??

I still occasionally hunt the original 3x Leupy I've had for years, that said, most of my big game kills have been split between it and the 1.5x5 Leupy. With aging eyes I've been going up to the 2.5x8 and 3x9 variables over the last several years.

Started out with a 4x for around a decade then I got smart and got a 3-9x, They've all been relatively cheap glass, bushnell and BSA and such.

MM

John,
Something just looks wrong to me with less than 30 feet on the low end. Once I went on a jackrabbit hunt and shot a bunch out to over 225 and then noticed that I had left the power at 3x. It had about 38'. More fov is even better. The 3x was plenty on thebrabbits. I would use a 4x if it still had 30' of view. Will stay with the 3x9 Ultralight.

Most of my guns wear 2-10, 3-9 etc. I would say the last 10 deer in Montana were on 5-6 x. Kind of makes me think I could use 6x fixed powers.......always think I'm going to need the lower end for woods or up close shots but it rarely works out that way.

RinB, I suppose hunting Jackalopes one could use more FOV, some perhaps even irons. Did not know that the FOV changed in the 6x's but interesting.

JB, read long ago about that 'bou' you shot w/Lyman. Great shot. No doubt as a teen I picked off birds using OEM irons at 100 yds....somehow we tend to shoot surprisingly well when we practice alot w/what is in hand when a shot presents. 22s and air rifles allow alot of that, and I have made some amazing shots, some on the wing, or run, both handgun, and rifle, but won't go into details.

Since you and Bob use the 3s and 4s, is there any criteria you go by to choose between them, I know the 3 is btr on an LA than the 4x33. So it looks like if you're not using it for DG and/or an LA rifle, you might grab a 4x just as quick, if not 6x?

Good info. Goodshot - like JB I too have killed up close, one a large WT buck at 15 paces, 6x Leupold. Centered chest/shoulder in scope and squeezed. Worked great. It was at Dawn thirty

So it was LOW Light, but suffice to say a 6x never cost me an animal for too small an FOV, let alone too many wobbles causing either overconfidence hurrying the trigger, or not getting a sight pic.

65 I just stuck a 3X on my 375H&H.

Other criteria is to own enough rifles that I can have a 3X on one,4X on a couple more,a 6X on another,and a variable on another. Then I grab whichever one seems most suitable at the time.

This avoids tough decisions.

There are some mounting systems that work well with a 4x33,Talley Lightweights among them.

Always doubt my eyesight. Have it sat on 9. Low light, a little buck fever, I connect. Buddy asks "How far?" About 130yds. We start walking and he says "I already counted 150 paces and we ain't there yet." He counted about 210 - a lowly .270 too.

poboy: It couldn't happen!

In the past 15 years or so, I've used the 1.5-5, 1.75-6 and 2.5-8, 3.5-10 and 4.5-14 Leupolds, as well as Swarovski's in 2.5-10 and 3.5-18 on my big game rifles. When I'm walk/stalking, I usually keep my scope on 5X or so. But when it comes time to shoot, unless I'm taking a quick shot at a running animal or following something wounded, I usually crank it up as high as it will go unless the shot's under 100 yards. I guess I always figured the better I can see my target the more likely I am to make that first shot count.

Regardless of the scope magnification, I have killed several thousand animals at around 5-6 power and perhaps less than a hundred or so at max if varmintsare excluded.
I am however, a sucker for variables.

8-32 on one 7 stw that is a bean field rifle.

I use a 3-10 Leupold on my wood's rifle.

In Kansas large bucks fight and break off tines, I need to see busted up racks.

4x in the beginning.

3-9x set someplace in the middle, never on 9. Been decades though since I've had one.

6x36 and 6x42

2.5-8 set on 3 or 4 for the most part. Once on 8 to make sure it had brow tines. It's getting sold.

3x: Only once but I like it.

Just ordered another 6x42. Lost my like for them and then got it back.

If I had to pick it would be a 1.5-5x20 with a fat reticle. In the woods usually hunt with it around 2 or 3. Funny thing is if things are not happening quick, I spin it up to 5 without even thinking about it. I must turn it up before the safety goes off. When its over and I look at the scope it will be on 5 or close to it and I can't remember turning it up.

Can't ever remember doing the same with the 2.5-8. Which is even more crazy.

Probably 75% have been with a fixed 4x or 6x scope.

The rest have been with variables, mainly 2-7's and 3.5-10's. Occasionally I'll crank a variable up to thread a needle, but it seems the 2-7's look best to my eye with the power around 4....the 3.5-10's seem best with the power around 6...not that they are bad on other powers, but they seem to have a sweet spot there (to my eyes).

3x9, almost always set on 9. Where I hunt you have to be darn sure there's atleast three points on one side. Lower the setting after sundown to 6.

9x probably the highest, most of mine used to be 3x9 and I generally would crank em up if the situation allowed.

3X9 or 4X12 on all my big game rifles. 2X7 on the slug guns.

Aussie, tell us more about your scope choices given your experience, like to know more. Thanks.

Seems many find they set their vari scope in the middle of the power band, been told that this is indeed a 'best view' for many variables.

Perhaps JB or someone might explain. Good comments. Battue is that an FX 3x?

Yes, the new Fx 3x.

I've killed more while looking through Weaver K-2.5's from both El Paso and Japan than any other scope. I think I've probably killed even more with iron sights than the K-2.5's but it's a close call.

I hunt with the Older Redfield 4X fixed and 2X7 variable scopes; bright, clear image.