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Joined: Feb 2002
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Until last year, I'd never killed a big game critter with the scope set on anything higher than 6X (if available). Last year in WY hunting pronghorns, I set the scope at 10X as an experiment. I came home with 3 pronghorns, one taken at 256yds and the other two at 120yds or less. I could easily see myself with a fixed 10X on an open country rifle and a fixed 6X for other places/general purpose big game hunting.

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I shoot a lot of 3-9 Leupolds and hunt open country. I am not sure if they even come off of 9.

3.5-10's and 4-12 all pretty much stuck on the highest power too.

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Here in open country, up to 250 yards or so is reasonable, fixed 4x or 4-12x on a deer/varmint setup. After reading John Barseness the variable is left on 6x unless I forget the binocs and need to check headgear. He's right.


The key elements in human thinking are not numbers but labels of fuzzy sets. -- L. Zadeh

Which explains a lot.
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For the past 12 years I have used a Schmidt and Bender 3-12x50 scope.

Seems to work OK. I leave it set at 12X.

All of my hunting is in Wyo.

6X is enough, and if I had to do it over again I'd get 1.5-6x42. Live and learn................. smirk

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Guess I'll be the one to skew the stats. I have 20/20 vision, heavily corrected, so maybe this plays a role. My longest shot is about 115-ish yards max, on whitetails only. Have almost exclusively hunted in shotgun or muzzleloader only areas. Longest available shot might be 175 yards.

I primarily stand hunt, but have successfully killed 3, that I can think of, still hunting. I used to carry my variable cranked all the way down, but in the last half a dozen years, realized I can "throw the gun to my shoulder" and instantly find a deer at 6X at close range, so now leave the X's a little off the very bottom.

Started with a Weaver K2.5X. Killed at least one, possibly two.

Wanted more power and variability, so I went to a Burris 1.5-6X. Killed the next half a dozen, all on 6X, except one at 1.5x.

Got a Leupold 3-9X and killed another half a dozen on 9X.

Had a Tasco Titan 4.5-18X and killed several more, on 18X- before the scope went kaput.

Nowadays, I use either a Leupold 4-12X or 4.5-14X and have killed several, several more, all on either 12X or 14X.

Thinking about it, I might put my Bushnell 4200 8-32X on this year. wink grin


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4x (Weaver K4) but the 2x7 is creeping up on it.

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To answer the survey -

2,5x, 3x, 4x, 4,75x in that order.

For biggame hunting it is my experience that magnification is the most overrated feature; twilight performance a close second and FOV the most misunderstood of all.



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In the woods 2.5x
In the field 8x
for big game...


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CMG +1

bhemry, a new scope is coming out, it's called the 'Hubble' wink

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Because my main hunt each year is for black bear over bait (I rarely hunt whitetails anymore), and moose when possible, I prefer variables. Though, in recent years I've enjoyed a couple of fixed 4X.

This year I'm using my 9.3 X 62 with a 2-7X by 35mm Burris Fullfield II. The distance from stand to bait is 135 yds (ranged). Hunt begins Sept 1st. A mature boar is attending this bait, so I don't expect to see him early. Probably just about quitting time, if at all. He comes from a very dense woods and underbrush. My scope will be cranked to 6 or 7X.

On the other hand, if I opt for my Ruger No.1 in .45-70, it's a 350gr Hornady at 2270 fps, sighted appropriately. It carries a 2-7 by 32mm Nikon (shotgun scope), which appears brighter to me than the Burris though it's only a 32mm vs a 35mm. It too would be cranked all the way up.

Over the years I've used many 3 - 9s X40mm, but generally find them a bit too heavy and clumsy for woods encounters.

Bob

www.bigbores.ca


"What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul" - Jesus

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Last 25 years, 90% Leupold vari-x's set on 5.
Farther back, 4x fixed.


Have Dog

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3.5-10 or 3-9 variables, usually set at 6x, but cranked down to 4x if I might kick out an animal that's bedded down.

I basically just need Duovid scopes, since I only use two power settings while hunting.


Originally Posted by RED53
Some shooting knowledge: Don't stand in front of the muzzle. Some hunting knowledge: Too much noise ruins the hunt.
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Hmmm, sounds like Leupold needs to come out w/a 5x35 fixed wink Lol.

Gasman, I'd reckon a good % of hunters who have time, often crank their variables to the max power for their shot by habit, just b/c it's there.

For less experienced shooters, it can cause overconfidence and a hurried trigger snatch pulling the shot in the field.


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Last 10 years - 3x9 Leupold - in the timber sitting on 3x, otherwise resting at 5x.

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Probably my favorite scope for big game is the Leupold 2-7x33. The 3-9x40 is also very nice but I wouldn't want anything larger than 40mm on a big game rifle. I usually sit with the scope on 4x and only crank it up for volunteers past about 200 yards.

This summer I sat with a bud looking over a bean field with my FN Mauser 7x57 with a fixed 4x Leupold on board (crop damage permit, strictly legal). A volunteer came into view at 200 yards. When I brought up the rifle I thought that deer looked mighty small through that scope! That's when I would have reached up and cranked the mag ring on a variable. I did kill the deer though.

Now I don't often shoot on 2x. Only when sitting or moving through the thickest of the thick. I have never kilt a buff or elephant but I can understand how low magnification would be beneficial there. A diaper and a roll of toilet paper would probably come in handy then too. wink


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I live out west, and most of my shooting seems to be at distance, so I crank it up from 6X to max power. Usually it is 14X or 9X.


Dennis



Lets start over and talk about something you know about, like Mexican food.
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