Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 2 Good Reasons For Higher (Variable) X Scopes

Shrapnel....I have rifles with......both!

I prefer lower magnification scopes and I like fixed power scopes on many of my rifles - mostly light rifles. I have two 3x-9x scopes on rifles that might be used for pronghorns.

Many rifles that I buy have 3x-9x scopes on them and I sell those scopes cheap at gun shows.

I do not like variables and high power scopes for several reasons. But the main is they are an abnomination on light rifles. I do have a couple fixed high power scopes for heavy barrelled prairie dog rifles. You can have your 4x-12x and up scopes. They would be on my table at a gun show no matter what brand they are.

My binocs don't require focusing.

I use binocs to judge all deer before shooting.

I DO like the extra X on the scope at times though, it helps threading the needle with the bullet on 300 plus yard shots into the brush that I often have chances at.

If it were all wide open, iron sights could be more than enough.

The only issue I had once, with 0X on a red dot, was not seeing a small hard vine in front of a buck in a swamp... For the life of me I could not figure out why that buck didn't just run a bit and fall over... had to back track after about 150 yards to figure things out, found the vine that I"d never seen, clipped in half... and after quite a ways started finding bone fragments that indicated probably deflected from heart to a low leg shot. Followed that trail and that deer for over 7 hours before we lost the trail... he was still going last time I got a glimpse of him.

But even him, I'd glassed as legal when he was walking up.

I won't use the scope to judge whether big enough or legal but I sure see the use of larger X on scopes at times...

And I do get your area vs time. I have lost shots due to glassing with binocs.... just my choice I guess.

Was reared not to pick the gun up until I knew I was going to shoot. I guess it stuck and there isn't anything wrong with that.

And as long as you identify the game as game and know what it is and choose to "glass" it with the scope, who cares.

But I've also lost shots just becuase I wasn't fast enough to chamber a round and get on the deer.

Wasn't a big loss though.

I wish I knew when/where your shows are!!

The reason I prefer light weight rifles is that it allows room for a somewhat LARGER scope and still maintain reasonable weight overall.

As y'all know we don't have time/space to include every detail.

On no.1 I did not have time to use binos and THEN get the shot. It takes LESS than 1 second to crank up the variable.

On no.2 I COULD have used binos BUT my scope is 4-12X and I don't use 12X binos. Most of the reading I've done indicates that more 8 or 10 X binos are used than those larger than 10X. I've not done any survey per bino power, just my impression.

Yeah, I've HAD my share of those moments.

I was brought up with the rule that you don't point your gun at anything you don't want to shoot. How many times have you seen a flash of color in the woods and leveled your rifle on it only to find out it's Billyjoejimbob your neighbor out walking his dog. I'm sure he appreciates you turning your scope up to verify that he wasn't a deer. I've had a firearm leveled at me by a numbnut that thought it was a good idea to verify what he was looking at through his gunsight.

Your assumption that someone doesn't have any experience with hunting WT is absolutely laughable just because they can find fault in your methods.

The antler restrictions you're throttled with surely suck ( I witnessed it first hand in Pennsylvania) but that isn't an excuse for poor gun handling.

CR

I've dealt with antler point restrictions in my home state of Missouri for the past several years (at least 4 pts on one side). Best thing to happen to our deer hunting in my opinion. Has significantly improved the quality of bucks in my hunting area. If you want one to eat, there's plenty of does. Wouldn't think of going deer hunting without good binoculars. Probably as important as the scope.

Some don't get it. One knows it is a deer before he goes to the scope. Duh.

Tell that to the families of those hunters killed or injured because the shooter just knew he was shooting at a deer.......

Duh.....indeed.

CR

Obviously he did not know if he shot someone. DUH! Identify first DUH!

Good, I knew you'd eventually get up to speed. Absolutely correct, identify first before leveling your firearm on the target.

CR

To answer your ?.

I have NEVER repeat NEVER scoped 'something' to find out it was a PERSON!!

I was raised and taught proper gun handling and hunting 'ethics'. I would NOT like being scoped nor 'ironed'...so I don't do it !!

Your ASSumption that I have is too, laughable.

Guys let me remind us that the theme of MY thread is using scopes for DEER.

There are many tangents we go off on but those are not the subject!

No you just caught on.

Good, glad to hear it. So, what will your position be if and when it does happen?

CR

Personally, I think threads about,good reasons to shoot an uber-magnum are much more useful.

What part of this post did you not get? "one know it is a deer" too complicated?

What part of this statement didn't you understand?

"Tell that to the families of those hunters killed or injured because the shooter just knew he was shooting at a deer......."

CR