I used an old K4 Weaver initially. Thought I was big time. Then I bought my first "long range" rifle. A M70 270. Mounted a M8 6X on it. Almost too much for deer hunting. Don't know exactly when I got the first 3-9. 9X was reserved for extreme emergencies,or woodchuck. From there it went down hill fast. All the way up to 36 and 40X br scopes. After using them for a summer,I flat couldn't see chit at 6X. They do indeed become crutches. I swear if Id never went beyond 6X,I'd have been just as happy and successful. Save the bench rest game. Still have that old M8. It's been on dozens of rifles. Still tracks and holds zero. Wish I had a dozen of them.

"Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."