Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters What power is your scope on 95% of the time?

What power do you keep your scope on while hunting? Now I know terrain varies and you might switch powers once or twice a day. But what power is it that you set it on for most of every hunt you do.

I tend to at the start of the day set mine at 6x but it always seems to end up on 5x by the end of the day.

Next question. Which power have you shot most of your game with? Sorta the same question as above. But none the less would still be interested in your results.

Thanks -06

Since my "main" go to rifle has a 4x fixed power scope it goes without saying what power that scope is on. When I'm hunting with a rifle with a variable power scope it is set on 4x. Seldom do I set the scope higher. I use my binoculars to look an animal over at long distances. I also seldom take a shot over 200 yds. If I had the time to change the power for a shot in excess of 200 yds. I would consider doing it. Just hate to give up the wider field of view that I get with the 4x.

4 power to both questions.

Also a fixed 4X shooter.

DD

At the lowest setting--except for my 2x-7x--which I keep at 3x. Everything else I keep at 2.5x or 3x.

Most of the critters probably have been shot at the low setting. If they're a far piece away, just a quick twist of the magnification ring, somewhere near the top magnification.

Casey

4x Esox357.

2 on the 2x7 2.5 on the 2.5x8 don't own any other types for hunting.

I asked cuz I'm trying to deceide which scope to put on my new Ruger hawkeye. I have a pard that's a fixed scope freak. Claim's that all his fixed power scopes out shine (clarity) his variable's. Most his scopes are Sightron or Leupolds. I tend to agree with him to some degree.

Around here it's thick real thick. But you can set up in clear cuts and shoot along ways. Only killed one deer over 100yds away since I moved here 11 yrs ago. I'm wondering if a fixed 6x is too much in the brush.

-06

My favorite big game scope is the Leupold Varix/vx-III 2.5-8x. I have mine set at 2.5x most of the time while hunting. If a longer shot arrises & I have time I will use 6x. Come to think of it, the ONLY time I go all the way to 8x is when I am shooting off a bench & sighting in.

If I'm hunting with a scope - 6x as I have mostly 6x fixed power scopes. The few variables I still have are set on 6x unless they are bush guns in which case I set them on 3x. Lately I've been using iron sights or peep sights so the scoped rifles are gathering dust.

Can't argue with the simplicity of a fixed power. And I wouldn't be surprised is there is a difference in optical resolution--but I haven't noticed any significant difference when I have looked through a few 4x and 6x Leupys in the field. But I still buy varibles for the flexibility. For me, something like a fixed 6x is way too much magnification in the spruce/fir elk jungles.........

The Leupy Vari-X/VX III in 2.5x-8x is my fav on my lightwieght mountain rifles, close second is the Vari-X/VX II 3x-9x's.

Casey

3x, but I'm not particularly a fixed-power fan. Obviously most others aren't either. I could probably hunt big game the rest of my life with a 1.5-6x scope on whatever I was hunting with. The 6x is just good to have to shoot some coyotes for practice and shooting groups on paper, or longer range antelope, etc.

4x

Big game 4x to 4.5X. Most shot at 4X.

Varmints 10X

In the past all of my scopes were fixed power and I still have them but these days my new scopes are variables.

My rifles carry variable scopes, usually set on 6x and most of my shots are with the scope set on 6x.

No problems with the fixed 4x and 6x scopes I have, whether in the woods at 25yds or out sniping woodchucks at 250+ (6x only). The few variables I have stay around 4x, unless I have time to switch up for a long shot.

5X Sure wish someone made a quality fixed scope in this power with a 35-36mm bell. And at least 3.5" eye relief!

For my eyes and tastes, 4X is too little and 6X is too much for all-around use.

2.5x or 3x either set there or a fixed of that power. If not for load development and/or rifle refinement work at the range,I would be happy with only fixed scopes of this approximate power.

Fireplug

We hunt big canyon country, usually looking about 500 yards to a mile or better in front of us. Spot and stalk stuff. That being it's usually cranked up as high as it will go. 1Minute

That is a good question, in brush 2X, out in the open 4X, but this is a greenhorn's opinion.

This isn't really a hijack, so I'll ask, you fellas who hunt at 4X, if you had a shot at 250 yds and you had the time to dial up to 8X or 9X, would you do so or take the shot at 4X?