Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics hunting rifle scope magnification selection "formula"...over-scoping ?

You wish to select a hunting rifle scope's magnification for your needs.

"A" = max distance in yards we will take a shot at the intended quarry, with the SCOPE

"B" = max distance in yards we will take a shot at the intended quarry, with IRON SIGHTS (or peep sight)

"A" divided by "B" = "X" scope magnification

Examples:
A = 400 yards
B = 100 yards
X = 4x

example 2:
A = 600 yards
B = 100 yards
X = 6x
(c'mon, how many hunters actually shoot that far?)

Then ask yourself , "What is the TYPICAL yardage the intended quarry is taken? (" T " ). I'm guessing "T" is about 50% of "A" ( max distance in yards), which means scope magnification can be 5O% of "X" (magnification) .

Point to ponder: Are we "over-scoping" our hunting rifles (more magnification than needed)?
Scopes in the 2.5x to 4x power range (upper end 6x), don't really give up much and appear to be able to meet 90%(?), 95%(?), 99+%(?) of our hunting needs?

I believe Wayne van Zwoll wrote an article (Guns Digest? Shooters Bible?) which included this concept. I seem to remember him stating that he (sic) did not feel handicapped hunting big game with a 2.5, 3x, or 4x scope. I agree with him.

What's my point? Nothing more than responding to the many threads I've read about variable hunting scopes with 6x zooms to magnification of 14 to 18++ . Not saying it's "wrong," just trying to justify the fixed 4x scope on my 30-06. I think I'll stick with it.

Are we over-scoping ourselves? What is your "A", "B" , "X" and "T". values?

Found this article by Wayne van Zwoll: "The Forgotten 4"
https://gunsmagazine.com/gear/the-forgotten-four/


WvZ's artic!e on this websjte:
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/scopes-that-do-it-all/

I guess Wayne van Zwoll writings I read years ago sunk deep and stuck into my sub-conscious brain as the basis for my post ( should more accurately called "his post." ). I enjoy his writing and thoughts.

Good fuggin’ grief….

You omitted target size. I use much higher power when shooting small varmints at distance than big game. 16x for varmints, 6x for big game.

No I didn't. I covered that with: "...at the intended quarry..."

No kidding.

Amen.

How many times have you taken your 30.06 with 4x scope west of the Mississippi?

Amen

My 338WM sported a K2.5 - I have a 22LR with an 18x - And a Mod 336, 35 Rem that wore a Millett Red Dot!?!?!?

My 'formula'???

'A' = W
'B' = G
'X' = A
'T' = F

Sorry, just don't see it as an issue..........

You mention 'need' in the first line.........

A word that has little meaning in the 'Campfire' world of guns..............

IMHO

I've never thought about it - at all. Ever.

Find a scope I like - put it on the rifle. Go shoot. It either works or doesn't. If not - change. Done.

😜

My kind of formula, no math required.

what cant be killed when big game hunting with a 3-9x40 scope....pick your power

Exactly!

I choose a scope for the most magnification I can get with a bottom field of view around 21 feet at 100 yards. A 6X scope at best is around 17 feet. That means I would loose 2 feet all the way around my field of view going with a 6X. That ain't happening. I have two scopes. For years I used the Bushnell 6500 4 1/2-30X52.
that's what I have on the 8mm Coyle. My newest is a March 2 1/2-25X52 and will go on the 7mmRUMLN. I discovered 16 on the top end does not satisfy my desire to really scope out an animal I found.

I don't do things for other folks; well except to be a nice guy.

Interesting concept and more than likely true. I live in the west and some years hunt 5 different states and have found FOV trumps X's every time. Even at home I have nearly 10,000 sq. miles of public land within an hours drive of the house. I spend a lot of time hunting. On open country scopes I like a minimum of 40 feet on the bottom end and hunting sage, mesquite thickets, mesquite dunes and river bottoms 60 feet on the bottom end. I'm not a big game hunter but a coyote pelt hunter. I spend from the end of October to the end of Feb hunting coyotes and other preds. My goto magnifications, tight cover calling, combo guns with 1-3 or 1-4 x20 scopes(still good to 300 with the rifle barrel), most common stands with fair visibility I'm VERY fond of 1.5-6x40ish scopes, and open country 2.5-10 and 2-12 scopes. All stay on the bottom end until more X's are needed, funny how even in open grass lands a coyote can find a crease and pop up near the caller.

There is never time to turn a scope down but usually more than enough time to turn the power up.

I put 4x16x40 scopes on everything i own. If im shooting big animals i may not need it, small game i need it. Paper, i always like seeing bullet holes.

Was gonna mention my choices. Thats just adding to the argument.

OP isn't a newbie so the thread is mental masturbation.

For a newbie, I'd recommend a bottom of 2-4x.
Top then depends on availability, price, dimensions.
Then decide where to go.


Bigger concerns than power for me is eye relief and eye box.

Glass, power....is nothing when you go prone or are twisted around a tree
trying to take a shot and your eye relief Is. fugged.
So now you contort a different way to get fov.

Nice.

I do agree that many are overscoped for big game. I've done some good work through the years at 5-600 yds with several iterations of 6X scopes.

If the world was limited to one scope itineration, this would be the one used.

I don’t have any fixed power scopes. I shoot most game animals on 3-6 power, but I definitely like the higher X’s to shoot paper, extend the range on big game, or if I’m shooting a 223 or 22 hornet precisely place a shorter range shot on deer.