I recently pulled a Nightforce SHV 4-14×56 off my bolt action hunting rifle. The scope was needed for another project. Looking in the cupboard the only other scope I had to replace it with was a Leupold VX Freedom 1.5-4×20. I considered buying another scope but as I don't generally take shots over 300m with the rifle I thought I'd test it in a format to simulate pig hunting. I mounted it up and was immediately impressed with the improvement in handling and weight of the rifle.
Summary of test was:
5 shots each from prone, sitting and standing at 100m - only support was a hunting sling. All shots fired as rapidly as I could acquire a sight picture.
5 shots each from prone and sitting at 200m as per above.
5 shots prone at 300m as per above.
The result of all 30 rounds was 28 shots that landed in the heat/lung area of the target (medium sized pig simulation) 1 shot that would have needed a follow up and 1 shot at 300m that missed. It was raining and I had water on the scope and my glasses so it was as real world conditions as I could get.
I'm going to leave the scope on the rifle. It's much nicer and lighter to carry, no parallax to mess around with and gives me the performance I want out to 300m.
Anyone else use such a basic scope for hunting? How have you found it? Has 4× magnification limited you in the field. Interested to hear other people's experience.
Summary of test was:
5 shots each from prone, sitting and standing at 100m - only support was a hunting sling. All shots fired as rapidly as I could acquire a sight picture.
5 shots each from prone and sitting at 200m as per above.
5 shots prone at 300m as per above.
The result of all 30 rounds was 28 shots that landed in the heat/lung area of the target (medium sized pig simulation) 1 shot that would have needed a follow up and 1 shot at 300m that missed. It was raining and I had water on the scope and my glasses so it was as real world conditions as I could get.
I'm going to leave the scope on the rifle. It's much nicer and lighter to carry, no parallax to mess around with and gives me the performance I want out to 300m.
Anyone else use such a basic scope for hunting? How have you found it? Has 4× magnification limited you in the field. Interested to hear other people's experience.
