Blowing it out of proportion: Magnification levels and performance.

[ChrisWay]

Introduction



Rifle enthusiasts are always excited to show off their equipment. I am right there with the pack. Nice barrel, nice stock or chassis, and a cool new optic with many magnification levels. Who doesn’t want to appreciate them, and there’s nothing wrong with that. How do you figure out application zone, and use case performance zones, for these systems? I don’t subscribe to one rifle rules them all, even though it would be cool. Magnification levels make a difference for many shooters. If you havent tested your shooting at different magnification levels you might be missing more than you realize.

take advantage of your equipment so your equipment doesnt take advantage of you


Knowledge is half the battle



I used to zero my rifle on high power, group it...

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[Lowlight]

Riflekraft

 

[BurtG]

@RickyRodney aka allthemag

 

[Ronws]

In addition, there is a discussion in another thread and I was reminded of a video I watched of West Desert Shooter contacting a target at 1,000 yards on 16X. For him, using greater magnification makes you second guess yourself. I you notice more wobble, you worry about smaller and smaller wind variations. As opposed to just reading the wind, hold the target or width of the target, as the case may be, and send it.

I know when I am hunting and I have ranged a spot I could see whitetail at about 250 to 300 yards (my max comfort range,) I usually am at no more than 10x. I can see what I need and still have usable FOV. And the FFP reticle is solid enough to use, as well.

 

[coldboremiracle]

using greater magnification makes you second guess yourself. I you notice more wobble, you worry about smaller and smaller wind variations.

For sure, I shoot 1000 occasionally with as little as 8X. Probably a little less than ideal, but certainly doable. My son shot his first deer and elk around 500 yds, with a 6X scope. I find that the lower mag is better for kids and new shooters for the same reason, less wobble and its easier to get things in the scope at lower power.

 

[XTREM HTR16]

A S&B PMII 10x42 fixed scope is on my western hunting rifle and hasn't let me down. Fixed 10X works out to 500 yards (or more) easy...

 

[Barelstroker]

A S&B PMII 10x42 fixed scope is on my western hunting rifle and hasn't let me down. Fixed 10X works out to 500 yards (or more) easy...

I reckon 10x is a sweet spot.

 

[Baron23]

We did this drill at a Frank SH clinic at...300 yards, I believe. Low, middle, max magnification.

If I remember correctly, all of our groups opened up at lower magnifications.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

I've always maintained if you can quarter your target with your ret, you have plenty of power to shoot, and get a quality group if need be..

 

[Nik H]

We did this drill at a Frank SH clinic at...300 yards, I believe. Low, middle, max magnification.

If I remember correctly, all of our groups opened up at lower magnifications.

It was at 100 yards. Mine opened up as magnification grew. My best group was at 5X. I have since started shooting at lower magnifications

 

[Baron23]

It was at 100 yards. Mine opened up as magnification grew. My best group was at 5X. I have since started shooting at lower magnifications

Thanks Nik…was going to tag you for clarity on this....but then forgot! haha

 

[diggler1833]

I appreciate a little more magnification. I find myself hanging around at 15x more than about anything else.

That being said, I've killed more deer with a fixed 10x than any other riflescope. Shots usually aren't that far, probably 100 - 275. If you're counting points before you fire, you'll probably appreciate more magnification for that task. It does make a difference there. If you're like me and shoot anything that has a rack outside the ears or twice as tall as the head, 10x is fine.

 

[Ronws]

I do know that if I shoot a group that looks a little wide, I can reduce magnification and the group shrinks.

 

[Ldecker81]

These are the kinds of test us 100yard range monkeys have been running on the reg. My 5.5-30x usually serves me best at 15 power for groups.
I’d love to run the test with movers at 100

 

[Grim's Reapers]

I think a lot of it really comes down to the individual shooter. Let's face it, fundamentals, training and repetition are key in most of what we do, but we're humans and what works best for some might not work as well for others. My 6x36 is most often left at 12-14 magnification from 100-800 yards. I don't think I've ever used the 36 magnification even approaching a mile. Some of that might be due to the almost ever present mirage here in Florida.

 

[Nik H]

I think a lot of it really comes down to the individual shooter. Let's face it, fundamentals, training and repetition are key in most of what we do, but we're humans and what works best for some might not work as well for others. My 6x36 is most often left at 12-14 magnification from 100-800 yards. I don't think I've ever used the 36 magnification even approaching a mile. Some of that might be due to the almost ever present mirage here in Florida.

I do the same 12-15X depending on the reticle. The JTAC is run at 15X.

The only time I have ever used 30-35X on my NF is for bench rest 22 rimfire.

 

[kthomas]

Last PRS match I shot, I left my scope magnification to one setting (I believe it was 16x), and didn't change it once over the course of 2 days.

The advantage was that I had a great field of view, and it was one less thing to worry about for stage management. I don't think it was a hindrance. However, I think certain stages in which you have a really stable position, higher magnification helps to see the small nuances of impacts - such as which way the target swings after an impact on longer ranges, especially with smaller 6mm cartridges.

 

[st1650]

On a high recoiling ultra lightweight build it can also helps spotting yourself to turn down magnification.