Scope size and power

FinsnFur · October 17, 2006, 09:15:21 PM

What do you use, or what do you wish you had?

I'm thinking about replacing the Lighted 3x12x50 Barska on my 22-250 with something more powerfull. I put that on when I went to Texas because I had a 6x20 on at the time and it literally sucked my eyeball right outta me head.

Maybe I went down too far too fast, this Barska cranked up to 12 will really test your stability trying to hold er on a 2" circle at 150yds.
I think I'm going to go with something in between.
What do some of you find yourselves doing when hunting?... setting it and leaving it, or zooming to the occasion?

Bob D · October 17, 2006, 09:45:57 PM

Jim,
I like good glass. I like to see when you can't see with just your eyes. I'm talkin 56 mm OD lenses. I know you can get by on less but thats what i like. 3-10 or 12 is as strong as I like it. Goes back to my deer hunting days. get the best glass you can afford. I look a it like this, if i am going to spend my time out hunting i might as well do it first class and that is what I do. My favorite scopes are german made. kahles( the original) and schmidt bender. I have 2 Nikon german 56's but they aren't as clear as the other two. I've got several Leupold and they are okay but they don't come close to the Schmidt or Kahles. I don't think you can buy the kahles like I have anymore, cause it isn't made by Kahles. You can get a Schmidt. Start saving though.
Bob

FinsnFur · October 19, 2006, 04:53:16 PM

Thanks Bob...yeah that might be outta my price range.

This must be pretty highly classified information....not many responses.

slagmaker · October 19, 2006, 05:01:05 PM

When I bought my savage it came with a Tasco High country scope on it 3/9X40. Its ok, nice and clear but I am thining about upgrading. Was leaning towards a Nikon of the same power range but I am not sure. I still have a lot of looking to do.

Bob D · October 19, 2006, 09:05:25 PM

Quote from: FinsnFur on October 17, 2006, 09:15:21 PM

What do some of you find yourselves doing when hunting?... setting it and leaving it, or zooming to the occasion?

I like mine on or about a 7 power then I adjust either way as needed.

Lighterknot · October 20, 2006, 01:26:21 PM

down here where I hunt a shot over 150 yards isn't gonna happen unless I set up on the edge of a cut. For me anything bigger than a 3-9X40 would prob be overkill. Where you live if longer shots are common, I would want something with a bit more magnification maybe up to 14 or 16 power and a big boy objective lense...I am not too picky on the brand of the scope.

Mallardsr · October 20, 2006, 07:41:30 PM

I like a good 3 x 9 ,but I always find my self in the woods.No need for high power.Always leave it on the lowest setting.Get a clearer sight window that way .More light in the scope early and late in the day.It is always darker in the woods no matter what time it is. I could probably do all my hunting with a fixed 4 power in the Burris quality range.Just havent made the commitment to a fixed power yet. RP

FinsnFur · October 20, 2006, 10:46:13 PM

You guys are talking me into leaving the Barska on there.

wvmtnman506 · October 21, 2006, 05:22:05 AM

I hunt with 3-9x40 mostly, also have a 3.8-10x44. The longest shot I have ever taken on game is 200 yards and that was a coyote. I was just wondering about the Barska's quality. I have never owned one so how do you rate yours? I might be interested in tryin one out.

FinsnFur · October 21, 2006, 09:19:17 AM

Welcome to the board Mtnman.
I haven't had any problems with it. I really like it, and I would definitely not hesitate to buy another.

coyotehunter_1 · October 22, 2006, 09:47:26 AM

My calling rigs? 3 Nikon Pro Staff's and 2 Redfield's all 3x9 power. 3x when calling close in... fur at a distance... just crank it up.

IMHO, the Nikons are great scopes!

CCP · October 22, 2006, 10:07:48 AM

I keep all my shooting rigs set on 3x also when calling to many jump in close and don't have time to adjust. If they are in the distance I have time to adjust. I have tried many scopes through the years when my budget was greater than now and have found the old you get what you pay for is true.

I believe the Swift to be the best inexpensive scope out there. I use them for everything now. I can see much longer than with my naked eye in the mornings and evenings. When it is to dark to see in the swift it is way after legal shooting hours anyway.

My premier Swifts are the bomb and they have a life time over the counter warranty. They even held up on my .375 and 45/70 contender pistols.

Greenside · October 22, 2006, 04:37:35 PM

What do some of you find yourselves doing when hunting?... setting it and leaving it, or zooming to the occasion?

I like mine on or about a 7 power then I adjust either way as needed.

I'm a big fan of fixed power scopes. My main coyote gun has a old discontinued 8X Leupold on it and most of my variables are taped locked to 7 power so I can't adjust them. The thing to remember is to mount the scope for the VOF and eye relief on the power you will be using most of the time. Going up and down on the stock looking for the field of view will probably cost you more coyote than being over or under powered.

Greenside

Arkyyoter · October 22, 2006, 05:52:11 PM

Jim....I like a 3 X 12 X 50 Sightron SII.....we have had wonderful luck with them....

Joe

fuzz624 · October 28, 2006, 10:48:37 AM

Well Jim this is one of those questions that is hard to answer.I myself cant afford to put a 500.00 scope on a 300.00 rifle.As for power goes one size doesnt fit all.Right now i am useing a 6-24x42 Tasco mil dot.It is a great long range scope and i would recomend it to anyone shooting long range.It is verry clear and pulls in light pretty well set on 6 power.I love the mil dot recticle for yardage estamates.As long as a coyote is at 50 yards or farther im in pretty good shape.If he pops out at 15 yards id probally be better off throwing the gun at him.One of my buddies owns a gun shop and he got me two of them.I put one of them on my 22-250 and the other on my 243.I have 150.00 in both of them.That is my kind of scope,cheap and works great.i haul them around on a four wheeler so they take a pretty good beating and neither has lost alignment yeat.I hunt alote of farms and old stripmine land.I can get some pretty long shots.There is always a good chance that a coyote will sneak up from behind and get to close.I think i have figured out a good solution.Im going to put a bayonet on the end of the gun and use it as a spear

FinsnFur · October 28, 2006, 12:55:45 PM

Not a bad idea VV

I think I'm going to leave the 3x12-50 on it...very little open territory around here anyway unless your road hunting and that's not my style.

Target shooting or with the occasional coyote at 250 yds...it gets real tough to hold a pin on a pin sorta speak. But like I said that dont happen often...and if I can't continue to get them in closer then that then I better go to crocheting.

Dan Carey · October 28, 2006, 01:49:03 PM

I have 4.5-14X40's on most of my calling rigs, with the exception of my AR which has a 3.5-10X50. I find the 50MM objective is just not as handy as the 40.

It's funny how things change as you get older, with me anyway. I have more than a few 6.5X20X50 scopes that I used on predator rifles in the past that are now on varmint rifles. And the predator rifles got lighter as time went by.

Scope size and power

Arkyyoter