Scopes....scopes.....scopes.....

[Cheaper Rooter]

Ok, here's my problem. I am kinda new to the scope thing, so have pitty on me.

I have both a Colt and a Bushie AR15. Colt came with a 1x Tactical red dot. Useless to me. I can't figure out WHY I would want a scope that doesn't magnify. I can fixed sight myself around just fine at 1x and have a much better field of view. To me, no purpose at all and gets in my way of vision.

But since I have 2, I figured I keep one as a bush gun, no accessories and the other as a sniper with a scope. Because my Colt has a handle and I have heard handle mounts are unreliable, I have chose my Bushie for the long range. I got a 4x16. But at 100yds, 16x still isn't good enough for me.

Yet I hear OVER AND OVER that at 5x, people are fine at 300 and 400 yds????? I dont get it? I mean I dont want to shoot at a blimp from a distance. If I can't at least see the chest area of my target, then to me, I need more like a 32x or a 50x.

So how are people using much less powerful scopes and shooting distances much farther then me? I mean at 100 yds, I can see my target, but it's still "distant". Can't see my bullet holes in the target, thats for sure, and thats 16x. Without ever seeing out to 300 yds, have nowhere to shoot that far, I can tell you now my target would be barely visible.

[broknaxl]

My farthest shot was at 325yds with a 2x7 Redfield on a .270 Ruger - Took a Muley in Wyoming. The scope was set on 6x. But that was a while ago and my eyes ain't that great anymore. I've got a 22-250 that has a 8x32 that works good for long range varmints and my latest is a 3x12 Burris on a Rem. CDL in .35 Whelen. I can see pretty good with that out to 200yds. It all boils down to what works for you. Everybody sees different. I can still hit pretty good out to 200 with some of my steel sighted firearms. (not as tight as I use to)

[kjack]

Can you see a target clearly (and expect hits) at 50 yards with open sights or no magnification (1X)?

Multiply that by 4 (a 4X scope), so you should be able to get pretty close to the same sight picture at 200 yards. An 8X scope will, then, give you pretty much the same sight picture at 400 yards.

None of this, of course, takes into account your ability to hold steady, nor does it consider bullet drop, but it sure gives you a quick reference to judge what kind of scope you need for your kind of hunting at your intended target. Also, scopes get a tad bulky above the 3X9 variable.

One more consideration - I shoot smaller varmints with a higher magnification scope at reasonably long range. Above 10X, I can see my heartbeat on the scope sometimes and I know I'm squeezing the butt too tight (or had too much caffeine). Time to relax a bit!

[Cheaper Rooter]

Now that's a good and valid point I guess. Never thought of it that way. Yes, I can see good at 50yrds, so under that theory, I should be able to nail something at 200 yds with my 16x. Hmmmm.

Just have to go out SOMEWHERE that has a range over 100yds to find out.

[blackdog001]

I wear glasses. I can shoot comfortably out to 200 yards at deer size game with my 3.5x10 and 2.5x8 scopes. I am ok to 250 yards. Beyond that, it is challenging because even with my glasses, my vision at that distance is not good. 16x at 200 yards should be plenty, even for smaller targets. 16x is a lot of magnification and the earlier comment on caffine and heartbeats viz scope movement holds true!