Leupold 2.5-8x36 reasonable range capability

[98s1lightning]

How far is the expected range of use for a 2.5-8x36 on deer or coyote sized game?

I usually shoot out to 200yds but have tried 300yds once. The duplex covers most of a kill zone sized target at 300 so maybe I will try a Orange paper plate next time I get a chance and see what I see. I figure a paper dinner plate is about 8". I've got some swinging steel I could shoot at too but I want to see groups. The first time I tried shooting 300yds my group would have been on a dinner plate. It was lower than my target but I was pleasantly surprised when I noticed it.

I shoot a 284win 22" barrel.(more like 21.5" actual but not sure what the standard way of measuring barrel length is)

I'd like to practice at longer ranges if its suitable.

 

[Fish4Food]

I've shot an 8" plate at 300 with a Leupold VX3i 2-8x36. Rifle was a Remington Model 7 Predator 223.

That's as far as I've tried. Pretty sure I did it on 6x and not 8x. It's been a while though. Need to try again.

No help further, didn't have access at the time.

 

[Bret GRAVELINE Graveline]

The correct way to measure barrel length is use a cleaning inserted down the barrel on a closed bolt ( empty chamber ) mark the cleaning rod at the muzzle, this gives you the correct length, depending on manufacturer measuring from the muzzle to the action will be approximately 5/8 to 7/8 short of the actual length, I hunt with 2.5 x 8's I've never shot targets at long range but have busted hundreds of gallon milk jugs out to 800 yds, I just don have access to a place where setup and recovery of the jugs is convenient, 760 yds on a bear, and a rag horn bull elk at over a thousand

 

[marksman1941]

That's purely personal preference and practice time on the gun. My brother uses a fixed 6x (SWFA) on a 243 for rock hunting out to 1400 yards. It has very fine crosshairs, which helps a ton. But the magnification is all preference and what you're comfy with. Many many old timers used a weaver k4 4x or similar scope for deer out to 300 or 400 with regularity. It was what was available, and with some practice a good shot on a critter is viable at distance.

 

[98s1lightning]

Is rock hunting a form of western target practice/entertainment?

Shoot a rock instead of setup a target.......

 

[marksman1941]

Is rock hunting a form of western target practice/entertainment?

Shoot a rock instead of setup a target.......

It is a time honored tradition! Often terrain is too rough to be able to set up a target at long range. So, you pick a rock on a safe hill side or a mark on a bluff and shoot at that. It's a great way to practice long range in field conditions, as a good vantage point will give you a variety of ranges to shoot at.

This video is from a spot that has shots from 800 out to 2200 plus. My brother was shooting a tikka 243 with a SWFA 6x at a the top edge of a moss patch on a rock bluff we estimated to be 18" wide by 4' long or so. Range for this shot was 1523.

 

[Bret GRAVELINE Graveline]

Is rock hunting a form of western target practice/entertainment?

Shoot a rock instead of setup a target.......

It most certainly is, one of the benefits of living in the west ( even California ) is often times where you find rocks you find rock chucks.

 

[memtb]

Is rock hunting a form of western target practice/entertainment?

Shoot a rock instead of setup a target.......

They are…..but, darn difficult to bring back to show your friends how well ya did! memtb