Is there such a thing as, "too much scope"?

[VinceMule]

Before this site existed, for years we hunted with six by twenty-four Burris Signature with target knobs and the Light Collector on the front. The whole family is knob twisters, Seven Mags and Seven STW's rock in my family.

There is no living down shooting a buck with a broken tine, as we let those walk till next year.

 

[QuietTexan]

I still hunt with a 2x-7x usually, simple duplex even. FOV is more important when taking the shot IMO, if I need to look closer I can use the binos or even bring a spotter on a tripod along.

I worked several ranches where I scouted and took high quality pictures of the animals for the bosses and the lease guys. A phone camera and a Vortex spotter, or a Nikon with an 800mm lens will really reach out there. Lately I've been using a TriggerCam on one of my good scopes, except that does show the reticle. Put the pics on an iPad, let the money guys peruse until they see what they want, wait until it's time to clean it for them

 

[C-130 Dude]

I still hunt with a 2x-7x usually, simple duplex even. FOV is more important when taking the shot IMO, if I need to look closer I can use the binos or even bring a spotter on a tripod along.

I worked several ranches where I scouted and took high quality pictures of the animals for the bosses and the lease guys. A phone camera and a Vortex spotter, or a Nikon with an 800mm lens will really reach out there. Lately I've been using a TriggerCam on one of my good scopes, except that does show the reticle. Put the pics on an iPad, let the money guys peruse until they see what they want, wait until it's time to clean it for them

If they like it and it works, so be it. Can you say, "sponsor money"?

 

[QuietTexan]

The paid hunters sponsored my freezer for a few winters, so no complaints here. I shot some management stuff and one year they let me shoot a good 8 point off a lease pasture. They were in the main good guys to be around.

 

[C-130 Dude]

My eyes are changing by the week at 53. So much so that I actually wear a 1.75 contact in my left eye so I can see the turret markings. I'm now to the point that I need to change the focus on all my scopes.

Yeah. I used to be nearsighted. Could see the close up turret marks and other stuff no problem, for 66 years.
Then I get my cataracts done and now I'm farsighted. Great long distance vision. I'm 20/20 for the first time in my life. But, I can't see squat up close anymore. Have to wear glasses to read now. Contacts are not an option for me. Talk about a reversal of fortune. I can't win for losing! Ha!

 

[C-130 Dude]

The paid hunters sponsored my freezer for a few winters, so no complaints here. I shot some management stuff and one year they let me shoot a good 8 point off a lease pasture. They were in the main good guys to be around.

Whatever works and gets the job done.

 

[Zen Archery]

Hunting. Absolutely! One of my thermal's has a base magnification of 6x zoom. Trying to find a running coyote under 125 yards is absolute luck. Almost missed one last night. Thank goodness the mojo critter getter caught his fancy.

 

[HARPERC]

Yes in 2 ways, unsuitable for the platform its placed on, or unsuitable for the task at hand.

 

[dioni]

I'm reverting to lower magnification scopes the more I shoot. At least on big game I have no trouble seeing my target as far as 900-1000 yards with a 16x max zoom. It's much easier to be back on target and watch impacts in that zoom range

 

[std7mag]

I've had the experience with a 6-24 and the deer popped out at a literal 20 feet from me. All you see is fur.

Then there is the coyote at 1,200 yards.

So for my hunting rifles i prefer 3-4X on the low end.
Most of my scopes now are 4-16x.

Then there is my short range (400 yards and under) benchrest scope.
Sightron SIII 10-50X60 LRTD.
With .125" adjustments.

 

[338 dude]

4x16 ar for coyotes
5.5x22 on my 6.5x284 norma
5x25 on my 338 Lapua
2.5x10 on my light 3006 for stalking

 

[VinceMule]

I've had the experience with a 6-24 and the deer popped out at a literal 20 feet from me. All you see is fur.

Then there is the coyote at 1,200 yards.

So for my hunting rifles i prefer 3-4X on the low end.
Most of my scopes now are 4-16x.

Then there is my short range (400 yards and under) benchrest scope.
Sightron SIII 10-50X60 LRTD.
With .125" adjustments.

Kansas vs SC hunting is like two different worlds. You are correct, when deer can just "pop out" you better have the scope down on its lowest power, as you can always turn the power up. Scopes are like old friends that have not let you down, hard for me to ditch some of the old Burris Signature with the light collector on the end and target knobs. I really love the Burris 4200 4x16....incredible scope for SC hunting.

40 years ago, we were using the Bushnell scope chief 4x12 with the bullet drop compensator on them. We killed some bucks and antelope at some very good distances 6 Remington with 95g Partitions, about as low tec as you can get.

My coyote calling rifles sport old Leupold 3.5x10s with the A.O., Leupold 4x12 A.O., and a Burris Signature 3x12.

 

[BigDon]

Kansas vs SC hunting is like two different worlds. You are correct, when deer can just "pop out" you better have the scope down on its lowest power, as you can always turn the power up. Scopes are like old friends that have not let you down, hard for me to ditch some of the old Burris Signature with the light collector on the end and target knobs. I really love the Burris 4200 4x16....incredible scope for SC hunting.

40 years ago, we were using the Bushnell scope chief 4x12 with the bullet drop compensator on them. We killed some bucks and antelope at some very good distances 6 Remington with 95g Partitions, about as low tec as you can get.

My coyote calling rifles sport old Leupold 3.5x10s with the A.O., Leupold 4x12 A.O., and a Burris Signature 3x12.

Never leave the bench after shooting with the scope set on its higher powers! Turn it all the way down. If you need more power in the field you will always have more time to turn the power UP, than if you need to turn it down. Always.

Lots of animals have been lost by this simple mistake.

 

[memtb]

Never leave the bench after shooting with the scope set on its higher powers! Turn it all the way down. If you need more power in the field you will always have more time to turn the power UP, than if you need to turn it down. Always.

Lots of animals have been lost by this simple mistake.

Our hunting rifles are "ALWAYS" kept at the lowest setting. When hunting, we check to verify our scopes are at the lowest setting about as often that we check the rifle safety position…..which is pretty darn often!

As stated…..you should always have time to "dial up"…..at very close range, you rarely have the time nor is it needed!

I wish I had a dollar of every time I've heard of missed opportunities by having a scope in it's higher ranges! memtb