To much scope

[waldedw]

One of my 3 - 22LR is a CZ 457 and have a Bushnell elite 3200 tactical scope on it fixed 10X - 40mm, for gopher shooting which is 95% of my shooting it's just to much scope, to small field of view, if the gopher starts to run it's hard to follow it

It's a great scope for bench rest target shooting as I can see bullet holes at 100 yards, but for actual gopher shooting it's just to much, think I'm going to have to mount up the leupold VX freedom 3 x 9 x 40 mm that I have laying on my bench, way more practical. Sometimes more is not better

[elkhunter11]

I was on an elk hunt in New Mexico, where one hunter lost two opportunities at bull elk, because each time his guide got him within 20-30 yards of a bull, in the timber, the hunter couldn't find the elk in the scope. The scope was actually a 3-9x, but the hunter kept it adjusted to 9x for some reason. The guide finally turned the scope to 3x ,and taped the adjustment over with electrical tape, but he never had another opportunity on that hunt.
Lately, I have seen people using more and more magnification for hunting , with 6.5-20, and simular magnification being used , which works okay in open country, but is a handicap in tight cover. As well, the higher the magnification, the more important parallax adjustment becomes. I have seen people struggle with scopes at 14-20x, because they got excited, and forgot to adjust the parallax, and the scope was so blurry, they had trouble shooting. I use 3.5-18x scopes for big game, and I carry them at 3.5x, so I can shoot quickly, with no
scope adjustment required.

[Pathfinder76]

FOV is not a constant across scope magnification and model. Target acquisition is also not entirely a function of the scope either. I have taken most of my big game over the last 20 years with a fixed 6x Leupold. With shots ranging from 10 yards to over 500. Without issue. In 100% of the cases I’ve never thought about scope magnification when taking the shot. Target acquisition with an experienced shooter should be instantaneous. In most cases you should be on what you want to hit the moment your rifle is shouldered. Both eyes should be open and you shouldn’t have to search for your target. That is the main tell of experience. Anyone that is teaching a kid to shoot or hunt will see this as the most frustrating part of the game.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

FOV is not a constant across scope magnification and model. Target acquisition is also not entirely a function of the scope either. I have taken most of my big game over the last 20 years with a fixed 6x Leupold. With shots ranging from 10 yards to over 500. Without issue. In 100% of the cases I’ve never thought about scope magnification when taking the shot. Target acquisition with an experienced shooter should be instantaneous. In most cases you should be on what you want to hit the
moment your rifle is shouldered. Both eyes should be open and you shouldn’t have to search for your target. That is the main tell of experience. Anyone that is teaching a kid to shoot or hunt will see this as the most
frustrating part of the game.

Of course there are multiple factors in target acquisition, but a larger field of view is definitely an advantage at very close range. And parallax is also a huge factor at close range when using higher magnification scopes.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Of course there are multiple factors in target acquisition, but a larger field of view is definitely an advantage at very close range. And parallax is also a huge factor at close range when using higher magnification scopes.

Yes, and FOV varies greatly between scopes. Parallax at close range will be a factor with gophers. Not so much with elk.

[urban rednek]

We use 2.5-10 x 42 with Mil-Dots and AO on the 22s for shooting gophers. I leave mine on 6X and 30yds, the wife prefers 4X and 30yds. Generally, we only make changes if we're reaching beyond 100yds. The Mil-Dots make correcting for windage and elevation fast and easy.

[ScottFitter]

My two higher end 22's bothe wear 5-25x56 scope. Good in the gopher field, as well as the competition side of PRS shooting.
For my hunting rifle, I am putting a 3-18x44 on it. High on the top of the magnification side, but I have been using 4-16's for a few years.

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

FOV is not a constant across scope magnification and model. Target acquisition is also not entirely a function of the scope either. I have taken most of my big game over the last 20 years with a fixed 6x Leupold. With shots ranging from 10 yards to over 500. Without issue. In 100% of the cases I’ve never thought about scope magnification when taking the shot. Target acquisition with an experienced shooter should be instantaneous. In most cases you should be on what you want to hit the moment your rifle is shouldered. Both eyes should be open and you shouldn’t have to search for your target. That is the main tell of experience. Anyone that is teaching a kid to shoot or hunt will see this as the most frustrating part of the game.

I agree with a fixed 6x or even a 4x for big game is plenty of scope for the job and variables well I guess if others like packing an extra pound or two into the bush it is up to them.(I have done it as well). I found with hunting rigs it is much better to KISS, then to over scope and add on a bunch of gadgets you don't really need.

Most of my gopher patch variable scopes are 4x16 or less but generally speaking, I run them at 8X or 10X (depending on calibers) seems to work just fine. All my fixed varmint scopes are 8x or 10x and I have never felt under scoped, even out to 350 yards or more. As an added bonus I get to see my hits and misses.

[-JR-]

3-9 is a much better choice than a straight 10 power for gophers

[Groundhogger]

Great thread, and a topic I've been thinking about allot lately. On my last gopher trip, I was back and forth mucking around with the magnification (4-12X AO) dozens of times for the first few days but by the end of the trip...realized I hadn't touched it for the last few. When I realized this, I looked at where I'd left the scope=6X.

Started looking around at the options for an AO, fixed 6X and found Leupold made a compact 6X AO and the decision was made.

I haven't tried it for gophers yet, but will in time.

Only other scope epiphany I've had in the last couple of years=30mm scopes on small 22LR actions=need a very good reason to put that much scope a 22. Feeling the same about varmint-weight barrels on everything. lol

And I'm starting to brush my teeth with warmer water=I'm getting old. lol

[32-40win]

I've mostly used a 2-10 or a 6.5-20 for gophers, 2-10 on the .22's, 2-10 or 6.5-20 on the centerfire 22cal guns. Have a 4.5-20x50 FFP with a Horus style mil reticle on the one .22 now, 2.5-10 on the other, just a plain crosshair. Do like that Horus style reticle better in the wind, easier corrections. Magnification doesn't hurt at times either, only use it at the range and on gophers. The other one with the crosshair is a grouse gun as well, nothing special, works good for that and gophers to the 50yd mark or so, out past that I use the other one. My 218Bee has a 2.5-10x50 on it, target knob on elevation, single ctr dot. I have a 6.5-20 with a plain crosshair, adj AO and target knobs, 1/8 clicks, on the 223. Wouldn't mind trying another FFP scope on it, I have a 4-16x44 I could put on it, has a mil graduated crosshair in it, floating dot, not the Horus style. No real beef with any of those for those purposes.