scopes

They are great as you can see by the number of people that use them.

I've tried S&B (which I own) and Swaro and both are excellent and side by side I found their low light performance to be exactly the same as near as I could determine. The image with the Swaro is slightly better, in my view, and I suspect this is because of the wider FOV. Buy 2nd hand for great value.

Are you trying to get your post count up to 10 so you can post in classifieds?
 
Ok you sound from this post like a complete novice. We all started at some point. For a complete novice I woudl say that an 8x56 is NOT a good choice and will suggest you go for a lower magnification even if that means a varible. Until you get used to your rilfe holdong it correctly and steady 8X magnification will actualyl be a handicap and one reason why so many cannot shoot free hand or without a bench rest, Bi-Pod or sandbag rest :rolleyes: IMHO that is. No more than 6x and 4x is probably better until you get the holding and steadiness right. I would also avoid huge objectives to start ................ no more than say 44mm so the scope can be mounted in a comfortable position. 50mm and 56mm are too high and you will not learn proper mounting and hold, cheeck weld etc and just handicap yourself.

Of course loads here who went your route will disagree :p but that's OK I don't really mind ;).

Also get a basic scope the less frills and added on bits the better just learn how to use it and shoot the rifle. Plenty of time to mess about with Parallax adjustments, multi dot cluttered and illuminated reticles later on.
 
Couldn't have put this better.

A decent 4x32 or 6x42 will cover all shots up to 150 yards which is my limit. A fixed power gives a constant sight picture to estimate range. Keeping it simple also reduces the choice, so maybe not so much to worry about.

The lower power will be even quicker to get onto something which pops up within 20 yards when you try to react faster than it does. That's not easy with an 8-power 'scope and half the field of view.
 
My tupence on the topic is that scopes are a very personal choice but Brithunter makes a good point; lower mag scopes are probably easier to start with, less parallax effect, wide field of view and they don't amplify jitters like higher mag scopes do.

As for quality, this is pretty much defined by your budget. Swarovski, Zeiss, Schmidt & Bender, Kahles, Nightforce all have excellent and well founded reputations.
 
Personally, I would go for the 8x56 over a 4x anything!

It is all very well telling someone to learn to shoot with a fixed power scope in the 4-6 mag range so as to learn steady free hand shooting, but then surely there should have been a comment regarding what maximum range a free hand shot should be taken at with said scope as this appears to be a novice asking? I could count on one hand how many deer I have shot free hand. Therefore, I don't practice it because I have realised through my experience there is almost always a tree, grass tussock, fence post, wall, bi-pod, shooting stick available to shoot from. Yes, an 8x scope will magnify the shake more but free hand at up to 50m will it make that much difference? I would rather teach someone what different objects can do to the POI when leaned on and how to address that than see a shot taken free hand. My eldest son is at that age where he wants to shoot his first deer and I will be drumming it into him the importance of a good lean, not learning to shoot free hand I'm afraid.

The first scope I ever bought for myself some 25years ago was a 8x56 Zeiss. I sold it when I moved on the .22-250 it was on and have regretted it to this day. Superb at last/first light and for the shot beyond the already mentioned 150m. I agree about the importance of range estimation however.

Each to their own but IMHO 4x fine for woodland or really close work but 6x or better still 8x would be the one I would go for. I can see however why some of the traditionalists on here would want to put a 4x on a 'classic' rifle.
 
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Personally, I would go for the 8x56 over a 4x anything!

It is all very well telling someone to learn to shoot with a fixed power scope in the 4-6 mag range so as to learn steady free hand shooting, but then surely there should have been a comment regarding what maximum range a free hand shot should be taken at with said scope as this appears to be a novice asking?

Actually jamross it's very simple, first you learn to shoot then you learn to hunt and stalk, it's easier to learn with good basic equipment than with all the frills that some seem so hooked upon. Without the basic shooting skills you are going to mess up and that means a wounded beast. Having witnessed such a stalker with top of ther range scope and rifle miss a standing buck at 30 yards from a bi-pod shooting stick. Nothing wrong with te equipment just an idiot who never learned to actually shoot.

Watch them at the range they get down behind the rifle and switch their head back and forth looking for the reticle then target in the scope because it's not set up properly and they have never learned the basics.

Each to their own but IMHO 4x fine for woodland or really close work but 6x or better still 8x would be the one I would go for. I can see however why some of the traditionalists on here would want to put a 4x on a 'classic' rifle.

Note I suggested 6x mag maximum for a beginner. The idea is to make learning easier not harder and 4x mag is plenty enough to actually show your pulse. Although I do ahve afew 4x scopes I also have a few 6x42's and even 7x57 and 8x56 but they are more specialised and I am no longer a beginner at shooting.
 
I think key to this is that an 8X (or other mag scope) doesn't magnify the shake - it shows you how much shake you've got. Under the circumstances that might be a good thing amd is certainly a driver to improve your shooting, it might also let you see where you've gone wrong I guess.

If the OP is intending to use an 8X scope and has a need for one then it is probably best that he learns with one if only from the practical side of saving money.

I also think there is an element of personal taste. I've only ever had an 8X scope and while I'm far from an expert I don't feel the need for anything else, I am sure the same could also be said by people with a 4X or 6X. None are any better than the next one as it really depends on your intended purpose and if the chap knows he wants an 8X then he might as well have it - life it too short not to.
 
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