What sort of money are you looking at spending on a scope? Any idea what you're after. Variable is definitely the way to go IMO. It will give you far more flexibility when you only have one rifle. Foxes start to look very small at range when you're stuck on the standard x6 or x8 scope. You will be far more effective on the range with a bit of mag too! You have clearly worked this out for yourself anyway though!It'll be for deer and AOLQ, probably some longer range fox work.
Not really interested in fixed power scopes.
Ill be going variable, looked at fixed, most dont have the reticles I want. Probably £350 to £400, MOA reticle, not mad power as the clarity drops off at the top end.What sort of money are you looking at spending on a scope? Any idea what you're after. Variable is definitely the way to go IMO. It will give you far more flexibility when you only have one rifle. Foxes start to look very small at range when you're stuck on the standard x6 or x8 scope. You will be far more effective on the range with a bit of mag too! You have clearly worked this out for yourself anyway though!![]()
I'm sure that there are a few previous threads on here that will help you out. There are some very good low budget variables about these days that offer terrific value for money. Good luck with your search.Ill be going variable, looked at fixed, most dont have the reticles I want. Probably £350 to £400, MOA reticle, not mad power as the clarity drops off at the top end.
As I'll be also using this for fox on the same ground (likely a couple hundred yards) I dont want to be using a fixed scope with a bare reticle that leaves it down to guess work.
A couple of hundred yards isn’t very far and is point and shoot with a creedmoor sensibly zeroed so there’s no guesswork.Ill be going variable, looked at fixed, most dont have the reticles I want. Probably £350 to £400, MOA reticle, not mad power as the clarity drops off at the top end.
As I'll be also using this for fox on the same ground (likely a couple hundred yards) I dont want to be using a fixed scope with a bare reticle that leaves it down to guess work.
As in the mechanism of bedding within the stock or how well its been bedded from the factory?the HOWA 1500 will serve you well. Have you ckecked if /how it is bedded?
But it’s your journey and your call, I changed after a trip to Devon and missing out on a hind because I could not see it properly with my 4-16 variable.
Mature red hind, in commercial pine woodland, 60-80 yards, last light. Clear as day in the thermal and could just make out silhouette but not enough of a picture with the scope for a confident shot.What couldnt you see properly with the 4-16, what time of day, distance etc?
Pretty sure my dog is blacker than your dogAs someone quite new to stalking it's unlikely that you will be taking many if any shots in the last few minutes of legal shooting time anyway so it's irrelevant. The mag will however be useful in good light and on the ranges when the majority of your shots will be taken. It's nice to be able to see where your shots are going on the ranges too. You will not be able to see where they hit with x 8 mag. There's a reason why target shooters use high mag scopes! Personally non of the people I stalk with use fixed mag scopes in the field anymore and I'm talking about people who shoot a lot of deer and deer are their living. There's a reason for that!

???Pretty sure my dog is blacker than your dog![]()
The HS stock is pretty good.Drop it in a Choate.
Already on it, bud.Lots of suggestions of what scope/rifle/ stock combination. As it looks like you have it suitably covered now find a load that it likes and get practicing. Both from bench and field positions. If shooting factory ammunition make sure to keep the empty cases in the factory boxes. That way you can sell the cases to someone who homeloads to offset costs or start homeloading yourself. Good luck.
B&Q green garden canes. Cheap quadsticks.Already on it, bud.
I've put some S&B 143gr SP through it, I then tried Hornady Whitetail 129gr, they seemed to work better.
All the cases went back into the ammo boxes.
The 200yrds shots this evening were from resting on the car roof, I need some sticks to practice with.