What magnification are we all using for deer and why?
- Thread starter Elmer fudd 1
- Start date
@theroedeerguy
Well-Known Member
I’m using a 8x50 Swarovski which is well suited to 99% of my stalking.
It’s a 4a reticle with the dot in the middle which makes for speedy acquisition of aim points.
It’s a 4a reticle with the dot in the middle which makes for speedy acquisition of aim points.
Overlay
Well-Known Member
how did you find the FOV
I went for the 56mm with a finer reticule variable in the end
cheers
phil
Whatever magnification you use (to target your beast) it’s important you can actually see it under the prevailing light conditions. This is why most, if not all, shots I take at first or last light tend to be at the minimum magnification setting on a variable powered scope and irrespective of reticle illumination.
K
K
Works fine for me, Mostly woodland (90% am stalking)
Overlay
Well-Known Member
my most mag is 15 x but is rarely used it’s put on the 243 for long range foxes6-24x or similar target scopes are ridiculous on a stalking rifle. But everyone to his own. Whenever I see this I know what I am at.
i’ve used the 1-8 x 24 very effectively on the 204 to 180 yds that’s good enough for me by a long chalk
i’m probably way out i guess but 24 x for my thoughts would be for loooong range targets which is something i’ve never done furthest I shoot is 300 yds max
baguio
Well-Known Member
3-18x50 and 3-18x56 Z6i and Z8i. Sat on 8 for stalking but wound up to what gives me the best picture and confidence. For munties in some cover this is often x18 to squeeze a bullet through small gaps in the vegatation. Often use more mag to confirm it fits the cull plan on roe before taking the shot but don't always take the shot on high mag as it's difficult to see the reaction when wound up. Quality scopes give me extra minutes on a decent mag and I use everyone of those minutes as a lot of my stalking is on land with a lot of public access. The deer therefore, often come out late. Will likely go digital in the future to enable me to go right to the wire.
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My Deer rifles wear a 3-9 x 50 and a 3.5-10 x 50, in the past I have had fancy (and expensive) higher mag and/or SF/front focus, found out that I didn't need it, and it was more of a hinderance than a help.
Bunny buster HMR has a 4-14.5 x 50, vermin .204 has a 6-18 x 50, dedicated Fox .222 has N470s.
When I go out I pick up the rifle that I need for the job, there is some slight overlap in some cases, but in general my deer rifles are for shooting Deer, my other rifles aren't.
Given that I spent a lot of years shooting Deer with 4 or 6x scopes, I struggle to understand why anyone would strap a 24 or 32x scope onto a dedicated Deer rifle, but hey, if it works for you don't change it.
Bunny buster HMR has a 4-14.5 x 50, vermin .204 has a 6-18 x 50, dedicated Fox .222 has N470s.
When I go out I pick up the rifle that I need for the job, there is some slight overlap in some cases, but in general my deer rifles are for shooting Deer, my other rifles aren't.
Given that I spent a lot of years shooting Deer with 4 or 6x scopes, I struggle to understand why anyone would strap a 24 or 32x scope onto a dedicated Deer rifle, but hey, if it works for you don't change it.
Guess it’s a bit of a journey for some trying different stuff in different situations along the way to reach their own conclusions having done it for themselves and had the pleasure and pain of doing so along the way, not unlike rifles and chamberings.
Prior to thermal and nv and when lamping was more common and no lead issues could have been said if using one rifle for everything (bar boar) a nice German 8x56 scope and 243 would do most things and mr policeman was happy, horses for courses ( no pun intended).
Prior to thermal and nv and when lamping was more common and no lead issues could have been said if using one rifle for everything (bar boar) a nice German 8x56 scope and 243 would do most things and mr policeman was happy, horses for courses ( no pun intended).
Elmer fudd 1
Well-Known Member
Re Staff’s comment about target scopes:
It’s a fair opinion, I see a lot of the responses are favouring fixed power large objective scopes (presumably for their low light performance, I’d imagine some of the Swaro/S&B and Zeiss options mentioned here are heavenly to look through and clearly don’t seem to be limiting people for range.
My rifle has to play double duty for park work where the added mag is invaluable for identifying the most suitable animal for culling in a 150+ bunch.
For stalking and sitting in the high seat with my old 2-8 Zeiss I wouldn’t feel comfortable pushing out to 300yds, though that could be down to the reticle it had (plain cross w/ simple red dot).
It’s a fair opinion, I see a lot of the responses are favouring fixed power large objective scopes (presumably for their low light performance, I’d imagine some of the Swaro/S&B and Zeiss options mentioned here are heavenly to look through and clearly don’t seem to be limiting people for range.
My rifle has to play double duty for park work where the added mag is invaluable for identifying the most suitable animal for culling in a 150+ bunch.
For stalking and sitting in the high seat with my old 2-8 Zeiss I wouldn’t feel comfortable pushing out to 300yds, though that could be down to the reticle it had (plain cross w/ simple red dot).
Elmer fudd 1
Well-Known Member
Thanks all for your inputs, really interesting to see how many people are shooting fixed power scopes from the premium German brands! I had a quick check of their websites and was surprised to see how few manufactures still/currently make a fixed power large objective scope!
Clearly when it comes to light transmission, weight and performance, they’re still the apex at least for SD members!
Clearly when it comes to light transmission, weight and performance, they’re still the apex at least for SD members!
long_range_rob
Well-Known Member
I use 3-12x50 Swarovski as 3x is great for roe calling during the rut and 7x is my choice for seat/tower stalking.
baguio
Well-Known Member
And you came to that conclusion after less than 2 pages of this thread?Clearly when it comes to light transmission, weight and performance, they’re still the apex at least for SD members!
This site has over 29,000 members.
Chasser
Well-Known Member
I have a ZEISS v8 4.8-35x60, do I need that much mag for shooting deer? No, do I use it? Yes, out to 1000m I can have a very good look at a deer with very high detail and saves me stalking into an unsuitable animal. Shoot predominately sika on last knockings with the magnification wound down to 4.5 which allows me to shoot pretty much up to last legal shot in the right circumstances.
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