6x42 scope

[Acm]

Hi all , I'm setting up a rifle for some hill stalking , is a 6x42 scope good enough for reds on a hill ? What range are they normally taken at ? Would appreciate some adviceAndy

 

[flyfifer]

hi all , i'm setting up a rifle for some hill stalking , is a 6x42 scope good enough for reds on a hill ? What range are they normally taken at ? Would appreciate some adviceandy

more than good enough

 

[Moray Outfitting]

Glib comments/ cliches are often more irritating than helpful. However, I'm a strong supporter of the adage ( for usual UK stalking ) ' if it cannot be done well with a 6x42, there's a good chance it shouldn't have been done'

 

[bewsher500]

bit high IMO!

I shot reds on the hill and targets for the best part of 15-20yrs with a 4x32 Nikko on my father's .270

now have a 6x44 as my eyesight is not what it used to be!

as for distance. depends on land. some "hill" land has little in the way of dead ground, other hills are much easier
In 20 yrs I can count on one hand how many have been over 100yds
last 2 were 45 and 27 yds

 

[MONGOOSE]

I to have been wondering about a 6x42 for woodland type of stalking for roe,muntjac,CWD but not to sure if its enough to be honest used to using 8x56 size scopes....

 

[caorach]

6X42 has a long tradition of use on the hill and while personal preference always plays a role it is hard to knock the fact that it has been the standard for a lot of people for a lot of time. I use an 8X56 myself, mostly because I also shoot sika at last light, and I don't think you'd go far wrong with one of those either.

The other thing is that if you buy a decent second hand scope by one of the top brands you will probably be able to sell it for what you paid for it should it not suit you.

 

[bambislayer]

I have 6x42, 8x56, 8x50. All good. I started with a 4x32. But have shot the majority with a 6x42 ( S&b +pecar) in all light conditions , including spotlight. Foxes &deer.

6x42 , good all round scope and not as bulky as a x56.

 

[bewsher500]

one thing people forget when choosing a scope is it needs to fit the rifle and the shooter

if you have a x56 on telegraph pole mount on a traditional rifle with a sloping stock you will be forever craning your neck to get a sight picture unless you adorn it with some hideous neoprene sock.

not such an issue with hill stalking as you will be prone but getting on the rifle comfortably and quickly without faffing is paramount
x42, 44 and even 50 can make this a lot easier

 

[User00003]

I've only ever really used 6x42 and a 3-9x36. the variable sits on 6x the whole time.

I've done woodland stalking to hill stalking with the 6x42 and can at no point in my entire stalking career say that a bigger mag or objective scope would have been of any additional benefit. and yes, I have shot plenty with bigger objective variable scopes up to x56, they're just very heavy and clunky, and if you have a bavarian stock like Bewsher said, they don't create a good natural cheek to stock weld from a line of sight perspective.

I thought about getting an S&B 10x42 for the hill, but in hindsight, even in argyll on the hill, I probably shoot 80% of hinds/stags within 125yds and 15% within 150 and 5% between 150 and 225.

I also don't like the high mag because you start seeing the reticle wobble and sometimes instead of taking the shot at the right time, you start worrying extensively about holding the reticle completely still,,,which is only because it's wound up so bloody high.

 

[Glendine]

Great tread some dame good advice.

 

[see it shoot it]

now Iam going to say something completley different,but first Iam "not" saying the other comments are wrong,what works for you is all that matters,but with modern scopes namely variables,why limit ones self,at the end of the day you could buy a nice 4-12x44 or 50 and still only use 6 mag,but if you ever need the extra mag you have it with you.
I was led into the same trap when I first started stalking many years ago by the old boys proping up the gun shop counter " nay lad all you need is a 6x42" I soon learnt otherwise.
my personal choice for my stalking scope is 15 mag,I very seldom use it that high BUT have done in the past on shots I wouldnt have taken with a lesser power,each to there own I guess.
as to what distance a shot maybe taken,again that depends on the situation you find yourself in,could be anything from 10 yards to 500 yards,I find it good to have the equipment to cope with any situation or you could have had a long climb for nothing

 

[bewsher500]

Each to their own but at 15x I don't think the sight picture/FOV is big enough for hill stalking.

very few people I know shoot rifles with both eyes open. I do, and IMO it is one of the most invaluable things I learned.

I had a hare walk into the bottom of my scope FOV at 15yds whilst drawing a bead on my first ever stag
Unlikely I would have hit him, but possible.
If I had been at 15x I probably wouldn't have seen him and a shuffle or movement from me would have set him off and I could have lost the stag

several hinds and other moving objects have walked into shot that I can think of.
Don't underestimate the FOV nevermind the ability to pick up a target quickly.

get a scope on 15x and try to quickly pick up a target
then do it with a 6x or 8x

 

[Bigboab29]

I have variable scope on all my rifles and i just bot a 2.5-15 z6 for my main stalking rifle. I like the variable just incase i need it to identify a target at great range or when sighting the rifle in i like a bit more magnification so i can get it spot on. However when stalking i always take my shots on either 8 or 10 mag sometimes down to 6 mag if the light is really going

 

[see it shoot it]

Each to their own but at 15x I don't think the sight picture/FOV is big enough for hill stalking.

very few people I know shoot rifles with both eyes open. I do, and IMO it is one of the most invaluable things I learned.

I had a hare walk into the bottom of my scope FOV at 15yds whilst drawing a bead on my first ever stag
Unlikely I would have hit him, but possible.
If I had been at 15x I probably wouldn't have seen him and a shuffle or movement from me would have set him off and I could have lost the stag

several hinds and other moving objects have walked into shot that I can think of.
Don't underestimate the FOV nevermind the ability to pick up a target quickly.

get a scope on 15x and try to quickly pick up a target
then do it with a 6x or 8x

you havnt used a Swaro Z6i then and i also shoot both eyes open

 

[bewsher500]

you havnt used a Swaro Z6i then and i also shoot both eyes open

No, I have actually
but it doesn't defy the laws of physics and have a wider field of view at 15x than a similar objective 6x

 

[Tamus]

I have variable scope on all my rifles and i just bot a 2.5-15 z6 for my main stalking rifle. I like the variable just incase i need it to identify a target at great range or when sighting the rifle in i like a bit more magnification so i can get it spot on. However when stalking i always take my shots on either 8 or 10 mag sometimes down to 6 mag if the light is really going

There's really no tactful way that I can think of to put this and if what I say next offends... too bad really... but... You shouldn't be pointing a rifle at an unidentified target (especially a live target) Using your scope to do the job of binoculars is just not a good idea.

 

[Bigboab29]

Tamus, i will clarify what i mean i see a roe deer (which i know is a deer not just random target i fancy looking at) at say 1000 yards, and i want to know wether it is a buck or doe to decide wether to stalk into a safe shooting distance. And 6 or 8 mag scope would be of no use and neither would my 8 mag bino's hence i like the extra mag to check out the deer (obviously without a round chambered). So if this offends....to bad really....

 

[Tamus]

Tamus, i will clarify what i mean i see a roe deer (which i know is a deer not just random target i fancy looking at) at say 1000 yards, and i want to know wether it is a buck or doe to decide wether to stalk into a safe shooting distance. And 6 or 8 mag scope would be of no use and neither would my 8 mag bino's hence i like the extra mag to check out the deer. So if this offends....to bad really....

No, I'm not offended.... but at 1000 yards it doesn't matter what sex it is, to a stalker... cos a stalker is not going to be shooting at it... so don't point a gun at it. S'all am sayin... and I'm not alone in saying it either.

Having/using a high power scope for the purpose of, in the first instance, identifying live quarry... is not good practice. The tools for that job are telescopes and/or binoculars... not attached to any gun.

 

[see it shoot it]

No, I have actually
but it doesn't defy the laws of physics and have a wider field of view at 15x than a similar objective 6x

its amazing how scopes have come on since the dark ages LOL you should try one,old dog new tricks and all that

 

[see it shoot it]

There's really no tactful way that I can think of to put this and if what I say next offends... too bad really... but... You shouldn't be pointing a rifle at an unidentified target (especially a live target) Using your scope to do the job of binoculars is just not a good idea.

I see what your saying so to speak BUT isnt it the same as pointing your rifle at a beast and deciding not to squeeze one off ???