Best Scope Magnification for Stalking

[308762]

Hi Chaps

Just wondering what you consider is the best magnification is for a scope on a stalking rifle (308) , I`ll be using it mainly for red on Scottish hills and occasionally for fox so some low light work ,do I go for fixed or variable ,why?, budget is up to £1500 inc mounts.

Many Thanks.

 

[David T]

I use variable but it's set at 8x and never changes. Friend uses 6x fixed. I just feel that the variable gives you an option.......,should you want it.

 

[urx]

my choice would a 2nd hand 6-24x50 pv swarovski with the tds reticle, illuminated if you can find one plus some nice mounts epending on rifle/rail config.
should be able to easily get it all within your budget, great optics good warranty backup.
some prefer Zeiss, some prefer Swar,o some like S&B or even IOR but for that budget you can have top end glass whichever

 

[wraith]

Hi Chaps

Just wondering what you consider is the best magnification is for a scope on a stalking rifle (308) , I`ll be using it mainly for red on Scottish hills and occasionally for fox so some low light work ,do I go for fixed or variable ,why?, budget is up to £1500 inc mounts.

Many Thanks.

get variable bud went down the point and shoot fixed 8x56 scope good but has its limitations is it a buck or a doe standing there with a variable you can zoom in and see what it is don't spend all your money on a s/b etc reason they have crap turrets for dialing in get somthing like a new s tack from sightron 2.5 x17.5x56 800 new illuminated dot moa;3 ret
nice scope ideal for what you nead or the s3 6x24x50 illuminated lifetime warentey good under the lamp or with night vision ad on covers every thing from 10yards to1000 yes I use sightron why there that good for the money I have had all the big names bud s/b kales night force ior you name it I spent thousands on them but still come back to sightron they do what they say on the box simples and if you get eney problems john at aim sports will have you back on the hill in days not months like a lot of other scope manufacturers hope it helps look up Richard utting on you tube testing the new s tac he compares it to some of the top german stuff

 

[RED-DOT]

my choice would a 2nd hand 6-24x50 pv swarovski with the tds reticle, illuminated if you can find one plus some nice mounts epending on rifle/rail config.
should be able to easily get it all within your budget, great optics good warranty backup.
some prefer Zeiss, some prefer Swar,o some like S&B or even IOR but for that budget you can have top end glass whichever

I have two Swarovskis illuminated as above and for fox it is X12 and deer X10. Bloody perfect.

 

[jimbo1984]

Fixed 6x42 or 8x 56 all you'll ever need for stalking
fir the hill and a bit if low light work I'd go for a 8x56 Schmidt

 

[Monkey Spanker]

For distance hill work you will benefit from some decent magnification. For low light work you will need good coatings on the lenses. I would also suggest that a fine reticle is better, especially for foxes, but then you would probably need to get it illuminated to be able to see it at low light. x50 objective is easily big enough and keeps the weight and size down! I think I must have tried about every conceivable scope option, and can only assume that the fixed power x6 or x8 stalwarts haven't as the benefits of a good vari-mag above them are massive!
I would say that something like a used Z6i 3-18 x 50 would be perfect and just inside your budget, but any of the top-brand similar equivalents would be equally as good.
The Euston estate shoot on Saturday restricted everybody to x8 mag on their scopes! I'd forgotten how limiting that is at longer ranges!
MS

 

[User00003]

I'm still using an old zeiss 4x32 for both fox, roe and hill shots up to 300yds. haven't found it lacking as of yet. nice and light too. since I got rid of the heavy bipod, moderator, thick leather sling, and the heavy scope, I've come to a whole new enjoyment of stalking I forgot existed!

 

[paul o']

swaro 3-18x50 bti on the 308
swaro 5-30x50 bri on the 6.5x47

its more than i need but i have more if i need it also

 

[Southern]

A big advantage of a fixed power like 4, 6 or 8x is you mind becoming accustomed to the mental picture of what range and wind look like through it. Even if you use a 4-24x, you should try to hunt on one power, and only turn it up for special shots off a rest.

6x is about all most shooters can hold steady without a rest, especially off hand. 8x56 gathers a lot of light. 10x is seen on military rifles because they shoot at longer ranges, and the 1/10 mil adjustments work with the Mil Dots. And, again, the user becomes accustomed to it at a subconscious level.

 

[Glendine]

I'm still using an old zeiss 4x32 for both fox, roe and hill shots up to 300yds. haven't found it lacking as of yet. nice and light too. since I got rid of the heavy bipod, moderator, thick leather sling, and the heavy scope, I've come to a whole new enjoyment of stalking I forgot existed!

Fantastic PKL.

Glendine.

 

[Paul at Fechan]

3-12x50 with an illuminted reticule is perfect and has a place for all conditions fixed is fine but you can't then zoom in on deer features or zoom out if you need it really close for a finishing shot say

 

[Brithunter]

I'm still using an old zeiss 4x32 for both fox, roe and hill shots up to 300yds. haven't found it lacking as of yet. nice and light too. since I got rid of the heavy bipod, moderator, thick leather sling, and the heavy scope, I've come to a whole new enjoyment of stalking I forgot existed!

Now come on PKL "everyone" knows that you cannot see even large deer without at least 8x magnification and that's at only 50-75 yards.. Any further and one needs at least 12x magnification to see them Deer. Foxes well being smaller need load more to see let only aim successfully at .

Then of course it simply must be illuminated to see anything and the range MUST be decided and checked with a range finder . Not having all this just means your not a proper stalker.

 

[Monkey Spanker]

Now come on PKL "everyone" knows that you cannot see even large deer without at least 8x magnification and that's at only 50-75 yards.. Any further and one needs at least 12x magnification to see them Deer. Foxes well being smaller need load more to see let only aim successfully at .

Then of course it simply must be illuminated to see anything and the range MUST be decided and checked with a range finder . Not having all this just means your not a proper stalker.

If you are doing it recreationally, then why not make it as difficult as you can? However, if you are doing it as a job of work to achieve a cull, then you need to do the best and most efficient job you can, or you can expect them to find someone else that will! I somehow don't think that an old 4 x 32 would quite 'cut the mustard' in a dark wood at a long range fallow at about 59 minutes after sunset ???!!! I'm not quite sure what a 'proper stalker' is by definition? Is it someone who refuses to move with the times and get the latest equipment, or is it someone that gets the job done? Maybe there's another thread in itself?
MS

 

[I. Farticus]

I would say that something like a used Z6i 3-18 x 50 would be perfect and just inside your budget,

+1... Big fan of mine

 

[Milligan]

A personal choice as always.
I have a 3-12x50 on my stalking rifle, typically it's on 7 for hill and 5 for woodland.

Just a question to those with the -30x, have you ever used it at the topend in the field?
If so, what's the FOV like at 80yds in lowlight at that mag and once you've acquired your target - and the relevant bit of it - it must be a little bit of a challenge off sticks....

P.S. Monkey Spanker, I know that you know that a fixed will likely have more usable light transmission than a high range multi-mag.

As it happens the 4x32 is at the optimal 8mm exit pupil - sure, the age of the glass and lense coatings count, but the Mk1 eyeball hasn't and I doubt yours is capable of utilising a full 8mm.

I'd still love the 3-18 Swaro though...

 

[User00003]

If you are doing it recreationally, then why not make it as difficult as you can? However, if you are doing it as a job of work to achieve a cull, then you need to do the best and most efficient job you can, or you can expect them to find someone else that will! I somehow don't think that an old 4 x 32 would quite 'cut the mustard' in a dark wood at a long range fallow at about 59 minutes after sunset ???!!! I'm not quite sure what a 'proper stalker' is by definition? Is it someone who refuses to move with the times and get the latest equipment, or is it someone that gets the job done? Maybe there's another thread in itself?
MS

you'd be surprised by the amount of mustard good wee scopes can cut

'proper' stalker definition, yes, a thread that would probably go on a few pages

as for long range shooting in dark woods 1 minute before legal closing time,,well, one might argue if you've left it to that requirement/need, you're not really up to managing the cull job properly in the first place, and less time spent turret twiddling and zeroing the 'black guns' on the range might just have given you enough time to get the cull done in daylight hours at ethical shoot distances....but there's a whole 'nother contentious thread too

 

[Cris]

Fixed good quality 6 x 42 or 8 x 50 will be all you need for stalking. People do and will get hung up on size, features and manufacturer and if that floats you're boat great but it's not going to shoot you any more deer. Only practice and competence will.

 

[Andy7mm]

A personal choice as always.
Just a question to those with the -30x, have you ever used it at the topend in the field?
If so, what's the FOV like at 80yds in lowlight at that mag and once you've acquired your target - and the relevant bit of it - it must be a little bit of a challenge off sticks....

I have the 2.5-15x56 z6i, and can only remember two occasions when I have needed the 15 mag. Both where in early July shooting young stags, and at 100ish yards i couldn't tell you they were stags until i zoomed right in. They had little more than half a thumb of antler.

other than that it sits about 7x.

Andy7mm

 

[urx]

I use the higher mag to get a better look at deer than can be acheived with my 10x binos.
works for me but then mine tend to be 200-300m away.
It all depends on your ground, circumstances and preferences