What magnification are we all using for deer and why?

[Elmer fudd 1]

Hi all

Just a curious question for you all. What scope magnification do you prefer?

Personally I use a sightron siii SFP in 6-24x50.

Most of my woodland shots are around 12x mag or less if there is a lack of light but in the park on fallow (all late morning) I’ll crank higher when taking shots out past 150yds+ most of which will need to be head/neck and for which I appreciate the extra zoom.

Shooting a fast flat 243 load so never have to give a great deal of thought to bullet drop and I’ll hold over for shots inside 300yds instead of dialling.

I used to use a Zeiss conquest 2-8x44, it was a fantastic scope but shoot far more (and further) with the sightron due to the added mag although I’ll admit I miss the light transmission of the zeiss!

 

[paul o']

Hawk 6-24x56 Mil dot
A . I like a Mildot and have used it for much longer than most scopes i'v owned.
B. I like to scan around x10 then zoom .
C . I like to see if there's anything in the way pre shot @ x18 then stay on that and place a shot within my own skill set .
D. I have moved away from the likes of Z6i BT and the V8's back to mil spec rets ! not that I always use the dot tree for hold off as I still use come ups proven and marked on the adjustment ring.

 

[TringSaint]

Hi all

Just a curious question for you all. What scope magnification do you prefer?

Personally I use a sightron siii SFP in 6-24x50.

Most of my woodland shots are around 12x mag or less if there is a lack of light but in the park on fallow (all late morning) I’ll crank higher when taking shots out past 150yds+ most of which will need to be head/neck and for which I appreciate the extra zoom.

Shooting a fast flat 243 load so never have to give a great deal of thought to bullet drop and I’ll hold over for shots inside 300yds instead of dialling.

I used to use a Zeiss conquest 2-8x44, it was a fantastic scope but shoot far more (and further) with the sightron due to the added mag although I’ll admit I miss the light transmission of the zeiss!

5-30x50 / 4-24x50/ 2.5-18x50. In most cases I am x10 or 12 at normal range (60-100m), but if in a wood then it’s usually lower and if at distance then I wind em up!!

 

[sy247]

I'm using fixed 8x56

 

[jall55]

I always used x8
But find x10 - x12 better

I do mainly fox control with a pulsar thermion
I scan with the accolades and have the scope on x16 for the shot

 

[palo]

I used a 4.5-14x50 for years and found it ideal.
Got a good deal on a Zeiss v6 5-30x50 and I'm using that now.
I don't need the higher mag for stalking but it's handy for targets and gongs at longer range.

 

[User00040]

Enough to frame the target and no more.

 

[TopDown]

8 mag fixed. I shoot mainly woodland and it does the job nicely. It was more about the 56 objective lens size for the slightly darker conditions in woodland. Never felt the need to change it. Binos are 10 mag.

 

[VSS]

The scope on my 270 is generally set at 7x or 8x for general stalking as that seems to suit most circumstances, but I'll sometimes wind it back to 3x or 4x at last light.

The scope on my 243 is set at 24x for headshooting park deer, but I wind it back a fair bit for foxing under the lamp.

Both scopes are 50mm objective.

 

[3595wilk]

A 2x8x44 on my .308 is enough for me at the ranges I stick to, for the stalking I've done so far. Took it down to 4 mag last night well after 8pm and was working fine.

I have a 2.5x15x50 with SF on my .243; which is conditioned for fox and AOLQ.

I use between 7.5-10ish mag for the AOLQ part ....and 7 or 8 mag for fox, as it has a x1.5 effect with the NV add on.

Must admit, I'm 54 now and starting to notice a bit more mag seems necessary, but loath to get rid of the compact Zeiss on the .308.

 

[NoIDeer]

11 o'clock, around 7-8x on a 3-12 x 50

 

[Overlay]

2.5 - 10 x 56 zenith mainly on 4-6 max 8 over 100. Might go to 10 my balance is on clarity and reticule value ie the reticule is fine enough for the shot

foxing daytime zeiss v8 on 15 mag for shots over 150 yds with ASV works a treat

 

[HonestJohn]

Fixed 4x on my two main rifles. 3-12 now sat on shelf, 6x42 sold

 

[gonzo]

6x42 fixed.
Because it was on the rifle when I brought it and it's the only decent low light scope I have.

 

[stephentri]

3x12x56 zeiss,

 

[Smellydog]

None.....

 

[Lee the Gun]

Nightforce NXS 8-32 x 56 & Zeiss V4 4-16 x 44

 

[Overlay]

None.....

I get that - was shooting flintlock muzzle loaders saturday, real treat with iron sights and with the black powder pistols

 

[Leec6.5]

I'm using fixed 8x56

Just makes sense!

I have tried variable options for the last 4-5 years and just gone back to a fixed 8x56.

 

[Dan Newcombe]

3.5x on a Nightforce and wind it up to whatever I need to shoot something.

I’ve used 3.5 at 100m and I’ve also used 15x at 50m trying to get a bead on something in cover.