WHAT SCOPE POWER FOR LOAD WORK UP ?

[dusterdave173]

I was just wondering when working up new loads and shooting test groups--what scope power do you use? I am always working off a nice concrete bench--I usually set my 24x scope on about 20-21 power give or take. My 30x power usually on about 24-25 range--it seems a little less than max magnification is better on most any scope--I like more magnification--but should I be using less? Or? Just curious...I have two new barrels coming--starting from scratch on two rifles--I am about to put into use all that I have learned in last couple of years since staring to reload--I want to get both rifles shooting their best. Both will be for general fun- paper punching and shooting out to 600 yards ( have a new range just built near me ) and a PD trip or two each year. I will always be off a bench of some kind both are 223.
Thanks gang!

 

[nmkid]

Depends on the particular target. But, mostly, I shoot at 20X.

 

[TIMO]

Usually on max power, adjust down on a variable power scope depending on the conditions.

Tim

 

[R.Morehouse]

I like to use the maximum amount of magnification available in SFP scopes. I think it gives me a more precise point of aim in comp. & load development.......I was told by my Mentor years ago "Magnification Is Your Friend"........I guess that's true until Mirage says otherwise.....

Regards
Rick

 

[Dimner]

I have found that, with my fledgling skills, there is a point where too much magnification becomes counter productive. I have a 36x that I was doing load development with. I found it was highlighting all the bad things I did not realize I was doing (therefore ignorantly blissful) at 16x. I was able to do .5 moa consistently with a good load on 16x. .35 was my best, but probably an anomaly.

Eventually the 36x will help my load development a great deal, but for now I have shaken my confidence at both 36x and 16x. So now it's down to practice practice practice good shooting techniques.

So if you already have a well established fundamentals for high magnification shooting, I'd say go for the magnification. For me, if I were to do it over, I'd go for 24x

 

[Steel Mover]

I normally use the highest magnification and rarely use over a 12 or 16x as a max, at the proper parallax setting by adjustment, not what the knob says. I also use a 2" square center with 1" line squares, my design, and set the cross hairs just a hair of lght off, the corners of the square. That is the Armalite AR-10, with a new .308 McGowan SS 1-10 barrel at the Sweet Shooter break in at 120 meters with 150 grain Remington Corelock bulk bullets, not a match setup at all. POA is low left corner.. Nothing unusual, only a photo of the target made with my PC using word and word art software.

 

[Liven The Dream]

I am a 16-20 Guy .
I use 3/8. Orange Dots at 200 3/4 at 300 .
On old Cardboard .

 

[Bill Norris]

I normally use max power (25) # 100 yds and normally use 1/4 inch black dot as POA.

 

[DiffEQ]

I am a 16-20 Guy .
I use 3/8. Orange Dots at 200 3/4 at 300 .
On old Cardboard .

SFP, typically at 9x, shooting @100 yds, 3/4" orange "garage sale" dots on white poly film At 200, I'll bump it up to ~16×.

 

[AlNyhus]

Even on lightweight hunting rigs, I use at least a 24X scope for load work. And sometimes more, depending on what's on the scope shelf.

Set your flags so you can see them with your off eye and rock on.



300WSM with 8-32 NSX:

250 Savage Ackley with 36X Weaver:

243W with a 6-24:

223 with a 6-24:

 

[Jager]

You can't have too much magnification when working up a load.

 

[AndrewB]

Agreed. I work up loads with a 15-55 Nightforce comp scope so I can aim as small as possible and try to always aim at the exact same point. Also carefully watch your wind flags. This cuts done on the "me" errors versus load issues.

Once the load is worked up, I switch the scope to what I will use on the rifle.

 

[searcher]

Agreed. I work up loads with a 15-55 Nightforce comp scope so I can aim as small as possible and try to always aim at the exact same point. Also carefully watch your wind flags. This cuts done on the "me" errors versus load issues.

Once the load is worked up, I switch the scope to what I will use on the rifle.

I use the same scope for the same purpose. When doing load development at close range (like 100 yards), use all the magnification you can - as at that close - it can all be used most often.

 

[RegionRat]

I have too much junk in my life so probably not a good idea to ask me....

I like to use Pic Rail mounts on rifles to standardize and make swapping scopes easier.

If you use good quality mounts on the rifles and scopes, there isn't much waste when swapping scopes. Don't try that with cheap hardware or you will frustrate yourself.

By using a higher mag scope for load development, you can save lots of effort at the bench.

Then, suppose the rifle is destined to have something lower mag or lighter to carry, then you just swap it once the load work is settled.

My elk/deer rigs have something like a 3x-9x or 3.5x-10x scope on them when hunting, but for load development I use the Hubble Space Telescope (NF 8x-32x for example) on there and then pull it off.

 

[AWS]

I used to use a higher power scope for load development. Now I just use the scope on the rifle. The smallest group is going to be the smallest with whatever scope you use.

 

[joshb]

Aim small, miss small. I have a Weaver T36 and a Sightron 10-50 I use to do load work ups. The T36 usually goes on hunting type rifles. Bench guns get the 10-50. 96% of my guns get a picatinny rail. I just don’t have enough scopes for all my guns so I move them around as my whims change.

 

[justinp61]

I use a 36X Leupold or a 36X Weaver for load development, then when finished install the scope that will live on the rifle. I use 4.5x14’s on my deer rifles and 6.5x20’s on my varmint rifles.

 

[Homerange]

This topic troubled me for years and as loading skills and shooting technique improved I needed to find a better and cost effective way.
As primarily a hunter and local varminter my scope collection wasn't up to the needs of precision shooting yet I still wasn't happy about forking out for a 20x+ scope that wouldn't get anything but bench use.

After looking through the glass of many visitors I decided 16x would suit needs for 100yd bench work and yet still offer sufficient magnification for the odd longer shots to be placed quite precisely providing I did my bit.
Parallax adjustment was to be necessary as also a fine crosshair preferably in a tactical reticle.

While 16x might not sound much it's plenty to see 223 groups at 100 and more however I did also develop a new target preference, that being a small black square with a white center that is easily and precisely quartered with the reticule.

FWIW I selected one of these, a cheap China made 4-16x scope and have been very pleased with it.

Sentinel 4-16x50SFP E-SF Riflescope-Rifle Scope & Red Dot Sight Supplier- Vector Optics

Vector Optics is devoted to making high-quality rifle scopes & other optics with competitive prices & consistent quality. Accompany your every shot.

www.vectoroptics.com

 

[TheCZKid]

I've gravitated to scopes which range from 20x to 27x zoom range, and like to look at my targets at 100 yards at about 20x to 22x zoom normally. Most of my focus in shooting, other than paper while doing load development, is sage rats. So, my shots are at very small animals at a decent distance, like 250 yards is hard to hit the little buggers.

Like joshb said, aim small, miss small. And I like to have enough magnification to see my hits as I shoot, instant feedback. That idea works on small calibers like 17 Hornet, 20 Vartarg and 20 Practical, that don't jump too much, but a good solid rest and rear bag is as important as the scope.

As Homerange indicated, I also found a desire to have better and better quality optics as I shoot, and the "great scope for the price" idea doesn't really end up being the bargain I thought. Now I want to upgrade all my so-so scopes, darn it! $$$

 

[Fuj]

I start with the highest magnification and just adjust back for the
current conditions. Honestly and by average, I probably use 40X
more then anything else for work ups.....I don't fart around swapping
scopes for work ups. The scope that belongs to the build is what is used.