How much magnification for 1000 yd F Open?

[Down South]

I have a 12-42 NSX last time I turned my scope down I lost 11 points on a small blurry target. It was the only time I ever turned it down and the last!!! Now I NEVER TURN IT DOWN!! To me big blurry target is better than a little blurry target!!!!

I guess i'm just weird or my eyes see things differently cause in heavy mirage i can see the target much clearer when i back down on the power. There are times that im shooting 30 power or less at 1000 depending on the mirage. If the target is blurry the extra power doesn't seem to help me any and shooting 30 power or less doesn't seem to hurt me any either. Don't get me wrong, if conditions allow i much rather the higher magnification.

No, I'm the wierd one, use a 3-24x42 FFP March. ;D Use it at 21-24X with light mirage and have gone all the way done to 13X in heavy mirage at 1000. Shot the highest score for the weekend at the Bergers last year with the magnification set between 13-15X the whole weekend.

I'm that penguin walking the wrong way away from the crowd. ;D

Now i don't feel so bad, i'm not the only one running under 42 power at all times........ ;D........Several strings at the Bergers a few weeks ago i was running on 26 power.

 

[ARIZONA_F_CLASS]

I see all my bullet holes at 1000 yards. That 3" spotter is easily visible.

[br]
Our mirage and lighting conditions at Camp Pendleton are sometimes so bad that we have trouble seeing both the 6" spotter and scoring disk, through either rifle or spotting scope. But I still shoot at 42X. I can see the target more clearly at lower power but my scores don't improve. So, it stays at 42.

+1

 

[WindSurgeon]

So the vibe I am picking up on this is that the 42x is OK. All the comments help a lot everyone. Thanks! Time to find one on the site.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

I always alert the wind coach as to what I can clearly see. I'd prefer him not bother calling out 1/8 ring-calls, when I can only accurately see to the 1/2 ring, etc! Yet, he can do what he wants--he may just have to wait significantly longer for me to break the shot than normal.

Dan

I always giggle when our coach calls 16th's then do my best to guesstimate it.

On topic, my scope stays on 42x at 1000 yards. It's just always worked out better for me that way. I haven't had a chance to try one of the 55x competition scopes yet.

You mean you guys don't use the decimal system for coaching/aiming? You know it is more precise that way right? We don't get carried away either, we only call out aim points out to 2 decimal places. ;D

Yes, I use the Dewey decimal system. The coach calls out "Left two-point-four-three" and I whack him with my Dewey cleaning rod.

 

[Lapua40X]

... 6 BR, can you ever see bullet holes at say 600 yards?
I am able to see bullet holes pretty clearly at 300 yards but not able to come even close even seeing at 600 yards.
what is the farthest distance can members see their bullet holes?

That's often more a question of quality of lenses than magnification power of the scope. Those two qualities need to be considered in unison to provide a good answer to the question.

 

[Erik Cortina]

I always alert the wind coach as to what I can clearly see. I'd prefer him not bother calling out 1/8 ring-calls, when I can only accurately see to the 1/2 ring, etc! Yet, he can do what he wants--he may just have to wait significantly longer for me to break the shot than normal.

Dan

I always giggle when our coach calls 16th's then do my best to guesstimate it.

On topic, my scope stays on 42x at 1000 yards. It's just always worked out better for me that way. I haven't had a chance to try one of the 55x competition scopes yet.

You mean you guys don't use the decimal system for coaching/aiming? You know it is more precise that way right? We don't get carried away either, we only call out aim points out to 2 decimal places. ;D

Yes, I use the Dewey decimal system. The coach calls out "Left two-point-four-three" and I whack him with my Dewey cleaning rod.

;D

 

[Fred Bohl]

I think a lot has to do with your EYE'S! I'll be 69 years old in May and I haven't been able to see bullet holes at 1000 yards for a number of years. If you are early 30's or 40's you have a better chance.

Joe Salt

Joe you are right on about eye sight. In my list of assumptions in reply #10 above, see "2. Observer has normal or corrected to normal (1MOA) visual resolution/acuity." 1MOA acuity corresponds to "20/20 vision" (here in USA, 6/6 in the metric world). For better understanding, 20/10 (6/3) is 0.5MOA acuity and 20/40 (6/12) is 2MOA acuity.

When my cataracts had limited my acuity to 2MOA, I needed twice the magnification I do now since the intraocular lens replacements have restored my 1MOA acuity. I'm shooting much better now at 70 than at 69 before the cataract surgery.

 

[expiper]

Danny ,,,,I shoot benchrest(both short and long range) and am curious about F-class ,,,my question is ,when the wind coach gives the shooter a number ,,,is that telling the shooter where to hold or how much the shot moved ,,,cant the shooter see the spotter and scoring disc for their own,,,???,,,, I know that you know how to shoot and will give an answer that will not be laced with sarcasm,,,,thank YOU,,Roger

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Hi Roger,

Some teams do things differently based on their individual backgrounds. I can't speak for Danny's team, but mine uses a ring count system. For example, a 3 Left call would result in holding on the outer edge of the 9 ring at 9 o'clock. Likewise, a 1 Left would be the left edge of the X ring.

Shiraz and Gary did a video a year or two ago. It was in the bulletin. Might try searching Shiraz on the accurateshooter main page. IIRC, he gave quite the explanation.

 

[Steve Blair]

Danny ,,,,I shoot benchrest(both short and long range) and am curious about F-class ,,,my question is ,when the wind coach gives the shooter a number ,,,is that telling the shooter where to hold or how much the shot moved ,,,cant the shooter see the spotter and scoring disc for their own,,,???,,,, I know that you know how to shoot and will give an answer that will not be laced with sarcasm,,,,thank YOU,,Roger

[br]
Roger, [br]
What you describe, we call "chasing the spotter." The wind coach will make a different call for almost every shot as wind velocity and vector varies. The distance the spotter is placed from the center X is the coach's error. He or she must use that information to calibrate the call for the next shot. The coach will also keep an eye on vertical and instruct the shooter to click up or down to maintain as near perfect waterline through the X as possible. Coaches are usually in a much better position to see the changes as they are: [br]
1. Watching continuously
2. Using a spotting scope with are larger view field.
3. Often looking at distances other than the target. [br]
The best thing a team shooter can do is exactly what the coach calls. When a slight hold error is made, tell the coach. If you see something important, tell the coach. They probably already see it, but you never know. It is a team activity.

 

[Down South]

Hi Roger,

Some teams do things differently based on their individual backgrounds. I can't speak for Danny's team, but mine uses a ring count system. For example, a 3 Left call would result in holding on the outer edge of the 9 ring at 9 o'clock. Likewise, a 1 Left would be the left edge of the X ring.

Shiraz and Gary did a video a year or two ago. It was in the bulletin. Might try searching Shiraz on the accurateshooter main page. IIRC, he gave quite the explanation.

I shot with team Savage in Phoenix a few weeks ago and Gary was our coach......We used the ring count system to hold off......I personally like doing that instead of dialing every shot......Gary is a great guy/coach and i really enjoyed shooting with him and the other guys on team Savage........

 

[expiper]

HI to ONE and ALL...thank you for your answers,,,I know how good your guns will shoot and respect your skills,,,how many shooters are being directed by this one spotter/coach (team is four ??),,,he would be very busy watching 4 targets at once ( I know how busy I am just watching one target when benchrest shooting,,)...you are all very fortunate to be able to travel and shoot in these well attended events,,,,congrats to those who participated ,,,,even last place is a winner,,,,we learn every time we pull the trigger,,,,Roger

 

[Steve Blair]

Just one at a time, Roger. We shoot sequentially.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

One trick I learned last year was to adjust the power to where I could best see the mirage. On my NF comp scope that's 40x on my NF br scope it closer to 30x. I would rather have better glass than power, with the 55x you get both. My score improved greatly once I started to adjust the power for mirage.

 

[SWRichmond]

I think a lot has to do with your EYE'S! I'll be 69 years old in May and I haven't been able to see bullet holes at 1000 yards for a number of years. If you are early 30's or 40's you have a better chance.

Joe Salt

Joe you are right on about eye sight. In my list of assumptions in reply #10 above, see "2. Observer has normal or corrected to normal (1MOA) visual resolution/acuity." 1MOA acuity corresponds to "20/20 vision" (here in USA, 6/6 in the metric world). For better understanding, 20/10 (6/3) is 0.5MOA acuity and 20/40 (6/12) is 2MOA acuity.

When my cataracts had limited my acuity to 2MOA, I needed twice the magnification I do now since the intraocular lens replacements have restored my 1MOA acuity. I'm shooting much better now at 70 than at 69 before the cataract surgery.

I was very interested to read this. Let me throw this out here as a consideration for power selection related to age. I just had cataract surgery in my aiming eye. The colors are fantastic, and resolution is better than I can ever recall it being. No more eye fatigue, and bright light doesn't seem to bother it anymore (I have had optical migranes at the end of a string on the line...). I have only thus far shot the new eye at 100 yards, but there is so much more information coming in that I am considering the possibility of needing to turn the scope down from my customary 28X to let my brain settle, as I am now seeing every twitch.

Can't wait for this fricking snow to disappear.

 

[jvw2008]

1+ on the Competition. It's not a matter of whether you use it all the time - for me its a matter of is it there when I want it.