I have searched the forums and did not find an answer so I will post it. My 6BR should be done in the next week or so and I need to now figure out what glass to put on top of her. I am just getting back into shooting after a 25 year sabbatical. My intentions are to shoot prairie dogs and paper out to 600 yards. If I find that I can really do that with these decrepit old bones and eyes I would try further. So my first question just to keep it simple is, how much magnification should I consider at 500-600 yards? At this time I am not considering brands, options, or price. That will come later. My pea sized brain can only sort through one problem at a time guys!!! Thanks for any help.
How much magnification
- Thread starter Waskawood
- Start date
Fred Bohl
Gold $$ Contributor
Assuming that you have normal or correctable to normal visual acuity,20/20 on the Snellen eye chart, then to be able to resolve,distinguish two holes with with 50% overlap as two holes) 6 mm bullet holes at 600 yards you will need at least 50 mm objective diameter and 26 power at a minimum. This would require a well illuminated high contrast target image, clear air,no pollution, haze or mirage) and high quality optics.
If your actual or corrected visual acuity is better or worse, then you will need proportionately more or less minimum magnification - 20/10 needs 13 power and 20/40 needs 52 power. You would be wise to also select a higher minimum magnification capability to help with reduced contrast and lower light levels. Also note that with the typical visual problems associated with aging, more magnification is almost always helpful.
For prairie dog shooting you would probably find a variable power scope to be desirable so that you can use lower power to acquire your target and higher power for precise aiming. In bad mirage conditions many shooters prefer to have a variable power scope so that they can adjust for the maximum power that will allow them to aim without being distracted by the effects of heavy mirage.
I have 50 power 52 mm and 60 power 52 mm March scopes. The 50 power is on my short range,up to 300 yard) setup and the 60 power is on my long range,300 yard and longer) setup. One season of target use has demonstrated that I should have bought two 60 power. If I were a prairie dog shooter, I would get the 10-60 power 52 mm March variable.
If your actual or corrected visual acuity is better or worse, then you will need proportionately more or less minimum magnification - 20/10 needs 13 power and 20/40 needs 52 power. You would be wise to also select a higher minimum magnification capability to help with reduced contrast and lower light levels. Also note that with the typical visual problems associated with aging, more magnification is almost always helpful.
For prairie dog shooting you would probably find a variable power scope to be desirable so that you can use lower power to acquire your target and higher power for precise aiming. In bad mirage conditions many shooters prefer to have a variable power scope so that they can adjust for the maximum power that will allow them to aim without being distracted by the effects of heavy mirage.
I have 50 power 52 mm and 60 power 52 mm March scopes. The 50 power is on my short range,up to 300 yard) setup and the 60 power is on my long range,300 yard and longer) setup. One season of target use has demonstrated that I should have bought two 60 power. If I were a prairie dog shooter, I would get the 10-60 power 52 mm March variable.
Waskawood said:
Magnification to see PDs at 600y... Figure out how far away you can see one with your own eyes. Then divide that distance into 600y and you'll have a good ballpark figure. If you can pretty easily see a prairie dog with your own eyes at 25y, then 24x magnification will result in about the same image at 600y.
So, I recommend you get at least 24x. Like the excellent,new model) Sightron SIII in 6-24x50 or 8-32x50.
And in the spirit of keeping it simple, order such a scope from Great Scott Shooting Products, i.e. Larry Scott on this very forum. Figure about $750, and you'll be very well equipped in the optics dept.
I agree with Nate. A good variable, like the Sightron SIII in the 6.5x 24 will work for seeing your crosshairs on top of a prairie dog sized ball of guts sufficiently at 600 yards. I would say that a 20 power variable is likely the minimum for that type of shooting for older eyes [my late 40s eyes are getting so I can appreciate that]. My 69 year old dad used a 16 power Zeiss Conquest this summer shootin dogs, and got along okay but that is no garantee for everybody that age. His eyesight is good for his age.
In general, for shooting at targets and to SEE the crosshairs on the target well, same goes, IMHO. To SEE THE HOLES clearly on the target, though, is another matter. Fred's suggestion is good advice as far as that is concerned. I'm not a target shooter as I only use paper targets to do load development tests and tune on my rifles etc.. If your serious about paper punchin than take that advise and don't stop at 24 power if your eyes give you problems. This is just how I would approach the question if it were me.
Wyo
In general, for shooting at targets and to SEE the crosshairs on the target well, same goes, IMHO. To SEE THE HOLES clearly on the target, though, is another matter. Fred's suggestion is good advice as far as that is concerned. I'm not a target shooter as I only use paper targets to do load development tests and tune on my rifles etc.. If your serious about paper punchin than take that advise and don't stop at 24 power if your eyes give you problems. This is just how I would approach the question if it were me.
Wyo
Waskawood said:
Shooting paper out to 600yds is a vague request. If you are shooting at NRA-size bullseye targets in a match then you will have someone in the pits to mark you target with a 3" disk. Your magnification need not be great, I would guess 15x or better is good enough to see the x-ring.
My prairie dog rifles have 6.5-20 scopes on them. I seldom use them at full power and normally they stay around 14-16 power. In the old days I had a K8 or K10 Weaver on my prairie dog guns and did just fine with those. You'll have no trouble seeing targets out to 1000 yards in a dog town with a 4.5-14 scope. Hitting them is up to you and your rifle. I mount a pair of 7x50 binoculars to my shooting bench for spotting the critters.
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