Scope Magnification vs Accuracy

[archerforkids]

I have a Leopold 7-42x56 scope with TMOA Plus reticle.
I have been aspiring to improve my prone shooting at 500 yards with intentions of playing at a couple of clubs within a couple of hours drive from where I live.
Here's my challenge. I shoot significantly better at low magnification. 20 power or so. Which is fine and dandy unless the wind is blowing. Which is every time I pick the rifle up of course. Anyway. My brain isn't organized enough to trust dial off and remember where the turret is. Yet I struggle seeing the darn target rings at low magnification for a hold off aiming point.
Is the difference in quality of shooting at high magnification vs low magnification a mental short coming?
How might you more experienced gentlemen handle this?
Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[Jeff Porter]

Prone sling or prone FClass ? I see many high X count cleans at midranges with 4.5x Service Rifle and iron sight Palma rifles and even more with guys running about 20x for sling targets.

F Class allows ( and requires) you to need a bit more magnification to (as you describe) see the rings for hold off. How much your 42x you need can vary with how well you have the optics set on the rifle for your eyes. Ocular ( rear lens / reticle image) focus is critical to have along with the parallax free target image.

 

[Big Mc]

I have a Leopold 7-42x56 scope with TMOA Plus reticle.
I have been aspiring to improve my prone shooting at 500 yards with intentions of playing at a couple of clubs within a couple of hours drive from where I live.
Here's my challenge. I shoot significantly better at low magnification. 20 power or so. Which is fine and dandy unless the wind is blowing. Which is every time I pick the rifle up of course. Anyway. My brain isn't organized enough to trust dial off and remember where the turret is. Yet I struggle seeing the darn target rings at low magnification for a hold off aiming point.
Is the difference in quality of shooting at high magnification vs low magnification a mental short coming?
How might you more experienced gentlemen handle this?
Any feedback is appreciated.

If you can,t see it you can,t hit it. Tommy Mc. I have old eyes

 

[One Eye Pete]

I shoot F-Open at a club level. I use a reticle with hashmarks. The range I shoot at has real bad sun glare in the morning and frequently has heavy mirage. When the conditions get bad and I can’t see the target rings, I adjust my scope power so the target center lines up between one of the larger sets of hashmarks. Then instead of using the reticle center dot I bracket the black target center with the hashmarks.
One of my pet peeves is that one of the reasons F-Class was originated was for older shooters who had trouble seeing with iron sights (half blind guys like me). The big black target center favors iron sights because at long range with no magnification it appears as a small black dot that you can center in the iron sights. However in poor conditions with a high power scope a black reticle is real easy to loose on that black center. The long range bench rest guys got it right with lighter colored targets.

 

[Sandstorm]

I dial as close as I need to and you can adjust accordingly. To see mirage back off a bit, and to get
a clear picture of the rings dial in a bit more. The more you shoot the more you know what works for you.

 

[6.5 forever]

Old guy with old eyes. Following this closely.

 

[jdh47]

If you're dialing windage you might do better with a MIL scope. You can also try the Horus reticle. 20 power is fine for distance and here in Texas in summertime mirage will get you especially at longer yardages. Just my humble opinion.

 

[DirtySteve]

I shoot F-Open at a club level. I use a reticle with hashmarks. The range I shoot at has real bad sun glare in the morning and frequently has heavy mirage. When the conditions get bad and I can’t see the target rings, I adjust my scope power so the target center lines up between one of the larger sets of hashmarks. Then instead of using the reticle center dot I bracket the black target center with the hashmarks.
One of my pet peeves is that one of the reasons F-Class was originated was for older shooters who had trouble seeing with iron sights (half blind guys like me). The big black target center favors iron sights because at long range with no magnification it appears as a small black dot that you can center in the iron sights. However in poor conditions with a high power scope a black reticle is real easy to loose on that black center. The long range bench rest guys got it right with lighter colored targets.

Maybe try an illuminated reticle ??? I have never owned one but it maybe some thing to try..

 

[archerforkids]

Yalls responses are greatly appreciated. And I am certainly paying attention.
Back to the hundred dollar question. What the heck am I doing wrong that I shoot better at 20 power than I do a higher magnifications? I'm seeing the reticle quite clearly at what ever setting I choose. I just don't under stand the difference in results at the different settings.
FWIW... I shoot the same way with my other rifle that has a US Optics 5x25 scope. Shoot good at 15 power or so and groups loosen up at 25 power.
I'm not having problems with clear reticle picture.
Go figure

 

[Jeff Porter]

Since you are consistently seeing better results at lower magnification … perhaps it is a form of “Bull Gazing” where you focus on the target more than the reticle.

 

[archerforkids]

Since you are consistently seeing better results at lower magnification … perhaps it is a form of “Bull Gazing” where you focus on the target more than the reticle.

That's a thought. Now that you mention it, when I went to the academy years ago, they stressed front blade on pistol being focal point. Not rear sight or target.
You may have nailed it.
I'm going to find me a spot in my back yard where the neighbors can't see me and work on trigger pull this weekend. I can work on site picture too.
Thanks

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Yalls responses are greatly appreciated. And I am certainly paying attention.
Back to the hundred dollar question. What the heck am I doing wrong that I shoot better at 20 power than I do a higher magnifications? I'm seeing the reticle quite clearly at what ever setting I choose. I just don't under stand the difference in results at the different settings.
FWIW... I shoot the same way with my other rifle that has a US Optics 5x25 scope. Shoot good at 15 power or so and groups loosen up at 25 power.
I'm not having problems with clear reticle picture.
Go figure

I’m in the same boat with you. I figure the eye wants to balance things out better at a certain magnification. I know when I pull out one of those old magnifying glass that everything seems a little distorted compared to my natural eyesight.

 

[6.5 forever]

Yalls responses are greatly appreciated. And I am certainly paying attention.
Back to the hundred dollar question. What the heck am I doing wrong that I shoot better at 20 power than I do a higher magnifications? I'm seeing the reticle quite clearly at what ever setting I choose. I just don't under stand the difference in results at the different settings.
FWIW... I shoot the same way with my other rifle that has a US Optics 5x25 scope. Shoot good at 15 power or so and groups loosen up at 25 power.
I'm not having problems with clear reticle picture.
Go figure

Bottom line is you are relaxing at low power and tensing up when you see more, like the jiggles you don't see at low power.

 

[ar15Jeff]

I propose the NRA make the X ring the same buff color as the white of the target. Makes it look like a spotter placed in the middle. This would help scope and iron sight shooters. This follows the benchrest target scheme but retains the black for iron shooters

 

[archerforkids]

I propose the NRA make the X ring the same buff color as the white of the target. Makes it look like a spotter placed in the middle. This would help scope and iron sight shooters. This follows the benchrest target scheme but retains the black for iron shooters

I'm on your side. I despise that black target.

 

[6.5 forever]

I propose the NRA make the X ring the same buff color as the white of the target. Makes it look like a spotter placed in the middle. This would help scope and iron sight shooters. This follows the benchrest target scheme but retains the black for iron shooters

Now that makes alot of common sense.

 

[archerforkids]

Bottom line is you are relaxing at low power and tensing up when you see more, like the jiggles you don't see at low power.

Makes sense.
When my son shot on USA team in archery, he always shot his best scores right at dark when we were practicing at home. Complained the whole time about not being able to see the 10 ring.

 

[coford]

I've been shooting F-Class for quite a few years. I almost always shoot the highest possible power with my scopes (50 power). I have tried shooting lower power in mirage but still get along better at the higher power. If you do not shoot as well at the high powers perhaps you need to work on your parallax and focus adjustments until you don't get any movement at the higher powers. Do not assume you can just dial to a higher power and your parallax will be the same. FWIW.

 

[6.5 forever]

Makes sense.
When my son shot on USA team in archery, he always shot his best scores right at dark when we were practicing at home. Complained the whole time about not being able to see the 10 ring.

LOL
My wife and I where factory staff shooters for Hoyt. Most rifle shooters could learn a lot from archery. You learn how to put a shot together, form, muscle memory. If I use any of those phrases on the line with gun shooters I get funny looks.

 

[mike mccormick]

If you are having problems at high magnification, especially if you are a sling shooter, it is probably from trying to fight the amplified view of movement. You must learn to relax, instead of trying to control it. This will reduce the movement . Or just shoot lower magnification.