Scope Zoom-Switch

[LC Tikka]

What is the point of having large-range zoom scopes for hunting, particularly with SFP reticle.
3-9, 3-18 or 5-25 zoom, does anyone really use the mid range?
A quick action switch or lever to go from low to high zoom may be more useful.
LC

 

[hogpatrol]

Depends on the size of the animal being hunted.

 

[JRS]

Use a good 6-8 fixed power scope, unless you are varmint hunting at long distances.

 

[bobinpa]

I love variable power scopes..... The majority of my big game rifles have a 4.5-14 power Leupold on them and my varmint rifles have 8.5-25 power Leupolds on them. For the deer rifles I like to keep them dialed down to around 6-7 power and if need be I can turn them up accordingly. The varmint rifles rarely go under 12 power but I don't always use 25 either due to mirage. I have shot a lot of ground hogs at around 20x..... If you need to change from way low to up high in a hurry take a look at the switch levers, I use them on my AR's and they work well. Here is a link.
http://www.mgmswitchview.com/switchview-levers

 

[Zero333]

I use a 3-9 for deer. I have the scope set at 5x and turn it up to 9 if the shot is longer than 100 yards and time allows.
5x at 100 yards is plenty for me hunting deer.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

What is the point of having large-range zoom scopes for hunting, particularly with SFP reticle.
3-9, 3-18 or 5-25 zoom, does anyone really use the mid range?
A quick action switch or lever to go from low to high zoom may be more useful.
LC

They make what you describe for many scopes.
https://www.brownells.com/optics-mounting/optic-accessories/scope-throw-levers/index.htm

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Most scopes reticles move poa when you change power. If the shot requires precision you want to test your scope to see if and how much the recitle shifts. But to answer your question, I do often use mid range in hunting. Max mag usually has too small of a point of view for me, as I want to see what happened after the shot.