Trying to Understand the Advantages of Low Power Scopes

[micmac]

Its about how dynamic your shooting is going to be ,as someone who shoots many disciplines from Air Rifle BR to practical/tactical both rimfire and centerfire to ELR . Low magnifications are very practical for any sort of dynamic ,unsupported shooting , shooting where you have to find targets fast . In practical shooting even tough i run a 4.5-30x scope i notice i rarely go above 12x in compettion doesn't mater if its 100 or 1200m shoot only times i use magnifications past 20x is if there is time and shooting position is realy stable. Many times you see inexperienced shooters getting lost because they ither forgot to dial down or think they can shoot at high magnification only to loose bunch of time trying to find the target or even shooting the wrong target.

If the targets are moving and under 100m you would want 4x or less magnification ,for example for driven hunts Swarowski actualy makes a 0.75 magnification scope so negative magnification. Remember back in WW2 sniper rifles had 4x or less fixed scopes

Dynamic shooting like IPSC rifle open division mostly shoot 10-300m all run ither 1-8x or similar magnification on the ar15s ,getting the target and sight picture at low magnifications is so much faster. Low magnifications generaly also do not go out of focus that fast so no paralax knob turning all the time.

On the other hand in BR i tend to use 36x and above even in air rifle at 25m,but for example in sporters where rules limit magnification to 6.5x scores are not much worse than HV or open where people run 50x magnifications.

 

[K22]

When I began shooting and hunting with a center fire rifle in the late 60's, the 3 x 9 ruled the scope world. Since I could only afford one rifle for all my hunting needs, the 3 x 9 served well as an all purpose applications scope, both for big game and varmints / predators. My first scope was a 3 x 9 Redfield which was a high quality scope in those days. I took several deer, a few foxes, and a lot of groundhogs with this scope mounted on a 243 Winchester Model 70. Life was simple in those days.

I still believe a high quality 3 x 9 scope has value as an all purpose scope for a hunter on a limited budget. However once I became a serious varmint hunter I saw an advantage in more magnification especially for those shots were the ground hog is obscured by high hay and roll of the terrain where a more precise aiming point has an advantage.

Fast forward today being more affluent meaning I can afford rifles geared for specific hunting applications, I view the 4 x 16's as the optimum for me for varmint hunting. I could even get by with a 4 x 12. I still like the 3 x 9 for deer hunting. I should qualify my remarks by stating that the ranges I shoot are modest by today's standards. For example my maximum range (for my level of skill off a shooting stick) on varmints is about 300 yards with most shots 250 and under. I've shot a lot of deer hunting in the deep woods of PA but the furthest was 185 yards.

 

[lb-ft]

$ for $, my experience has been that it’s much easy to find a sharp, bright, low power scope than an equally performing high power scope.

2-7 Burris is inexpensive and, at $200 or less, far more contrast, sharpness and brightness than $200 4-12 or 6-20 whatever.

YMMV

 

[Flouncer]

Everyone uses what works for them. Comments include running game and brush, most shot under 150 yards, and Deer out to 400 with a 8x. I haven't been fortunate enough to get an Elk in my crosshairs yet. I shoot better at 16x than 8 or 9x. So that's what I use. Mostly static and at least 300 yards away. Will not shoot at running game as I am not going to practice by wounding an animal I waited years to have a chance at. It will escape. My limitation, but I would never shoot with my 3x9 at range until I get a lot more practice and confidence with it. Hoping for a bipod shot under 300 yards. I take it very seriously and truly want a one shot and flop, heart lung. Har Har good luck with that.

 

[AWS]

Scopes are just an aiming device. Power has a marginal effect on accuracy within reason. Just look at the groups turned in at hunter benchrest with their 6 scopes not a whole lot larger than their big brothers in benchrest. I shoot 1-4x20mm ans 1.5-6x40mm scopes on almost all my coyote hunting rifles and have no problem with 300 yard shots if I need to. For still hunting deer, calling coyotes, FOV trumps X's every time.

Here are some groups fired with pretty marginal guns with low power scopes

Weaver K-1.5 1.5x at 100 yards PPV 7x57R factory ammo. JP Sauer drilling(1957)

Leupold 1-4x20mm at 200 yards 6.5x58R Sauer Wilkes drilling (1926)

It still gets the job done after 90+ years.

Nikon Monarch 1.5-4.5x20mm BRNO combo 22 Savage High power(5.6x52R) 1960's built at 300 yards.

Nearly 60 years old and still killing critters

With the low power scopes on the weapons even flushing pheasants ducks and grouse are in mortal danger. What more can you ask of a scope from your shoelaces to 300 yards your covered. Fast acquisition and pretty dam good accuracy. I've never felt under scoped with a 1-4 or 1.5-6 scope but I have been over scope on more than one occasion with higher powered scopes.

 

[Tommie]

Whoah...almost chimed in on this one.

 

[Stepsjframe]

yes that plus if you have a Mil Dot it is figured for one range, usually 10x or the max power for ranging. So if you are on low power and try to range with it it won't work.