Need some opinions...

[CZforlife]

Currently I shoot a 24x Leupold with a 5/8dot but today at the range I was test driving Hambones rifle and of course he has one of those premier boosted scopes. Heres where I'd like some opinions, we were shooting on 40x and sure enough I was knocking those dang animals down just as good if not better with the higher power! I was thinking about possibly purchasing a Weaver T36 and putting a 1/2dot in it. What do you guys think? Id also love to package my scope along with a little cash to get a nice boosted scope. ;)

[Innocent]

Baby Huey....36 is a strong scope. Not that I can't hold that , and have held stronger, for the long run go with a variable. In low light conditions (and some matches do run on) such a storms, early or late morning, you will want the variability.

Mary

[CZforlife]

So save up and get a boosted scope is what your saying?

[Trent]

I'm actually losing interest in the variables. My 6.5-20 scopes never leave the 20x setting for silhouette and I love my 24x fixed scopes. Changing the variable scopes to a lower power changes the image I see and that throws me off my mental game. I'd personally (and this is just me) rather deal with darker lighting condition than changing the perceived size of the animals through the scope. If Leupold would make a 8-25x40mm scope I'd probably swap out all my 6.5-20x scopes... but then again, they'd more than likely never leave the 25x setting.

Then again, Florida has those BLACK afternoon storms so I can see that ya'll might need it.

[CZforlife]

Depending exactly how much weight I have to work with when my new rifle is completed I may have to go with the Leupold Competition 30x, if I want more power, as its only 11.4 ounces.

[Trent]

Yeah, I think I may end up selling one of my 24x scopes and replace it with a 30x. Probably on my smallbore rifle. I've looked through them and I like what I see. Competition FX-30 with a 1/2" dot... perfect.

[CZforlife]

Yah thats exactly what Id be buying!

[jneihouse]

I always like to break problems or decisions into the elements and then make my decision....I've shot just about every rifle/scope combo that is out there and have settled where I'm at for a reason. Doesn't mean that this is the final or best an=swer for you, but this is what works for us....

Scopes...I've heard all the arguments for and against variable power scopes and have shot them extensively. Same for the boosted scopes, and i have owned and shot them extensively as well. After all that, I've settled on a fixed 24 power scope with 1/4 min adjustments and what is commonly called a "silhouette dot", which I believe originally was .067, someone can correct me if I am wrong here.

First consider what part a scope plays in our game. It's function is to magnify the target to a point that you should be able to see individual aiming points on a target, such as a paint chip or bullet splatter. Magnification beyond that is pretty much useless. It has to track dependably and repeatedly, every time without fail. It has to do this an extreme number of times in it's lifetime. If it won't do that, it is pretty much worthless. The glass has to be reasonably clear so that the target can be resolved by the shooter. We don't shoot in the dark, and very seldom shoot in very low light conditions. So good glass is necessary, excellent glass is a plus. A scope should be as light as possible in order to save as much weight as possible above the bore line of the rifle. Every oz that you put up there is magnified and brings a degree of instability to your rifle. Along that line of thinking, a variable power scope adds glass elements and weight to the scope. That is a drawback. Contrary to some popular belief, setting a variable power scope on a lower power setting does not magically stop or slow your wobble. You simply can't see it. If believing this gives you a mental edge over your wobble then by all means, it is an advantage to you. You have learned to overcome a problem by changing your perception of the problem.

I settled on a fixed 24 power (25 in the case of one of the Leupolds that we own) on our competition rifles because 24 power is plenty to see the target and aiming points on all of the targets. I have found that if you start a shooter on a 24 power scope they will adapt and shoot it well. I have had problems with new shooters with variable power scopes slowing their learning curve by playing with the variable power, so I discourage this for new shooters. Get a fixed power with a bulletproof erector system and shoot it. Success will come ...Of course this is just an opinion, YMMV.

Kitty

[Innocent]

Trent FYI...one of the worst black storms I've ever seen/shot in is in Raton NM. As for going fixed 24 or 25 will do just a John says, and if I do a fixed that will be the power. I do agree that when handed a variable scope a lot of new shooters tend to play with that and loose the attention that should be on basics. Don't show them the variable power, when you loan them the rifle, just set it down as low as possible and let them get started that way.

Mary

[CZforlife]

I started out on a fixed 24x, glad I did, but it just seems like a little extra power would benefit me right now.

[lone ringer]

I started out on a fixed 24x, glad I did, but it just seems like a little extra power would benefit me right now.

A very well known shooter from WA state says that if you can't see through your scope the target fall when you hit it is because you are using too much magnification.
In essence you are not following trough if you can't see the target fall or your hits or misses (at least in SB and AR).

It is also true that the movement of the shooter is the same if shooting iron sights or a 60X scope and only the perception of the movement changes and we change the magnification. In my case I do not hold as good as when I was younger (I turned 60 last year) so if I do not shoot or practice (read train) a lot what happens when I use high magnification is that I get anxious because my movement is magnified and I jerk the trigger and miss a lot but if I reduce the power I can do much better.
I found that out by pure chance shooting my air rifle with a 6.5X20 scope at home. Most of my rifles have scopes that vary from 16X to 24X and some have 6.5X20's that I have bought recently but my favorite scopes are the Leupold 24BR with 1/2 MOA dot or Large Leupold Dot.

[CZforlife]

For the most part I follow through just fine. Also, thank you guys for all the advice! After carefully taking into consideration what all of you have said, I have decided that until I get my new rifle I will not change my scope. But when that rifle comes a walkin in a few months down the road, all bets are off!!!

[BCloninger]

FWIW, after using a 25x40 FXIII I recently changed to a 20x42 SIII because my wobble deteriorated into a distraction. Scopes over 25x are great for picking out a single animal, but that's all you see; targets on either side are outside your FOV, so it's really easy to target the wrong animal.

[CZforlife]

Bob, luckily no problems so far at 24x but I have a good habit of not loosing track of the animals as I'm shooting.

[BCloninger]

Bob, luckily no problems so far at 24x but I have a good habit of not loosing track of the animals as I'm shooting.

Now you're jinxed!