Choosing a rifle scope.

[Stradawhovious]

Once again I am going to ask a question for which there is no one answer, but I will try to relay my point in the most straightforward fashion possible. When choosing a riflescope, how much is not enough and how much is too much? I am referring to the magnification power here, and practical application. To keep the variables to a minimum, let's assume I am looking at the Leupold VX-II line of scopes. They are offered in powers ranging from 1x4 to 6x18. If I am looking for something as versatile as possible, what am I looking for? What would be considered too much? What would be considered not enough? Is there a standard formula one uses for specific purposes?

Prospective purposes for either a .30-06 or a .223

Target shooting from 100 to 500 yards (well 500 yards someday anyways, when I learn how to shoot )
Deer up nordt
Prairie poodles
Maybe a 'yote hunt if I ever get to that point
Other Minnesota activities I am forgetting to mention
And of course, the Zombie Apocolypse.

Please let me know what I can clarify in this, as I know there are a lot of variables.

[Holland&Holland]

The problem is that you have too many variables in your question. My 2 cents is that if you are looking for glass for your Ought Six a standard 3-9 x 40 is going to give you all that you would need and more. This will work for hunting whitetails in the woods at closer ranges to any shots you might need it for say out west.

For your .223 if you are seriously looking for something in a varmint rig you are going to want a bit more top end magnification like the mentioned 6-18. The Leupold VX's are very sweet but I would check out Nikon as well as they have very nice options at a reasonable price.

[sochr000]

The below is my opinion, if you don't like it, come to Bemidji and I will give you the time back it took you to read this (but not the time it took to drive to Bemidji)

3x9 seems to be the standard for most people, and it's good for deer out to 200 yards or more, but not for target shooting really. For a good 500yard shot I'd got with a higher magnification scope. The 3x9 is really just a good all around scope to have, it can help you make shots out to 500yards, not as accurately as something higher powered, but accurately enough for hunting most animals.

Really, I believe there isn't one scope that works best for everything, having two scopes, if you can afford to, seems to work better. Have a 3x9 for general purpose, and maybe that 6x18 you had talked about for those longer range shots.

[justaguy]

This is going to turn bad at some point. So it might as well be now.

I would stick with fixed power in the 6 to 10X range you don’t need more than that. There I said it.

The FXIII line or whatever they replace it with would be good. I’m sure some need 100X scopes and they sell, but a fixed can get you there just fine. Yes variables are pretty durable now, but most that have them “set it and forget it” and why pay more than you need. The shooter matters more than the **** hanging off the gun.

[hammAR]

Strad, you keep mixing up purposes and disciplines, while looking for a general purpose platform that will do everything.....doesn't exist!....closest thing to a general purpose platform considering your current inventory would be .30 cal with a 3x9 glass.......

I pretty much agree with everything in the previous posts, including a fixed x scope, except the two scopes for a platform....You build a platform to do a specific task.................

.

[Stradawhovious]

This is going to turn bad at some point. So it might as well be now.

Since when has any of my posts ever turned bad?

But seriously, thanks for your input. I posted this to get as many opinions as possible. Fact of the matter is that my mind is really already made up, but I needed to justify my decisions. It is really nice to get the informed opinion form those that have been doing this much, much longer than I have.

I found a rockstar deal on a Leupold VX-II 3x9 that I will be getting for my .30-06 And am considering a Nikon Monarch for the varmint rifle when/if I pick it up. I would still like to discuss how some of you have made your scope choices, it is nice to learn about why others do what they do.

[Stradawhovious]

Strad, you keep mixing up purposes and disciplines, while looking for a general purpose platform that will do everything.....doesn't exist!....closest thing to a general purpose platform considering your current inventory would be .30 cal with a 3x9 glass.......

I pretty much agree with everything in the previous posts, including a fixed x scope, except the two scopes for a platform....You build a platform to do a specific task.................

.

Yep, I should have split that up, and thanks for pointing it out. I hope my last post clarifies a little that I am going to be getting two different scopes for two different rifles. My fault for not clarifying.

[hammAR]

Strad, you keep mixing up purposes and disciplines, while looking for a general purpose platform that will do everything.....doesn't exist!....closest thing to a general purpose platform considering your current inventory would be .30 cal with a 3x9 glass.......

I pretty much agree with everything in the previous posts, including a fixed x scope, except the two scopes for a platform....You build a platform to do a specific task.................

.

Yep, I should have split that up, and thanks for pointing it out. I hope my last post clarifies a little that I am going to be getting two different scopes for two different rifles. My fault for not clarifying.

No fault, no foul.................
I do understand what you are attempting.................
and I know how far you have come, but know also how far you have yet to travel.....

[Stradawhovious]

but know also how far you have yet to travel.....

I'm beginning to get an idea myself. Thanks for your help in nudging me back on to the path when I get distracted by shiny objects in the woods!

[JoeH]

[hammAR]

:grouphug:

...you can be my surrogate .................

[JoeH]

Back on topic, IMHO/YMMV

My advice is to buy a 4x12 scope. Given your laundry list, the 4x12 is a better fit. Plus, you seem to really want to stretch your legs with some long shots*.

The 4x magnification is still good for close shots (almost as good as 3x). The big difference comes at 500 yds where the 12x is better than the 9x.

Just another uneducated opinion from another keyboard jockey.

* long shots for the average Joe = 300-600 yds

[JoeH]

:grouphug:

...you can be my surrogate .................

You don't have enough Patron.

[Stradawhovious]

:grouphug:

...you can be my surrogate .................

You don't have enough Patron.

+1,000,000

[Rem700]

3x9 is short on the long end
4x12 is long on the short end
Either of these with a swing towards your expected more long shots or short.
My ideal would be 2.5x16 or really neat would be a 1x32