How much zoom do you like on a 500 yard hunting shot?

[WDR]

I think these guys are saying the risk of shooting the wrong one is too high and they would wait for a better shot. Not mount a 60x Spotter piggy back on their SWFA 6x... but maybe there is a market for that... *runs off to start a patent application*

Honestly, lower power and increased FOV would let you possibly keep both animals in view, assuming you picked out which one was legal first.

I will admit that I am often at the higher end of magnification... but Im shooting a suppressed .223 most of the time now. But even on something like rockchucks... backing off helps with follow ups and/or seeing and confirming the hits. I recently headshot one at 240, and I was at ~10x with a 3-15x so I could see for sure if I hit him.

 

[WDR]

You only take one bullet when hunting?
Cool. THAT'S weight saving!

A 20rd box of my .223 load is probably half the weight and half the pack space of the usual 10 spare .30-06 rounds I kept in my pack.

One and done is the goal... but as Clint Smith has said: "You can't have too much ammo, unless you are on fire or trying to swim."

 

[ElkHuntr77]

I normally find myself using about 10 power at 500 yards. Wide enough field of view to stay on the scope but magnified enough to spot impacts.

 

[Chickenhawk]

8 power works great for me