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

[Macchina]

My longest hunting shot was on a mule deer at 490 yards with a non-adjustable 3-9x 7mm-08 and a trajectory card. I hit the deer 3 out of 3 times (neck, lungs, and front shoulder) but it was tiny when I was shooting at it and I couldn't tell if I hit it so I kept shooting till it was down. Bottom line: I made every shot I took, but the whole time I felt under equipped, is this normal?

I have found myself with a brand new 2.5-8x36 VX-3HD CDS from a warranty return of an old Leupold Safari Scope (2-7x32 Vari-X III I think) and no rifle to put it on. I have one other Leupold CDS scope and love the concept of it!

I also am finding I want a modern cartridge rifle but they are all geared towards long range (6.5 PRC, 7mm PRC, 6.8 Western, etc). I really like the idea of a 7mm PRC!

Would it be wild to put a 8x zoom scope on a 24" 7mm PRC rifle? I would never hunt past 500 yards but this will be me long range (any time I go out west) rifle and my dedicated Elk rifle

 

[Steve300xcw]

An 8x...not that crazy of an idea

A leupold cds...da hell's wrong with you?

 

[Macchina]

An 8x...not that crazy of an idea

A leupold cds...da hell's wrong with you?

Most of the CDS dials are MOA, you can order a MIL dial if you want. Mine has a MOA dial on it from the factory. I don't plan on getting the custom dial unless for whatever reason I find I am only using one load in the rifle (LOL).

 

[SteveCNJ]

I haven't shot at an animal at 500 yards but at the range I'd want to be at 12x at the least at that distance.

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[Steve300xcw]

Most of the CDS dials are MOA, you can order a MIL dial if you want. Mine has a MOA dial on it from the factory. I don't plan on getting the custom dial unless for whatever reason I find I am only using one load in the rifle (LOL).

Mil/Moa are not what I would be concerned about

 

[mt terry d]

440 on a deer and a 510 on an elk this year with the 223
6x
I’ll crank it up to 15 for groups at 100, a little less shooting rocks long range.

 

[ajf243]

6 to 8 power at that distance. 700-800 I'm at usually 9 to 10. My scopes are max 15x.

 

[Tobe_B]

Generally 1x per 100 yards. Unless I’m shooting prairie dogs. Those are harder to see.

 

[Matt5266]

440 on a deer and a 510 on an elk this year with the 223
6x
I’ll crank it up to 15 for groups at 100, a little less shooting rocks long range.

What bullet and velocity? Killed an elk at 410 this year with a TMK so Interested in your experience.

 

[Macchina]

These responses

Mil/Moa are not what I would be concerned about

What are you concerned about? That the dial is non-locking?

 

[Smokinyotes]

I shot a coyote right around 500 yards a couple weeks ago. I had the Trijicon credo cranked to 15 and was looking for more.

 

[Eric30]

I personally like the ability to have a decent amount of zoom, but still zoomed out enough to watch my bullet impact. This past year, I shot my buck 460yds at 15x and felt comfortable watching my impact.

 

[Pistolpete28]

8x is plenty to kill big game out to 500. Leupold is the red flag in the equation.

 

[ProRoad]

Got my Ruger American 7mm.08 this week and put a Sig Tango 4-16x44 on it. So looking for the same info as you. Great shooting by the way!

 

[MuleyFever]

These responses

What are you concerned about? That the dial is non-locking?

Vortex and Leupold are generally considered unreliable.

I usually have my 2.5-15x scope on 10x or less.

 

[Dmoua]

12-16x is what I like at those ranges. For 100 yard zero, I am at 25x or 32x depending whatever the max zoom is for the scope.

 

[SDHNTR]

As much as I need to confidently make the shot but yet no more than is necessary so I can spot my hit. This will vary based on cartridge, recoil and stock design.

 

[CMcCormick1805]

I’m a big fan of 16 power. I tried the 18 power and just felt watching impacts was diminished.

 

[Sacrvrrat72]

6-8x works fine for me

 

[West2East]

The 475yd shot I took this year on a mule deer buck I think I had I on around 5x (Maven 2.5-15)

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