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

[Cschoonover90]

Shhhhhhh. It's a secret!

What am I missing?

 

[Formidilosus]

What am I missing?

A near 1,000 page thread with hundreds and hundreds of animals from mice to walruses being killed easily with good bullets and the 223.

 

[grfox92]

223 on an elk at 510?!

Oh boy. 15 posts in. He doesnt know.

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

 

[TheHammer]

At the range I like them as high as they go if I’m shooting for groups. On an animal at that distance I have used 12x and 10x.

 

[Buglebrush]

This is interesting to hear what people do, but if I'm hunting it's Max power at 500 Yards. In the past that was 16x, but now it's 22x. No need to spot impacts if you put him down on shot #1. I guess I disagree with anyone's take that says less than max magnification for a long range hunting shot. There's no way you're more accurate at 500 at 8x than 16x.

 

[SDHNTR]

This is interesting to hear what people do, but if I'm hunting it's Max power at 500 Yards. In the past that was 16x, but now it's 22x. No need to spot impacts if you put him down on shot #1. I guess I disagree with anyone's take that says less than max magnification for a long range hunting shot. There's no way you're more accurate at 500 at 8x than 16x.

You are incorrect. I’m not saying you couldn’t use a little bit more than 8X, but 22X is far beyond what is beneficial, and actually detrimental to hunting efficacy.

 

[mt terry d]

This is interesting to hear what people do, but if I'm hunting it's Max power at 500 Yards. In the past that was 16x, but now it's 22x. No need to spot impacts if you put him down on shot #1. I guess I disagree with anyone's take that says less than max magnification for a long range hunting shot. There's no way you're more accurate at 500 at 8x than 16x.

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

 

[Buglebrush]

You are incorrect. I’m not saying you couldn’t use a little bit more than 8X, but 22X is far beyond what is beneficial, and actually detrimental to hunting efficacy.

Aside from low light and spotting shots, why would you say 22x is "far beyond what is beneficial, and actually detrimental" for long range hunting shots? I reject the spotting shots reason, because in hunting my goal is always to maximize accuracy on the first shot. What am I missing in your opinion?