What Magnification is preferred for long range shots

[Oregonhuntrboi]

I feel like I’m starting to hear more and more about people shooting long range shots on lower mag, if this is true for you what mag do you prefer to shoot with?

Im upgrading my scope and I’m trying to figure out if the nightforce nx8 2.5-20 is worth the extra weight over the nxs 2.5-10

 

[Steve300xcw]

Depends on the reticle and what your shooting. Background makes a big difference too

Have shot clay birds at 800yrd with a fixed 10x more than a few times

 

[Oregonhuntrboi]

Depends on the reticle and what your shooting. Background makes a big difference too

Have shot clay birds at 800yrd with a fixed 10x more than a few times

My hunting goals are to have the ability to shoot out to about 800 yards as well.

 

[Flyjunky]

Depends. For hunting big game I generally don’t go over 12-14 simply because of fov and spotting hits, but all that depends on distances you’re talking about.

For target I’ll use as much mag as my scope has. Sure it’s fun to shoot 12” gong at 1000 yards but I’m more inclined to want to shoot a tight group on that gong, not just hit it, so I subscribe to the aim small to miss small theory. That’s where, for me, higher mag comes in. A lot depends on the reticle as well. 12x and thick reticle makes for tough precision at long distances.

 

[huntnful]

I don’t think I’ve ever made a shot on an animal over 15X. You need the FOV to stay in the scope and on the target and spot your impact and have a follow up shot ready. I normally shoot 20X on targets and stuff though.

 

[fisherman983]

I like the option of having a 5-25... I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
It's also much easier for me, to do load development with 25x on a bench trying to shoot groups under 1/2 moa vs trying to do that with only 12-15x.
Significantly more difficult.

I don't always use 25x when shooting at game, sometimes I'll back it off to 18x or so but I always try to use my spotting scope with phone to video the shot as well if I'm solo

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

 

[inertiadriven07]

12x is about all I go to for hunting. Sometimes I’ll crank it up for target identification, but bring it back down 10-12x for shooting. It’s a Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x56 on my rifle, so I stay just below halfway of the magnification, but keep the reticle big enough to still be useable

 

[carter33]

I feel like I’m starting to hear more and more about people shooting long range shots on lower mag, if this is true for you what mag do you prefer to shoot with?

Im upgrading my scope and I’m trying to figure out if the nightforce nx8 2.5-20 is worth the extra weight over the nxs 2.5-10

I have both scopes, I think the answer depends on what style of hunting you're doing and the distance at which you're comfortable taking a shot on an animal. I think the 10x is plenty on shots out to 700 yards, I have shot out to 1,000yds on steel and my farthest shot on an animal was 480yds and I only had the scope on 8x.

If you're doing true multi day backpacking style hunts I would personally choose the NXS 2.5-10. Its probably my favorite all around hunting scope, only wish they had an enclosed windage cap.

 

[mtblackdog]

15x is kinda my sweet spot. That being said. Its nice to have the horsepower if needed.

 

[Northpark]

Sounds like I differ from a lot of folks. Basically all my scopes are 4-16x. I shoot a ton of critters at 16x. I shoot suppressed and don’t generally have an issue staying on the rifle through the recoil. I do still like 3-9x out to 500 yards though.

 

[bpurtz]

Maybe I haven't figured out the benefit of lower magnification yet...

I have 2 NF ATACR 5-25x and an NF NX8 4-32x - Unless it's low light, I typically crank them up to full or nearly full magnification on anything over 400 yards. I kinda like to see the strand of hair I want to aim at...

 

[KenLee]

Maybe I haven't figured out the benefit of lower magnification yet...

I like 2-3x on the low end for the close in game and critters.

 

[rcook10]

Inside 800 no problems with a 3-15. My working gun has a fixed 6 and I can shoot game to 500 no problem.

 

[MTNHUNTER76]

Get the 20x scope. I run a 7-35 leupold mark 5. I never shoot animals at max magnification. Usually 15-20x as conditions allow. I zoom up to 35 and really look over animals antlers/body. Higher power is also great for zeroing and load development on paper. I don't know one single person that shoot's a 10x scope on a long range rifle. It's 2022 things have changed.

 

[Lawnboi]

While not needed for the shot the magnification is sometimes good for identification. Something to keep in mind

 

[Oregonhuntrboi]

Get the 20x scope. I run a 7-35 leupold mark 5. I never shoot animals at max magnification. Usually 15-20x as conditions allow. I zoom up to 35 and really look over animals antlers/body. Higher power is also great for zeroing and load development on paper. I don't know one single person that shoot's a 10x scope on a long range rifle. It's 2022 things have changed.

in 2022 I hear from alot of hunters that are switching from higher mag to a lower mag for follow up shots, where the animal runs to etc…. I just worry I won’t need the full 20x and therefore won’t be able to use wind holds in my reticle due to 2nd fp. I see what you’re saying though.

 

[Oregonhuntrboi]

While not needed for the shot the magnification is sometimes good for identification. Something to keep in mind

Opposed to a spotter. I could see that at times.

 

[Lawnboi]

Opposed to a spotter. I could see that at times.

I still carry a spotter when applicable.

Where I hunt there is not always time to pull out a spotter and evaluate. Even a few hundred yards it’s nice to be able to zoom in and make sure you’re shooting what you think you are.

Especially nice to have that magnification when you’re shooting antlerless animals, making sure you’re not burning a buck tag on a spike.

With a first focal plane scope there is no downside to more magnification. I can still shoot effectively in the teens and have a scope I can zoom up to 32x if I really want to get a good look at what I’m about to shoot.

If your going to buy the nx8 get the 4-32 for many reasons

 

[Crowmangler]

when you get older & your vision starts fading you'll appreciate the higher power

 

[General RE LEE]

My scopes are 3-15 and 3-18 but I only use the top end magnification for the range. I keep my scope on 3-4x and only crank it up to no higher than 6x for 300 yard shots and about 9x for 500 yard shots.

I want to have a wider FOV at the shot to see the animal's reaction and what direction it may take off if it does. Also, another benefit of keeping the scope at a more conservative power is it lessens the perceivable movement of the reticle. I like to practice long shots at the range on lower power vs just keeping it cranked up all the time.