How much scope magnification is needed at 100yards up to 150 yards?

I'm in the market for my first high end pcp. I'm leaning towards a RAW HM1000X .25. How much scope magnification is needed for 100 yds up to 150 yds? I have used airguns for plinking, target shooting, pesting and a little small game shooting. I would be interested in bench rest and field target, if I only had any local options. If have a Hawk 4x16 on a .22 Marauder, but will be getting a new scope for the RAW. Any recommendation would be appreciated. 
 
The older I get the more power I like. 20 years ago, I would have said 3-9 is all I need. Today 4-16 would be the lowest power scope I would even consider for my longer range pellet rifles. Some of the newer scopes have a unbelievable power range, where you get the best of both worlds. If I could only own one scope for a PCP, it would be a variable in the 4-30 range +-.
 
I like 20x It works real nice on the mill dot spacing at 100yards for my .25. It puts four mill at 100 yards when I have the zero at 50 yards. When I roll it back to 10x it puts 100yards at two mill. 2nd thing it real nice to have a scope roll pack to 4x or 6x for low light. 3rd thing when I talked to Hawke about the sizing they informed me that the small lens for the price points will have clearer lens. Remember to enjoy, Monte
 
http://athlonoptics.com/product/talos-6-24x50-atmr1-sfp-ir-mil/

Look at the biggest Talos variant. It is 23oz but can focus down to 10 yards. The ATMR1 looks to me to offer the best long range reticle type. Athlon is a new player to the optic industry but they dont play around. The Talos 3-12 Joe got really impressed him. I have the Midas and it is a step above. But based on what Joe said the Talos would be a great start. Keep in mind usually the highest power is very finicky with eye relief and shows any limitations the optics have. But it is good to have for those long shots.

I asked Athlon about the Argos focus distance:
"Argos - 4-20x50 and 6-30x56 both have side focus down to 25 yards.

The glass for the Argos and the Talos are very similar along with the coatings. The main difference is the 5x in the Argos and the long eye relief in the Argos as compared to the Talos."
 
"Crutcherro1"Thanks for the input. It looks like it either a 4-16 or a 6-24 variable power will work best for me. The RAW is heavy. The Mamba Lite 4-16 is less than 20 oz. Has anyone had any experience with it?



Have a Mamba lite 4-16 on my FX Royale 400, I actually like it. I have taken over 250 tree squirrels with this set up, some as far as 80 plus yards. I also had the 3-12 Mamba lite on my Sumatra Carbine, but let it go with it when I sold it. The fellow I sold it to loves it and he has some high dollar scopes.


 
Sorry Crutch I wasnt following this thread via email alerts. I should get the Athlon Talos 24x on Thursday. Somehow Optic Planet decided to use the Pony Express to get it to me. I was hoping sooner. I will give the best review I can.

I nearly could have died a few days ago at work, the ladder I was on rode the strand rails as I was doing my decent and threw me off from 18 feet up. I have bruised ribs and and moving slow. So I dont know if I can go in the backyard and shoot with the scope by then but I will mount it to my Daystate as it will replace my SIII if I can sell it. The Sightron is sooo heavy at like 31oz. All my other scopes are 23oz or less.
 
I got the Talos 6-24x today. It is the hottest day of the year so far (read heat waves) and I have yet to drive home to do a side by side with the other scopes. Keep in mind I have a Bushnell Elite 3200 6-24x 44mm 1" tube made in Japan scope. I find its non-illuminated reticle not fine enough or suited for air rifles so it is on my suppressed Savage .243.

Unboxing the Talos all seems nice and solid. It is packaged with a one piece elastic lens cover for each end. I have found that the focus wheel stops at infinity and goes past 10 yards and actually will focus under 10 yards, not sure how much yet, no biggie. Power wheel is very smooth but like my other Athlon I hate that 18x on the power ring isnt marked as that is where the mil dots are accurate according to all I have read (15x on the Midas). I will take sight enamel paint for my pistols and mark the rib just above the 18 to solve that.

The turrent caps are loosely machined for the threads they ride on. As soon as I begin to un-thread them they have tremendous play bouncing about until they are off. BUT when they are tight there is a nice rubber washer to keep them snug at the base. Click adjustments are firm and audible. Without it on a rifle nothing else to add on the turrents now.

The illuminated dial knob... I hope Kevin can let me know something, if I can loosen the ring in the battery compartment to get some tension off the dial. My knuckles turn white and I get the imprint of the knob into my hand because it is so stiff. I definatly wont turn it on by accident but clearly it is over torqued and unusable at the moment.

I will refrain to comment on anything else (optical quality, other stuff) until I have my other scopes on hand. ☺ The 50mm sunshade for the 50mm Midas will NOT fit the Talos. Boo hiss.
 
Ok home and did look through the Talos, Midas and Genesis (ignoring the Elite). Talos is a 1" tube and the others are 30mm but all are 50mm objective. The Talos has a yellow tint to it, not overwhelming but my example does. The Midas is the most natural color of all 3 and the Genesis is cooler in tint. This is just a quick observation. Focus works well on the Talos. I can't hang out in my shed to see about loosing the dial for the light. I will see to that soon though as I must get it useable. The light IS bright though even in daylight, not high-noon desert daylight but 5 in the afternoon. ☺

I will have to say for less than $200 if it holds zero and performs well the Talos would be a good scope to have. It will have limitations but you're not paying for Meopta or U.S. Optics either.
 
Great review Duncan !!! I'd say after 1500 or so shots on my very light recoiling FWB that mines ticking along like a good clock . Holds zero fine , and adjustments still working smoothly . After playing with my swfa scope the Talos clicks feel a little mushy , but so does my Leupold .
I'd say for its price range its a very good scope . But if someone compares it to Super high end glass take it with a grain of salt . I'd put mine up against my Nikon efr and its a wash as to which is better . Nikon is a 3-9 so its not perfect comparison ...Probably the closest thing I've owned lately that mine makes me think of optically is a weaver V 4-16 series .
 
How much scope magnification is needed for 100 yds up to 150 yds?

it depends on the glass really, and who makes the scope - very important. For example, a Leupold 3-9x or Zeiss will see better, details especially, like small rocks at 100 yards then a 4-16x Chinese Hawke. Also they will track accurately, unlike their Chinese rivals and will weigh much less. And as was mentioned above your vision has to do with it also how much magnification you need, but typically a 4-16 scope for 100 yard small game shooting for normal eyesight is about what most people use to be comfortable.

It also depends on what you are going to be using the scope for primarily. If for benchrest shooting you want to get the best scope you can afford.

On something like RAW with 50/50 hunting target shooting use, I would probably try to put this Zeiss http://www.midwayusa.com/product/781474/zeiss-mc-conquest-rifle-scope-65-20x-50mm-side-focus-target-turrets-z-plex-reticle-matte You can crank it up to 20x when doing paper punching at 50 yards and be very comfortable too. It also has a nice reticle suitable for both paper and game hunting.

or this Leupold VX-3i http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1362137137/leupold-vx-3i-target-rifle-scope-30mm-tube-65-20x-50mm-side-focus-custom-dial-system-matte

or this Elite 6500 that many guys use http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1325627144/bushnell-elite-6500-rifle-scope-30mm-tube-25-16x-50mm-side-focus-matte

On the cheaper side of scopes, you can't never go wrong with Bushnell Elite 3200-4200 line like 5-15x http://www.midwayusa.com/product/784644/bushnell-elite-tactical-lrs-rifle-scope-5-15x-40mm-adjustable-objective-mil-dot-reticle-matte in terms of glass and overall scope build quality.

If you don't care about the price of scope period, and want the best, look at Nighforce, March, Schmidt & Bender line of scopes.