For punching paper 25x and up. I only have a couple scopes that max out at 15x or 18x but they are on big game rifles. I use 25x -60x at 50 yds when shooting my airguns or rimfire rifles.
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What power x are you using for 100 yards?
- Thread starter boscoebrea
- Start date
The foundational question you need to ask yourself is:
🅐 Do I want to see my TARGET? or
🅑 Do I want to see my HITS?
For 🅐 you don't NEED much magnification as many posters have stated.
But the slogan gets so often repeated, it probably has some truth to it:
"Aim small — miss small."
So, I usually use the max. I have available — 18x, or 24x, or 32x.
● Now, if your sight picture is wobbling too much, even though you're target shooting — using both a front bag and a rear bag, without pushing the buttstock into your shoulder — will steady your sight picture a lot!
For 🅑 you might need a whole lot more magnification.
I was using a 3-18x50 — but with my over half a century old eyes I had to "study" my paper targets very closely with 18x to see if and where I hit. Not fun after a few shots.....
24x is much better already!
What helps to keep magnification lower when trying to see HITS:
▪︎ paper targets with only tiny bulls — no big black center circle/bull's eye (I put red dots on white paper, and number them)
▪︎ good lighting on the target (add a flashlight on a tripod?)
▪︎ larger caliber — bigger holes!
▪︎ reactive paper targets
▪︎ younger eyes
Matthias
🅐 Do I want to see my TARGET? or
🅑 Do I want to see my HITS?
For 🅐 you don't NEED much magnification as many posters have stated.
But the slogan gets so often repeated, it probably has some truth to it:
"Aim small — miss small."
So, I usually use the max. I have available — 18x, or 24x, or 32x.
● Now, if your sight picture is wobbling too much, even though you're target shooting — using both a front bag and a rear bag, without pushing the buttstock into your shoulder — will steady your sight picture a lot!
For 🅑 you might need a whole lot more magnification.
I was using a 3-18x50 — but with my over half a century old eyes I had to "study" my paper targets very closely with 18x to see if and where I hit. Not fun after a few shots.....
24x is much better already!
What helps to keep magnification lower when trying to see HITS:
▪︎ paper targets with only tiny bulls — no big black center circle/bull's eye (I put red dots on white paper, and number them)
▪︎ good lighting on the target (add a flashlight on a tripod?)
▪︎ larger caliber — bigger holes!
▪︎ reactive paper targets
▪︎ younger eyes
Matthias
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I have learned how to hunt using 16X on my scopes. If I am shooting out of a vehicle window I can use any power. 5.5-25X50 is what my scope is. Now, off hand is a little different. Lower power helps with wobble. I always use a triggerstick tripod when walking around shooting. Using it has pretty much ruined my standing off hand shooting. I will work on improving my off hand this year.
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If you are shooting for pleasure at 100 yards 24+ is decent.
If you want to compete at 100 I would go minimum 40X.
Both my competition guns are Vortex Golden Eagles which I shoot at 60X and prefer over even my 50X Hawkes I have had.
There is a distinct advantage to being able to see tiny variations in your shots and being able to accurately compensate.
If you want to compete at 100 I would go minimum 40X.
Both my competition guns are Vortex Golden Eagles which I shoot at 60X and prefer over even my 50X Hawkes I have had.
There is a distinct advantage to being able to see tiny variations in your shots and being able to accurately compensate.
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I like to see my hits, on 100 or 300 or 500 .... x50 power for me is comfortable (with great optics).
I came from decades of archery - long range competition before I touch the airguns world, so the transfer was easier for me.
Long ago I have learned what that means training the brain first also being fit for the sport.
Train the brain for mental pressure, for heartbeats, for target wobbling like mirage for example, for seeing or not seeing the ring or just the center of it, train for weather in all conditions... and so on.
I came from decades of archery - long range competition before I touch the airguns world, so the transfer was easier for me.
Long ago I have learned what that means training the brain first also being fit for the sport.
Train the brain for mental pressure, for heartbeats, for target wobbling like mirage for example, for seeing or not seeing the ring or just the center of it, train for weather in all conditions... and so on.
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