What power x are you using for 100 yards?

[blackdog899]

I shoot NRA smallbore silhouette where the wobbles are unavoidable to us average shooters.
A popular scope is the Leupold 6.5-20x40 vx3 efr in this case cranking the power only accentuates
your movement. I usually turn it down to around 14x just to have the confidence to get the shot off.
Yeah all the movement is still there but eases the mind .

 

[LDP]

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.

 

[igolfat8]

I thought I better ask this to understand better what to buy. Also, I use a 44mm bell and find it okay. Does the 50mm bell help out that much more? Going up to 56mm seems like we are getting into spotting scope range....This is for 100-yard target shooting

Sightron SII fixed 36X with target dot.

 

[JungleShooter]

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

 

[SDellinger]

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.