What is your preferred scope magnifcation for 600 - 1000 yards?

[Shootin4fun]

I've been shooting at 100 - 500 yards, and am gearing up a new rig to eventually reach 1000 yards.

So I'm wondering what is your preferred scope magnification setting for 600 - 1000 yards? What's the minimum you think is appropriate?

[rscott5028]

Originally Posted by Shootin4fun

I've been shooting at 100 - 500 yards, and am gearing up a new rig to eventually reach 1000 yards.

So I'm wondering what is your preferred scope magnification setting for 600 - 1000 yards? What's the minimum you think is appropriate?

depends on your application

42x works great for targets when mirage isn't too bad

20x is a little more versatile between target and LRH

10-14x will actually work well with the right reticle and target/lighting conditions

-- richard

[1000ydshooter]

sir-
#1- us optics. $3000 + . god, I wish I has 3 scopes. best clear n bright.
#2- nightforce. $2000+. good, not bad, either. best clear n bright.
#3- leopold. $1100. good, not bad, either. I have 3. 8.5-25x50, varmint redicule.
I never set my scope higher than 14x-16x. I couldnt see. now I know better.
buy a 20x scope, not the 25x. this is for varmint hunting.
paper hunting, Id have gone with the 30x-35x-40x by whatever they got. the scopes of this magnatitued, the scope tells when you can shoot, heartbeat, breathing.

I am 60. hunted the last 15 years, 165 sections up in wyoming, 10-12 hours a
day, 365 day a year. taught myself how to reload, and they aint too shabby.
now live in deming, nm

[liltank]

As much as you can afford.

[D.ID]

I can get by with 10x but feel 20x is far better suited. Love the 6-24x50 for that purpose and believe much more would probably be unusable so often as to not warrant the compromise. Could be wrong but 10x will do and 24x will do amazingly comfortably.

[Shootin4fun]

OK thanks for the input guys....I was hoping to hear 20x is a good compromise for paper and LRH, which is what this gun is destined to do. Monarch 5-20x44 out the door for $440 is a prime candidate right now. I have a 4-16x42 that I really like.

[COBrad]

IME, a lot of the decision depends on the quality of the glass in the scope. My personal favorite is a Schmidt Bender PMII 4-16 X50. I have been shooting Marmots out past 1100 yards with it this year. The scope offers such great resolution and contrast that even little targets like this are easily seen. I have an IOR 6-24 on another varmint rifle. It's a really good scope, but not an S&B. I seldom use it at 24 because mirage becomes so bad I can't see through it. I use it mostly around 16, and sometimes up to 20 if it's cool enough outside.
The Monarch is a good enough scope, but there are other much more noted for superior turrets than the Nikon. SWFA makes a like of moderately priced scopes that are known for accurate and repeatable turrets. The Nightforce 5.5-22 would be, probably, the best compromise for your use. It's not cheap, but still close to half what a S&B, Premier, or US Optics will run, and the turrets are absolutely reliable. Very important on a long range rifle. Spend the bucks now and save yourself a lot of frustration. If you are serious about long range, you'll end up with a better scope than the Nikon anyway.