Is 16X REALLY the max usable magnification?

[DixieFreedom]

Wind mirage prevents you from using more... the guru's say, and I guess I believe them.

But jeepers man, things is itty bitty out past 1000 yards.

I am thinking 8x25 loopie with mildot.

Please talk me out of it in a way I can believe, cuz I think maybe the 16x max is probably true, but I can't convince my brain to truly believe it!

LOL

Thanks for any replies.

[Jeff In TX]

Dixie Freedom,

I've gone agaist the tide as of late. I recently went back to a fixed 10X scope on my new AR and I'm not looking to go up in power.

While shooting at TAC-PRO last summer I had to keep my tactical scope turned down to 10X and below. When it was 105 degrees outside, I couldn't see to shoot past 400 yards at the higher powers. Shooting at 1000 yards was near impossible above 10X. Some may argue, but the other folks where having fits using there high power scopes past 400 yards.

Since then, I've been keeping my power ring turned down and loving life. It takes some getting use to, but my longer range groups are just as good as they were at the higher powers.

Hope it helps.

Jeff

[Fiftydriver]

DixieFreedom,

It all depends on the conditions in your area.

Up here in Montana, it is generally very dry and on a calm day with cloud cover and temps in teh 40 to 70 degree range you could use a 25x scope to full benefit.

Now if it was a clear day, the mirage would be very intense even on a cool 40 degree day and yes you would be limited to around 15 to 16x.

Most feel that mirage is caused by heat which is not always the case. Some of the heaviest mirage I have shot in has been in temps around zero to 20 degrees when the sun is intense.

The nice thing with a quality variable, if the conditions allow it you can use full power, if they do not you can drop down to 15 or 16x and still shoot.

With a straight 16x, you are left with only one option.

I personally find 16x plenty of magnification to shoot out to 1000 yards even on rock chuck size game. If the scope is quality it will suprise you how well a 16x will let you see at even 1000 yards.

You just have to get used to it if your used to shooting a +20x scope.

Good Shooting!!

Kirby Allen(50)

[Glock119]

[ QUOTE ]
Some of the heaviest mirage I have shot in has been in temps around zero to 20 degrees

Good Shooting!!

Kirby Allen(50)

[/ QUOTE ]

Ya know they make Cocoa with Marshmallows for days like that. Them chucks must be turnin into penguins. Weather like that is just to cold for me to plink in. Ya know that probably wasn't mirage you were seeing, it was probably all the shivering from the hypothermia setting in. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[3sixbits]

Of course you are probabley wondering who buys all thoses 8x32x56 Nightforce scopes. You don't think they set them on low power do you? Most all 1000 yard benchresters are shooting scopes up 32X and some even higher. The mirage is there no matter what . Even when you can't see it the mirage is still there. The mirage is your friend, it is a condition like the wind that can be read. To not be able to see it is a bad thing not a good thing. Mirage is present even at 50 degs below zero. Ever wonder why the stars appear to twinkle at night? Thats mirage! If there is no mirage that would mean the earth has lost all it's heat with a drop in temperture to absolute zero. You need to find books on reading the wind. Try the NRA for such publications. To a hunter mirage is your wind flag when all others fail! It is true most match shooters in high power only use eye peices around 27x in there spotting scopes, the reason is they focus on the mirage and not the target.Think of mirage as that other partner you dance with when you dance with the wind!

[wapiti13]

From a physics standpoint, you must have a heat source present to warm the air. Warm air rises or moves in relationship to its cooler surrounding air, and it is the rising air that we call mirage. Regardless of the outside temperature, a heat source (like the sun) is necessary. Mirage can be worse in cold temperatures since the sun can cause a slight temperature difference easier in cold weather which causes the slightly warmer air to rise. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[3sixbits]

[ QUOTE ]
From a physics standpoint, you must have a heat source present to warm the air. Warm air rises or moves in relationship to its cooler surrounding air, and it is the rising air that we call mirage. Regardless of the outside temperature, a heat source (like the sun) is necessary. Mirage can be worse in cold temperatures since the sun can cause a slight temperature difference easier in cold weather which causes the slightly warmer air to rise. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ] Your kidding right? You didn't know that the planet we live on has an internal heat source? You did know that outside the earth atmosphere that space is at absolute zero? You must know that the law of thermal dynamics still apply when the sun is shining on the other side of the planet and you are in beddy-by? Heat still travels to cold! Ever hear of night sky effect? No. Is this the effect of our public education system? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]