What's an acceptable magnification for 1000yd shooting?

all420 · #1 07-22-2004, 05:51 PM

Heres the deal: I've been hunting in California all my life. Where I hunt the shots are all very close and I've been using a lever action Savage 99 with a 3.5x scope. I'm going to be moving to Arizona this fall (along with a new rifle), and doing a lot of hunting and target shooting down there. Having never shot at very long range targets, I'd like to know what's a decent magnification for target shooting at 1000yards?

Basically I'm trying to narrow it down between a 3.5-15x56 and a 5.5-22x56. I know that obviously the 22x is better for long range shooting, but if the 15x is acceptable, I'll probably go for that just so I don't have to pass up any short range shots if I go back to California or anywhere else by having a minimum magnification of 5.5x.

Dave King · #2 07-22-2004, 06:12 PM

What size targets/objects will you be shooting at 1000 yards?? I use 3.5 x 10 power scopes to 1000 yards and beyond on nearly everything but I'm not benchrest shooting so 1 MOA and under is fine.

dbhostler · #3 07-22-2004, 08:14 PM

With my old eyes, I like 28X to 32X at 1K from a rest. If I'm resting around 400, 12X works for me. I can hold 9X for out to 200. Many will say that's too much, but I have found magnification helps me hit. Now a moving/running target, that's a different story. I think the next scope I buy for where I shoot will be a 5.5-22X56. Hope this helps.
db

all420 · #4 07-22-2004, 08:30 PM

>>>What size targets/objects will you be shooting at 1000 yards?? I use 3.5 x 10 power scopes to 1000 yards and beyond on nearly everything but I'm not benchrest shooting so 1 MOA and under is fine.<<<

I'll just be shooting the standard NRA style bullseye similar to thisone

DMCI · #5 07-22-2004, 08:31 PM

Here is my rule of thumb.

The MarkI eyeball (unaided eye) when young will resolve about 1 moa in average contrast situations.

To maintain this you need about 1x for every 100 yards.

Therefore to see the target with the same resolution at 1000 yards, you need 10x (reason this is most popular sniper power in my opinion.)

However, this assumes a 1 moa target like large game.

To see smaller targets like varmints two or even three times the magnification is useful. So for 700 yard varmints, I would use a 20 or so power scope (typically variable).

Since best rest targets seem to be smaller, target scope of 20 to 30 plus power are often employed in fixed power configuration.

This is also the reason that old Bushnell and Weaver hunting scopes of 4x were deemed satisfactory to 400 yards on large game.

D. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

LB · #6 07-22-2004, 09:55 PM

I'm a little curious why you are interested in an objective diameter of 56MM for targets?

Those type scopes, with 30mm tubes are primarily used to shoot wild boar, at night, from blinds.

For your application, I'd consider a 4.5X14 or 6.5X20, both with 40mm objective.

Good hunting. LB

all420 · #7 07-22-2004, 10:22 PM

>>>I'm a little curious why you are interested in an objective diameter of 56MM for targets?

Those type scopes, with 30mm tubes are primarily used to shoot wild boar, at night, from blinds.

For your application, I'd consider a 4.5X14 or 6.5X20, both with 40mm objective.

Good hunting. LB<<<

to answer your question (and maybe my reasoning's off), this going to be really my one and only rifle. I'm leaving the Savage for my brother, and the Remington's borrowed from my dad. So basically this scope has to cover all my needs, from stalking California deer under a dark tree canopy to long range target shooting in broad daylight. Would a 50mm objective be better for my needs?