Which power scope - 4-16x42 or 6-24x42?

[Dr. Vette]

Sightron has a $50 rebate on their SII scopes thru the end of the year. I really like the Sightron SII 4-16x42 on my 7mm Rem Sendero and I'd like to outfit my 25-06 Savage 110FP with a Sightron. Right now that rifle has a Simmons ProHunter 6-21x44 scope (bought it this way), which has moderately poor glass but absolutely dead-on adjustments. That scope will move to a .22 or possibly eventually a .223.

The 25-06 rifle is being set up for shooting across-the-field whitetail deer as well as eventually antelope and smaller stuff like coyotes and possibly prairie dogs if I go out west. I have plenty of 3-9 scoped rifles here, so I don't need to go smaller power. Given that, should I go with the 4-16x42 or the 6-24x42 as it is closest to what the rifle currently has? I really like being able to see hits on 200y targets with that cheap 6-21 Simmons without having to use the spotting scope, but other than some holes in paper the only thing it has taken is a whitetail doe at 35 yards by my son in late October. He had no problems with the scope power on 6, and had fun playing with it on 10 power looking at deer at 100 yards.

Since more of you have gone after longer range stuff than I have I thought I'd post the question here. I hate to buy the 4-16 and wish for "more" but also hate to buy the 6-24 and think it's "too much."

Thanks for any insight you may have.

 

[royinidaho]

Dr. Vette,

The only comment I would have is on the lower power as either of the upper powers seems sufficient to me. I use a 4.5-14X44 with good glass. and find 14 plenty sufficient for LR shooting.

With the great glass the 4.5 power is noticeably better than 6X for light passage at either end of the day and on the shady side of the mtn.

Not sure of how much difference is apparent between 44 and 42.

Just a thought.

 

[LRSickle]

I'm asuming your using it for set-up, longrange shots and not snapshooting at running deer. Even though the 4-16 is plenty, I'd go with the 6-24. You might not shoot it at 24 power but it's there if you need it. From one Vette nut to another, it's like a ZR-1, you'll seldom need all that power but it's there if you want it.

 

[Dr. Vette]

Yes, for longer range shots, generally min 200 yards. For in-the-woods hunting I have other rifles or even my 44 Mag pistol.

Drove the blue prototype ZR-1 in early 2008 but it was indoors so I had to be nice to it.

 

[jwp475]

Get the 4X16, you can thank me latter

 

[CLICKBANGBANG]

I think you could learn to love ether of these two scopes on the 25-06. I have a SII 4-16x42 MD and love it. It started on a 7mm RM and is now on a AR-15 varmint gun. But if you want to spot hits at 200 yards the higher power scope will work better for you. Also if you already have a Sightron 4-16, I would get the larger to avoid a double. That way your scopes could be moved around to serve a different scope power needs.

Having said all that, a six power sucks for close up hunting. I lost a deer (5x6 backtail) with that 4-16 on 4 power that trotted away. It went from 45-60 yards and I never found it in the scope fast enough to get a shot off. So if you need a scope for 100+ the 6-24 will work great. But it sounds like you have that figured out.

 

[davewilson]

would be nice to know what distance we're talking here. you havn't stated how far you want to shoot these animals. FWIW an image on 24x is only 50% bigger than 16x.

 

[Dr. Vette]

would be nice to know what distance we're talking here. you havn't stated how far you want to shoot these animals. FWIW an image on 24x is only 50% bigger than 16x.

Up to 600y capability on antelope is my goal. I know it could shoot further but I'm not going to say it is something I'll intentionally have as a goal.
I know that lots of guys here shoot at further distances, but I don't own a Kestrel or any of those things and since it's almost impossible to practice over 500 yards here in Michigan it just doesn't seem realistic to think 1000 yards.

 

[davewilson]

no question...4 x 16

 

[ogreshooter]

Up to 600y capability on antelope is my goal. I know it could shoot further but I'm not going to say it is something I'll intentionally have as a goal.
I know that lots of guys here shoot at further distances, but I don't own a Kestrel or any of those things and since it's almost impossible to practice over 500 yards here in Michigan it just doesn't seem realistic to think 1000 yards.

Does a 25-06 have enough poop (terminal velocity) at 600 yards to really be effective on an antelope? I am not being an ***, I just don't know for sure.

For me, I have 3-9 on all of my hunting rifles. 243, 30-06, 300 Savage - and I have NEVER needed more than 9x to kill any deer (black tail and muley). I have killed deer at 400 yards and (to me) do not feel responsible enough as a hunter to take shots further than that. I know lots of guys that shoot at stuff 600-800 yards off-hand and never hit anything, but by god they got the shot off. They all have 24+ power scopes on their obnoxious rifles, and dont bring home the bacon.

What does all this mean? What do you, as a hunter, feel ethically capable of taking an animal at (distance wise)? Me, as I said earlier, 400 yards is MAX on any animal, and that is with a 30-06 that I hit steel plates with at 600 yards all the time. Downrange knockdown is absolutely necessary to taking big game.

So, that said, 4-16 Sightron is perfect. I have that scope on an AR and hunt coyote with it and it is perfect. good tracking, good clicks, great glass, on sale at Midway when I bought it, plus $50 off from Sightron!!
gun)

 

[Bearwalk]

no question...4 x 16

+1. For 600 yds it's all you need and then some. For large-game hunting, it is advisable to be able to turn down your power as you never know if you may need to track a wounded animal and need that very rifle/scope for a close-in follow-up shot. All my hunting rigs have the ability to go down to 4 power or less (preferably 3).

 

[Dr. Vette]

Thanks for the input everyone.

I ordered the 4-16x42 today and hopefully I'll have it by week's end.

Now to decide on the stock....