ukenout,
From my most recent, actually first long range hunting adventure, here's my answer to your question. I'll ramble a bit but hang in there the "truth" will come out.
I took two rifles 1 a 338 RUM carry gun w/a 4.5-14 Weaver Tactical /mil dot reticle. The other rifle is a 270 Allen Mag w/a 16X Super Sniper. This one is for shooting long from the "hide". Not a carry gun.
I was not able to use the 270 AM for the most important parts of the day. Early morning and late evening. Just not enough light. The SS served me well up to that point as I did all of my shooting during the day. When in the really big mountains, like where I was, one side of the hill or the other is in the shade at one time or another. The "fixed" high power scope is useless. This was a big learning thing for me.
On the other hand the Weaver was wonderful. I feel I could make long shots even on 4.5 power. The scope was useful until long afer the eyes couldn't see any more.
It was too bad that a my inexperience had the wrong scope on the right rifle.
Immediately upon returning home, I switched scopes. The Weaver Tactical is on the AM and the SS is on the RUM (just for looks though). This will keep me going though this winter for the yote shooting.
I also immediately began a search for a good long range hunting Mil Dot or MOA retical in 6.5-20 50 or 56mm w/o busting the bank. The only other requirement is that the reticle MUST be in the front focal plane as is the Weaver. This will go on the Allen Mag, the Weaver will go back on the RUM and the 16X SS will go on a 6BR that will be built one of these days.
Additionally a fixed high power scope is a pain in the rear, enough so to miss shot opportunities, when shifting from the spotting scope to the gun for the shot. For me, there isn't enough field of view to quickly make the transistion. This was unexpected and was a real problem and valuable time was lost every time the transition was attempted. With the good quality variable powered scope the transition was straight forward and quick. In fact after practicing I don't think I would have turned the power of the Weaver Tactical much above 8, where it was set to make initial sight contact, to make a shot at a large game animal.
I was exactly where you are and you can see what I did. However, with some actual experience under my belt you can see that I learned a lot. You don't what to have the experience learning that you have made some incorrect scope decisions AFTER you are on the hunt, as I did.
Edited here: Just a tho't prompted by seeing a trophy mule deer buck the last day of the elk season. Time was late evening, ligh was low to very low, range was about 1365 yds. The SS couldn't see him at all the Weaver did a fine job but I think it could have done better were it a 50 or 56mm objective instead of its 44. That buck really fired me up. Thus the quest for a larger objective. We watched that spot every morning, all day and evening every day for a month and only saw him for that one time for about 6 minutes. That is the first deer that I've seen that I REALLY wanted, too bad the deer season was long gone. As it was I couldn't have made the shot anyway as the wrong scope was on the right rifle. THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, i promise you.
You're on the right track. Hope this helps.
