Did I Hear Hunter FT Class Can Use 16X?

[Frank in Fairfield]

I have been hearing about this for a few months. On the Yellow I see where Hector mentioned that it is a done deal and he is ready to modify his scopes.

On two on my FT (alledgedly) rifles I have scopes that go to that power and on the other two scopes that go to 14X.

So I thought I would conduct a short test for myself as I really don't want to compute new drop data for the rifles.

I put a target at 20 yards and using my D52, bucket and sticks, I shot two five shot groups. One at 12X and one at 16X.

Of course the image is easier to see at 16X vs 12X and I suppose focusing/rangefinding would improve too.

The target shown is just as good as my TX and Marauder can do which tells me the rifles shoot better than me but with ailments caused by age and a well used defoliant spread around during my Asian Vacation in 1968-69, coupled with a daily dose of caffeinated coffee, the groups won't get any smaller, albeit, we me behind the trigger.

For me I think I will just stay at 12X...
 

[grimeszee]

Answer is yes to 16X as of November 6th.

[Frank in Fairfield]

So I ran the numbers on Chairgun today.
Instead of 12X I used 16X.

Inside of 20 yards and outside of 50 yards there is a significant difference based on my input data.
Seeing as how I have a full mil-dot scope and holding between 1.3 or 1.4 or 1.5 mil-dots is mute, I am not too concerned with the differences between 20-50 yards.

Inside of 20 yards a 1.5 hold with 12X becomes 2.0 at 16X but 12X is certainly sufficient power inside of 20 yards.

What I think I will do (and I have seen open shooters use this technique) is focus at 16X and then shoot at 12X.

I know one Open shooter who focuses at 60X and then lowers the scope power to 25X for his shot.

I did shoot a short range (13yards) target with the D52 today.
Three shot groups off the sticks and on the bucket.
Yes the target was a bit larger but breathing, heartbeat, stick wobble became more pronounced.

I can barely hold the rifle still at 12X off-hand and it would be a joke at 16X.

Just my $.02

[John E.]

How high is the scope on center above the bore? Mine is 3-1/8" with a Sightron SIII with the Mil-Hash reticule.. At ten yards my holdover is the fifth vertical hash mark down, and fifty yards it is only one hash mark down. My zero is 22-42 yards. This allows me a lot of leeway with far target ranging. Also I'm shooting AA10.34's at 925fps. I don't find 16x to be much of an advantage over 12x in ranging past 45yds. You have discovered however that 16x stretches apart your marks making ranging from 45-55 much more important.

Don't forget this years Nationals high score was shot by a Hunter class shooter using 12x.

[Frank in Fairfield]

John,
I shoot with the National Champon every month.
He is my tuner.
I am aware of what he shoots.
At the most, I think I might focus at 16X but shoot at 12X.

At 72, with all of the ailments of age, I am not a competitor.
It is just something to do.

We had a couple of our local shooters shooting all the way up to 24X in the Hunter Class just to gauge the results. They told me they see no advantage either.

My scope (mounted on the D52) center is exactly 2" above the center of the bore.

I probably should put a anti-cant device on the scope and I may order one.
I have them on my other FT rifles (TX200& .177 Marauder).

I am shooting 10.34 AA from the D52 at 883fps.
The Marauder shoots them right at 900fps

[John E.]

Very cool. I shoot with present and past national champs all the time;) A bubble level is key to reducing those left and right mystery shots from cant. You might want to give the extra inch of scope height a try. One advantage is you aren't craning your neck so much to look through the scope(my main reason for the height as I'm suffering from a pinched nerve in my neck at the moment.)

[Motorhead]

Frank,
YES set up for 16X ..... Run a tape out too 133 feet 4 inches, when at exactly 16x you will view 1 mil dot / rad to the inch. * Doing a 5x5  spread over 10 inches or more is easier.
WHEN OFF HAND shooting reduce scope to 8X after ranging target and then use 1/2 your 16x dope data .... Easy Peezy !
Return to 16X before addressing next lane.

Come on ya old vet ... You can do this !!

[Frank in Fairfield]

What?
133 feet, 4 inches???

I can handle the 4 inches but.....

I think I need to drive up to....

[Frank in Fairfield]

Very cool. I shoot with present and past national champs all the time;) A bubble level is key to reducing those left and right mystery shots from cant. You might want to give the extra inch of scope height a try. One advantage is you aren't craning your neck so much to look through the scope(my main reason for the height as I'm suffering from a pinched nerve in my neck at the moment.)

John, I do not "crane" my neck to look through the scope.
I maintain a 100% cheek contact with my stock and look through my scope.
I know one shooter here locally (two actually) who do as you suggest and that is fine for them.
It is a little late to change shooting styles.

[John E.]

It's never too late to practice/experiment and improve my friend.

[Frank in Fairfield]

I might go to 14X as I have two nice Hawke Sidewinders with that power on the TX & Marauder.
I have 4-16X Endeavors on the D52 and the R1.
We will see next year

[Fred J]

I found out at my last HFT match. I have found that using 16X did help my HFT score with my TX200. I have not tried out 16X on my Marauder yet, since the stock is being refinished at the moment.

[whitefox545]

I think the main advantage going to 16x will be they will be a little bit better at ranging the yardage!!  We shall see!!!  Even at twelve power I cant say that I couldn't fine aim at the short distances we shoot field target at,   16x may just show the shakes more!! Have to wait and see!  Ha Ha!!

[Frank in Fairfield]

I think the main advantage going to 16x will be they will be a little bit better at ranging the yardage!!  We shall see!!!  Even at twelve power I cant say that I couldn't fine aim at the short distances we shoot field target at,   16x may just show the shakes more!! Have to wait and see!  Ha Ha!!

Your are absolutely right on Jeff.
I have data for 16X but what I think I will do is focus at 16 and shoot at 12....

[Fred J]

I have discovered that power isn't everything. I have 2 rifles I use in HFT matches: TX200 and Marauder.

My TX200, tuned to 11.5 fpe does better with lighter Leapers scope (3-12X44mm) than the heavier Leapers (4-16X56mm). Yes, the range finder is much better with the 16X scope, but I think the additional weight toward the front of the muzzle heavy TX200 is not a good combination for accuracy. I shot an IFP of 20/50 yesterday at 30 yards with the 16X scope, but today I shot a 38/50 with the 12X scope.

So the Marauder, which is lighter in the front, is getting the heavier Leapers 4-16X56mm scope. I haven't tried out this combination yet (stock finish is still drying), but I'm hoping that tomorrow afternoon I can try it out. This could be a winning combination.