What scope

[bowdoc64]

What scope for hunting  .. The magnification lens size and why.

I started out with my 8 x 40 set on 24. This works great in the yard but not so well in the woods. Now sitting shooting in the woods over a feeder this would be killer but walking and stalking this does not work Also when your sitting  and your not sure where they are coming from this is to much magnification. I'm now at 18x but see me being at 12 to 16 in the near future. The 50mm lens does help with finding game and when I hunt the evenings. I have a front adjustable objective but its a pain when hunting I see why side focus is better for hunting. I see a 16x 50 to 56 mm side focus leaper or Hawks in my future. Its funny how you have a theory about what will work then you start hunting and find out what works and what does not. I also see the need for the repeater having to take your eyes off the animal to load is not good especially when dealing with ninja squirrels. I'm also think I'm going to mount a secondary site like a red dot or something for the close up finish shots under 10 yards. This is based off situations I have come across in my short time squirrel hunting

[Wolverineshooter]

I am not an experienced hunter, but from my reading and discussions on this board, seems 4-10x are the preferred choices. Balancing the field of view and clarity.

[kbstingwing]

depends on your EYES, if they are good 3-9x40, if not so good 4-16x44, if really bad anything 50 or bigger objective, all with side AO works best, but it's up to you and what you like.....

[kbstingwing]

this is my favorite hunting scope

[Norm_m]

Yes Kevin is right on with the Amazon link to the 4 - 16 X 44 compact scope for hunting as it gives everything you need for hunting. Low enough power for when you are walking and need a quick shot and high enough power for when you need to reach out.

Norm

[beachgunner]

That's a good scope for sure. However, you may want to consider a fixed mag from 10x, 12x, or even 14x for your needs. It eliminates the "which magnification for what application" issue, and they tend to be rock solid quality. You can also probably get a fixed 12x with an etched reticle for the same price as a variable magnification with a floating one.

Let us know what you end up getting Drew.

[aluminumfetish]

For a low price option, the bug busters are not terrible. The minute I have significant cash in my slush fund, I am getting a Hawke. But for about 100 bucks, the AO 6x bug buster has been working just fine.  I can shoot at 10 yards easy with the AO, it's a front adjust but for the money, I guess that's what I get.

[kbstingwing]

I like the zoom capabilities, just like 10 minutes ago, I spotted a tiny mouse at the feeder and without the zoom I wouldn't have gotten the precise shot I got, with Rats 4 power is fine, but with these tiny mice 16 power is a great thing to have, and it's good from 10 yards to infinity on the AO, setting the power to what ever you like for hunting is easy and you still have the ability to adjust for distance or fine precision shots.

[GKU]

[LDP]

Vortex Viper PST Gen 2  3-15x44. Thats the scope I run on my Daystate wolverine Hi Lite .25 I almost never take it off 15 power.

[wolverine]

i set my bugbuster to 6X when hunting squirrels.  sighted in at 30yds, AO adjusted to 30yds, and leave it at that.

it works without having to refocus and with my rifle, the poa and poi doesn't change from 6X to 9X.

my 2260 has a leapers 4X32 AO that when set at 20yds, everything from 10 - 40yds is in focus.

my concept has a 4X12X50 AO i set at 12X during daylight hours, and 4X in the evening and at night.

for me, it depends on distance, light, and whether or not i need quick target acquisition.

[bowdoc64]

my concept has a 4X12X50 AO i set at 12X during daylight hours, and 4X in the evening and at night.

for me, it depends on distance, light, and whether or not i need quick target acquisition.

I like that concept.. I might try that with my current set up to see how it works the next time I can hunt morning and evening

[Smaug2]

I like 6x for most field hunting situations. Up to 10x is fine.

Above that, and you spend a lot of time searching in the limbs for them.

I settled on 10x, for a compromise of good all-around magnification and spotting ability. 10x also gives more precise hold-overs.

So far, my favorite hunting scope is the Hawke Vantage 4-12x50 AO. I zero and figure my hold-overs for 10x and Power 2/5 on my S510. It's a dead-on hold from about 13-33 yards. 1 dot a 10 yards, 1/2 dot at 11 yds. 1 dot again at 35 and 40 yards.

When I spot the quarry, I take a guess at the range and set the AO to that range. It's always close enough.

Attached is one from today, showing the scope, victorious over its prey.

[bowdoc64]

I like 6x for most field hunting situations. Up to 10x is fine.

Above that, and you spend a lot of time searching in the limbs for them.

I settled on 10x, for a compromise of good all-around magnification and spotting ability. 10x also gives more precise hold-overs.

So far, my favorite hunting scope is the Hawke Vantage 4-12x50 AO. I zero and figure my hold-overs for 10x and Power 2/5 on my S510. It's a dead-on hold from about 13-33 yards. 1 dot a 10 yards, 1/2 dot at 11 yds. 1 dot again at 35 and 40 yards.

When I spot the quarry, I take a guess at the range and set the AO to that range. It's always close enough.

Attached is one from today, showing the scope, victorious over its prey.

I'm really starting to lean on the less is more when it come to magnification  and hunting Squirrels.

[Norm_m]

Yes you are correct less is better when hunting in the woods for game the size of squirrels and larger.
Try to find that squirrel in your scope at 14 or 16 X before he has moved on. GOOD LUCK!! Try to hold a 12 - 16 power scope steady when shooting a quick offhand shot, not an easy thing to do for most hunters.

You will most often have your scope set at either 4X or 6X but knowing you can zoom in with a 4-12 or 4-16 variable scope is definitely the way to go.

Norm

[LDP]

Yes you are correct less is better when hunting in the woods for game the size of squirrels and larger.
Try to find that squirrel in your scope at 14 or 16 X before he has moved on. GOOD LUCK!! Try to hold a 12 - 16 power scope steady when shooting a quick offhand shot, not an easy thing to do for most hunters.

You will most often have your scope set at either 4X or 6X but knowing you can zoom in with a 4-12 or 4-16 variable scope is definitely the way to go.

Norm

Not for me. I know my hunting area is probably unique but around here no one hunts squirrels and theres not even a season on them they are just treated as varmints and have no limits or specific times for shooting. So I can walk thru the woods and walk within 15 yds of most squirrels and they will sit on the branch looking at me with very little concern. So hunting squirrels with 15 power is very easy to do for me and I never have to take an off hand shot cause I have plenty of time setting up prone or on a log for a shot on a squirrel at 50 yds. We have so many tree squirrels its unreal. I can guarantee a bag full of them every time I go into the woods if I want to shoot tree squirrels. I guess since there is no hunting season for them and most people are worried about hunting the big game in this state the tree squirrels are left to flourish.

If you are hunting jittery squirrels I can see where 4 - 6 power would be the best all around setting while spot and stalk hunting.

[Hunt4dinner]

I rarely use lower magnification settings for hunting. I just spent all weekend squirrel hunting and kept my scope set at 16x mainly because I have my mill dots figured out for specific ranges at that power. Out of 8 squirrels all but 2 were taken between 60-80 yards. 2 were shot from trees at 10 yards and the 16x still worked just fine for that. It's all in the person and what they feel most comfortable with as there's no right answer to this kind of question in my opinion. Get a scope that goes to 24x and if you don't use it you'll still have it if you ever feel the need.

[beachgunner]

If you can afford it, get a FFP (First Focal Plane) scope and then you will know your holdovers at the consistent velocity you are shooting at each range, regardless of magnification.

I leave my scope on 16x for the most part.

[bowdoc64]

I rarely use lower magnification settings for hunting. I just spent all weekend squirrel hunting and kept my scope set at 16x mainly because I have my mill dots figured out for specific ranges at that power. Out of 8 squirrels all but 2 were taken between 60-80 yards. 2 were shot from trees at 10 yards and the 16x still worked just fine for that. It's all in the person and what they feel most comfortable with as there's no right answer to this kind of question in my opinion. Get a scope that goes to 24x and if you don't use it you'll still have it if you ever feel the need.

I was hunting with 24x and it can be to much trying to locate the Squirrel.. Recently at 18x it seems alot better easier to find them an I popped some under 10 yard's. . I cranked it down to 12. I'm going to try a few hunts like that just to see if I like it. I shot some nice groups with it today.. I still think I'm going to get a  16x adjustable power side focus leapers or hawke scope.

[ceekris]

I have this hunting scope "primary arms 4-14X Tactical  scope".
I don’t know it is my best scope or not. Because it is my first scope.