Appropriate Magnification for 400 Yards or Less

Grim

Grim

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In your opinion, what is the appropriate magnification for 400 yards or less? May test my hand at 400 with my Scout rifle and optic (2.5 power).

I have rifles with optics that far exceed the requirement for that distance, but they're about 10 pounds heavier.

Will be shooting from an integrated bipod or shooting sticks.
 
Grim said:
In your opinion, what is the appropriate magnification for 400 yards or less? May test my hand at 400 with my Scout rifle and optic (2.5 power).

I have rifles with optics that far exceed the requirement for that distance, but they're about 10 pounds heavier.

Will be shooting from an integrated bipod or shooting sticks.
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What are you shooting at (what precision are you expecting)? Minute of deer is one thing, shooting tiny groups on paper is another. Also for hunting you typically need thicker cross hairs to see in the brush, on paper you want thin.

I'm guessing you're not hunting paper with shooting sticks though. ;) What game are you going after?
 
I've used 2.5x on my FAL hunting whitetails to 300m effectively. Normally run a 3x or 4x fixed on my combat rifles.

CD
 
Flashpoint said:
What are you shooting at (what precision are you expecting)? Minute of deer is one thing, shooting tiny groups on paper is another. Also for hunting you typically need thicker cross hairs to see in the brush, on paper you want thin.

I'm guessing you're not hunting paper with shooting sticks though. ;) What game are you going after?
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I'll be hunting mule deer. I zeroed the rifle this past weekend with a new load (165gr. Fiocchi Extrema Sierra Game Kings) and was able to get just under 2" at 100 with the Leupold FX-II. It has a heavier duplex, so the center of the target was covered most of the time when I took my shots, but I still feel comfortable enough to attempt a 400 yard shot. Obviously I'll work on getting closer, but I think from a rested shot, an 8" diameter of impact isn't going to be terrible. I just need to observe my hold distance for 200, 300, and 400.

Just wasn't sure if I was being over confident in my ability to use a lower power optic.
 
I anticipate my biggest challenge (because I don't want to dial in elevation corrections, not sure if this scope tracks well) will be to identify the hold based off an average torso height if I didn't have time to range the target first.
 
I don't hunt and am not an experienced rifle shooter by any means. And I do not like Holiday Inn's. It seems to me though that I'd want more magnification to kill a deer at 400. Not sure what the sweet spot size is for an ethical kill, but if you are 2" at 100 then you might be 8" at 400. Is that good enough for a clean 1 shot kill? I have been shooting at 200 lately and even for that I think I'd want at least 4x for hunting. I'm 50 and my old perfect eyes are starting to become human though. Open sight for me are great at 50 and so so at 100. So I'd say it depends on your eyes and how big the kill shot is on a deer.
 
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Forgot to mention the only variable scope I do have is a Leupold VXII 2x7 on my .308 bolt gun. Scopes help target ID and single focus of the target (don't have to align front, rear sights and target). Disadvantages of too much power is loss of field of view.

CD
 
CZfool68 said:
I don't hunt and am not an experienced rifle shooter by any means. And I do not like Holiday Inn's. It seems to me though that I'd want more magnification to kill a deer at 400. Not sure what the sweet spot size is for an ethical kill, but if you are 2" at 100 then you might be 8" at 400. Is that good enough for a clean 1 shot kill? I have been shooting at 200 lately and even for that I think I'd want at lesst 4x for hunting. I'm 50 and my old perfect eyes are starting to become human though. Open sight for me are great at 50 and so so at 100. So I'd say it depends on your eyes and how big the kill shot is on a deer.
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I did get Lasik, so I can see like a hawk. As far as the kill zone, it's about 12-16" depending on size of the deer. Pretty much anything in the pump house will take them down.

Just wasn't sure how crazy I was when I thought I'd start practicing at least 400 for shots of less than 400. I find the further distance I practice, the easier it is for me to take closer shots.

Of course, the next biggest thing I'll need to work on would be to get my cardio under control. No amount of magical magnification factors will help a fatass land a shot while suffering from a near heart attack.
 
Combat Diver said:
Forgot to mention the only variable scope I do have is a Leupold VXII 2x7 on my .308 bolt gun. Scopes help target ID and single focus of the target (don't have to align front, rear sights and target). Disadvantages of too much power is loss of field of view.

CD
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I carried my HK MR762 last year with my Nightforce NXS 8-32x56 in the mountains of VA. Missed two shots because I couldn't tell where I was at when I pulled up the rifle at 8 power. Hence the purchase of the Steyr Scout. That and I had a small buck bust me while I was trying to raise my MR762 and I had to hold it at mid height (about 16 pounds) for about two minutes until he decided to cut tail and get behind another group of trees. I shot that little bastard for making my arms hurt so much, and it was good meat.
 
Well, 200 is cake. 300 was 50/50. 400 was a disappoinment. 0 shots on steel, but I danced around it.

2.5 power is insufficient at that distance.
 
4x or 6 x would be my pick.
 
Yes. Assuming that you will mostly shoot shorter ranges and at least some hunting up close and personal, a 1-4 with illumination. 1-6 will help slightly. There are lots out there from too cheap to solid to crazy expensive. Stay in the low-middle range - Primary Arms, a midrange Vortex, a Burris TAC30 or MTAC. Or whatever brand you like. Used in good shape is fine.

Keep it on 1x unless you are setting up for longer range intentionally and it will work great.
 
I have a super long distance rifle (Sig SSG 3000 with a Schmidt and Bender PMII 12-50x56), but unfortunately it is too heavy to lug around the mountains and woods.

I'm really interested in Spuhr's new hunting rings and Sauer has a new bolt rifle that I'm seriously considering. I just need to see if I can get it in the caliber I want.
 
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