What is your highest power hunting scope?

Have a 3-10x.
I wish someone would make a high quality 4x or 6x. I used to do Leupold, but the glass and brightness just isn't there. Saw one of Leupolds $1400 4x scopes. Looked just like my $299 4x with a different reticle and cds turret.

I guess S&B is out of the 6x fixed business.
 
3-9X on both of my rigs. Used for whitetail, and shot opportunities up to 300 yards where I hunt.

That said, the farthest shot in 30 years of hunting has been 250 and another around 225. Most have been 100 yards or less.

3-9 is plenty for me
 
Currently a 4x12 is the highest. I have had a couple 6x24 scopes on varmint rifles. I especially liked the 6x24 Simmons cheapo that was on a NEF survival stocked 223. It whacked a few foxes who were waiting for a chance at the chickens my neighbors had. They swore it was a coyote. I still don’t believe them.
 
Have a 5x25 Vortex on a .22-250 used exclusively for prairie dogging. When I bought it I thought it would be perfect for it's intended use. Turns out I never turn the magnification up higher than 10 or so. 2 other prairie dog guns (.204 Ruger and .22-250) have Leupold 4x14 on them. I believe the 4x14 scopes are more than adequate for my shooting.
 
Sniper66 said:
I have a Meopta Optika5 4-20X on my Kimber .204. With it, I shoot prairie dogs out to 300+ yds. Great set-up
Click to expand...
Two of MY long range Rifles also wear Meopta scopes ,Great Glass . I began buying them ,when Nikon decided to allow other Asian countries to assemble their optics , exception Nikon's produced in the Philippine's with the Monarch upper #'s line . Were the BEST scope value for the money ,IMO . I've got Zeiss , Leupold as well as IOR and for the Money NOW , again in MY opinion Meopta reigns supreme . All one has to do is look at " WHO " they supply optics too :D

I prefer for " Normal " hunting a quality glass ,regardless of power but generally 2.5 X12 X44 to 50 covers 98% of open country scenarios for ME .
 
I live out west so I need a bit of magnification for pronghorn especially. I recently upgraded my 3-9 Leupold for a little 3-10X42 Swarovski. Got tired of bumping the CDS turret off zero and it was free with all the points I earn on my Cabelas business card. And yes the glass is fantastic. 69708183507__3025A4AC-F4CE-4206-82AD-830375BAFFB3.jpeg

Less is usually more for hunting purposes and having a low end magnification option is a must for oak brush/aspens. Having said that, Leupold’s 3-15 option is interesting.
 
WisBorn said:
With more and more decent quality scopes.
What is your highest power/low setting on a variable or fixed scope that you would hunt with?

As a deer hunter I find variable scopes work well for me in the areas that I hunt.
2-7, 3-9, 3.5-10, 4-12 all work well. I had a turkey blaster set up with a 1.5-4 :)
I did have one varmint rifle with a 5-20.

I guess that I have found the highest low setting of 4 being a good bottom as I spend a lot of time in the woods.

What is your favorite variable for hunting? And highest low setting?
Click to expand...
3.5 x 10 but I seldom go above 4 for deer... Larger magnifications for varmints.
 
Nicky Santoro said:
Leupold Compact 3X9
Click to expand...
I used a 3-9 Compact on an ULA Model 24 in .270, it went very well with the petite rifle. I never had any problems with mine. You do give up a bit in the optical department in low light conditions. But, it does have a smaller ocular and objective.
 
I must correct myself ,as I have or had purchased a New Meopta 6 in 4.5 X 27 X 50 for MY 6.5 CM AR rifle I built . A Franken gun of high quality components and currently babying it with ladders ,so as to find the ultimate long range load .
 
I keep a straight 6x swift on my switch barrel 223/250 savage. I generally use that rifle for deer and antelope or called coyotes. My 308 wears a 3x9 Burris legend I carry it on 3x like most others here. My 300wm wears a 3.5 to 10 or 2 to 10? Anyway, I keep it set at the lowest setting. I have cranked it up on occasion. The last time I recall was to thread a bullet through a loophole in some brush.
 
Specifically for deer and rifle, I’m running a 3x9 Burris set at 4. While I’ve had higher magnification scopes, I really see no need to go above that setting.

My hunting spans from power lines to swampy palmetto river bottoms. Most all deer present within 100 yards.

Same goes for the T/C Encore handgun…..scope set to 4x (Burris and Leupold). Revolvers wear open sights. I’m just not trying to shoot stuff in the next zip code. Those younger days are over.
 
Highest power scope on any of my centerfire rifles is 3x9. It covers what I need covered and has put almost 100 whitetail in the freezer over the years. It stays on 3x until I need more.

On my Benjamin Marauder PCP gun I have a 4-16x scope, which is perfect for zooming in on squirrel heads from 10 to 40 yards.
 
3X9 on a couple
Prefer a fixed 4X, but a reliable rugged
unit isn't as readily available as they
once were. The last two I was able to
buy were also 38mm instead of the
earlier smaller objectives.
Most manufacturers are filling the
demand for the twisty customers
that want large objectives and
battery lit crosshairs and such
instead of set-and-forget geezers
like myself
Oh well . . . .
 
Ranger99 said:
3X9 on a couple
Prefer a fixed 4X, but a reliable rugged
unit isn't as readily available as they
once were. The last two I was able to
buy were also 38mm instead of the
earlier smaller objectives.
Most manufacturers are filling the
demand for the twisty customers
that want large objectives and
battery lit crosshairs and such
instead of set-and-forget geezers
like myself
Oh well . . . .
Click to expand...
Oh do I feel your pain! I have El Paso weavers rebuilt with modern optics in 2.5 and 4x with German 1 and 3P4 reticle respectively on my 2 woods rifles. Unfortunately my Swiss friend is no longer able to do this on the side, so I've been keeping my eye on Ebay for some quality German or Austrian glass of modern construction but lower power range.
 
Last edited:
Yessir
My daddy's old marlin had a good
steel K4 for years, and at a range
some years ago, I to take a latrine
break, and when I came back the
guy that was next to me had apparently
knocked the rifle off my bench and
gathered up his goods and fled the
scene ( according to a couple of
other shooters farther down) He
apparently was in a big hurry to
leave and didn't wait to pick up his
targets. The old K4 was noticeably
bent and unusable. I bought 2 of
the new japan K4's, but didn't realize
that the objectives were bigger.
The new scopes eventually found
a home on my 444's where they
happily reside.
Younger folks don't realize that
a 4X scope was considered state
of the art for big game rifles back
in the day. You can use duplex
reticles to correct for elevation
if you know your load and firearm
and have put in the range time
(like you should anyway)
 
Varmint here, chucks and yotes, like a 12X max.
If I was to set up something for PDs out west, proly 20X max......like a Leupold 6.5-20X on a Ruger #1V .22-250
 
On one of my prairie dog rifles I have a 5x25 Vortex PSD. Over the course of several PD trips, I have found I like the magnification best when it's set at about 15. Love the Vortex but don't think I need that much magnification.
 
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