Thread: What magnification are you running in the bush?

Haven't tried both eyes open with a scope so putting that on the list of things to do next time I'm shooting at paper.
I'm finding 3x is okay if everyone is standing still in the open. (doesn't happen often)

Over a few years I've switched most of the rifles I would use bush hunting to Z3 3-10X Swarovskis. All with the same reticle. I set them all on 4X when hunting and the majority of shots are at that magnification. In the open many shots are taken on the 10X setting.

Originally Posted by 7mm tragic

Haven't tried both eyes open with a scope so putting that on the list of things to do next time I'm shooting at paper.
I'm finding 3x is okay if everyone is standing still in the open. (doesn't happen often)

I would stick with what you have. It comes down to rifle fit - if the rifle fits and points exactly where you are looking when shouldered and there is no looking for the animal, perfect. Shooting both eyes open requires 1.5 x or less for most people, but even with a higher mag scope the non sighting eye should not be closed until the target is 'acquired', this is only a split second thing but I have seen shooters close an eye as they bring the rifle to shoulder where they should be locked on with both eyes and then bring the rifle up.
All my early shooting was in fern, scrub and second growth with a 4x Kahles, now with being older and needing more mag I mostly set scopes to 5x. For rabbits the scope is often on 7 or 9 and never below 5x