Thread: What magnification are you running in the bush?

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

2-7 or 3-9 for me

My deer rifle sports a 1-6x36 Zeiss. Absolutely love it. It’s my do everything rifle. Good for the tight stuff, and plenty for longer shots on deer sized targets.

1-5 not 1-6

Fixed 3x on both my bush rifles, they weigh bugger-all - and both have lightweight return to zero rings so I can throw them in the daypack.

If you're hunting slips or counting on cross-gully shots go to 3-9x or similar.

Originally Posted by SF90

Fixed 3x on both my bush rifles, they weigh bugger-all - and both have lightweight return to zero rings so I can throw them in the daypack.

If you're hunting slips or counting on cross-gully shots go to 3-9x or similar.

Curious to know more about your return to zero rings.

I have considered putting the 2-7 on for when I'm going for an afternoon bush hunt but like the versatility of the 3-9 if going further a field.
Problem being is it is easy to say I'll just re zero before I go but so often it doesn't work out that way.

Red dot on the 44mag for in the scrub, 2-7 leupy on a bushpig where things are a little more open.

my main rifle has worn 3x9x40 for most of the last 30 years...it now wears a fixed 4x loopy
the fixed 3x loopy is also awesome but the 1x4 pig plex is flavour of the month on wee single shot
3x9x40 or 50mm work fine.... my old nikko stirling actually had better FOV than loopy 2x7

I've always been a fan of lower powered scopes, ever since I bought my first 3x Weaver way back in 1976. Never feel under scoped using them out on the tops either. Favourite would probably have to be the 3x Weaver, have 3 of them. Then it would have to be the 1.5-6 Kahles - have 3v of them and always carried in the 2-3x range.

Originally Posted by 7mm tragic

Curious to know more about your return to zero rings.

I have considered putting the 2-7 on for when I'm going for an afternoon bush hunt but like the versatility of the 3-9 if going further a field.
Problem being is it is easy to say I'll just re zero before I go but so often it doesn't work out that way.

My guns are locked up and a bastard to get at - the rings I got are an Aussie brand, steel and are fixed at one side - they clamp from the opposite side. I looked at those things and wondered why they wouldn't lock up the same if I took 'em off and put them back on - and they did return to zero pretty much as well as my QD Warne's. The Warne's work the same, but they're ten times heavier, five times the price and don't require an Allen key to lock them on - so while they have advantages they sit in my drawer now.
I got three scopes with those rings on and they are all zeroed and interchange on my BRNO - a bit like ....... what handbag am I gonna carry today ?

I think with any 'return to zero' ring you're gonna get a small deviation - an inch or two inch at 100 yards is the most I've got and doesn't signify for the hunting I do - but if you want to whack 'em through the eyeball at 200 yards - don't ever take them off your gun.

My Swaro Z5 3.5-18 set to 3.5 - 4

For me, as a card carrying old fudd, my preference would be for a 2.5 or 3 fixed power scope. I was glad to see some others had plumped for these. If you are the sort of hunter that leaves your scope on the same power for the whole hunt a variable would be tolerable but if you are the type that constant zooms up the power to look at things all the time a fixed power would be preferable. The chance of either having the power on max and missing out on a shot or worse shooting a deer and losing sight of the animal never to be found will bite you on the bum sooner or later.
GPM.

1-5 on the 30/30 ....have a 3-9 on the 8mm but thinking about scaling it back......(not likely to ever shoot out past 200 with either) i think reticle is important too i like the german number 4 style currently quietly looking for something with a german number 1 ..... but at the least a heavy duplex thats not too busy

just my opinion not necessarily what works for anyone else

I have variable scopes in 1-4x, 2-7x, 3-9x and 3.5-10x

For bush hunting they are set on 3 or 3.5x

1.5x for proper bush. Goes up to 5x, so useful for the occasional longer shot.