Magnification, NOT long range

[Jpmiller]

So I'm getting close to buying myself a new scope and I'm pretty sure I'm going Leupold (real good luck with their stuff) but I'm stuck on what magnification. I realistically don't see myself shooting past 300 yards at an animal or 400 at a range. I'm drawn to higher magnifications because why spend 500 dollars when you can spend a thousand but I don't think I really need it. It's replacing a 4-12 and I've never thought I needed more, but I also don't think I've shot at full power in the field. Is this a less is more scenario or does it make sense to you guys to have the extra magnification? Thanks.

[Jonathan_S]

12 power is already way more than necessary for 300-400 yards 

What are you upgrading from and what's your budget?

[Karl Blanchard]

Makes zero sense to me to go with a high magnification scope for what you described. Heck I shoot my higher power scopes on half power often at farther ranges than you mentioned so I can spot hits better when shooting solo.

A VX-3i in 3.5-10x50 would fit the bill quite nicely.

Devils advocate here though, just because you have a bit more magnification doesn't mean you have to use it. You can still shoot a 14x scope on 10x 

[b23]

The VX5HD 3-15 is a great scope with really good optics, I don't think you could go wrong with one of those. 

[jjhunter]

The VX5HD 3-15 is a great scope with really good optics, I don't think you could go wrong with one of those.

I packed one around this past hunting season and it is a great little scope with a lot of nice features.

[Karl Blanchard]

The VX5HD 3-15 is a great scope with really good optics, I don't think you could go wrong with one of those.

I packed one around this past hunting season and it is a great little scope with a lot of nice features.

I've got one on the way. I think its gonna be a great optic for anything I'm gonna need it to do on a hunting gun.

[Jingles]

 I understand there are leupold diehards, but having both leupold and Vortex I am more satisfied with the Vortex and as far as price did not pay for the Name and both carry a lifetime unconditional warranty. Have yet to use any scope using full power over 9  on a 3 x 9 except at range to get 1 hole 5 shot groups with the vortex 6 x 20.

[Magnum_Willys]

I can’t imagine going back to 9 or 10 power after using 4-24 power but the 3.5-10 certainly worked great for me for decades.   I could get by with 15 but 18 is the sweet spot.   My son has the 6-18 and his next will be 4-24.    For hunting its tough to spot hits much beyond 18 to 21 power depending upon rifle.    I have a 7-42 power and love it but it doesn’t go above 24 much in the field.   

[Jpmiller]

I'm replacing an old 4-12 Nikon that was about a hundred bucks twenty years ago. I was thinking the 3i 3.5-10 but I have a really hard time not constantly trying to go one step better, which leads to two steps better.....

They have it with and without the CDS, if I'm not shooting past 300 do I need the CDS? I feel like I want one cause the cool kids have it but I've never found myself feeling I needed anything like it. My shot distances in the field have never been more than 200 yards and I've always felt very confident to 300 without.

[opdinkslayer]

If your dead set on a leupold then I would look no further than the VX5 3.5-15 with cds. I agree with the sentiment that having more magnification & dialing options doesn’t mean you have to use them but you can’t use something that’s not there.

[Stein]

The VX5HD 3-15 is a great scope with really good optics, I don't think you could go wrong with one of those.

 

15 is plenty for 300 yards even with bad eyesight.  I am left eye dominant, shoot rifles right handed and wear glasses and it's no problem at all.

[birddogdad]

10 or 12 power should be enough. Remember the higher you go the smaller your FOV gets... can really impact your ability to stay on  running targets... get good binos for the "looking" part of your hunting, you don't need to see them blink out there to shoot em...

[kukusya]

With in 250 yards red dot will work fine (of course if you don’t have astigmatism) or 4x fix scope.

[Jingles]

I'm replacing an old 4-12 Nikon that was about a hundred bucks twenty years ago. I was thinking the 3i 3.5-10 but I have a really hard time not constantly trying to go one step better, which leads to two steps better.....

They have it with and without the CDS, if I'm not shooting past 300 do I need the CDS? I feel like I want one cause the cool kids have it but I've never found myself feeling I needed anything like it. My shot distances in the field have never been more than 200 yards and I've always felt very confident to 300 without.

Gonna show my age and say if you know the old fashion Kentucky windage nope,  one reason still using 3 x 9 and without all the extra bells and whistles, no BDC, no special turrets, just good ole know your rifle and ammo, which takes a whole lot of shooting.

[Taco280AI]

Keep it simple. You've never shot at game beyond 200, don't plan on doing it past 300. There's no need for CDS, no need for a ballistic reticle, no need for extra size and weight. Go with a simple 3-9, 3.5-10, 2.5-8, 2-7, or even a fixed 6x. I used a fixed 6x for several years because most of the time when hunting I kept my variable scopes around there anyway. And it took game just fine, even a bedded buck at 293 yards.

Go down the rabbit hole if you want, there's always a more powerful scope you can get, always a more expensive one, and where you actually land, who knows. Or just buy something simple, yet trusted and reliable, for your sub 200 yard hunting shots.