Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Scopes and Optics => Topic started by: Elk whack master on September 04, 2012, 01:10:58 AM

Title: Scope power ?
Post by: Elk whack master on September 04, 2012, 01:10:58 AM: If I sighted my rifle at 200yrds at 9 power, does my point of aim change at all when i turn it to 3 power? I though i read about this in another post,but no one explained what there were talking about. :dunno:
Title: Re: Scope power ?
Post by: Jim the Plumber on September 04, 2012, 02:38:13 AM: If you are holding dead on at 200 on 9 power and again on 3 power, with a quality scope, it will not change.
Title: Re: Scope power ?
Post by: Deep Forks on September 04, 2012, 02:50:43 AM: Quote from: Jim the Plumber on September 04, 2012, 02:38:13 AM
If you are holding dead on at 200 on 9 power and again on 3 power, with a quality scope, it will not change.

:yeah:
Title: Re: Scope power ?
Post by: rtspring on September 04, 2012, 06:15:35 AM: Power, does not change your bullet path. It does however screw some people up when judging distance of the shot.
Title: Re: Scope power ?
Post by: Biggerhammer on September 04, 2012, 08:49:42 AM: Not at all, that only comes into play when Mil-Dot, windage marks, BDC's and such come into play. Your center point is your center point and will remain that, quality or not. Center is center, now when it comes to the other scope reticles mentioned above. When you change power on a standard 2nd focal plane scope the distances change between points as the reticle gets larger and smaller and that will effect your point of impact while using the BDC, Mil-Dots and such, depending on magnification and distance. That is where a quality scope comes into play, such as a first focal plane scope which alleviates the issue.
Title: Re: Scope power ?
Post by: Elk whack master on September 04, 2012, 08:30:02 PM: I got a nikon bdc, so next time at the range I will see how much difference on the drop circles from 9 to 3. Thanks for explaining it. :tup:
Title: Re: Scope power ?
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on September 05, 2012, 12:34:40 PM: Something to keep in mind also is that at the lower setting, you can't get as fine a view on some targets as you can at the higher setting. This can result in your group size opening up slightly. Has nothing to do with the zero

This is the case with my .22 mag. I have a Leupold 1x4 on it. At 50 yards @ 4x it holds a 5 shot group that can be easily covered with a quarter. Drop it down to 1x @ 50 yards and the crosshairs almost completely cover the target dot and my group size opens up to almost double.
Title: Re: Re: Scope power ?
Post by: copasj on September 05, 2012, 12:51:15 PM: Quote from: Elk whack master on September 04, 2012, 08:30:02 PM
I got a nikon bdc, so next time at the range I will see how much difference on the drop circles from 9 the three. Thanks for explaining it. :tup:

Try this, while aiming through the scope turned up to 9. Put your first circle on your target. Take note of where your actual cross hair is. Now turn the scope down to 3, and center the cross hair where it was previously. Now note where that first circle is.

It should be roughly 3x as far below the cross hairs as it was at 9x. I.E. if the first circle is 3 inches below the cross hairs @ 9x @ 100 yards, it will be roughly 9 inches below the cross hairs @ 3x @ 100 yards.

Hope I did my math right!

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Title: Re: Scope power ?
Post by: Huntbear on September 05, 2012, 01:25:31 PM: Quote from: Elk whack master on September 04, 2012, 01:10:58 AM
If I sighted my rifle at 200yrds at 9 power, does my point of aim change at all when i turn it to 3 power? I though i read about this in another post,but no one explained what there were talking about. :dunno:

It should not change at all... however, on scopes like Tasco and Simmons, do not be surprised to see it change....

I ALWAYS shoot a couple rounds at the lowest setting after sighting in on highest setting... just to double check.....