Posted by Team Osprey on Dec 2nd 2020
Choosing The Best Magnification On Your Riflescope Or Optic
Best Magnification For Deer Hunting, Targets and Beyond:
So you want an optic for your weapon. There are numerous options of magnifications available from zero to well over forty times zoom. How do you decide? Is a tactical 1-4 scope all you need or does the 10-40 target shooter appeal. Is the big powered scope the best because it is usually the most expensive? Maybe you have a specific target need, a particular distance and you want to know the ideal magnification for that distance.
It is hard to know the perfect magnification for your needs. The fact that we all have one friend who can crack 500 yard shots accurately with his/her iron sites and another friend who puts large magnification on even their close range weapons doesn't make understanding it any easier. As usual it depends on a lot of factors and references so lets break it down.
Scope Specs Explained.
All scopes come with two to three numbers to indicate its magnification, its zoom and its objective. These help us to decide if its right for us. The 3-9x42 or Signature 6-24x50 are two common scope dimensions. What do they mean? The first number means the optics lowest possible magnification. So the 3-9 has a low power of 3 and the 6-24 has a low power of 6. The last number in the description of a scope or optic is the objective, which is just the diameter in millimeters of the entry point for light; you know, the bell end of the scope that you don’t put your eye to. The middle number, if there is one and they don't always have one, is the variation on the zoom. For an example if you have a 3-9x42 you have a scope that has a lowest power of magnification of three power, it can zoom up to nine times magnification and the objective to let the light in is 42mm. It is important to understand those numbers to help decide on your scope. If a scope only has 2 numbers like 4x32 or 6x42 it means the magnification is not variable and these are commonly known as fixed power scopes. The first number is the scope magnification and the second or last number being the optics objective for light gathering.
Benefits and Drawbacks of High Magnification.
This may seem like a silly statement but every magnification has both pros and cons. Lets take a scope with high magnification. Many people assume the higher the magnification the easier it is to make a shot but like so many things in the high caliber world, it is not as simple as that.
High Power Optics And Their Drawbacks:
Limited Eye Relief
When you have a scope of lets say 10 power or above, which is considered as a high magnification scope, A few things happen when you reach out with that high power. Obviously you can see further and make out more detail on the target. The problem is that as you go further out with magnification you start losing quality in other areas of the optic. The first thing you will notice is that the higher the magnification the worse your eye relief. You may have to encroach closer to the dioptic or eyepiece of the scope making it harder to aim and creating a less comfortable shooting position.
Shooting Long Range: What To Expect From Your Optic
A long range scope offers less of a field of view. Your entire view may be taken up by the target. This means it is harder to scan and find your target and much harder to hit a target that is moving. With the lower power scope you will be able to see the target while retaining peripheral vision, so you will know what is happening outside your point of aim which is important in a tactical situation.
When you really reach out you get a tunnel vision and it is difficult to focus on anything else apart from the target. This has a secondary effect that even the smallest movement, like a heart beat or breathing, can throw you off target completely.
Light Transition Is Reduced In High Magnification.
Another issue when shooting at a thousand yards and beyond is that since you are so zoomed out you lose light transition. Light transition is just how well the light travels through the scope and aids in the clarity of your target. This is the reason most long range scopes have 50mm or 56mm objectives to help preserve clarity at those long distances, whereas lower variable scopes can get away with objectives of half the size. The larger the bell end of a riflescope the more light transition and clarity you will have in your optic.
Higher Power Optics Distort Easier
At long distances you can get “mirage Distortion”; Think of the shimmering heat waves in the desert. The further you look out the easier it is for heat to distort your image. On top of all these things higher magnified scopes are usually more expensive and heavier! So Why are they so popular?
Why Buy A High Power Riflescope?
High Power Riflescopes Let You Reach Out Further. That is the sole Benefit of High Magnification.
Yes there may be a few issues with high magnification scopes and yes they take skill and practice to use. You may not be able to get on target quickly and may have to take steps to avoid poor light transition and other image distortions but high magnification scopes are absolutely necessary to do long range shots. There may only be one good reason to get a high power optic and that's to do long range shooting. Very few people can get to a thousand yards with less than 10 power. It Isn't easy doing long range hunting or targets but if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.
Pros
- You can make shots at a thousand yards and beyond
- Your weapon looks badass
Cons
- Less than ideal field of view
- Encourages Distortion
- Less Light transition
- More Expensive
- Heavier
- Less Eye Relief
Low Power Optics
Low power optics are anything from red dots to 9 power riflescopes. Red dots have no magnification at all whereas 9 power is usually enough for ninety percent of hunting in America. Common variables for tactical platforms are 1-4x24 and 1-6x26.
Since the optics are less than half the size and weight of higher magnification optics they are very agile and gives you the ability to move swiftly in serious situations. You can move in and out of cover and hike through inhospitable terrain without any added weight or bulk.
Low Magnification AR Optics And Their Limitations:
Poor Light Transition
The light transition is limited in most close range optics. This often isn't an issue as close range light transition isn't as crucial but as you add zoom it can be beneficial to have a larger objective.
Limited Range
Pretty much the opposite of high magnification optics, you cannot see very far therefore restricting you to close and middle range targets. The 1-6 is a very popular option for ARs so you can do close range, quick target acquisition and reach out to mid range all on the one optic.
Low Power Variable Optics:
Pros:
- Fast
- Good Eye Relief
- Lightweight and agile
CONS:
- Limited to closer range distances
- Limited Light transitioning capabilities
Best Optic Option For You?
Don’t worry too much about all the details. All you need to remember is that higher magnification is usually a slower and more methodical process. Low power optics are for faster tactical situations. There are a few other things to consider before deciding on the ideal magnification for your needs.
What Are You Aiming At?
When deciding on the ideal magnification needs and riflescope style and which perks are absolutely necessary for you and your optic you have to decide what you are going to be doing with it. Are you dedicating to long range shooting? Do you need fast target acquisition instead of distance? Do you want an all rounder capable of short and medium range shots? You should have an idea of what you'll be aiming at before you load your weapon.
How Do I Hit A Moving Target?
Hitting a moving target is a lot harder than hitting a steel plate. It requires a different skill set and a different optic set up. If you are moving as well as your target it requires even more tactical skills. When you have moving targets you usually have to sacrifice distance. Not many hunters will take a shot on a moving elk at 600 yards.
Should I Bench My Rifle?
When your rifle is benched you have more time to set up your shot and more stability. If benching your shots you can use a higher power much more easily. Conversely if you are in a hunting blind and benching your weapon on your shots there probably isn't any need to have a red dot and would be very appropriate to upgrade to a 1-6x24 or 3-9x42 riflescope because you will have the stability and time to aim properly.
What Is The Best Magnification For Short Range, Long Range or Tactical Situations?
We have compiled a list of appropriate and popular optics for different scenarios. If you want to go against the grain and stick with iron sights on 500 yard shots then more power to you. We know there re other options but the following is what we here at BuyOspreyGlobal find popular.
Self defense, CQB, Room Clearing and quick acquisition shots below a hundred yards:
In these situations the best options are all speed and target acquisition focused. You want big eye relief, big field of view and the ability to retain your peripheral vision. Top rated options include the
CQB, Hog Hunting, Self defense, Hunting and targets to 300 yards:
In this situation you may want it to be more of an allrounder optic. The red dots are usually maxed out after 100 yards so anything beyond that it is best to get at least some magnification. You still want to retain your critical target acquisition, big eye relief and retain as much of your peripheral vision as possible. The go to for this style are your variable low power scopes and AR Optics. If you can couple it with a slightly larger objectives you will see a large reward in light transition at distance. Some popular choices include:
General Hunting and Targets out to 400 yards :
You will want more than six power to comfortably reach 400 yards accurately and reliably. This is where traditional magnifications like 4-16x50 come into play. They retain the fast target finding with the low 4 power but has enough power to get comfortably to 400 yards. The osprey suggestions for this range include:
Hunting and targets to 800 yards:
When planning on shooting beyond 500 yards it does become difficult to find an “ allrounder’ optic. The 4-16 range will reach to 800 yards but doesn't leave much room to breathe at that distance. A 10-40 riflescope will be ideal at that distance but will not translate well at lower range hunting due to reduced eye relief which reduces speed of critical target acquisition. You want something that has a low end coupled with something high enough to get you to the 800 yard mark. The three best hunting and target optics for 0-800 yards would be:
Thousand yards and beyond.
This is the gateway to serious long range shooting. It is a benchmark many aspire to achieve. The rule of thumb is a minimum of a 24 power optic with a minimum of 50mm objective. If you decide to do the thousand yards it may be worth dedicating a set up just to that. Dedicating a set up to long range can be very rewarding, and you don't have to worry about doing a hog at fifty yards, an elk at 600 yards and also be able to do steel at 1200 yards. No optics or calibers are perfect for every situation, better to commit one rifle to long range and another to 800 and below. The three best for long range are:
How To Make A Thousand Yard Shot
They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a thousand steps. Well the journey to a thousand yards begins with your first shot. The further you reach out the more things that can go wrong, the more practice and learning you will need to commit to. You will have to tame your heart rate, know your MOA calculations and account for the curvature of the earth amongst other things.
No matter where you are with your shooting journey there is the right optic for you. If you want to get into long range but aren't there yet that's fine, but a good idea to get an optic that you can grow into; a 6-24 makes more sense on a long power rifle than a 4-16 if your eventual distance to reach to a thousand yards.
If you are more focused on short range and tactical scenarios there really isn't any need to go beyond 6 power in most situations. Then there is no accounting for your personal preferences, eyesight and ability. If you are accurate and precise then you are doing something right. No matter what you do, how you do it or what you want to achieve, then Osprey Global will help get you there.