223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!

[ESquared]

As I posted separately, my first trip with the 223 Single Shot was just so-so, but the outing was full of "firsts," from rifle to scope to range (with lots of new (to me) procedures and practices. Was going back through it all in my mind last night about midnight and it occurred to me that I never once adjusted the zoom on the scope. So much else was going on, I never even looked. It was my brand new Nikon Buckmasters 3-9 X 40, what could go wrong?

Managed to shake it off and get to sleep.

Sure enough, checked it this morning, and it was set to about 4X.

Maybe I'll try this again, and check ALL the boxes!

[markiver54]

Hope you get it dialed in Evan. Although I never mounted, It has a great, crisp picture.

[ESquared]

Hope you get it dialed in Evan. Although I never mounted, It has a great, crisp picture.

Oh, it was so good at 4X, I didn't even think (obviously) to mess with it. I tweaked the focus once I got it mounted a few weeks ago and it was all good.

Imagine how that target will look at 9X!

Talk about Operator Error!

[markiver54]

I actually did the same thing first time out with the little Weaver I put on my BBS 357, so you're not alone,

[ESquared]

That does make me feel better.

[BigAl52]

The groups should tighten up with that in mind Evan. But you will need good support when shooting on 9 power as every movement will be magnified 9 times to.

[North Country Gal]

Evan, yes, your groups will likely tighten up with more magnification, but most folks I know crank the mag down to 4x or so on variable scope, anyway, while hunting or field shooting. My point is that practicing at 4x is not a bad idea if you plan to do more than shooting off a bench with your single shot. For instance, with me and my offhand shooting, those lower mags are very important.

[ESquared]

I don't really plan on going straight to 9X, but this gives me a lot of room for further experimentation and refinement. Besides, what's another variable?

[Mags]

.
Maybe your subconscious knew 4x was the sweet spot for zoom. I kinda stumbled into that setting. Found the view at higher zoom too jittery.

As I posted separately, my first trip with the 223 Single Shot was just so-so, but the outing was full of "firsts," from rifle to scope to range (with lots of new (to me) procedures and practices. Was going back through it all in my mind last night about midnight and it occurred to me that I never once adjusted the zoom on the scope. So much else was going on, I never even looked. It was my brand new Nikon Buckmasters 3-9 X 40, what could go wrong?

Managed to shake it off and get to sleep.

Sure enough, checked it this morning, and it was set to about 4X.

Maybe I'll try this again, and check ALL the boxes!

[ESquared]

If I buy a scope that goes to 4X or 7X or 9X or 12X, I want to be able to master it at those mag levels, and do better shooting at longer distances as a result. Otherwise, why bother with a scope that goes to 4X or 7X or 9X or 12X (or whatever)? I've figured out how parallax changes and I can get a stable muzzle, so I don't consider using a scope to its maximum capacity to be "cheating." To me, that's become the learning part of this hobby.

[JEBar]

most of our scopes are 3X9's or 4X12's .... most of our shooting takes place from a bench rest .... depending on the range we normally fire with the scope somewhere near the middle of its range .... the higher ranges come in handy for taking a close look at bullet placement on the targets

[Mags]

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For me it's kinda like having 12 coffee cups in the cupboard. Rarely use all 12, but its nice to have handy when all 12 are needed. Using a scope to max isn't cheating. It can be a "Kobayashi Maru" game changer though.

If I buy a scope that goes to 4X or 7X or 9X or 12X, I want to be able to master it at those mag levels, and do better shooting at longer distances as a result. Otherwise, why bother with a scope that goes to 4X or 7X or 9X or 12X (or whatever)? I've figured out how parallax changes and I can get a stable muzzle, so I don't consider using a scope to its maximum capacity to be "cheating." To me, that's become the learning part of this hobby.

[Mistered]

depending on the range we normally fire with the scope somewhere near the middle of its range ....

This is not untypical.
A new scope/rifle combo will require sample groups at each magnification level to find the 'right' magnification for the person that gives the best grouping. Heck I may do this myself next time I am out with a scoped rifle just to keep in 'check'.
Results will vary.

[Yornoc3]

I, too, seldom use a variable scope's highest magnification. As with everything optical, there are compromises with things like eye relief, focus, resolution, etc. with the increase in magnification. So, for me, 7 or 8X on a 3-9 variable is the max where I usually end up. On the low power variables, there's not a big enough difference in power to see any meaningful difference to my eyes, though. Optics have improved so much since I bought my first 2-7 x 32 Weaver (which I still have) at age 17, it boggles the mind .

[ESquared]

Well, now the fun begins!

[Sir Henry]

I have a high power scope (can’t remember if it’s 16 or 24x) and at the highest setting each heartbeat makes the point of aim jump an inch or so. It takes a lot of concentration at high power.

[ESquared]

I have a high power scope (can’t remember if it’s 16 or 24x) and at the highest setting each heartbeat makes the point of aim jump an inch or so. It takes a lot of concentration at high power.

Lots of experimenting in my future with this set-up, that's for sure! I'll eventually find the happy medium between a good sight picture and the issues that "max zoom" presents, from a squeezed down parallax to scope stability. I'm no sniper, so I'll find the sweet spot, sooner or later. Can't imagine what a 16X or 24X would present in terms of those max zoom challenges!

[Rifletom]

Evan, I'm lazy to look back; do you have a spotting scope? If so, set your scope at 6x and have at it. If no spotter, try 7x and slowly work up to 9x. BTW, stay AWAY from those stinking tornado's! Not fun. Post office tomorrow, finally finished all my yard stuff.

[ESquared]

Evan, I'm lazy to look back; do you have a spotting scope? If so, set your scope at 6x and have at it. If no spotter, try 7x and slowly work up to 9x. BTW, stay AWAY from those stinking tornado's! Not fun. Post office tomorrow, finally finished all my yard stuff.

Tom, yes, spotting scope goes with me, especially for the little holes these 223s make! 6X sounds like a great place to start, considering that it will be almost twice the magnification vs. what I had dialed in (to completely mis-use the term) last week! The beauty is that I can make an infinite number of small little tweaks as I figure out the sweet spot.

6X sounds great, thanks!

[Ojaileveraction]

Can't imagine what a 16X or 24X would present in terms of those max zoom challenges!

Really helps when shooting 600 yrds.