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Best Scope Power?

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Ron AKA View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ron AKA Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Best Scope Power?
    Posted: January/05/2008 at 14:48
I'm looking for a scope to be used for shooting gophers (Richardson's Ground Squirrel), and targets. Probably will go with a 4:1 variable power. The cartridge will be a .22LR rimfire, so 100 yards is the likely outer limit for range. I'm debating between 2.5-10X or 6-24X for power, and would like opinions of others on which one. Would also be interesed in the value of AO for each compared to one where parallax is fixed and zeroed at 50 yds?
 
If you have not hunted gophers, they are quite a small target. If they choose to just peek out of the hole, you can be shooting at "1x1" target -- which can be quite challenging for both the gun and shooter. Not at all like shooting a groundhog at the same distances when size is considered.
 
So the extra power would seem to have some benefit to improve accuracy towards the 100 yd mark. Also on targets it would seem possible to avoid the need for a spotting scope.
 
Any and all comments appreciated,
 
Ron
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RONK View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/05/2008 at 14:58
 
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Dale Clifford View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/05/2008 at 14:58
hunted many, sometimes during the 7 year cycle the ground can become alive with so many. Hunted them with every thing from dots on semi- autos to target grade bolts with a leo 6.5x20 efr. If I had to pick one optic it would be the 3x9 leo efr for 22lr. The 3x9 works well on 12 ga. hulls at 100 yds-- but of course the 6.5 would work also. One thing to remember is the FOV for the 20x and following them or picking up the target is more difficult than praire dogs.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/05/2008 at 22:39
  
  What kind of a budget do you have in mind?
 I assume they are like prairie dogs as far as liking to come out more on bright, sunny days?  If so, I think you would be well-served by Dale's suggestion of the 3-9x Leupold, but my gut feeling is that you wouldn't want LESS than 9x at the top end either. I might even lean a bit toward 12x, and would further guess that a fixed 10x or 12x with a rather fine reticle would be just fine, but I haven't hunted them either.
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Ron AKA View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ron AKA Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/06/2008 at 03:11
Thanks for the replies. Yes, it probably would get used on the bright sunny days. I think those are the ones the gophers and this hunter likes the best! So, I have not worried too much about brightness.
 
What are the thoughts on the need for an adjustable objective? Is there likely to be much parallax error at the short ranges and near 100 yards if the parallex adjustment is fixed to zero at 50 yards. That seems to be standard on some of the .22 scopes.
Ron
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/06/2008 at 08:48
how much the scope is out of focus between extremes say 40 yds and 100 yds depends on the quality of the scope. if the scope doesn't have one and is set at either 50 or 100 the eye doesn't see it but its still there. if you adjust the leo thru its range with the ao the difference in pronounced.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/06/2008 at 09:45
 
 If you have a well-fitting stock that helps keep your eye fairly well-centered in the scope, I don't think a 50-yard parallax setting is going to be too much of an issue at 100 (unless you really move your eye off center). Be sure you understand the difference between correct focus and correct parallax. They are not the same thing!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/06/2008 at 10:30

Note that the Leo EFR's come with the thin target reticles. I don't hunt in the same terrain as you guys but around soybeans and tall grasses they are harder for me to pick up.

+1 on 3-9 or 2.5-10. I have never had a problem with the 50 yard parallax setting from 10-100 yard use.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Focus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/06/2008 at 14:46
I'll be odd man out and suggest a 4x16 for this use......

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Ron AKA View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ron AKA Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/06/2008 at 18:33
Originally posted by RONK RONK wrote:

Be sure you understand the difference between correct focus and correct parallax. They are not the same thing!
That is a good question, and I think one where there can be some confusion. Here is my best understanding of it.
 
Focus
Lower power scopes and especially at a distance have a very deep field of focus. However as you increase the power of the scope and move closer to the target, the depth of field gets smaller and smaller. So the old big game 4X and 6X scopes are not really an issue because you hunt them at a distance, the power is not that high, and if you do try and take one at 20 yards it will be so big that it should be hard to miss even if it is a bit fuzzy. My thinking is that with 8-20X or more on a rimfire, focus is going to be a problem the higher the power and the closer you get to short distances like 20 yards. I gather 10X is said to be the approximate cutoff as to the point when you need to adjust or not. Not sure that takes into account short rimfire distances for gophers. But then of course do you need 20X at 20 yards to hit a gopher...
 
Parallax
This is different but related issue. The same optical issues that cause the depth of field to suffer, also displace the location of the image down the length of the scope. Ideally the image location should match the reticle location. If it does then the reticle should be essentially pasted to the image and no matter how you look through the scope. But if the image is moved either ahead or behind the reticle then as you move your eye from side to side or top to bottom in the exit pupil area then the crosshairs will move side to side and up to down. Obviously if the gun is not moving, this is a potential aim error.
 
Adjustable Objective
This seems to be the ability to move the objective lens to both correct the focus and the parallax. When correcting for parallax at long distances the focus effect is likely not to be very noticeable, as it falls in the range where there is a very deep depth of field in any case. But, closer up, I'm thinking that the benefit of getting the focus decent may even outweigh the zeroing of the parallax. If you can't see the target, then it probably does not matter if there is parallax or not.
 
And getting back to my question, I'm thinking at rimfire ranges a high power scope needs both focus and parallax correction on closer targets, and obviously the 6-24X more than the 2.5-10, or 3-9X. However I'm still wondering what we are talking for parallax error at shorter or mid ranges. Are we talking tenths of an inch or 1/4 of an inch or ?? I guess I should unlock one of my old big game scopes and see what I can measure - but it is winter up here!
 
So these are just my interpretations of how these things work. Would appreciate any feedback as to whether I'm off in the weeds or not.
Ron
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/06/2008 at 21:16
 
 I'll have to read your answer again when I have more time, but a quick read has me thinking that you understand those issues well enough.  You probably know that FFP variable scopes are parallax-free at all distances, even though they may need to be FOCUSED to a specific distance, in order for you to see a clear, sharp image of the gopher, which was the point of my previous post.  Also, fixed -power scopes are by nature FFP scopes. If you are still concerned about the (minimal) effects of parallax at the distances you will be shooting, you might want to consider a FFP scope.
 If you think you will be shooting at the close ones with a 6-24x turned all the way up, you may need to consider a good airgun scope.  I understand that they will focus down to much closer distances than most conventional scopes.
 I don't think I would go with that much power anyway. The previous posters all gave good experienced advice.  Get something in that ballpark and you should be good to go.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dale Clifford Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/06/2008 at 21:36
practical interpretation of your well written definition-- It won't matter on squirrels but if you've got a good 22, (Kimber, Anshutz (sp)as an example ) and want to shoot 50 yd groups with target grade Eley you will notice the difference in not having AO.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ron AKA Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/07/2008 at 11:03
Originally posted by Dale Clifford Dale Clifford wrote:

practical interpretation of your well written definition-- It won't matter on squirrels but if you've got a good 22, (Kimber, Anshutz (sp)as an example ) and want to shoot 50 yd groups with target grade Eley you will notice the difference in not having AO.
Thinking of going with the Savage Mark II-BV. The author of the article at the link below claims 5/16" at 50 yards with Olin standard velocity ammo.
 
 
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