scope overkill

sniperman

hi all,would a 6-24 mag scope be overkill on a hmr?reason for asking is, if a target ,lets say a rabbit's head,looks huge through the scope at 100 + yrds,would it not be much easier,for a more precise shot placement,? i have a hawke 4-16,and yesterday a bunnie popped out at about 70yrds,i was on 16 mag,the head was huge,and i easily put a hole just below the ear,right where i put the crosshair,so im wondering if a bunny head looked that big with a 6x24 mag,would all my shots on heads up to and beyond 100 yrds,be more precise,instead of maybe taking the jaw off and not killing instantly?i know that the more mag,the more wobble,but look at it this way,if i was aiming at a golf ball,and it looked the size of a football,a little wobble would not make much difference,would it?....opinions please

The Aussie

I don't know about others so won't speak for them, but the maximum distance I shoot with my hmr these days is 150m, I go further on paper for the craic. ive got a find my 1.5-6X42 good excellent for the job.

I would find a 6-24 harder at closer distances to the extent of being annoying on anything under 25m, it would look like it was having a fit in my scope, but like most things in life what I find good other people would find inadequate, so the final choice is yours and don't let anyone tell you you are wrong.

sniperman

The Aussie wrote: »

I don't know about others so won't speak for them, but the maximum distance I shoot with my hmr these days is 150m, I go further on paper for the craic. ive got a find my 1.5-6X42 good excellent for the job.

I would find a 6-24 harder at closer distances to the extent of being annoying on anything under 25m, it would look like it was having a fit in my scope, but like most things in life what I find good other people would find inadequate, so the final choice is yours and don't let anyone tell you you are wrong.

Thanks for your reply,let me say a 6x24 is probobly harder at close distances like you said,but i would not be using a 6x24 at close range,would be talking 100 +yrds,;)

The Aussie

Unless its for paper where you can pick the distance I would say go for it, but I find a good few of my shots are under the 50m on Rabbits and Crows, but then I like practising my stalking so i close the distance where ever I can, that's why what good for me others might find inadequate.

sniperman

The Aussie wrote: »

Unless its for paper where you can pick the distance I would say go for it, but I find a good few of my shots are under the 50m on Rabbits and Crows, but then I like practising my stalking so i close the distance where ever I can, that's why what good for me others might find inadequate.

good point about the paper.the way i shoot mostly is ambush,im waiting till target shows,i have my distances marked,so i know where they are from 80 to 150 yrds.i usually get 8-15 an evening,the longer distance ones i chest shoot,but i really like to head shoot,hence my op.

The Aussie

Cool, that's why only you know the answer to your question, even though we are after the same quarry the way we go about it is vastly different ways, and neither is wrong.











btw. I'm just filling in time before Enemy at the Gates starts at 9.00 on Film4, hence the randomness in replies

sniperman

The Aussie wrote: »

Cool, that's why only you know the answer to your question, even though we are after the same quarry the way we go about it is vastly different ways, and neither is wrong.











btw. I'm just filling in time before Enemy at the Gates starts at 9.00 on Film4, hence the randomness in replies

ha ha,ya me too,might learn something;)

Cass

sniperman wrote: »

........ might learn something;)

Don't trust Germans with chocolate.

Cass

From years of target shooting i find it hard to adapt to lower powered scopes. I have up to 24 power on all my rifles. I can zoom in and out (without a shift in POI) with ease.

Granted the majority of my shooting is, at max, 220 yards (rabbits, foxes, deer, etc). For free handed shooting i use a lower power, and when off the bipod i can zoom in, up to 24 power, and pick my POA with precision.


As was said above it really is what you are used to or prefer. So what works for one may not suit the other.

sniperman

Cass wrote: »

Don't trust Germans with chocolate.

GOOD ONE:D:D:D

One shot on kill

The reason you need it sound ok but also remember it takes time to adjust your zoom.

For instance I had a serious problem with a fox. Spotted him in the field behind the house I ran in got the rifle found the fox in the scope.
It was really really windy so I looked up and squilled as hard as I could. The fox finally heard me and came running in like a steam train. 130 yards in about 3-5 seconds. I looked trough the scope again and couldn't find him quick enough because my power was to high. I was shooting paper and left the mag up so my field of view was very small therefore missing the shot altogether. I have a 6x24 on my rifle and wouldn't change it. The story is just food for thought about a prob I had with hunting with high mag.

Ok
Rabbits can't move that fast but just said I'd share it anyway.

Cass

Small tip. I always carry the rifle on low power even though i prefer high. Reason ? Quick acquisition. Then a quick turn of the scope has me zoomed in.

Again i'm used to doing this so it's not a problem. If it's not something you are comfortable with then it won't come as easy to you.

One shot on kill

Ye that's what happened me I forgot to wind it back down and it fecked me up.

But op you can train yourself that way starting out.

sniperman

thanks lads for the comments,i am swinging towards a 6-24,have not heard a negative comment about my theory so far,thanks lads;) think ill be putting me 4-16 up for sale soon.

The Aussie

sniperman wrote: »

might learn something;)

The Germans have always had better Optics.
Keep your head down.
Never fall asleep.
Patients really is a virtue.

And

Never be a Linesman...

garv123

I prefer 4-16 tbh on my hmr, If the other scope was there for price Id see no reason to say no to it but I can keep the cross hair steady on the centre of a rabbits head at 150 yards on 10x.
My opinion on high mag is that you need to spend a bit more for quality at high mag.
next thing is you might take longer to find the target with a smaller field of view, under the lamp it can be difficult.
Best advice I read on here is You'll never have time to turn the mag down but will have time to turn it up so always keep it at a low setting.
Parallax is my next issue. On high mag you'll be adjusting the parallax a heck of a lot more and if a rabbit runs off a bit on 24 mag you might have to adjust it to have a clear picture of it.

sniperman wrote: »

thanks lads for the comments,i am swinging towards a 6-24,have not heard a negative comment about my theory so far,thanks lads;) think ill be putting me 4-16 up for sale soon.

Drop me a PM if you are. I was browsing today for similar.

Cass

garv123 wrote: »

My opinion on high mag is that you need to spend a bit more for quality at high mag.

For any higher caliber i'd definitely agree, but as i've said on other threads for a rifle with a range of 150 - 200 yards you don't need a Swarovski, etc on top of a rimfire.

Same with my .22lr. The gun cost €1,600 yet the scope cost €170. As the max effective range is 100 yards i see no need to have a very expensive, top quality glass/scope on it.

The scope, while reflecting your budget, should also reflect the range of the rifle. I know one lad with a March on his .22lr. €3,500 on a rimfire. Madness.

garv123

Cass wrote: »

For any higher caliber i'd definitely agree, but as i've said on other threads for a rifle with a range of 150 - 200 yards you don't need a Swarovski, etc on top of a rimfire.

Same with my .22lr. The gun cost €1,600 yet the scope cost €170. As the max effective range is 100 yards i see no need to have a very expensive, top quality glass/scope on it.

The scope, while reflecting your budget, should also reflect the range of the rifle. I know one lad with a March on his .22lr. €3,500 on a rimfire. Madness.

Id agree yeah no need for huge money on the .22 or hmr but I was more so referring to a lower model hawke or a tasco on 24x versus a higher level hawke on the same power and same range . The lower models are cloudy when you go up high in the mag. I looked through a hawke varmint on 24x in spain and I found it cloudy or milky with plenty of light left in the evening, that would bug me using it when thats when a lot of shooting is done.

Cass

Well yeah, i'd agree with that.

I have the varmint and out to 300 yards she is grand. After that though she gets "cloudy". I was scoping deer the other day, and they were at about 900 yards. On 24 power they were easy to make out, but not so clear as to allow for proper identification of gender.

I took out the Hawke Sidewinder and used it at 24, much clearer and could make out the prícket and two Does. Now the varmint works well on the .22 and the Sidewinder on the .308. Still neither are as a clear as Sigtron, nightforce, etc. but again they cost between 2 - 5 times the amount.

garv123

Speaking of, What will you be putting on top of the new toy?

Cass

Going to stick with what works. Bought another Sidewinder.

I'd have gone for something a little better but i had a deal done on a Miroku for the Father, and then Sean went and got a Beretta in. So that blew the Miruko out of the water, and cost another few hundred. A few hundred i was putting towards a scope.

sniperman

garv123 wrote: »

I prefer 4-16 tbh on my hmr, If the other scope was there for price Id see no reason to say no to it but I can keep the cross hair steady on the centre of a rabbits head at 150 yards on 10x.
My opinion on high mag is that you need to spend a bit more for quality at high mag.
next thing is you might take longer to find the target with a smaller field of view, under the lamp it can be difficult.
Best advice I read on here is You'll never have time to turn the mag down but will have time to turn it up so always keep it at a low setting.
Parallax is my next issue. On high mag you'll be adjusting the parallax a heck of a lot more and if a rabbit runs off a bit on 24 mag you might have to adjust it to have a clear picture of it.




Drop me a PM if you are. I was browsing today for similar.

hi garv,gonna price a 6-24 today,if i buy it ill pm you a price for me 4-16,i paid €405.in staklums,thurles.i have paper work,got it in april.its like new,minded well.ill keep you posted,thanks

garv123

sniperman wrote: »

hi garv,gonna price a 6-24 today,if i buy it ill pm you a price for me 4-16,i paid €405.in staklums,thurles.i have paper work,got it in april.its like new,minded well.ill keep you posted,thanks

Didnt even realise hawke went up that high in price. Is it side winder model?

Cass

I've noticed with the increasing popularity of Hawke Sidewinders that the price has been increasing equally.

I bought my first one a few years ago for €370. Now they are fetching up to €460. Deben are the importers. On their UK website (Deben.com/Hawke) they are priced at €400. So allowing for import, and the dealer to get a touch (small one at that) the price has gone up.

Same with the varmint. I bought mine for €160. On the website they are priced at €185. Again allowing for import, and dealer's profit they are selling for €190+ here. Not as big a mark up, but the Sidewinder is more popular so creates the greatest profit.

sniperman

garv123 wrote: »

Didnt even realise hawke went up that high in price. Is it side winder model?

ya it is a sidewinder 30,red and green illum rec.was on to staklems,sean not there til saterday,

Cass

He got an order in yesterday and i've two Sidewinders coming so he'll definitely have them or will in the next few days.

sniperman

sniperman wrote: »

hi garv,gonna price a 6-24 today,if i buy it ill pm you a price for me 4-16,i paid €405.in staklums,thurles.i have paper work,got it in april.its like new,minded well.ill keep you posted,thanks

hi garv,was talking to sean,think ill hold on to the 4-16 for now,i would be looseing a good bit to sell the 4-16 and buy the 6-24,ill use it for another while.