Finally after a twenty minute stalemate, Anton crawled back behind the crest of the ridge and walked farther east, cresting the ridge fifty yards to the east. He excitedly signaled me to join him as I began the backwards crawl.
Reaching his position, he asked me to crawl next to a two foot high plant as he thought that a shot was possible from that location. As I positioned the rifle in front of me for the second time, I carefully used my rangefinder which flashed 207 yards. Cranking up the scope for second time to its full 20X, a hole the size of a small volleyball created a clear path to the ram’s neck and shoulder. Taking my time, I carefully squeezed the trigger sending the Barnes TSX on its way. A resounding “plop” floated back to my ears as the ram simply flipped over to its side.

Having a scope with that much magnification was a major factor in taking the shot as I absolutely knew it was a shot I could make, and I doubt that I would have even tried it with, say, a 9X scope as I am not sure I would have been positive about the shot’s outcome.
This got me thinking about whether there is a maximum magnification a scope should have while hunting for PLAINS GAME—especially when hunting the smaller species. Yes, there certainly is too much magnification on the low end magnification, but the high end?
Mel Gibson’s line in the movie “The Patriot” comes to mind as he stated, ”aim small, miss small”.
Thoughts??????????????

My PH, Anton Bester, and I had covered a couple of slow miles as we had been inching over the rolling green grassy hills of the coastal zone of the Eastern Cape trying to find a trophy oribi ram. As we neared his bakkie, there was still one unexplored ridge to our east that he suggested we check. Making the four hundred yard hike, we slowly crested the long finger shaped hill and immediately spotted four oribi lying in the relatively tall thick grass.
Throwing our binoculars to our eyes, it became obvious that there were three ewes and a very nice ram in the group. But, almost immediately the three females pranced to their feet and bounced over the adjacent hill looking like dancing ballerinas as only oribi can. However once the ram noticed us, he simply dropped his body lower into the sandy soil that makes up the hill.
Dropping down, we belly crawled through the wet dew covered grass until we could make out the oribi’s body through the vegetation. Pushing my .257 Weatherby in front of me and snuggling into position, it was very clear that the ram’s strategy was sound as there was simply no possible shot even though I had cranked the scope up to its maximum twenty power magnification.
Using my rangefinder to check the distance, we contemplated our next move. We tried to send the tracker away from us hoping the ram would see him and perhaps change position. But the ram simply dropped even lower into the vegetation looking like he had dug a tiny foxhole.
Finally after a twenty minute stalemate, Anton crawled back behind the crest of the ridge and walked farther east, cresting the ridge fifty yards to the east. He excitedly signaled me to join him as I began the backwards crawl.
Reaching his position, he asked me to crawl next to a two foot high plant as he thought that a shot was possible from that location. As I positioned the rifle in front of me for the second time, I carefully used my rangefinder which flashed 207 yards. Cranking up the scope for second time to its full 20X, a hole the size of a small volleyball created a clear path to the ram’s neck and shoulder. Taking my time, I carefully squeezed the trigger sending the Barnes TSX on its way. A resounding “plop” floated back to my ears as the ram simply flipped over to its side.
Having a scope with that much magnification was a major factor in taking the shot as I absolutely knew it was a shot I could make, and I doubt that I would have even tried it with, say, a 9X scope as I am not sure I would have been positive about the shot’s outcome.
This got me thinking about whether there is a maximum magnification a scope should have while hunting for PLAINS GAME—especially when hunting the smaller species. Yes, there certainly is too much magnification on the low end magnification, but the high end?
Mel Gibson’s line in the movie “The Patriot” comes to mind as he stated, ”aim small, miss small”.
Thoughts??????????????

Sorry everyone.....technical issues......

SD, I certainly have no problem with it....I use 4.5x14x50 Leupold LR scopes on most of my rifles. Now, with the 6-times scopes like the VX-6 and Z6, you can have the magnification you might need on that rare occasion, but without giving up the wide field of view at the low end.

For my limited shooting ability, I absolutely agree with you. Next time I hunt the Eastern Cape I will have a higher magnification scope than I did last time. The distances in the Eastern Cape were worrying for me.

It also increases the margin of error and unless you are certain of being able to hold rock-solid steady, you may end up with some disappointing results.

Having the extra available on the top end is no problem as long as you aren't sacrificing the bottom end or image quality. Most of my rifles in the past either wore a fixed 10X or a 2.5-8x The one that has seen the most use recently had a 4.5-14 on it and about 3 years ago I moved a better spare 3-18x over to it. Generally keep them cranked down to between 8 and 10x and crank it up if the situation dictates.

When I had my gun shop the number of guys I had come through that were put on a 6-24 or higher for a deer rifle that they weren't planning on going past 300 yards with just made me shake my head. They would leave the power cranked all the way up, and then wonder why they were having trouble finding the animal in the scope while it was already moving out of the country. Just too much of a good thing being used in a rather ineffective way.

Not real plains game but...
I have used a scope with max magnification of 24 to hunt jackrabbits in Arizona. I use it for the same reason, to pick a hole through the brush.
I always carry it at the lowest power, if the shot will be long there is time to crank it up but for close there is rarely time to crank down.

And those jacks are bigger than some little antelopes.

Mark

I would be more than happy to hunt with something like a 6.5-20 x or even 8.5-25 x scope if I know for certain my shots are going to all at long distance and are in the open.

One must see what one is shooting at, and that certainly avoid disappointments.

On my last hunt in South Africa, I used a Leica 4.5-14X scope on my 30/404 rifle.

I shot nyala at about 10 yards to other animals over 400 yards with it.

One must have a steady rest though.

I have seen newbies refuse to use a rest, shoot off hand and make a kill on their first shot.

Then spend the rest of their hunt missing very easy shots, or wounding them and spend days trying to find them.

Use everything available to you to make a killing shot.

Be that using a flat shooting rifle, to a high power scope, to using a steady rest.

I made good use of Saeeds Lightforce which goes to 10x (from memory Saeed?)on my first Buff which was quite close. It allowed me to see through the bush it was behind and pick a spot to aim for. Before that trip I was thinking a low power scope for a big bore I was building, but after using that scope I like the versatility the higher power gives you.

My "go to" rifle wears a 6.5 x 20...... I always carry it at 6.5, but when if I need more I have it. No one mentions rifle fit and muscle memory. I can find targets quickly with my scope because my rifle fits me and I have hefted it enough to have the muscle memory.

I don't like or look for long shots but I practice regularly at my home range out to 600 yards using "field" positions, in the wind and with mirage. So that when things do align I am not worried about shots to 600....

Everyone has different needs and wants, that's why there are choices.



.

I shoot every Friday morning at the range nearby at 500 yards. Most guys shoot F class, but some shoot over the course and consequently shoot aperture sights (sans scope). Amazing what they can do at 500 yards.

Groups don't get appreciably smaller with higher scopes, but one thing I like them for is mirage - easier to see the wind direction.

Maybe I'm thinking to simple but why would you use your range finder if the animal is only 200 or so yards out, especially as flat as the 257 shoots. The time you took to range him then crank your scope up to 20x, a lot of animals can disappear.

quote:

Originally posted by Randy W Martin:
Maybe I'm thinking to simple but why would you use your range finder if the animal is only 200 or so yards out, especially as flat as the 257 shoots. The time you took to range him then crank your scope up to 20x, a lot of animals can disappear.

Very good question, Randy. We were prone for 20 minutes waiting for the ram to make his move during which time I ranged it. Once I made the move and the ram had not moved, I knew I had plenty of time to relax and make the shot. Therefore, I took the time to range the distance from the second location, catch my breath and shoot. I wanted no room for error. Very seldom have I ever had the time before the shot to use the rangefinder on relatively close shots like this oribi.

I thought about this some too having had mostly scopes such as the Leupold or Swaros in 3.5 x 10 or the 4.5 x 14.

I didnt want to give up clarity or quality for magnification. Or have to hunt of the crosshair.

Then I got on to the newer VX6s early and I knew I had found what I wanted. I originally got the 2-12s. But then I decided to get a 3-18 and if I didnt like that I could move it to a 223 or smaller bore rifle. Once I got it on the 7mm Mag it stayed. I haven't used it hunting up on the top end of magnification - but as you noted - it is there if I need or want it.

Heck my 416 is wearing a 2-12 VX6. In close I can turn it down and turn the lighted dot on, or just take it off.

While the 18 is probably more than enough, I was shooting a buds 308 with a suppressor on it and a 32X NightForce. I decided ahead that was too much. Truth was that it wasn't - it was a great rig and lightly recoiled and drove it bullets to the same hole and just went Pffft when it did. I don't suspect I would take it hunting ( although it is built on a Mauser action) but I sure could.

I think in many cases it depends on what you are used to. I hate old fixed power scopes that are still commonly used for Red deer stalking in Scotland. To me they feel woefully underpowered being that i have grown up shoting modern variable scopes.

My last trip to the Eastern Cape I used a Swarovski Z6i 3-18. With such a big range it allows Bushbuck hunting in the thick stuff right the way up to Vaalie's in the mountains.

Since then i have bought a Swarovski Z6i 5-30 and would probably took that if i went again.

Swarovski z6i 2.5 x15 x44 illuminated! Does everything well for older eyes!

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
Swarovski z6i 2.5 x15 x44 illuminated! Does everything well for older eyes!

......and my hunting account!!!!!!

My rule is 4 to 5 times magnification per 100m you expect to shoot. I've often hunted the Kalahari, Eastern Cape and Western Cape mountains where shots are pretty long for Africa and would crank the 4-14 scope back to 10x for most everything. Appropriate parallax and good glass beats magnification most times. Of course all of that with magnification is great but generally not necessary and comes at the cost of weight and size. Big objectives which require high mounting are a hindrance to good shooting with most hunting rifle stocks so I try to avoid them.

I could not say it better.

Santa Claus

From actual experience during my trip to the Eastern Cape in 2013 and on my bucket list hunt with Charl of Infinito Safaris, my MG Arms Ultralight 325 WSM carried a Swarovski 3.5X18 Z3 scope. I shot a similar Oribi at 250 yards quartering downhill with no problem(after we had stalked him and had waited for over an hour for him to stand up out of his bed), along with Cape Bushbuck, Vaal Rhebok, Bushpig, Serval, Hyena, and Honey Badger. All of them dead right there with the same rifle and scope. Great rifle, great scope. Longest shot was the Vaalie at 430 yards, standing and shooting off of Charl's shooting sticks.

quote:

Longest shot was the Vaalie at 430 yards

A Vaal Rhebuck hunt probably requires the longest shooting you are likely to need down here. It sounds like you made a great shot. Well done.

Before my leopard hunt I read everything I could on scopes and most of the older hunters (read: aging eyesight)said they would prefer more magnifiaction than the standard dangerous game scope. I settled on a Z6i in 2.5 - 15 X 56 and have never been disappointed. On the low end I have never had too much magnification and on the high end even with a great rest it is about all I can hold still. Sitting on top of my 338 RUM it instills great confidence in my ability to get the job done in any situation I have found myself in.

Michael is building me a .416 B and M for a brown bear hunt and I sent him a VX 6 2-12 to put on it. I think it it will be a great combination for anything from Ele with 400gr solids to 400 yard plains game shots with 250 grain CEBs. he tells me he has loads that will come out at 2900 fps. A true 1 gun safari combo. I put a vx6 4-24 on a 300 RUM. for the money it is a great scope. My 13 yo son shot a white tail at 500 with it last month. The problem with taking my kids hunting is I never get to shoot anything any more. That 6 to 1 mag ratio on the VX6 is absolutely amazing.