How to Determine the Magnification Power Needed on a Rifle Scope

A rifle scope is far superior to the iron sights that come on a rifle for shooting at any appreciable distance. The magnification power of the scope determines how far out you can accurately sight in your target. There are other options to think about when choosing a scope, but the magnification power is the main element to consider.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Decide if you want a fixed or variable power scope. A variable power scope is much like a zoom lens on a camera; you can change the magnification power for different situations. A variable power scope is obviously superior to a fixed magnification scope, but they're also usually more expensive.
2. Determine the maximum range you want to shoot. This determines the maximum magnification that you need. A rifle with 7-times magnification (7x) allows you to shoot up to 100 yards, a 9x lets you shoot up to 200 yards and a 12x to 14x lets you shoot a target over 200 yards away.
3. Think about what type of game you want to hunt. You can hunt whitetail deer with a 3x to 9x scope, you can hunt mule deer on western plains with a 4x to 12x scope and you would hunt squirrels with a fixed 4x scope.
4. Consider the distance at which you want to take the majority of your shots. Pick a magnification for the low power of your scope that fits into this shot distance. If you have too powerful a scope, you end up with a limited field of view at your typical shooting distance.
5. Test several different scopes and find out what you like. Use the scopes to fire a few rounds before purchasing. If you can't use the scope to fire a rifle, at least use it to sight in targets at distances from which you typically fire shots.

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