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223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 8:53 am
by 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!
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 9:54 am
by markiver54
Hope you get it dialed in Evan. Although I never mounted, It has a great, crisp picture.
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 10:02 am
by ESquared
markiver54 wrote: ↑Sat May 18, 2019 9:54 am
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!
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 10:08 am
by 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,
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 10:16 am
by ESquared
That does make me feel better.
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 10:19 am
by 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.
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 10:38 am
by 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.
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 12:00 pm
by 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?
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 12:05 pm
by 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.
ESquared wrote: ↑Sat May 18, 2019 8:53 am
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!
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 12:50 pm
by 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.
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 1:06 pm
by 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
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 1:10 pm
by Mags
.
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.
ESquared wrote: ↑Sat May 18, 2019 12:50 pm
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.
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 1:37 pm
by 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.
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 1:49 pm
by 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
.
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 2:04 pm
by ESquared
Well, now the fun begins!
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Mon May 20, 2019 5:30 pm
by 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.
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Mon May 20, 2019 5:41 pm
by ESquared
Sir Henry wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2019 5:30 pm
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!
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Mon May 20, 2019 6:18 pm
by 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.
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Mon May 20, 2019 6:25 pm
by ESquared
Rifletom wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2019 6:18 pm
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!
Re: 223 Single Shot Range Reporter Apparently an Idiot!
Posted: Mon May 20, 2019 6:41 pm
by Ojaileveraction
ESquared wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2019 5:41 pm
Can't imagine what a 16X or 24X would present in terms of those max zoom challenges!
Really helps when shooting 600 yrds.