Too many options, need help on a beginner Bench rifle

[Delfuego]

But I'd go with the 20x fixed power.

20x is too much for a fixed power scope, you'll have a hell of a time finding targets. I would go 10x / 12x / 16x at the most

[C Ward]

Magnification is a huge personal preference deal , everybody is different . My 5 - 25 lives at 20 - 25 most of the time , only time I turn it down is shooting positional stuff . Use the scope turret as a front sight , find the target with your eyes and center it over the turret then look through the glass .

[fly boy]

Magnification is a huge personal preference deal , everybody is different . My 5 - 25 lives at 20 - 25 most of the time , only time I turn it down is shooting positional stuff . Use the scope turret as a front sight , find the target with your eyes and center it over the turret then look through the glass .

I am usually sitting at 9x, so maybe I will go with the 16. I do use the same technique, have both eyes open can find target, then look through scope once on target.

[Spdu4ia]

I've never turned mine down below 24x . Same technique as you guys, locate target over the scope and then glass it.

[fly boy]

Edited my first post,

Since the SWFA SS 16x42 is back ordered until July, could I drop down to a 10x or 12x, and still effectively hit MOA at 500 yards? I know I was told to buy a 16x as minimum, but is it worth the wait? My budget was under $400 for rings and scope. I got the SWFA 16x42 with Burris XTR rings, and badger covers for $386. Should I shop around for something else, drop down to the lower power, or just shut up and wait?

[Tim K]

I have two of the 16x's and one 20X. I wish they were all 20X. Just go up in magnification.

[fly boy]

I have two of the 16x's and one 20X. I wish they were all 20X. Just go up in magnification.

How is it to shoot at shorter distances? i.e. 100-200?

[Tim K]

It requires you to line up the rifle as mentioned, but I have no issues with it. My 5-25 Steiner spends nearly its entire life at 25X. It's a training/practice issue. You'll catch on fast.

[fly boy]

It requires you to line up the rifle as mentioned, but I have no issues with it. My 5-25 Steiner spends nearly its entire life at 25X. It's a training/practice issue. You'll catch on fast.

I have been messing around practicing with a pellet gun. Scope left on 9x, and targets at 50 yards. Left eye finds the target and matches crosshairs to it, then focus thru scope on 9x power on target.

I would just be afraid of what 20x would look like at 100 yards and a paper target, or a p-dog.

[Tim K]

Don't be. 20X is not all that much magnification. I used to keep the 20X in a QD mount so I could swap it around on AR's to do load development. It worked better than the $1,700 3-15 I keep on one of them. The 20X now lives on my 22 trainer and I regularly shoot that at ranges from 50 to 250 yards.

If you were contemplating a fixed 40X scope, I'd be the first guy in line trying to talk you out of it. 20X will be easy.