Just like we say in archery, practice like you hunt. If you are going to be taking off hand shots, you best practice them, same way with longer distances. I would never try a 200 + yard shot on live game without knowing me and the rifle could pull it off.

I assume shooting at game sized targets with a rifle would be simular to archery as well. Shooting at a bag target is NOT the same thing as shooting a 3-D target. It really helps you to learn bullet placement at different angles and what not.

I also agree that lower power scopes are usually better. The higher the power the harder it is to hold the gun steady, or find your game in the scope. I Normally get a 3-9 power scope for my hunting rifles, but rarely turn them up that high unless I am shooting off from a bench. My rifled slug gun only has a 1.75-4X scope on it. It's plenty for what I use it for. And it will shoot around 1 inch or so at 100 yards from a rest and the right ammo.

My 17HMR has a 20X scope on it and you can see your heartbeat in the scope sometimes.

Lot's of people think you need to see the bullet holes to shoot accurately, I just don't think that is the case. I think that is one of the reasons why someone switching from open sights to a scope has trouble at first. They have a hard time holding the gun steady. You don't notice so much with open sights. I tried a 4X on a pistol once and had to take it back and get a 2X, it was just too hard to hold steady off hand for me.

Not to mention you can get a much better scope in a lower power for the same price. $200 will buy you a really nice low powered scope, where it won't get much in a higher power scope. If I had to pick between high power and quality optics, I would take quality optics everytime.

Just my opinions though.

Paul