RE: Scope Size
Too much power can screw you up too. At one time I had a 10X Bushnell Silhouette scope on my 308 for Competition shooting. One year I took it hunting and early the first morning I jumped a nice Mulie Buck out of some cedar trees. I brought the rifle up to aim but at that close range, all I could see was deer hair. I couldn't even tell what part of the deer I was looking at. I had to back off and wait until he was a ways further away before i could get him in the scope. However as mule deer so often do, he stopped about 100 yards out and looked back. I got him. However I never used that scope again for hunting where shots may be close. Thats why I like a 2x7. Even at tree stand range for bear (25-30) yards, the 2X is not to much and 7X is usually enough for deer hunting. I can live with a 3X9X 40 as an all around scope.