super_hunt54

Yeah actually it does. My higher power scopes cranked up will actually show my heartbeat in the crosshairs. Lower power you don't see it because the optics aren't magnified enough. It's why they teach us in school to "shoot between the heartbeats" when locking on to a long range target with high mag.

Champlain Islander

Good point. At my age a heart beat is a good thing.

rockport

No it doesn't. Do you think the scope quits moving when your heart beats just because you turn it down?

Out of sight out of mind I guess...but its still happening just the same.

flags

I've got a 2X on one rifle, a couple 4X on other rifles, a 1.5X6 on my 375 H&H and 3x9 on my other rifles. So it depends on what I grab off the rack.

super_hunt54

Ya sure aint whistling dixie there CI!

While yes it is still doing it at lower power, you can't see it doing it therefore it doesn't effect your shot placement. You aren't going to be shooting 700+ yards with your scope set on 8 power usually anyway. I do with silhouette and my 16 inch gong at times but if I am settling in to a long range session I have my scopes cranked up to 16 or 18 whichever rifle I am using. At those magnifications any vibration whatsoever is highly visible. But you were correct in the "out of sight out of mind" theory as that is pretty much how it is. I don't have any extreme power scopes that have the etched crosshairs but I have heard that they aren't affected AS MUCH as typical stadia line crosshairs. I don't get into sending long range much anymore. Just getting too old and while it's still fun I get a little too miserable when I can't perform as well as I did 10 years ago. Forewarning Rocko, gettin old sucks!!!!

rockport

That is just not true, your heartbeat and other movement absolutely effects your shot placement whether you have your scope turned up high enough to see it or not it still happens.

I have a 6.5x24 burris with an etched E1 reticle....it still moves when your heart beats and it moves just as much at 6.5 as it does at 24 you just can't see it but the movement effects your shot placement all the same.

I'm already feeling pretty old. Ive accumulated lots of nuts and bolts already.

Ridge Runner

if you wobble enough to move the end of the muzzle .000693" you just missed MOA, whether is shows or not.
RR

super_hunt54

I think my point was lost in translation Rock. What I was trying to say is that at lower power people are generally shooting shorter range. In RR's calculation there, .000693" movement of the barrel would shift point of aim at 300 yards just over half an inch in a perfect scenario without wind drift and such. .6297 to be exact but at 700 yards is almost an inch and a half. That's a very tiny movement and predominately no real bearing on shorter range shooting therefor no real bearing on lower power on the scope. BUT when you are getting out there to 800+ it becomes a pretty big shift. Stadia shift from heartbeat at high magnifications can cause a pretty good bit more than .000693 in your lessor quality scopes but still not really affecting your shots at closer ranges where extreme magnifications aren't generally used unless you are trying to pick out a hair to shoot at 200 yards but even then you wont experience TOO much lateral movement at that short distance. Sorry I wasn't a bit more clear on what I was trying to point out. Us old folks try to save as much time as we can ya know

Exophysical

Obviously I was not talking about missing the vitals of an animal, since both the instances I mentioned resulted in dead animals. But... I can shoot as good of groups with a peep sight at 100 yards as I can with a scope set on any power, from an unsupported field position I can generally shoot better groups at 300 yards with my scope on 4x than I can with it set on 9 or more. When I tried going to a fixed 4x scope I only ever missed being able to turn it down, never felt myself wishing for more magnification in a hunting situation ever.

Now apparently that's all in my head according too... well, just you really. But in any case if my shooting is not suffering in the least than IMO an increased feeling of steadiness and confidence can only be a benefit.

rockport

Its not "just me really" its reality.

Like I said in my first response people are different and like I also said I hunt at 3.5 myself for FOV reasons. At larger game hunting ranges for me 3.5 is plenty of magnification and I still have a good FOV and can find the animal in the scope quickly.

I'm just telling you the reality of it is turning your scope down does not reduce movement it simply makes details less noticeable.