Unless you are target practicing in your backyard, you never know how much target distance you will have to deal out in the field, especially while hunting.
So, our ultimate guide now brings the complete scope magnification distance chart which will enlist how much magnification you will require from a distance as low as 25 yards to as high as 2000 yards.
| Distance (Yards) | Scope Magnification (Large Targets) | Scope Magnification (Small Targets) |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 1x to 2x | 4x |
| 50 | 2x to 4x | 4x to 16x |
| 100 | 4x | 4x to 20x |
| 150 | 2.5x | 2.5x to 20x |
| 200 | 3-9x | 3x to 20x |
| 300 | 4x | 4x to 20x |
| 400 | 5x | 5x to 15x |
| 500 | 10x | 10x to 20x |
| 600 | 11x | 11x to 20x |
| 700 | 12x | 12x to 20x |
| 800 | 12x | 12x to 24x |
| 900 | 14x | 14x to 24x |
| 1000 | 16x | 16x to 24x |
| 1200 | 16x | 16x to 30x |
| 1500 | 20x | 20x to 30x |
| 2000 | 24x | 24x to 36x |
What Power Scope for what Distance?
Well, the shooting range may differ while hunting easily between 25 and 2000 yards, we thought of bringing an ultimate guide that covers each distance and how much scope magnification you need at a particular distance in detail.
What is the best scope magnification for 25 yards?
Answer: A 4x scope is a winner for 25 yards because of better clarity, a large eye box, a reticle, and it provides 1x to 2x and 4x magnifications for large and small targets respectively.
Hitting at distances as short as 25 yards is never a problem, especially for seasoned shooters. So, you can get any of 3-9 or 2.5-10 scopes since they will bring you long-distance benefits while staying perfect for a short distance as well.
However, the field of view is one limitation that always presents itself when you go for scopes with low magnification. However, as long as the field of view does not affect your accuracy; there is no point in going for those high-end scopes.
What is the best scope magnification for 50 yards?
Answer: Being a small distance range, go for scope magnification that gives you a clearer image even it is just 2x-4x no magnification at all for large targets. However, if you are targeting a small object, increase the magnification up to 16x for accurate aiming.
The scope magnification also depends on the size of the target you are trying to hit. For instance, you might need a 10x scope of a larger target but to hit even smaller ones, you need a scope between 20x and 30x.
Moreover, when you are hunting, a 10x scope magnification will suffice but it would have to be 20x when you go for some serious target shooting.
What is the best scope magnification for 100 yards?
Answer: While aiming at 100 yards, use a 4x power scope that will make the target appear at mear a few yards; however, do make sure that the image is clear.
The higher magnification power becomes a major requirement when you are dealing with smaller targets even when they are not quite far away. However, the scope magnification between 2x and 4x is more than enough for hitting larger targets.
What is the best scope magnification for 150 yards?
Answer: For a smaller target, you will need to achieve as high as 20x scope magnification; however, if we are talking about a bigger target a scope of 2.5x for 150 yards shall be more than enough and 2.5x to 20x for smaller objects.
What is the best scope magnification for 200 yards?
Answer: The maximum scope magnification power that is required for 200 yards is 3-9x. However, make sure that the scope brand you are using is consumer-grade with a multi-coated lens and good lighting conditions.
Again, the factor of target size comes into play because if you are planning to focus and hit a bullet hole, you will need to zoom as high as 20x to finally get it within range.
The accuracy you are going to need to achieve depends a lot on the quality of glass used in the lens. The higher the glass quality, the better the image of the target through the scope.
What is the best scope magnification for 300 yards?
Answer: You require at least 4x magnification when it comes to hitting a target at 300 yards which will make it appear at 75 yards. For that, a 3-9x riflescope is recommended since each level adds a distance of 100 feet which goes up to 900 feet, i.e., 300 yards.
If you think about it, this is not something people cannot figure out. For example, if you own a 3-9X scope, it means that you can magnify from 300 to 900 feet; considering that each zoom level adds 100 feet magnification.
Since the size of the target is a major factor, set a benchmark for it. For instance, let’s say you need 3x or 4x magnification for hitting an 8-inch target; use this multiplier and keep figuring this out yourself.
What is the best scope magnification for 400 yards?
Answer: You will require scope magnification between 5x and 15x for 400 yards depending on the size of the target from small to large. You don’t need to zoom a lot for a bigger target and can always dial it up when the target is going away.
What is the best scope magnification for 500 yards?
Answer: If you want to take a real good shot, 10x is the best scope magnification you can use for hitting at 500 yards as recommended by the experts.
500 yards is a long-distance range and there is no way you can hit a target without properly zooming in on the target. Also, the better the image clarity, the better the accuracy so go for a scope that offers at least 10x zoom and has top-notch glass quality.
Moreover, if you are targeting smaller objects at this range, the magnification will need to stay at least between 10x and 20x so getting a scope with high magnification power becomes a necessity.
What is the best scope magnification for 600 yards?
Answer: For use in long-distance shooting or 600 yards, you should find a scope that lets you adjust it to see a target clearly at this distance. For this reason, your choice of magnification can be at least 11x.
When aiming with a scope; there are always personal preferences so do not put them aside. We mostly recommend 3-12 magnification power and even a 3-10 scope is good enough.
However, always make sure that you keep the target-size flexibility in mind, and for that; go for a magnification range between 11x and 20x to gain further flexibility while hitting smaller targets.
What is the best scope magnification for 700 yards?
Answer: Same as 600 yards, you need at least 12x scope magnification for 700 yards. For better performance, get scopes that also have 12x and 20x power magnification options.
To do target shooting at ranges like 600 and 700 yards, you have got to use a rifle scope with superior magnification, reticle type, and superior optics to get a better view of the target.
You also need lightweight yet sturdy construction so that it doesn’t give much recoil while aiming. Ensure that the scope you are buying brings maximum ease of adjustment for the user.
What is the best scope magnification for 800 yards?
Answer: 12x will be enough scope power to hit shots at distances as high as 800 yards; however, make sure that you balance it out with other factors such as target size, mag weight, and scope clarity.
There shall be very few instances when you will have to go for 12x or 24x magnifications and that too, when you are aiming at very small targets.
When you are aiming at a larger target, a magnification of about 4x to 6x would be enough, and it goes up to 24x for smaller things.
What is the best scope magnification for 900 yards?
Answer: The ideal scope magnification for 900 yards would be 14x; however, again, it would depend on the size of the target, you will be dialing in and out between 14x and 24x magnification.
Also, make sure that you getting your lens quality and lighting settings right if you want to land a near-perfect shot at the target.
What is the best scope magnification for 1000 yards?
Answer: A scope magnification of 16x is enough to hit at a range of 1000 yards even when you are target something of the size of a small rock or if you are hitting something big like steel plates; 10x will suffice.
However, if you are not a seasoned shooter, the 10x magnification for 1000 yards might not be enough; so for a beginner, a magnification range of 16x to 24x is recommended unless you have money problems to buy an expensive scope with that much range.
Even when it comes to seasoned shooters like US Marines; their advice is to achieve a magnification higher than that, considering the target size, recoil, and bullet drop.
What is the best scope magnification for 1200 yards?
Answer: Hitting a long-distance as high as 1200 yards requires you to have a scope that achieves a magnification of 16x to 24x, such as an Ex-Demo Steiner Ranger 3-12×56.
Moreover, if you are a seasoned shooter and looking for an enhanced shooting experience to achieve high accuracy and precision, it must have a field of view of 100 meters.
Being shock-proof, compact, and lightweight would further help your cause of achieving precision at such a high range. For hunting at nighttime, you will need more brightness and illumination settings.
What is the best scope magnification for 1500 yards?
Answer: 20x scope magnification is the ideal range when you are out there hunting for deers, elks, and other animals of the same height and size. For smaller targets, you will need to go as high as 30x to achieve precision and accuracy.
So, if you are something like Sightron 6-24 on a 338 rifle; you will get an excellent glass, has 100 moas of elevation, and plenty enough power for 1500 yards.
A scope like this would remain quite stable if you zoom in up to 30x as we have tested them in the field. Though the brightness and calibration must be adjusted accordingly for better results.
What is the best scope magnification for 2000 yards?
Answer: When you have to hit at one mammoth of a range i.e. 2000 yards; the recommended scope magnification by the experts is between 24x and 36x depending on the size of your target.
However, to achieve accuracy at a distance as long as 2000 or 2500 yards, the best recommendation we can give that you mount your rifle on a tripod and then take your shots.
This will also vary depending on the size of the target. Let’s say your target is of the size of a human, even 10x magnification will be the aim; however, how good you are with your aim will matter here.
But the 20x or 25x magnification as recommended by us is considering that you are hunting smaller animals or birds on the field.
Conclusion
And this was our ultimate scope magnification guide for seasoned and non-seasoned shooters in which we discussed different scope powers at varying distances.
Always, remember that scope magnification is a huge variable that will always vary depending on the size of your target, quality of your scope, and your skill level.
You could certainly use this chart for an initial idea; however, your actual learning will happen while hitting targets at different ranges while playing with magnification depending on your target’s size. If you have any further queries, leave us those in the comments and we shall get back to you soon with the answers.
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