How many people use the zoom on their scopes?

[32:1]

I shoot mainly small fixed scopes anyway as their lighter and never need twiddling while out pesting as I need to point n shoot and instinctively know my holds, the two variable scopes I do have are set and taped up so they can’t move, one being my ratter(1-5-28) set on 1.5 and the other my hft scope(3-12-34) set on 7

I would not think of changing mag or focus while out shooting

[rapidresponse1]

mines set at 6 and stays there

[oldskoolzzz]

It’s a strange habit when you are so used to a certain mag.

I’ve tried many other folks setups over the years be it club or informal home range targets etc.

I’ve been handed many setups that are set on really high mag and oh crikey seeing the target wobble that much instantly puts me off

Instinctively I just have to wind the mag right down

[Phil Russell]

A good question and interesting replies. I have variable scopes but they are set on x7 and don't move. Maybe I should get a x7 non variable scope? Indeed HFT does not let you change the magnification once you start the shoot.
Strange how fashion changes as well. I remember not many years ago when x10 fixed 40 or 42 was all the rage for HFT and 'all serious' shooters swore by it. That now seems to have changed and 32x7 seems the fashion for many (most?) shooters.
Cheers, Phil

[gsxrman]

I use zoom scopes all the time as they are the most versatile with a multi function rig.
I walk around on 10x (HFT) style, but then turn it down for close range or inside barn work and up for distance shots and range finding.

[Muskett]

I do enjoy using a x4 scope on a .22 springer, but then the range used at is no more than 20m. Lower mag can be an aid to fast shooting.

My general purpose .177 springers often have 3-9 and are left at x9. .177 effectiveness relies on perfect shot placement.

I have a couple of "accurate" air rifles that can do more than farmyard ranges and those have x14 or x16.
I have one with a x24. Usually left at x10. Very deliberate shooting.

For my firearms then its starts with x14 or x16, and may have a x24 or 26. But, most of the time they are set at x9 or 10.
If a deer stalking rifle then often set at the lowest mag the scope has. You can always zoom up.

With cheaper scopes then I don't like zooming about too much. Zero with highest mag, and then importantly check zero at its "ideal" mag. (Check parallax holds zero too, not all do.)
I worry less with my higher end scopes as they tend to behave and be truly repeatable.

The ethics of how we shoot has changed over the years. Just a hit isn't enough, and only perfect shot placements counts today. The better rifles can deliver that accuracy far further than ever before.
Use the magnification that suits your eyes and gives the sight picture that best enables the accuracy required. Once x4 I could hit a flea, now I like to use a whole lot more.
My game dealer asks for brain shot rabbits, so I changed from x6 to x10. Each shot takes longer to get that perfect shot placement now demanded.

[EricP]

I do like x4 as well. I have just swapped the scope on my HW80 for a 4x32 AO, gives a nice clear view, and doesn’t wobble as much with standing shots (I’m not as steady as I used to be).
There is an interesting article in this month’s AGW showing how to calculate parallax which indicates that larger apertures produce more parallax error in HFT where the setting is fixed, driving HFT shooters to narrower apertures. Of course when you can adjust the parallax then wider apertures mean better focal ratio, less depth of field, so easier to set the focus more accurately. Horses for courses and no one size fits all.
The responses have been interesting, it has been fascinating to see the range of favoured magnifications. Of course as well most of us use second focal plane scopes where the holdover/holdunder at a given range varies with the magnification which really drives the shooter to a fixed mag unless they always shoot at the zero range or they know their scope very well. However as respondents have pointed out, even if you use a fixed mag, the zoom lens does give an option to adopt a different fixed mag as your shooting evolves, or for hunters as light levels and circumstances dictate.