What rifle scope magnification do it’s good to shoot lengthy vary? Selecting the very best rifle scope magnification will be complicated, and there isn’t a lot information on the market to assist – however you’ve come to the precise place! I requested the highest 200 ranked shooters within the Precision Rifle Collection (PRS) what scope magnification they use in rifle matches to interact targets from 300 to 1200 yards. These are the markmen who’ve confirmed to be the simplest on the planet at hitting tiny targets at 1000 yards or extra, so realizing what magnification they’re utilizing to get to the highest of the leaderboard can provide useful perception into how to decide on your scope magnification.
I requested the highest 200 shooters 3 questions:
What scope magnification do you utilize on most levels at a long-range rifle match?
What’s the minimal scope magnification you may use on a stage?
What’s the most scope magnification you may use on a stage?
If you wish to see the precise scope manufacturers, fashions, and reticle the very best long-range shooters on the planet are operating, you possibly can see the total breakdown and particulars right here: Greatest Scope Manufacturers & Fashions – What The Execs Use.
Why Do They Change Scope Magnification?
Professional shooters hardly ever modify magnification mid-stage, not like amateurs who typically zoom out and in whereas finding targets. As a substitute, execs choose a magnification earlier than the stage—typically 12x, different occasions 25x—primarily based on the stage’s calls for.
A PRS match usually spans 20 levels over two days, every with distinctive challenges. Some require taking pictures from a number of positions, others from a single inclined place at various distances, and plenty of contain speedy goal acquisition underneath tight time constraints.
Prime shooters assess every stage’s situations to set their magnification. If secure and time permit (e.g., inclined taking pictures), they could use increased magnification for higher goal visibility and impression recognizing. Conversely, for fast-paced levels with a number of positions, they decrease magnification to develop their discipline of view, aiding fast goal acquisition and sooner transitions. It’s extra primarily based on stage design than goal distances.
Most Frequent Scope Magnification For Lengthy Vary Capturing
Here’s a chart exhibiting how these skilled long-range shooters answered query #1: What scope magnification do you utilize on most levels at a long-range rifle match?
On the chart above, the varied colours signify the place a shooter landed when it comes to season rank within the PRS. For instance, black signifies shooters who completed within the prime 10, the darkest blue is individuals who completed 11-25, and the lighter the blue, the additional out they completed in general standings. The chart legend itemizes the ranks every coloration represents, however principally, the darker the colour, the upper the shooter’s general rating.
18x and 20x are clearly the commonest magnifications these professional shooters are utilizing to interact long-range targets. 18x-20x represents what 49% of those top-ranked opponents are operating on most levels.
77% of those professional shooters run 15x to 20x on most levels. So, whereas a few of this merely varies by private choice, it’s very probably someplace in that vary is perhaps optimum for you.
The typical over this huge pattern dimension of veteran long-range shooters is 17.8.
I did truly analyze if what magnification somebody most popular modified primarily based on the model of scope they had been operating. I believed perhaps among the manufacturers with higher-end glass may be capable to run at barely decrease magnification and nonetheless see the identical stage of element. Nonetheless, there didn’t look like any correlation. The typical for each model that had 10 or extra shooters represented was inside 1x of that 17.8x common.
Max Scope Magnification For Lengthy Vary
Now let’s take a look at what these elite marksmen mentioned the utmost magnification they mentioned they’d ever use at a match, even once they’re partaking targets out to 1,000 yards – or sometimes to 1200+ yards.
32% mentioned 25x was the very best magnification they ever used at a long-range rifle match. That included 6 of the fellows within the prime 10.
I used to be curious if these shooters went as much as 25x as a result of they thought it was what was very best for them or in the event that they had been merely utilizing a scope the place the max magnification was 25x. Of the 61 shooters who mentioned the max magnification they ever run was 25x, 56% had been utilizing a scope that had extra magnification than that. The truth is, 25 of these 61 shooters had a scope that would zoom as much as 35x and even 40x – however they mentioned they by no means flip it up greater than 25x throughout a match. So clearly, nearly all of individuals utilizing 25x weren’t simply utilizing that as a result of it was all their scope had out there.
70% of those shooters fell between 20x and 25x for the utmost magnification they ever had throughout a match.
95% mentioned they by no means run above 30x magnification.
23.5x was the common of the utmost magnifications this group reported.
Minimal Scope Magnification For Lengthy Vary Capturing
Lastly, let’s take a look at the minimal magnification these shooters mentioned they may run at a long-range rifle match:
76% of those opponents mentioned they may run a minimal magnification between 10x and 15x at a match. 23% mentioned they run 15x, one other 23% mentioned they run 12x, after which 20% mentioned they run 10x.
97% of those top-ranked PRS shooters mentioned they by no means go under 10x magnification at a rifle match.
13.7x was the common minimal magnification amongst this group.
Prime 20 Shooters Scope Magnification For Lengthy Vary
There are various little methods to scope magnification at a PRS match, and I’ll share some suggestions straight from some professional shooters under. However let’s now check out how the highest 20 professional shooters within the PRS Open Division answered these 3 questions.
The chart reveals the vary of magnifications every of the highest 20 shooters mentioned they used. The black line is the magnification they use on most levels. The left aspect of the inexperienced bar is the minimal magnification they mentioned they ever use, and the precise aspect of the blue bar is the max magnification they mentioned they use.
65% of the highest 20 shooters mentioned they usually run a magnification between 16x and 20x. In order that represents the scope zoom they use to interact lengthy vary targets more often than not. That’s similar to what the broader group of prime 200 shooters used (68% of the highest 200 used between 16x and 20x). Nonetheless, you possibly can see that relying on the stage, they may run as little as 10x magnification or as excessive as 30x magnification.
There are a number of outliers, like Clay Blackketter, who was the 2019 PRS Champion and took 4th general in 2024. Clay mentioned he runs at 12x magnification on most levels, and he actually by no means runs decrease energy than that at a match, however he may bump as much as 15x on some levels. I reached out to Clay to see if he might share a little bit extra context with me about his scope magnification technique.
Clay informed me that whatever the goal distances, he’ll at all times shoot positional levels at 12x and inclined levels at 15x. These are decrease magnifications than what many of those prime shooters are operating, however right here is his thought course of:
“What I at all times inform individuals is that if I put you on a Swarovski BTX Recognizing Scope, it has a lot magnification that its nearly such as you’re standing on the goal and you’ll probably see the place each single bullet hits. Nonetheless, if I faucet that very same recognizing scope with one finger whilst you’re trying you received’t be capable to inform me something about the place a bullet hits as a result of the motion is so magnified. Kind of it’s the identical in terms of taking pictures. The extra zoomed in you’re the sooner issues really feel like they occur. So in excellent situations (I’m not that means environmental situations) it’s simple to see impacts precisely, however more often than not issues aren’t excellent so I discover it truly makes it tougher to identify when zoomed additional in. Additionally it is simpler to shoot the fallacious goal when zoomed in additional. Lastly, whereas it’s uncommon, we’re typically in a compromised taking pictures place or firing off a wobbly prop the place there’s a likelihood you would lose the goal underneath recoil. However, I’ve received a a lot better likelihood of nonetheless seeing what occurs down vary as a result of my magnification is on the decrease aspect.” – Clay Blackketter (2019 PRS Champion)
I additionally knew that Clay was operating a Tangent Theta scope, which many say has among the greatest glass readability available on the market. So I requested Clay if he thought the extraordinarily sharp glass allowed him to run at decrease magnification and nonetheless see the identical stage of element that different guys may see at increased magnification.
“I’m positive that Tangent having the very best glass helps with taking pictures at that decrease energy, but it surely has grow to be so pure over the previous a few years it is among the issues I don’t take into consideration. It’s a good bonus although to have the ability to see a a lot bigger image (extra vegetation motion, mud coming off different individuals’s targets, seeing mirage on the horizon and many others to assist persevering with with a sport plan with regard to wind).” – Clay Blackketter
Austin Orgain is a two-time PRS Champion who completed seventh general in 2024. I interviewed him a little bit over a 12 months in the past and requested him: What magnification do you usually run throughout a match?
“I discover myself a whole lot of occasions taking pictures a match on like 16x magnification. If there’s a goal that’s washed out or within the shade and it’s exhausting to see the perimeters, I would bump as much as 20x on that stage. However usually, I don’t run over 18x or underneath 12x. I’m nearly at all times between 12-18x for a complete match.” – Austin Orgain (2020 & 2021 PRS Champion)
Do You Want Excessive Magnification For Lengthy Vary?
If you happen to’re studying this text to be taught what scope magnification you HAVE to need to hit targets at lengthy vary, I need to make it clear: you don’t want 20x or 25x to hit targets at lengthy vary. I’ve personally made first-round hits on targets out to 1.5 miles (2,640 yards) in a contest at 9x magnification. (I needed to again down my magnification so I might maintain a few of my elevation correction utilizing the reticle as a result of the turrets on my scope wouldn’t accommodate the entire 43.0 mil correction.) I’m not saying that’s very best, however it’s clearly attainable.
Many beginner shooters have the notion that you simply want 30x or perhaps even 50x magnification to have the ability to see a goal at 1,000 yards or extra – and that simply isn’t true. Clay and Austin are each PRS Season Champs, and neither of them ever makes use of greater than 20x magnification!
That’s the largest motive I used to be motivated to ask these guys about magnification on my survey after which publish all of this. I don’t really feel like several of that is talked about in a method that’s definitive and data-driven (principally simply individuals spouting their opinions on boards – and sometimes these keyboard commandos aren’t achieved shooters themselves), so I hope this content material helps educate guys eager to get into long-range taking pictures. You don’t need to exit and purchase a very high-powered scope to start out attempting long-range.
The Excellent Scope Magnification Vary For Lengthy-Vary Capturing
All of those shooters mentioned they NEVER ran under 5x or above 35x magnification. There have been a number of guys who mentioned they solely ran as much as 35x who had been operating the Zero Compromise 8-40×56, so they may have run increased magnification in the event that they wished to.
93% of those shooters mentioned they’re at all times inside 10x and 30x, so the overwhelming majority of those shooters would say in case your scope coated that vary, it will be very best. The truth is, 10x to 30x would cowl the total vary of what the entire prime 20 shooters mentioned they ever run at a rifle match.
Solely 4 of the 200 shooters surveyed mentioned they ever run under 10x. Two of these individuals mentioned they may run all the way down to 8x, 1 mentioned 7x, and 1 mentioned 5x.
5-25x scopes are a very talked-about design, and people would cowl the magnification vary that 82% of the shooters mentioned they like to make use of. So that may not be the best. That’s as a result of 17% of those shooters mentioned they may run magnification above 25x on some levels. Nonetheless, there was only one shooter surveyed who mentioned they run above 25x on most levels. So, 5-25x scopes would cowl most eventualities, however nearly 1 in 5 would say they’re lower than very best.
7-35x scopes are one other fashionable magnification vary, which might actually cowl 99.5% of those shooters. There was 1 shooter who mentioned they may run all the way down to 5x magnification on some levels, however everybody else was a minimal of 7x or extra. Now that one shooter was Daniel Bertocchini who completed #23 general – so it’s not prefer it was a man that was ranked 199th. However, merely primarily based on the numbers, 7-35x could be the best scope magnification vary to cowl what just about all of those prime shooters want to truly run when partaking targets at long-range rifle matches.
If you happen to’d wish to see the precise scope manufacturers, particular fashions, and reticles these guys are operating, you possibly can view the entire breakdown and all the small print right here: Greatest Rifle Scopes for Lengthy Vary – What The Execs Use.
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