Why high magnification on air rifle scopes?

[Questor]

I've been thinking of replacing my air rifle scope with a better quality model and see that the state of practice is to use high magnification scopes with adjustable objectives. Why is that?  My scope is a fixed 4x scope and it's fine for anything I want to do with it. I can't understand why anyone would want more magnification unless it was for some special purpose like shooting very small targets within the effective range of an air rifle. Then there would be the question of rifle steadiness that would become a challenge.

Can you explain this to me?

[victorcharlie]

No, I can't............I really question the need of a scope at all on an air rifle......

[dave]

The only reason I can think of for a high power scope is for FT use. The kill zones on some of the targets can be pretty small, and at 50 or 60 yards a 1/2" hole can be hard to see. So, most guys use high mag scopes.
Adjustable objective scopes are also useful for range finding. Most FT shooters set up their scopes by zeroing at one particular range, then walking the pellets in or out and noting the number of clicks from the original zero neccessary to return the POI to actual POA at each increment. This way, if you have a good scope, you can use the adjustable objective to determine the range to target, then count the clicks from zero to set the scope for that particular distance.

[victorcharlie]

No, nothing back from Compesseco yet.......I sent them an email a week after I sent the gun.....I had already confirmed the tracking number and knew it had been received......they replied they had the gun and should be ready within a week or so.......I'm expecting it back any day now.......have you had a chance to shoot yours much after getting it back?

[Lawdog]

I've been thinking of replacing my air rifle scope with a better quality model and see that the state of practice is to use high magnification scopes with adjustable objectives. Why is that?  My scope is a fixed 4x scope and it's fine for anything I want to do with it. I can't understand why anyone would want more magnification unless it was for some special purpose like shooting very small targets within the effective range of an air rifle. Then there would be the question of rifle steadiness that would become a challenge.

Can you explain this to me?

The reason I prefer the higher power variable3-12X or higher(preferably HIGHER - 6-24X or 8-32X work great) scopes is because they aid me in target location.  I want to be able to place the pellet exactly where I want it on Ground Squirrel size targets at ranges out to 60 and more yards.  I use my air rifles/pistols for mainly small game/pest control.  A normal Brush Bunny gives you on average a 2” chest target and a 3/4” head target.  Squirrels, both Gray/Fox and Ground, are even less.  And my reason for using adjustable objectives(focus) or side focus models is they aid you in range estimation.  Turn the objective or side wheel until the image is sharp and a quick glance tells you the yardage.

Maybe it’s all my Grandfather’s fault as he was the one that pushed accuracy and the ability to hit the target exactly where you wanted.  A real stickler for being able to call ones shots.  The paper target I use for all my rifle/pistol shooting(both air and powder burning) is one I made.  It consists of a 1/2” grid with five 1/2” red circles with the black lines of the grid going thru them.  It is the center of the juncture of these lines where I aim.  Besides it’s a lot of fun trying to figure out if that flea crawling on that Ground Squirrel’s head 50 yard away is male or female.   :-D  :-D   Lawdog
 

[mjfa]

I've been thinking of replacing my air rifle scope with a better quality model and see that the state of practice is to use high magnification scopes with adjustable objectives. Why is that? My scope is a fixed 4x scope and it's fine for anything I want to do with it. I can't understand why anyone would want more magnification unless it was for some special purpose like shooting very small targets within the effective range of an air rifle. Then there would be the question of rifle steadiness that would become a challenge.

Can you explain this to me?

As with almost any airgun related question the answer is, it depends.
For small critters (squirell, sparrow, etc.) out to 50 yards, I think a 12x to 16x magnification would be adequate to precisely aim at their small vitals area.  Those same critters at closer ranges up to 30 yards could be accurately engaged with magnification of 4x to 8x.
For Field Target, Bench Resting and other types of airgun long range target shooting, higher magnification is in order to make it possible to engage such small targets and for accurate distance estimation in FT (as clearly explained by Dave).  For fixed distances shorter range (30 yards or less) target shooting and plinking, lower magnification may be better, but this will always depend on the shooter's taste for scopes.

Scopes are nice but I perfer aperture sights for right now, just hard to find a good selection of aperture sights for air rifles and Mendoza may be the exception .

Aperture sights have the advantage of being more resistant than scopes to the punishment of magnum springers.  They are also better suited for short range off-hand shooting, and the best allowable sights for 10 meter air rifle match shooting (my favorite).  There are some very fine aperture sights available, the problem is they are even more expensive than many scopes.