3-9x40 vs. 4-12x40

[Poguebilt]

I got a 4-12 leupy...

4-9 great for hunting 9-12 I use for target shooting.

[Bighorn hunter]

I have a 4.5-14 leupold as well and love it. I used to use a 3-9 and It was good as well. But for myself I prefer the higher powerd scopes. I do not go to the range much so its not a target gun that it is on. I just find that with a good rest the bigger the animal is in the scope the easier it is to pick the spot you want to hit. That being said, One of the buffalo I shot I was using a rifle with a 6-16 and I had put the scope to 16 power to judge the animal. He was only about 150 yrds away at the time. when he turned and gave me a broadside shot and I pulled the trigger. It was a perfect shot [double lung], however he took off like a jack rabbit. After I jacked in another shell, I had a hell of a time trying to relocate him in the scope at 16 power. He had ran about 100 yrds to the trees before I was able to get the cross hairs on him, he was going up hill and I was able to center on his spine and down he went.It was a good lesson to learn.Use binos to judge, and at close range don't use the high power.

bhh

[Will]

Anything more then a 3-9 on a Big Game hunting rifle is a waste....the field of view one gives up isn't worth the extra 3x... IMO.

Stick with a 3-9x40.....it's all you need.

Unless you shoot elk at 900 yards......then niether will do

[Bighorn hunter]

I don't see that you loose that much field of view. you can still have a fairly low power, mine being 4.5. So how much difference in the field of view is it between 3 power and 4.5? I am interested to know.IMO you only gain by having the higher power alternative.

bhh

[DrewT]

I just bought a Zeiss over the Leupold VX3 because I held them both at the same time and prefered the Zeiss.

The difference between FOV between scopes of same brand/different magnification and brand names is pretty wild.

Just for the Hell of it I looked a few up for you.

Leupold Rifleman 3 - 9 x 40
3x FOV 32.9 feet(100yrds)
9x FOV 11.0 feet(100 yards)

Leupold VX3 3.5 - 10 x 40
3.5x FOV 29.5 feet(100yrds)
10x FOV 9.8 feet(100 yrds)

Leupold VX3 3.5 - 10 x 50
same as x40

Leupold VX3 4.5 - 14 x 40
4.5x FOV 19.9 feet(100yds)
14x FOV 6.6 feet(100 yards)

Zeiss Conquest 3.5 - 10 X 44
3.5x FOV 35.1 feet(100 yrds)
10x FOV 11.61 feet(100 yrds)

[kootenayelkslayer]

That's why you have binocluars with you.

I've used my 12x scope to count that 4th little point on a mule deer that I couldn't find with my 10x binoculars.
I'd definitely go for the 4-12x, I like it for sighting in too.

[.303]

I've used my 12x scope to count that 4th little point on a mule deer that I couldn't find with my 10x binoculars.
I'd definitely go for the 4-12x, I like it for sighting in too.

Hopefully that 4th little point on that mule deer wasn't a twig/branch by some guys head and he's all camoed up....I think using your scope is a very unsafe and irresponsible way of looking at/for game. Look at it from the other perspective..................binoculars don't have a barrel with a bullet looking at whatever you are.

[kootenayelkslayer]

Hopefully that 4th little point on that mule deer wasn't a twig/branch by some guys head and he's all camoed up....I think using your scope is a very unsafe and irresponsible way of looking at/for game. Look at it from the other perspective..................binoculars don't have a barrel with a bullet looking at whatever you are.

I think you've got it all wrong partner. I knew that mulie was there. I wasn't "looking for deer" with my scope. I don't agree with doing that at all. I had been watching that deer for a while through my binos at about 250 yards, but couldn't find the 4th little point that I needed for it to be legal. So, cranked the scope up to 12x and there it was, clear as day.
And if you think I'm looking at this deer with a bullet in the chamber and my finger on the trigger than your wrong. I don't see the harm in doing this whatsoever. I really disagree with your comment.