Personally, I prefer variable magnification down to 2.5 or 3X on a hunting scope. On a target scope being able to dial up to 24X (or more) can be useful. A 50mm objective lens has excellent light gathering qualities and is particularly useful at dusk and dawn. On occasion, I've been able to clearly identify game when it was, otherwise, entirely too dark to see with the naked eye!
Depends on the application, but otherwise I would agree with my esteemed colleague above. If you are using it for hunting, lower magnification would almost be necessary because at the high end of the spectrum the field of view is so damn narrow you might spend too much time trying to line up the shot. If you are building an .06 paper puncher, then a 6-24 variable with the 50mm objective is a great choice. JD
Agreed. For benchrest, may be fine. For hunting, that is a BIG scope, and too much magnification can be as bad as too little. (Try to find the deer in a hurry in that tiny little circle) I do use very high power scopes on some varmint rifles, but I am not walking far, and shooting from a bipod. Eye relief (distance from your eye to rear of scope) CAN be an issue with a stout recoling rifle- leaves a nice cresent shaped cut over the eye. Now, ask me how I know that!
