Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    Hi George,
    
    	I would think 4x - 6x would be the smallest you would want to go
    for any light gathering qualities.
    
    	As for eye relief I don't know what a decent 4x scope would give
    you.  Experts say that wide angle scopes give you the depth of field
    at the expense of eye relief, but I don't know this for myself.
    
    	You run the risk of not even seeing the target with a 2.5 scope,
    especially a whitetail in the whillywhacks.
    
    	Who sung that song last, "Whitetail in the Whillywhacks"?
    
    Steve

    
     Some things I've read suggest not 4 power or below for shotguns due
     to the fact that you would most likely pass on any shots much further
     that 100 yards with a shotgun.  Some of the 4 power scopes state a 
     14-16 foot field of view at 100 yards.  I imagine you may only see fur
     at 30 - 40 yards with that scope.  The Tasco I was trying to get
     listed a 36' field of view at 100 yards. That scope was 2.5 power.
    
    
       At the risk of starting a rathole:  I'v never heard that song...
    
     Maybe you could hum a few bars next time I see you?   :-)
    
       Geo-
      
    
    
      

    most red dot scopes like the PDP (tasco) are non-magnifiying. (1x) the
    eye relief is infinite. put it as close or as far away as you like. I
    have PDP's on both my and my partner's compound bows. You do not
    actually look through the lens, although you can, you keep both eyes on
    the target and let the sight superimpose the dot on the point of
    impact. for a bow in very low light conditions, this is unbeatable. of
    course that is only 25-30yds.
    
    I would guess that a 2min dot would get a little large after fifty or
    so yards and that is the smallest dot size. The batteries last 5-7 days
    if left on and they are $5 each. Tasco does make a 3X powerhead for the
    PDP but then you do have a reduced (to 3" or so) eye relief. These
    scopes are very light.
    

i'm using a 2x7 on my shotgun setup...  works great...
still hunt with it on 2x, and only crank it up when needed.  I
firmly believe you need more than 4x especially when having to 
look for bone.  Otherwise you take the chance on holding up
on bucks which you may have passed off for does...

a friend of mine uses a red dot on his rifle in VT, and I'm not 
too crazy about it...  it's blinding, non magnifying, and when
scoping deer at long range, you'll need to use binoc's to 
be sure of legal antler size...  

FWIW, Fra

    
    I also use a 2x7 like Fra on my shotgun. Also Tasco must be having
    problems with th Bantam line as I did check for availabilty and they
    haven't been coming in.
    
    
                                                     Guy

I have a 1X red dot on my 11-87 with the deer slayer 
barrel.  In general I like it but have found some 
problems.  Like any other scope if you don't have a see 
through mount snow, mist, rain etc. can cost you the 
shot you have been waiting for.  I too shoot with both 
eyes open and find this very handy in terms of field of 
vision.  I find it very accurate for upto 100 yds.  
however I have had some problems with the mount coming 
loose and shifting.  I haven't ever seen a barrel mount
that allows see through mounting, but I haven't looked 
lately.  I just got back from carabou hunting in Quebec
and I found the added light gathering of a scope handy.

I quess it's like anything else ... tradeoffs.

Good luck 

Carl

Carl,

I too had those same problems when I first got my scope 
mounted.  There are two solutions:

1) Lock tite everything !!!!  (Cheapest and it works)

2) I sold my scope and had a Williams Guide Sight 
   Put on my rifle.  It works great.  
   You guessed it it's a peep sight.
   It doesn't fog, it doesn't come loose and is very
   accurate up to 100yds.  
   Good ole Corky Towle put it on for me.

   Would not hunt with anything else.



			my .02
			-Marc

Thanks Marc.

Maybe I'll move the red dot to the 41 magnum.  It is 
nice for fast target acquisition. :>)