Originally Posted by
Bimmer
On the other hand, for figuring out what you want, there's no substitution for actually looking at targets through different scopes.
Setting a 10x minimum may seem good sitting at your keyboard and reading specifications, but when you can't hold on your target because the image is too jiggly or you've lost your target because the field of view is too narrow, then it'll seem like an expensive mistake.
Keep in mind, too, that big-doller scopes are so expensive because they have features that you don't want — target turrets, illuminated reticles, etc. etc. etc.
Simple variable scopes today are remarkably good in terms of clarity and durability, and the returns diminish rapidly once you're spending more than several hundred bucks — not that an expensive scope isn't worth it, just that it isn't really necessary.