Well, you all have convinced me to spend enough to get a good scope. I like the BUshnell Elite 3200's, but now I need to decide what power to get.

I'm putting the scope on a bolt action 45-70 and shooting loads that start to drop like rocks past 225 yards, so I'm thinking of going with the 2-7x32 power. I also like the idea of the lower power for when I'm in the trees.

The controlling dimension is the eyepiece above bolt handle when chambering, so I could also go with the 3-9x40 on the same rings.

Never used anything other than a 3-9x40...I even use the 9 power when sighting in.

What's your experience?

Higher power is nearly always a help on the target range...which is where most of a rifle's shots are fired. Could slap a 36X on that 45/70 and see a small decrease in grouping...but that's pretty useless in the hunting field.

In the field, even with a warm loaded 45/70, won't be under scoped with lower power (and like you, like the low end to have a very wide field of view)....haven't found any reasonable 45/70 hunting shot that couldn't be taken with a straight 4X for that matter (although I liked an old K-3 for this kind of use a whole bunch).

You are use to 3-9X's...there is a lot to be said for sticking with that experience.

leverite,
I'm in the same boat. I want to get a 2x7 vari for kimber 325 wsm as we hunt on bushy mountain sides in most places and in brown bear country. I have been looking at the burris short mag scopoes but their 2x7 is a 20 m and I would rather have a larger dia for more light as here in southeast alaska it rains most the time. And the more light in the scope the better. I am not sure if a large ob lens overides this or not. If any of you scope savvy people kniow the answer to this I'd appreciate your input. If I don't go with that I'll get a leupold in 2x7 with a 33 or 36 obj lens. I do have set power 4 power scout scope on a wildwest guns 457 marlin and like it for it's intended use but it's not the scope for moose or goats.
goldbelt

I spoke w/ the Bushnell folks. You don't necessarily get more light with a 40 over a 32 bell. THe 3-9x40 has one more lense than the 2-7x32 and each lense cuts light a little.

Probably a draw for light. The other difference is that paralax is minized at 100 yards on the 3-9x40, and ar 50 yards for the 2-7x32.

SO if most shots are around 50 yards, you will get the least amount of parallax w/ the 2-7x32.

Generally, the lower the power, the wider the field of view. Higher power is indeed helpful on the target range.
Personally, I like low power scopes on rifles for short ranges. I'd prefer the 2-7 over the 3-9 on a 45-70, but I couldn't really say one would be good and one would be bad- it's more personal preference.
BTW, Burris used to have (maybe still does) a 2-8x36 in their Signature line, and it's a fine scope if you can find one.

I have a Leupold 2X7 VXII on my Rem 700 Mtn rifle in .280 and think it's jsut about perfect.
Last year's buck dropped at 230 long steps.
I'm very pleased with the set-up and have always like lower power scopes for brightness, wide field of view and compactness.
To each his own.

Leverite,

You're on the right track. While I don't have a bolt action 45/70, I am a big fan of the lever action 45/70's. The only scoped 45/70 I have is a Marlin Guide Gun with the 2.5x scout scope, and I really like this set up for what I use it for, i.e. shorter range hunting in brushy, hilly country.

I do have a number of other hunting rifles with scopes in the 3-9x or 3.5-10x range, but these are intended for use where the ranges might extend out past 300 yards. For situations where the shots will probably be under 250 yards, scopes in the 1.75-6x or 2-7x power range are ideal. These lower powered variables give you a wider field of view for quicker shots at close range, and all the magfication you will probably need for longer range shooting as well. Another plus for the lower powered varables is that they typically have much longer eye relief than the higher magnification scopes. This gives you more options for mounting these scopes, and with a harder kicking gun you won't have a problem with "scope eye".

The lower powered variables also don't need as large an objective lens as the higher magnification scopes do to give you a bright sight picture in dim light conditions. This helps in keeping the scope lower to the line of the bore than a scope with a 40 mm objectice would.

Most of my scopes are from Leupold or Bushnell, and I'm very pleased with them. The scopes from Burris, Nikon, Weaver, and other main lines should give a wide range of good scopes to choose from.

thanks everyone for the info.

I've decided to give the BUshnell 2-7x32 a try. If it tuns out I don't like it, under their warranty I can send it back within the first year and trade (plus a few $) for the 3-9x40.

Try the Bushnell Legend they will hold up under the recoil and have a very good clarity and not to expensive either.
Cabelas has a good deal going on the legend with a spotting scope for under 160.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/rushmoreman/Glenfield30GT.jpg

I'm a huge fan of Simmons 2X-7X Pro Hunter which I bought from cheaperthandirt for about $70. couple years ago.
TR

Lever:

I have both Bushnell 3200 scopes. The 2x7 is on a Browning BLR-81 in .284 Win. and the 3x9 is on a Browning A-Bolt Medallion in .270 Win.

The main thig to keep in mind is the difference in the length of the scopes. The 2x7 is 11.6 inches and the 3x9 is 12.6 inches. On a long action bolt rifle the shorter scope may not be able to be positioned back far enough. Sometimes extension rings can help...sometimes they cannot. The 2x7 fits me well on the BLR, but not on longer bolt action rifles.

I find the longer 3x9 scope works very well on the standard actions for 30-06 ect. They are great hunting scopes.

what about the 2x20 scopes compared to the
2-6x32 or the 2x32?