I started a new thread about this question on my Busnell scopes. I didn't know if I was starting to aggravate anyone for dragging that one out. My buddy and I were shooting yesterday. I was shooting my .270 and he was shooting his 30-06. We were both had our rifles zero at 75yrds. We were nialing the center of the bullseye no problem. We had a target hanging on a big tree stump. It had a bullseye about the size as your hand. The reason we had a big bullseye is because we were going to shoot from 75yrds and move it to 300yrds or more if we could. Anyway, we got into an argument. I know you guys can answer. If I am right, I will email this post to him. If I am wrong, I wont tell him nothing hehehe. I hope this makes sense. I didn't mean to make this a long post, I just wanted to make sure I get my question understood. Here is my question:

Lets say you got you scope zeroed at 100yrds while your scope dial is at 6. We go to shoot again, everthing stays the same except, he changes his dial from 6 to 9 and I change mine from 6 to 12. Now is the scope still zeroed at 100yrds, or do you have to re-zero (or compensate) it when you change the magnification?

A properly functioning scope will hold zero at all magnifications.

A properly functioning scope will hold zero at all magnifications.

You are the man! We were really going at it, and disagreeing about this. That is what I thought. He almost had me convinced I was wrong, but I knew where to go hehehe. I shoot my .270 and his 30-06. My shoots were very close at 75yrds up to 150yrds. His shots were different, but his shots were also very different at the same distance. Just wait until I email him this.

Thanks Again,
John

Mike is correct. A GOOD scope will hold zero at any mangification. If yours didn't, you would have noticed it at 300 yards.

Yup - a quality scope will hold POI no matter what power setting it is on.

To illustrate - I have an "El Cheapo" from Sportsmans Guide that is a 3.5x12x56 illuminated. There is a radical POI shift when changing power settings. If I just leave it on 6x, it does fine.

Cheap glass is as cheap glass does. :p