Here’s a short answer: Get the magnification that fits the application for the riflescope 80-90% of the time. If you primarily hunt in the Midwest, where you won't see deer farther than 200 yards—but, maybe you plan to take a trip out west one day where you may see deer at far greater distances—choose a magnification that fits the midwestern hunt. We can almost guarantee it will still be able to get it done out west, even if it’s not perfectly ideal.
The same story goes for all riflescopes in other shooting scenarios (Long range, competition, etc.). Just get the one that best matches your primary application and you can always make it work with the secondary ones.
Now, here’s a little longer answer, based on the most typical applications we see.
2.5-10x is a good minimum out west, and if you intend to do any long-range shooting on the side, we'd suggest going with a scope that at least has an exposed elevation turret. 4-16x, 6-24x or anywhere in between is a solid place to be.
Our Viper® HS LRTM series of scopes has been a popular one with hunters in this area because it has an exposed elevation turret that allows you to dial shots quickly, with more available adjustment, but a capped windage turret to protect it from getting bumped off zero. It comes in 4-16x and 6-24x, and is an excellent hybrid hunting/shooting scope with long-range capability. Again, be mindful that a lower magnification will provide a bigger field of view and generally better low-light performance when comparing like scopes from the same family.
Honorable mention here would be the flyweight scopes that get by with a little lower magnification and super minimalist features, but deliver ridiculously good optical quality and won't weigh you down in the high country. An example here would be something like our Razor® HD 5-20x50.
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