Questions for the Hornet Shooters

[YRUpunting?]

I bought a new hornet last week and mounted a 2x7 I had laying around.  I shot it at 50 yds and the group was inside an inch, so I thought great for a new barrel not broken in yet.  Went to the range today, moved to 100 yds and have some questions:


Is a 2x7 too small for the hornet?  Would a 4x12 be better?  Seemed like the target was very small at 100 yds on 7 power.


There was a left to right cross wind that gusted to around 10 miles an hour.  When the wind was blowing the shots were a half inch to an inch to the right.  Does that little wind move the hornet that much?  I was shooting 45 grn Remington factory ammo.


Thanks

[mechanic]

The scope is a matter of personal preference to some extent.  I find 4 power plenty at 100 yards and under, but your tastes may vary.....and yes, the wind will move that bullet quite a bit.  Across an open field of about 300 yards, I've had the wind move a 52 gr. from my 223 more than a foot.  It will also move big bullets too, as I've found with my 45-70...
 
My brother has a 4-12 power scope which he keeps cranked up when hunting.  He likes it, and it works for him, but it's too much for me. 
 
Ben

[bigvarmnt]

I recently mounted a 2-7 on my Handi Hornet. Usually have a 3-9 or 4-12 on my Hornets but this is set up on a SL barrel. Only shot a few rounds to site in at 100 and it IS a different picture.
Been TOO WINDY to try the other loads I have ready

If you're using it mostly for targets you may want more power. I think it is enough for groundhog sized critters. I'll know more when I look at 200 yds  

I think I will like it for a compact gun. Try it for a while, you may get used to it.

[LaOtto222]

Look at my avatar, that is an old 10X Bushnell with BDC. It used to set on a Remington BDL VS 222 Remington. That rifle took a little load deveolpment, but it would shoot in the .3 range all day once I found out what it liked. I could shoot blackbirds at 250 yards with it. As long as your crosshairs do not obliterate your intended target, you can hit it. Do not blame the scope power. As has been stated, it is a matter of personal taste, but I can tell you it takes more practice to hit well in the field with a higher power. The higher the power the more it translates any rifle movement. I was used to 4X scopes on 22 rimfire rifles. When I went to a 10X, I could not hold it on a target for the life of me, even with a Harris bi-pod. It took a lot of practice to get to the point I could shoot in the field with confidence. The higher the power, the more practice it takes to shoot with confidence in the field, where rock steady rest is not available.
 
BTW at 250 yards, that 222 with a 50 grain SPSX running around 3000 fps would drift 4 - 6 inches with even slight breezes. If there was any wind at all I would not hit a blackbird on the first shot most times, I would walk them in, when they would duck thier head when the bullet wizzed by then I knew I was close. It would take 3 - 4 shots to nail one, most times, unless the there was no wind and I could hit them every time on the first shot.
 
Good Luck and Good Shooting