depends on location, in eastern washington where mule deer need three points i use 6x18x40 vx 2 or 6.5x20x40 vx 3 . just to be able to spot the points, same goes for elk where i do most of mine its spike bull only. so the higher power magnification helps. just picked up a mark 4 , 4.5x14x50 in a 30 mm tube with moa dials at cabelas on sale for 700. it sits perched now on my ruger m77 280 with a heavy barrel, get what you want you cant take it with you and you only live once.