Firearms combat?

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by roguebfl

And why does it have to be a separate Ready action? and not Par if the Aim maneuver when using variable Scope?, during the dial slowly as you home in.

The twist action on a scope is TIGHT. It's done that way deliberately so it doesn't move in and out during semi-rough handling. Even on a bipod, the motions you make while twisting the scope will likely throw your aim completely off. At VERY high mag (and there are some variable scopes that go up to pretty darn high magnification, you may lose the target completely, especially at long range.

Crakkerjakk has it exactly right. You set the power of the scope, then you Aim.

Now, a higher TL scope could have a digitally controlled zoom that doesn't fox your aim so badly. That would be part of the longer term precision aiming, and with some computer help, might even happen without contact from the shooter. But current manual stuff is definitely set first.

Why have the lower magnification at all? Field of view. High mag means if you're not right on the target, you may wind up waving your barrel around (or at least, it'll feel that way). At low mag, you aren't as precise, but you can see what's around you . . . and this might include other animals or even people.