Totally agree with rc42. He types faster than me though
And just to add I’m my layman’s terms, I guess it depends on your shooting position firstly. If you’re standing or sitting or simply not using any resting devices then you want a lower magnified target as you will notice your own natural wobble more with a higher mag. It can be disorientating and make acquiring your target difficult.
I wouldn’t bother with 1x mag. But I’d use some, maybe 4 to 6. I guess it’s your preference so you find the happy place.
On the other hand if on the bench or in a position with the rifle rested you want a higher magnification to sight the target better. It will give you a more precise centre to aim at. The better you can see the bullseye the better the chance of hitting it.
Also for most practice at a range you want a higher mag to help you as you don’t need a wider field of view as you would when hunting. A target at a range isn’t going to move and you don’t need to worry what’s around it. You just want to focus on the centre of the target.
Personally, if I’m on a bench with bags or on the bipod I wind mine up to it’s max (18x) so I can see the target as best as I can. And I still wish I had more!
A lot of people are happy to use less magnification and don’t like it too high.
I like to see the actual bullet holes in the target. Which I can’t, even at 12x. Just personal preference.
I’m not sure what you mean by under 1x. What’s the point of a scope to make something look further away than it actually is?
Really, the rifle and scope are just the tools you use to shoot. Once set up correctly, presuming they are of quality, they should do the same thing repeatedly, within reason.
The main input for changes is what YOU do and that’s what ultimately changes the outcome of the shot... again within reason.
Remember it’s you that is training/practicing, not the firearm.
In the end mate, try everything you can to improve no matter however strange something may sound. Doesn’t hurt to try. To me that’s all part of the fun.
If you don’t have a scope yet, research them well mate and get to understand them. Ask as many people as you can all your questions. There are many different scopes with different features out there for different uses. Stuff like different reticles and ffp/sfp and parallax adjustment just to name a few.
Work out which scope best suites your type/style of shooting and buy the best one for your needs...and your budget.
It’s just as important as the gun!