Is it worth upgrading a scope?

[Firebird]

I spend most of my time with shotguns in hand and I believe that has created a situation where low mount scopes on rifles also feel most normal to me.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I find the “mount every optic as low as you can” interesting. I see it a lot on the site but feel it has a time and place. I spent most of my career raising my optic for a more heads up posture while shooting. I would in a loose way tie CQB or “Reflexive Fire” to Dangerous Game hunting.

A low scope height on precision rifles keeps the line of sight closer to the bore, which reduces sight offset and makes holds more intuitive at mixed distances like a plains game hunt. Lower optics also encourage a solid, repeatable cheek weld with a more traditional prone/bench stock geometry, which stabilizes sight picture and assists in recoil management for slow, precise fire.

A higher mount allows a more heads‑up, neutral spine posture, reducing neck flexion and supports fast‑paced work around cover or in unconventional positions where a low comb is impossible to maintain. I would say most gunfighters now have raised their optic 1.5-2” over previous height to support peripheral awareness and speed.

For a multi-purpose safari rifle like a 375 or 9.3 where plains game along with dangerous game will be engaged, does everyone still mount as low as they can or work a medium height? I can see as we get in the 500s recoil management will be an issue with poor cheek to stock weld.

If work slows in a bit, I might get with @SFRanger7GP and use a pro timer to work some stress shoots and provide feedback.

I don't believe a tight cheek weld is particularly desirable or important for any style hunting. As I've said many times, the shooter should be able to close his eyes, quickly mount the rifle, open eyes, and the iron sights or crosshairs should instantly be where they should be. This requires not just the proper scope height and eye relief, but also a rifle that properly fits the shooter and the scope.