I like the 4.5-14 too, you can leave it down at 4.5 for close range and turn it up for long shots.
that's just what I am thinking.......I was actually on line looking at them. We have a couple store about an hour away and my plan is to run over and take a look. Those guys will let you take them outside the store (with supervision) and trial them on something that's 3-400 yards distant. That ought to give me an idea of the difference between my 3-9 X40. I just notice that when I have clear definition of my target......I can focus on just that one spot I want the round to hit as I squeeze the trigger. Its no longer "a guestimate". Hasn't happened yet, but theres nothing I'd hate worse than leaving a wounded animal in the field.
Thanks to everyone that's chipping in on my inquiry.
I'm going to post a short narrative and photos of my RSA hut I just came back from last week......I learned sooooo much from the posts on this website in the year prior to my hunt that I knew lots of things that others there who had safari'ed several times did not. OR at least I gained a lot of knowledge about what I was going to experience and so when we were in the field, nothing came as a complete surprise to me. Can't say THANKS to the regular AH Ambassadors and regular posters who contributed years of knowledge for the "newbies" to learn from.