It sounds like the smaller scope would be the best then, definitely made the right choice. as a sportsman, I wouldn't consider a shot on a game animal at 500 yds, even if I thought I could make the hit, just because the room for error is too great, and if I slip, that animal may end up bleeding to death somewhere in the woods, instead of a quick humane kill. Besides, no animal other than a man can kill me from several hundred yards away, lol.