Choices Make for Headaches

Here’s a question for the gun nerds. I think I’ll post it on the Manly Grub forum, too.

How much magnification do you need to be able to see .17 HMR holes in a target 300 yards away?

I was told 10x is all I need, but I would like to avoid using a spotting scope, in the very unlikely event that I am lucky enough to get to shoot at 300 yards.

I have a cheap BSA spotting scope, and I can barely see bullet holes at 100 yards. I’m better off looking through my rifle scope.

Another thing: would it be crazy to put a Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x on a .17 HMR rifle? They don’t have anything between 9 and 14, so 9 and 14 are the choices. I like my current Fullfield II, which goes up to 9. The 4.5-14x costs about as much as the rifle.