Noobie question about fixed power scopes. How relevant are they these days?

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RBS56

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Many years ago, I found a smokin' deal on a brand new fixed 10x42. (Falcon Optical Systems Mil/Mil 0.1 MRAD). I couldn't pass it up. It was a very impulsive purchase.

Now, 8 years later, I never did mount it on anything, and my interest in long-range shooting sort of fizzled out as life got hectic and other hobbies took over my spare time.

I have been shooting guns my whole life, but only casually, at the range, and mainly rimfire. I doubt I will ever get into centerfire long range. So, since you guys are the experts, my question is: Is there still a place in this area of precision shooting for higher-power fixed lens scopes? Is my scope (still sitting brand new in a box,) pretty much a paperweight? Or is this style still used by all you sharp-shooters out there?

I would like to sell it, but I am not sure if there is a market for it. Perhaps they are made redundant by modern zoom lenses?

Thanks for any input.
 
I recently bought a fixed power (16). The variables I have, I tend to set them at one power setting and they tend to stay there. Lots of advantages to fixed powers, the main ones being 1) cheaper, 2) simpler, more robust, fewer lenses = easier to get (cheaper) to get a nice clear image.
Seems the wind is blowing the other way though.
 
There's something to be said of fixed powered scopes in the 'right' application. Fixed power is going to be physically lighter and potentially more robust to their variable counterparts (ie of same brand or quality).

Many people like having the option of variable power but end up only using a small range outside of shooting sports gaming. Not that long ago, the 10x42 SS was considered the venerable go-to scope for many.
 
Many years ago, I had a Savage 112V in 22-250 with a 10X All American Lyman scope - I shot at many jackrabbits with that thing - even got some, if they would stop and stand still. Was many deers taken with Weaver K3, Weaver K4 and Leupold M8-4x and Leupold M8-6x on other rifles. It seemed to me the more "adjustable" things involved, the more likely to be set wrong when time to shoot - or user was fiddling with "adjustments" instead of shooting. I now own several variable power scopes - 3-9 and 4-12 - I think is a 4.5-14 on a .22 rimfire. But most all get carried when set at one setting - usually towards the middle. For sure there is time to turn the thing "UP" in power for very long shots, if you feel that is necessary - but I do not recall time to ever turn the thing "DOWN" for close and fast stuff.

Two rifles here that I consider to be for more "serious" situations have got low powered fixed scopes - the 458 Win Mag has a Leupold M8-2.5 Compact and the 9.3x62 has an old-school Leupold M8-3X. There is a more or less "for targets" 7.62 NATO - AIA No. 4 Mk. 4 with fixed 12X42 SWFA SS, and I think there is a 16x42 SWFA SS somewhere here as well. Each for their own purposes, I think.

And despite Internet say-so - is entirely possible to fire 5 shot groups under one inch at 100 yards from sand bags with 3 power scope - I have done so often - need a target that matches up to your reticle to allow for repeatable precise aiming - a round black dot about the worst for that, unless using like a Burris "peep" reticle. For normal cross hairs, I found about a 1 1/2" or 2" square with thick black border to be about the best target for me to use to shoot small groups. Can not usually aim at what you can not see, so a reticle that covers your aiming point is not going to work out well.
 
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Fixed power scopes are a really good choice. They cost less and often have better image quality because the light has fewer pieces of glass to transit.

Fixed power scopes in the field are also a good choice because you will get used to the same magnification relative to the reticle all the time. I found it very easy to estimate range and thus holdover on gophers after I'd been using the same fixed power scopes for years. It just makes things simple.

For long range varminting and target work I settled on fixed 16x. Higher power optics have all kinds of bad effects in the field.

For our rimfire rifles we run fixed 10x scopes. They work great from 20 yds out to 200 yds on gophers.

The only time I'd want a variable is for hunting bigger game because shots can vary from short to close range and a wider field of view is helpful.
 
If there is anything to add for fixed power, is to learn and practice to shoot with both eyes open. Look at the target (game) - see it - is your rifle, so it should be made to fit you - rifle comes up, when on shoulder the right eye is seeing cross hair on game and off eye still seeing what it always saw - yes, you can train your brain to see two different images through your two eyes - but takes practice. And easier to start with a lower power scope to learn. I know that I can do it - the last elk I shot was out about 80 to 100 yards - I saw the rib cage cave in on the bullet impact - from a 338 Win Mag with a Leupold M8-6x scope. That elk was walking through brush and stopped - was when I fired - was the only shot needed on that one.
 
Potashminer said:
If there is anything to add for fixed power, is to learn and practice to shoot with both eyes open. Look at the target (game) - see it - is your rifle, so it should be made to fit you - rifle comes up, when on shoulder the right eye is seeing cross hair on game.
Click to expand...

This is a good point that many seem to be unaware of. Looking at the target and then bringing the rifle up to meet your eye will automatically put the target in the scope without having to look through the scope first and try to find the animal. With just a bit of practice, it is quite easy to do.
 
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