best fixed power hunting scope

R

ratherbefishin

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
29   0   0
what would you say the best fixed power hunting scope would be for value and reliability?I've got a couple of M-8 leupolds but they're getting hard to come by[maybe the guys who own them are hanging onto them-like me!]
4x would be fine.
 
If you like the M-8 you'll like the FX11 4 & 6X. If 6 power will work for you check out the FX111 6 x 42mm. It's startleingly clear and bright, and so easy to get along with that you might forget why you wanted a 4.
 
my 9,3x57 is intended for moose hunting where 100 yards would be a long shot,50 yards is probably closer ,so I figured 4X is about as high as I wanted to go,but I'll check it out anyway-thanks
 
ratherbefishin said:
my 9,3x57 is intended for moose hunting where 100 yards would be a long shot,50 yards is probably closer ,so I figured 4X is about as high as I wanted to go,but I'll check it out anyway-thanks
Click to expand...
Very good plan. For that kind of shooting, especially in bush, even 2 3/4 would do nicely. Providing you use binos for spotting. My preference for all kinds of hunting is 4x Burris mini. In my opinion it has better opticks than Leupold and aye relief is 5" !
 
ratherbefishin said:
my 9,3x57 is intended for moose hunting where 100 yards would be a long shot,50 yards is probably closer ,so I figured 4X is about as high as I wanted to go,but I'll check it out anyway-thanks
Click to expand...

In that case the 4X FX11 would be for you. The next step down would be the 2 1/2 Ultralight, and that's a long step down. I wasn't very impressed with mine at all.
 
at these ranges iron sights would be acceptable even ideal for brush -except for my eyes-I realised this when I had a ghost ring but couldn't focus the front sight when I was deer hunting on an old logging road-replacing the front sight with a tru glow helped somewhat,but a low powered scope helps a lot.Compounding this is I shoot right handed but have a left master eye,which is also stronger.Getting old sucks....
 
Dogleg said:
If you like the M-8 you'll like the FX11 4 & 6X. If 6 power will work for you check out the FX111 6 x 42mm. It's startleingly clear and bright, and so easy to get along with that you might forget why you wanted a 4.
Click to expand...

X2....I checked out a new FXIII 6x-42 on the weekend ...amazing clarity. Really nice scope! For 500 bucks it should be though. Good fixed powers are getting fewer and fewer...it's become a variable world.....
 
When I was younger I used Leupold M8-4x on the 30-06 rifles I was using back then. I would have put the same scope on my new Ruger M77 Hawkeye if I could have found one.

I ended up buying a FX-II 4x and I couldn't be happier.

I've owned several variables over the years and always found myself shooting game at 3 or 4 power all the time anyways. The only time I ever used the higher power was when I was at the range.
 
I just read an article on scopes in one of the latest hunting magazines and they reiterated what I always thought-fixed power scopes were less prone to failure-especially in cheaper or older scopes.
 
ratherbefishin said:
I just read an article on scopes in one of the latest hunting magazines and they reiterated what I always thought-fixed power scopes were less prone to failure-especially in cheaper or older scopes.
Click to expand...


I'll agree with that. Fewer moving parts = less problems. And probably easier for the manufacturer to seal against the weather. I bought my first M8-4X for $108 back in 1983, I wish the prices were comparable now.
 
357_fan said:
I bought my first M8-4X for $108 back in 1983, I wish the prices were comparable now.
Click to expand...

They are comparable. A Rem 7600 was $149 back in 1981, now are over $700. Makes the 4x look good now at $400...:D

Or you mean you wish you could buy the same product 25 years later for the same price? If that was the case, I'd be buying houses and land, not scopes...:)
 
....I have gone full circle again back to using fixed power scopes for my coyote hunting. Went to from fixed to variables a few years back as the shots were getting longer, and fixed 10x and 12x were the cost of variables. Plus they were hard to find.

This year, almost all the shots are less than a hundred, many are under 50.

Here is the repeated scenario, happened again last time we were out. We are in the stand, variables set at 12, or higher. AO at 200. Glassing that perfect stand of trees with accompanying draw 200 plus away. Wind gently in our faces. Start calling. Wait. Call.

Nothing......put down the binos......and LOOK, there he IS, 40 yards away, if that. Rifles UP.......and both my partner and I get a nice blurry sight picture full of rocks, prairie grass and fur........

I'm going back to a fixed 6x.....
 
g'day
my first thought is 'buy a Kahles'. i have had 2 4x kahles (on different rifles), and they make leupolds seem dim. another fine maker, and maybe a better choice since i am not sure kahles - owned by swarovski - still makes the fixed 4x, would be a schmidt and bender. neither option is inexpensive, but both are far far better optics than leupolds. my 2c worth.
 
ratherbefishin said:
my 9,3x57 is intended for moose hunting where 100 yards would be a long shot,50 yards is probably closer ,so I figured 4X is about as high as I wanted to go,but I'll check it out anyway-thanks
Click to expand...

You might consider a lower power scope.

Quick story. Years ago, my dad was almost killed by a bull moose that was charging him. The bull took a shot to the skull at base of the antler but didn't penetrate and gun was out of ammo from another moose that he had just dropped.

The hunter 10 yards behind him said all they could see through their 4x scope was brown hair charging at them. He did drop the moose, it landed a couple yards away from my dad.

After that, they all changed to lower power scopes or open sights.

Quite honestly, under hunting conditions at 50 to 100 yards you aren't going to notice much of a difference between any of the better scopes. Get something with substantially sized posts that you can see clearly and reasonably good glass.

Since there are fewer and fewer fixed power scopes, I wouldn't rule out something like a lower powered Leupold variable. They are light, reasonably bright and quite durable. There is also a Bushnell 4200 series, 1.25-4 x 24 which is quite a nice scope, and Rainguard on the lenses is a bonus if the weather is rain/drizzle. My preference is the Leupold 1.5-5 at the low magnification but the Bushnell at the high end of that magnification range. That Bushnell is about $500 in Canada and has an illuminated reticle.
 
Last edited:
My preference for all kinds of hunting is 4x Burris mini. In my opinion it has better opticks than Leupold and aye relief is 5" !
Click to expand...

Is the Burris mini a current model? I note they have a small Timberline with up to 5" relief. I like relief. :D:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom