Hunting with fixed power scopes -- Opinions please!

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frpaquette

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Hi all,

I've been thinking of replacing my 3-9x40 on my Featherweight (.270 Win) with a Leupold 4x33 or 6x36. I feel like these two options would be much more suited to my Featherweight than the big/heavy variable power I have now.

I'd like to get some opinions of those who have used these specific models, or hunt with other fixed power scopes. What do you like about it? Do you ever feel handicapped with too tight or too wide field of view? I think the smaller/lighter scope would go great with my Featherweight, and I'd like some opinions on it.
 
what purpose ?

i ve used fixed leupold 4x for caribou hunting but dont know what kind of hunt you want to do ....

but if it to make a la jack o connor it will works ...
 
I hunt deer/elk/moose. I live in northern Alberta so I mainly hunt cutlines, well pads, cut blocks, and the odd farmers field.
 
i'd still keep the 3x9- right now you've got a marginally better low light scope, and there's very little difference in weight-i used to do high country, horseback( may go back) and all of my stuff is 3x9 or 4x12 - that's 40 years of "hunting" moose, elk, and bear- i started back in 1970- my saddle gun wears a 3x9x40 in 308 win, and my long range is a 4x12x40 in 338- why limit yourself?
 
I used to hunt with a fixed power 6x scope. That was sufficient magnification for as long of range shooting as I'd care to do, very usable at 300 yards. But, I did find that in close up situations the limited field of view was detrimental. I'm not convinced the weight advantage is worth it if that is the only consideration pushing you towards a lighter weight fixed power.
 
I use variables, and fixed 4x and 6x - Leupolds all. I would not feel handicapped by the 4x scope for any big game hunting. Some variables offer better low light performance, and on rare occasions more magnification might seem nice, but deer and moose are pretty big! I have had times while using a fixed 6x and stalking in the bush that less magnification would have been nice. If you want to keep it simple, fixed 4x is the way to go in my opinion. But ask yourself - how do you actually use a variable? I personally leave it set at 4x or 5x and pretty much leave it there for most hunting. I like to crank up the magnification for punching paper targets, but that's hardly a reason to have a more expensive, bulkier and more fragile scope on a dedicated big game hunting rifle. If you enjoy precision shooting as an end in itself, you might want more magnification. But it is not needed to hunt big game effectively.
 
The 4x is the only fixed I'd use other then a 2.5 or 3x but honestly if I was looking to realy shed weight and increase durability I'd go to a good set of peep sights.
That being said add a 4x to the top of your set up and you'd be very Jack O'connor.
 
A 4X or 6X scope is fine for hunting and I used a 4X for 25 years but when it came to shooting paper with a proven MOA load the best I could manage was 1 1/2 MOA .Didn't make no never mind on game but upgrading to a 3X9 put me back where I was before the aging eyes faded..............Still eating venison..................Harold.......open sights out of the question for me past 100 yards
 
I use a 2.5X on a 444. It was on a bolt originally. I used a 1.5-4 power on a rifle years ago. I found I used low power in the bush and the high power on the prairies and the intermediate powers were of no use. A quality fixed power is cheaper than the equivalent zoom. They are far less complicated and lighter.

I can't seem to use a 4X or 6X up real close. I found my 2.5X was adequate accuracy wise to 300 yards icluding coyotes. It does buck the trend to higher power scopes but the little Leupold 2.5X UL scope is a dandy. If I was rich I'd love a 1-4X Dangerous game scope with a 30mm tube. 1X optical peep with 4X capable for any shot I'd attempt.
 
I find a 4x usable for all reasonable distance big game hunting applications (out to 300-325 yards). I can shoot quite well with them. Some peoples' eyes dictate that they need more magnification though...I guess you'll never know what group you fall into until you try!
 
Most of my scopes are fixed, for several reasons. Firstly, the scope is good for animal identification and for lower light conditions where without it, you would need to carry binoculars to see if the animal has 5 points or 6.

Having that said, I find variable scope a pain in the ass, they never seem to be on the right setting and when you only have a few seconds to get a shot off, scope adjustments at the last second is often a lost animal. Many rifles I have are of only medium caliber such as 30-30, whats the point of having a scope that can see 600 yards when you only have killing energy for 150? If its too small in my scope, its too far to shoot at. I don't like adjustments. I like to learn to shoot with all variable being the same. If something needs to be corrected, I'll adjust my shot. I've been shooting for 35 years, I know how much higher I need to aim if its further away.

I do have several scopes that are variable, and even though they work, I'm always checking to see if something might have been bumped or changed. I can do without it. A decent make of 4 power scope does most of what I want. I've shot over half my animals at 50 yards or less, and quite frankly, I prefer open sights even though it requires carrying binoculars.
 
I've got a Leupold 6 x 36 FX 11 and a 6 X42 FX111 that I put on my son's rifles to keep his life simpler. For the few bucks difference and tiny difference in size I'd suggest the 6 x 42mm. Fixed power scopes give a bit higher optical quality compared to similarily priced variables, and it is hard to look through the 6 x 42 FX 111 without grinning a bit. They are also about as easy to get along with as any scope out there. I'll bet that you could stand on your head in a snowbank,shoulder the rifle to the wrong shoulder and still have a useable view the first try.
 
Dogleg said:
I've got a Leupold 6 x 36 FX 11 and a 6 X42 FX111 that I put on my son's rifles to keep his life simpler. For the few bucks difference and tiny difference in size I'd suggest the 6 x 42mm. Fixed power scopes give a bit higher optical quality compared to similarily priced variables, and it is hard to look through the 6 x 42 FX 111 without grinning a bit. They are also about as easy to get along with as any scope out there. I'll bet that you could stand on your head in a snowbank,shoulder the rifle to the wrong shoulder and still have a useable view the first try.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah! And it's not just for little boys.
 
Until about a year ago, I had three old Weaver K model scopes kicking around. I wasn't using them and with the supply of 'extras' I had, when a guy who couldn't live without them saw them and made me an offer, they became part of history. Good move or bad move, I don 't know but you can't keep everything, especially if it's not being used.
 
I ran a 6x42 FX111 for a while and had no issues, including snap shooting a nice buck a couple of years ago. I hunt almost all the time including a plains game safari without ever taking my Zeiss Conquest 3x9x40 off 6x with no problems.

I prefer the 6x to 4x though.
 
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