Fixed Power Scopes?
- Thread starter ecno
- Start date
Fewer parts internally, less to go wrong, probably lighter weight, less expensive. These were once the common selling points you heard regarding fixed power scopes. Nowadays most scopes are variables and I question if most of these so-called advantages still hold water.
If you are calling coyotes, you can sometimes be presented with fast-moving, up-close shots. A fixed 10x might not be ideal. I like a 4-12x, or even a good old 3-9x. They let you keep the power low enough to be useful up close and quick. For shooting over bait 10x would be great.
If you are calling coyotes, you can sometimes be presented with fast-moving, up-close shots. A fixed 10x might not be ideal. I like a 4-12x, or even a good old 3-9x. They let you keep the power low enough to be useful up close and quick. For shooting over bait 10x would be great.
Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
10x scopes don't have enough magnification to punch paper, and too much to easily bring to your eye quickly while hunting... Once you grow beyond there short comings they work very well for almost anything you want to use them for but a narrow field of view and hi magnification takes getting used to.
The 2 best scopes I have owned were a 4x bushy on my .22 and a 10x bushy tactical that's been on every rifle I own... They don't break and they handle lots of recoil
The 2 best scopes I have owned were a 4x bushy on my .22 and a 10x bushy tactical that's been on every rifle I own... They don't break and they handle lots of recoil
I use nothing but fixed powers. 10x and 16x are what I like. One nice thing about a fixed power is that you get the same view all the time which makes it easier to estimate range as the reticle is the same size in comparison to the image.
Fixed power scopes can have better optics at a lower price because there are less parts and less bits of glass for the light to cross.
Fixed power scopes can have better optics at a lower price because there are less parts and less bits of glass for the light to cross.
I like the simplicity of a fixed power scope. I'm going to put a K6 on my coyote rifle, but you would be correct to guess I'm probably not going to take shots as long as some that Dogleg will. And I won't go higher than 6x for a fixed power in the field because I expect more will be too much for too many close shots.
Last weekend I blew a gophers head off at about 20 yds with a fixed 16x scope. I just dialed down the parallax to bring him into focus.
Very sporting. But the gopher was probably standing still and gave you lots of time to line him up. A called coyote can appear fast and disappear just as quickly...16x isn't great for that kind of shot.
As others have mentioned, the Leupy M24 is made for specialized work. I prefer variables, but know shooters who like fixed power scopes. I've noticed the two trains of thought are:
Fixed: Simpler (no zooming and same view), more reliable, lighter, shorter, and costs less.
Variable: More versatile (can shoot small critters, game, and targets in close and out far with the same gun), more options (objective size, turrets, reticle, etc...), and better resale value.
That being said, I've noticed no reliability issues with my variable scopes; knock on wood. They all hold zero and track well, and some of them are mounted on a 3" magnum slug gun and 300 Win Mag rifles. Modern variable scopes are marginally heavier (0.5 to 2oz), marginally longer (0.5 to 1"), and cost marginally more ($10 to $30). So IMHO the real issue is simplicity vs. versatility, which you will have to determine for yourself.
