Fixed power or a 2-7 or so?

MilitaryCollectorMark

MilitaryCollectorMark

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Hey everyone!
What would be a good fixed power hunting scope?
I know there is the leupold M8, the new version of it is the FX series.

What would be a good lower power hunting scope? It would be nice if it was a leupold or Japanese made bushnell.

Any ideas?

I don't want a big clunky tacticool type scope.
 
For a fixed power I would go with a either a Leupold 4x if your mostly hunting in the bush or a 6x if your out in the open hunting fields more often.
That said the Leupold VX-2 2-7 or VX-3 2.5-8 are great compact scopes and in my opinion would also work very well.
 
I second the Leupold 2.5-8x36. I had one and I sold it. Regretted it and bought another one. Then I sold it. I'm still regretting it and will likely get another one. Truth is, everytime I thought I had found something better I ended up realizing it wasn't so.
 
I really like my S&B 6x hungaria

I got it from wolverine and all in it was closer to 800 iirc

Very good glass, you pay a lot for their variables in this line and it is their “budget option”. You really do seem to be paying for quality and not just the name in this case.

Mine is a 30mm but only because I was matching it to an expensive mount that came on a used gun. Unlikely it makes much difference in this magnification
 
conor_90 said:
I really like my S&B 6x hungaria

I got it from wolverine and all in it was closer to 800 iirc

Very good glass, you pay a lot for their variables in this line and it is their “budget option”. You really do seem to be paying for quality and not just the name in this case.

Mine is a 30mm but only because I was matching it to an expensive mount that came on a used gun. Unlikely it makes much difference in this magnification
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For $800 it better be good! That is a bit out of my budget. Leupold M8 isn't a bad price. Is there a difference between VX-2 and VX-3?
 
Boy, there sure is a price difference between US and canada! on leupold US site the VX-3HD 2.5-8X36 CDS-ZL DUPLEX is $499.99 USD. Taking into account the exchange, there is a difference of over $400 dollars :( looked on dante sports the price is $939.77 ugh.
 
Older Vari X III 2.5-8x can be had for ~400 on the EE, nothing on this forum seems to move faster than a Leupold on the EE though

VX freedom 1.5-4 or similar older models are good too


2.5x leupold is a great scope too if you want a really lightweight option; I keep buying and selling them and regretting it
 
It doesn't seem right when the scope cost more than the rifle. I never spend more than $300 on scopes, they work just as well as the expensive ones in my 35 years of deer hunting.

Vortex Diamondback 2-7X is best bang for the buck. Can't beat their no question ask replacement warranty.
 
I have a Leupold VX-3i 2-7x33 on my deer rifle that I’ve been very happy with. All the magnification I could need for eastern Ontario whitetail hunting, lightweight, and trim. The glass is also excellent.
 
I use my bolt action 270 winchester for everything big I hunt. It's topped with and Elite 3500, 2-7x32. Nice small low profile, zero complaints. I'm in Ontario, woods with open farm fields. It's does everything I need in a hunting scope and then some. This combo has made me a one gun hunter...
 
canadaman30 said:
I use my bolt action 270 winchester for everything big I hunt. It's topped with and Elite 3500, 2-7x32. Nice small low profile, zero complaints. I'm in Ontario, woods with open farm fields. It's does everything I need in a hunting scope and then some. This combo has made me a one gun hunter...
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I use the same on my Howa 1500 in 6.5x55, and on various CZ/Brno's in 8x57, 7x57 and 308. Great little scopes. I buy them whenever I can find them. Same conditions here: woodlots in open farm fields.
 
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kc34 said:
For a fixed power I would go with a either a Leupold 4x if your mostly hunting in the bush or a 6x if your out in the open hunting fields more often.
That said the Leupold VX-2 2-7 or VX-3 2.5-8 are great compact scopes and in my opinion would also work very well.
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^^^ This here.
MilitaryCollectorMark said:
For $800 it better be good! That is a bit out of my budget. Leupold M8 isn't a bad price. Is there a difference between VX-2 and VX-3?
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The difference I'm aware of between those two models is glass quality: the more expensive VX3 has high 90s in light transmission where the VX2 is only about 92%. Apparently the VX3 is a one piece tube and internal components are more durable. I've never tested to see if I could notice the difference as I have two of the VX3 models in question as well the VX2 but that is what I am aware of. About the only test I'd be interested in conducting is the light transmission test near dark: 6% may or may not be noticeable (and given legal daylight hours, irrelevant)

Nikon made the old Monarchs in this size range and I have one that has been stellar. Bushnell Elite range, Leupold VXR... seems the optics I like most are no longer manufactured.

EDIT: The VX2 I thought I had is actually a VX1
 
canadaman30 said:
I use my bolt action 270 winchester for everything big I hunt. It's topped with and Elite 3500, 2-7x32. Nice small low profile, zero complaints. I'm in Ontario, woods with open farm fields. It's does everything I need in a hunting scope and then some. This combo has made me a one gun hunter...
Click to expand...

How much would those sell for? Probably be perfect out here on the praries!
 
A fixed power scope is nice because it's simple. It can help with distance estimation because everytime you look through it us always the same magnification. A lot of people tend to use the highest magnification when sighting in at the range and have it at the lowest magnification when hunting so it makes it harder to judge distance when you do that. You also can't forget the scope on the highest magnification and you quickly go to shoot a animal 50 yards away and all you see is fur and have to scramble to lower the magnification. It's simple.
A variable can be nice if you are hunting different terrain or want to zoom in on a animal and don't have time to switch to binoculars or a spotting scope.
I had a Leupold M8 4x scope on my 30-30 that was too much magnification but on my brother's 30-06 it works perfectly. I bought a 30-06 and have a 3.5-10x50 and I can count on one hand the amount of times it has come off the lowest magnification when hunting in the last 15 years.
 
I use both ,have Leupold fixed 4x scopes and a variety of 2-7x.. I put a Leupold 2-7 Ultracompact on my .444 Marlin. This scope has avery short eye relief on 7x and will likely need extended rings. The new Redfield series scopes are very nice and I have a couple of those 2-7 mounted. One on my Husqvarna lightweight in 6.5X55, very accurate combo.
The M8 fixed scopes are very good and very reliable.
Turn the variable down in the woods, turn it up in the fields.
Both scopes give good resolution in last light scenarios.
 
I would say in either decision buy the best glass you can afford. There is a huge difference when you are in the woods 30 min before sunrise or 30 min after between a cheaper and a better scope.

Good advice here cant go wrong with a 3200/3500 or any of the Leupolds mentioned.
 
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