Fixed power scope for 300 Win mag

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Huntsman

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I recently took the Nikon Monarch off my 300wm and mounted it on my 280 Rem. I've been considering a fixed power Leupold as a replacement, I figure the less trauma from recoil to the internal parts the better.
What are your thoughts?
 
A friend has hunted for decades with a Ruger 77 in 300 Win. mag. with an M7 4X Leupold and it regularily puts the meat in his freezer and he has made some reasonably long kills with it.
I'm inclined to think you may be right about there being less to go wrong with a fixed power scope.
One of my 300s wears a 6X Leupold, its all I need....
 
A decent variable scope will handle a 300WM recoil all day long. Other than less weight and more compact, there really is nothing to be gained with a fixed power scope.
 
From what I've read, variables are no more prone to failure than fixed. While any scope can fail I think if you get a good scope your odds are in your favour. Personally I've found Leupolds tend to be more reliable, especially on a heavy recoiling rifles. (I know I'll get a lot of "hate mail" over this but I've actually been there when several scopes wearing names like Trashco and Bushsmell have failed or performed poorly). I have had a Leupold fail on me but that was after over 10,000 rounds down the tube, and they had it back to me, free of charge, in less than 2 weeks. (Yes that's correct, well over 10,000 rounds before any problems).
 
sheephunter said:
A decent variable scope will handle a 300WM recoil all day long. Other than less weight and more compact, there really is nothing to be gained with a fixed power scope.
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Not true, same quality or better for a fraction of the price with fixed power. The less they have to put into variable power, the more time and money they have to put into optical quality. My next scope will be fixed.
 
If you go fixed power. I would say 8x. A study was done by the US military and 8x was given higher rating's that 6x. I bought some 8x russian military scopes a few year's ago and I can see why. They have the" German Reticle" in a 26.5mm tube.
 
In all honesty, if you can't hit the animal at 4X, your eyes either need to get fixed, or it's too far. Scopes do break less than they used to, but I've always felt that the simpler it is the better; not just for reliability, but less for a hunter to think about when they are on the animal. I've had my variables set too high to see animals in the timber, and my father messed up a shot on a buck at 300 yards because he thought he had his 2-7X set at 2 power....it was actually at about 5X, but it made him think the buck was only about 100 yards away.
Ivor
 
langbanger said:
Not true, same quality or better for a fraction of the price with fixed power. The less they have to put into variable power, the more time and money they have to put into optical quality. My next scope will be fixed.
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Sorry but they use the same lenses.
 
sheephunter said:
Possibly but you are still stuck with a single power scope.
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Guess it depends on what your using it for, I'm not saying variable is bad, I own them and like them, you just get better quality it seems with a fixed. if you have a bush gun that is always going to be on lower powers, a 4X makes sense, a target gun that's shooting long range, a 10X maybe makes sense. If you do a bit of everything, a variable makes sense.
 
Perhaps you are right on that...I don't own any single purpose guns so variables it is on everything for me.
 
Less money for a fixed????????? Not really true. Leupold has a FX11, either 4X or 6X and both are priced at $378.
The variables, VX2 1-4 is $378 and the VX2 2-7 is $378 and the VX2 3-9 is $377.
I didn't see any Bushsmells or Trashcos in fixed but then again, we were talking about quality scopes.
My apologies, Bush does have a fixed 10X (Elite tactical) for about $250 and all that I've read say it is quite a good scope. I saw one at the range and was quite impressed but doubt you'd want a 10X for hunting. I agree with the above guys saying either 4X or 6X is all you need for hunting out to 300 yds. More may be nice but not really required. I've also known several guys that lost a shot at deer from having scopes set at 7X or 9X when bambi showed up at 50 yds and they couldn't get him in the scope. Best of luck with your choice.
 
It may seem logical that a fixed power scope offers more value, but in reality I don't think it works out that way. Nowadays a fixed scope is a novelty, a niche-market item. I'll bet that Leupold or Bushnell sell 100 variables for every fixed power scope. For that reason alone, the fixed power scopes are going to cost more, assuming you can find one at all. The idea that fixed scopes are somehow tougher or more reliable than variables may have been true in the 60's and 70's...today, not so much. I think that notion was promoted back then by the same gun-writers and experts who made careers out of articles comparing the .30-06 and the .270 every second month.
 
I'm still stuck on fixed either way, that's just me. The way I look at it is I generally zero my scopes at 6x(with a 3-9x40 or what have you) ). When I hunt I have it set to the lowest power. Most if not all my shots are under 200 and mostly under 100 yards. IMO, a fixed power scope would suit my hunting requirements. All that said, and all you have said leaves me with a split down the middle. All opinions and or facts are absolutely valid. I'll keep reading what your throwing down.
Cheers
 
I've always considered a 6x fixed as being too much magnification for close range and not enough for long range. If none of your shots are over 200 yards and most under 100, I'd go with a 4x. FYI, I have a Leupold M8 4X on a Tikka M695 in 300 WM, works great.
 
Huntsman said:
I'm still stuck on fixed either way, that's just me...All opinions and or facts are absolutely valid.
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That's basically it right there. Just for the record, I prefer fixed powers myself...I just don't think they are significantly better in recoil-resistance or optical quality. I think that a fixed power might still have a slight edge in field-of-view over a variable set at that same power, all things being equal...but there are so many factors in play that all things are never equal.:)

I do have a couple of .22's with fixed 4x scopes, and several centerfires with fixed 6x and 2.5x models. I have a new-to-me Ruger#1 in .300H&H that is probably going to end up with a fixed Leupold 6x, which I think is the perfect compromise power. It allows quick shooting on moving targets at all but the very closest ranges, and yet I can still use it on big game at any range at which I would shoot an animal. Seen through 6x, a long distance animal still looks far away, and I don't think that's a bad thing to keep in mind while shooting at it.
 
I don't have anything against a fixed power and was considering getting one myself, just couldn't decide between a 4 or a 6. I mostly use a few Leupold 1.5-5's and leave them set a 2X. If you're the type that fiddles with, or leaves your scope set at 9X after the range, I think you'd be best served with a lower power fixed. That way you won't lose a close shot at a moving deer at 34 steps. This has happened to at least 2 guys I know. I have occasionally shot sub MOA groups at 200yds with scopes topping out at 4, 5 and 6 power so a deer or moose at 300 plus yards wouldn't be a problem. Actually I do have a Leupold 12X and have mounted it on a few 22's, 308's, 303's and a 450 Marlin just to play with it on targets. Don't worry what others think, if you like a fixed, get one. Just make sure you get a good one so you won't be disappointed. Best of luck.
 
If you really want a fixed power Leupold get the FX3 6x42. It has eye-popping optics even compared to 3 series variables and for want of a better term just might be the most user friendly scope you'll ever use. Pretty easy to get along with, its really something that you have to experience to appreciate. It is a little cheaper than a VX3 but not all that much. The FX 11 6 x 36 isn't quite in that league but is a very solid choice for a little less.

Having said that, I wouldn't worry about breaking a VX3 on a .300 or much of anything else. I put 6Xs on my son's rifles simply because I was trying to keep his life simple when he was 10 and if I mount a variable now he'll put it on 6 and leave it there anyway.
 
I'm all for lower powered scopes, as I've had the situation where my scope was on too high power to make the clean shot, but never had issue the other way around. My preference would be 4x.
Ivor
 
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