Fixed Power vs Variable Power scopes
- Thread starter duckdog
- Start date
Most variables of the upper scale are pretty reliable, but of course, more moving parts = more to screw up at the worst possible time. Most of my pure "hunting" rifles wear the excellent Leupold 6x42. Never had one fail.
That being said, I had a 6x36 that had something come loose inside after many many years on hard kicking rifles. Strange part was, you could hear something rattle when you shook it, but it still retained zero, and adjusted OK. Sent it in for warranty, and received a brand new one, so don't know what the issue was. I personally prefer the fixed power scopes, but I would not feel hard done by if I had to use a Leupold 2.5-8 or 3.5-10. There are others that seem quite sturdy as well, but I usually buy those I trust from personal experience. Regards, Eagleye.
That being said, I had a 6x36 that had something come loose inside after many many years on hard kicking rifles. Strange part was, you could hear something rattle when you shook it, but it still retained zero, and adjusted OK. Sent it in for warranty, and received a brand new one, so don't know what the issue was. I personally prefer the fixed power scopes, but I would not feel hard done by if I had to use a Leupold 2.5-8 or 3.5-10. There are others that seem quite sturdy as well, but I usually buy those I trust from personal experience. Regards, Eagleye.
It should be generally true that the fixed power scopes are more reliable than the variables, for the reason you cited, however, the reality is that a fixed power could be badly designed and/or badly built, and a variable can be made very reliable these days. At any price point, the maker can usually make the simpler scope, the fixed power, of better materials, but that doesn't mean they always do. They could choose to take more profit instead.
Buy a scope with a reputation for good quality, and whether you choose fixed or variable, it will probably be reliable. If we think carefully about the hunting and other shooting we do, probably most of use could do most or all of it with a fixed 4x or 6x. Only you will know whether the extra cost or risk of reduced reliability is worth it for the anticipated occasions when you will wish you could change the magnification for a particular shot.
Buy a scope with a reputation for good quality, and whether you choose fixed or variable, it will probably be reliable. If we think carefully about the hunting and other shooting we do, probably most of use could do most or all of it with a fixed 4x or 6x. Only you will know whether the extra cost or risk of reduced reliability is worth it for the anticipated occasions when you will wish you could change the magnification for a particular shot.
- Location
- Colorado Springs, CO
I have Leupold(6X on my 96/22), Bushnell(6X on a 99F), Sightron(8X on my 110-30-06), Weaver(4X on my 99 T) and even BSA(4x ON A 10/22) fixed power scopes, they all kick azz. Only variable I have is a Weaver and it is on my 25-06, not a bad scope, but I have a tendancy to crank it up when I'm sitting in a stand. The fixed are also a lighter scope. Les
I like em both, and use both. I like the simplicity of the fixed power, I have a couple Leupold FXIII 6x42, one on my custom 260 and the other on my 280. Have three variables, two 3-9s and a 2-7, nice and versatile. Can turn em down to 3x for the tight spots and crank em up to 9x for a long shot on a coyote or for doing some target shooting
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manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
i dont think the 'more reliability' of a fixed power scope is really an issue nowadays with modern scopes: whens the last time someone had a higher end Leupold fail when switching power? im pretty sure this is just a carryover from the old days.
that said i just like the simplicity of a fixed scope. i have a couple fixed 2.5x scopes and a fixed 4x and theyre just nice and compact and seem more rugged. for awhile now ive just been hunting with most of my scopes always on the lowest power anyways.
still with something like a 2-7 or 3-9, even if 99% of the time you have it on low power, its still nice to know if you need more magnification its just a quick turn away.
that said i just like the simplicity of a fixed scope. i have a couple fixed 2.5x scopes and a fixed 4x and theyre just nice and compact and seem more rugged. for awhile now ive just been hunting with most of my scopes always on the lowest power anyways.
still with something like a 2-7 or 3-9, even if 99% of the time you have it on low power, its still nice to know if you need more magnification its just a quick turn away.
I've read those articles in the past, too. Really I don't know if one is really better than the other. My hunting rifles wear 3-9 Leupolds, my .22's Tasco World class 3-9's as well. And on all of them, I leave my power at 5X magnifacation. I feel most comfortable there. When I go to the range, I bump it up to 9X. But really if push comes to shove, I don't need alot of power and could survive nicely with a 4 or 6X, but would be happier than a pig rolling in his own poop if someone offered a 5X. And truth be told, I've owned alot of Bushnell's in the past. None have crapped out on me, but in the back of your mind your always a little worried if it's going to happen when that shot of a lifetime is in front of you, and I think it's not worth the anguish.
I should however mention that I also own an old steel tubed Weaver K3 that probably dates back to the 50's or 60's. It's a fixed 3X scope that I got from an older fellow on a .270 rifle. He hunted hard with that gun, and shot everything including grizzlies with it. So it's survived alot of years hard hunting, and I've had it on some hard kickers too. It has lived a long life that I don't know of any variables that have aged as well. Maybe there's somthing to fixed powers being more durable afterall?
I should however mention that I also own an old steel tubed Weaver K3 that probably dates back to the 50's or 60's. It's a fixed 3X scope that I got from an older fellow on a .270 rifle. He hunted hard with that gun, and shot everything including grizzlies with it. So it's survived alot of years hard hunting, and I've had it on some hard kickers too. It has lived a long life that I don't know of any variables that have aged as well. Maybe there's somthing to fixed powers being more durable afterall?
Reliability
Fixed is definitely more reliable - many who's lives depend on a scope use a fixed Leupold 10X. Adjustables are good for anything else.
I never had a fixed crap out - even cheap ones . I have had adjustables that did - high quality(expensive) ones !
Fixed is definitely more reliable - many who's lives depend on a scope use a fixed Leupold 10X. Adjustables are good for anything else.
I never had a fixed crap out - even cheap ones . I have had adjustables that did - high quality(expensive) ones !
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
With the overall quality of scopes today, there is no valid reason not to use a variable, and quality is generally commensurate with your investment.
There remains a tendency for the unintiated to buy "too much power" for given hunting situations. My personal favourite is they guy "lookin' for an '06 auto-loader and a 3-9 with see-through mounts for the bush".
There remains a tendency for the unintiated to buy "too much power" for given hunting situations. My personal favourite is they guy "lookin' for an '06 auto-loader and a 3-9 with see-through mounts for the bush".
Fixed power or variable
The old variables had a reputation of not maintaining zero, but that is not the case today with the better scopes. The most common complaint I have encountered over the years with clients is the animal ran past at 30 yards and all I could see was hair. I didnt know if it was chest or ass going by. The best over all power range for hunters who hunt bush and open fields is 1.5 to 5 or 6 power, or 2 to 7 power. If you hunt open country only a fixed 6 or 8 power would do nicely. For varmint hunters taking shots over 300 yds 12 to 20 power will let you see the nostrels on a ground hog. I think for the most part you need to concider your hunting areas and conditions and buy the best quality you can afford. Commonly hunters buy optics that are too powerful for their hunting conditions, quality always wins over power.
The old variables had a reputation of not maintaining zero, but that is not the case today with the better scopes. The most common complaint I have encountered over the years with clients is the animal ran past at 30 yards and all I could see was hair. I didnt know if it was chest or ass going by. The best over all power range for hunters who hunt bush and open fields is 1.5 to 5 or 6 power, or 2 to 7 power. If you hunt open country only a fixed 6 or 8 power would do nicely. For varmint hunters taking shots over 300 yds 12 to 20 power will let you see the nostrels on a ground hog. I think for the most part you need to concider your hunting areas and conditions and buy the best quality you can afford. Commonly hunters buy optics that are too powerful for their hunting conditions, quality always wins over power.
For protection from what?? Groundhogs 400 yards away??
I think that he means Snipers.
"snipers" are offensive not defensive.
In the past I have read and been told that one of the main advantages of a fixed power scope is exactly that. Each time light passes through a lens some of the light transmission is lost. As variables usually have more lens elements,
they are not going to be as bright if the quality of the lens is the same in each scope. I have a fixed 6x power Leupold M-8 and it is certainly brighter than my VX-I and II variables even with a slightly smaller front objective (36mm as opposed to 40mm).
Snipers can be both.
For my hunting I wouldn't use any fixed that was larger than 4x, as I have a good mix of tight bush and power lines/fields. 6x wouldn't be very handy for me at 30yds, but I would shoot 250 yds with a 4x. The best variable for Ontario I think is a good 2-7x.
