Fixed power

I had a 4x40 on my 22. Recently switched it for a 3-9x32, but Im not entirely sold on it and I might switch back. The 4x had better eye relief and there is something to be said about the simplicity of it, the big reason I switched was I wanted higher magnification to help shoot smaller groups at the range and I wanted to lower the scope a bit...
 
cam1936 said:
i have mentioned it a few times here, but i love the leupold fx ii 6x36mm as an all round hunting scope. 6x is just at the limit of too much mag for a close shot, while still being easily capable of a shot at several hundred yards. 6mm exit pupil makes for a very bright image. It's small and light at 9.6 oz, simple, great eye relief. Optically it is a match for any vx 3 (simpler to make a fixed scope with good optics.) reasonably priced too. I think they make a much better mountain rifle scope than the optically unimpressive leupold ultralight series.
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x2!
 
I have a number of Leupold fixed 2.5X and 4X scopes, I don't like a 6X fixed on my hunting rifles... I have taken MANY shots at ultra close distances and find 6X does not give me the FOV that I want under 20 yards... if I were a Western hunter, I would likely change my opinion... personally, I prefer a variable scope as there are many excellent options these days with good clarity and brightness to shoot in any legal light... I leave my variables set on the lowest magnification and only increase it if necessary, usually not.
 
Nothing wrong with a GOOD quality fixed power scope. People today seem obsessed with variables and high magnification. I can't count the number of 336 Marlins I have seen with 3-9x variables. The older generation thought a 6x was a high power scope suitable for long range shooting and today many flat shooting rifles are mounted with 4x-16x and higher variable power scopes. Jack O'Connor opined that for big game hunting a 4x scope was plenty and if it was too far to shoot at an animal at 4x the shot should be passed up. One advantage of the fixed power scope is durability as they are less prone to letting the hunter down in the field regardless of what some imagine is required.
 
I have a 4X on now and am going to a 6X soon (eyes getting older) Fixed power gives you better field of view as well as better light transmission. Fewer lenses and moving parts contribute to both.
 
I like fixed power scopes. Modern Weaver Classic K4 and K6 on my Handi-Rifle with .308Win and .223Rem barrels, another K6 on my Savage 24F .223Rem(12gua.) and old steel Weavers, K2.5 and K4 on Lee-Enfields. A Bushnell 4x32 rimfire on my semi-auto .22LR gopher gun, another Bushnell old made in Japan (by Bausch&Lomb) Banner 4x40 on my muzzleloader. Sort of like anglia2 said, if it's too far for these scopes, it's probably too far for me unless I start practising a lot more. I have a few variable power scopes, and when I carry those guns the magnification is set at the low end for default.
 
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I have mostly 2-10x variables, but I tend to keep them locked into the lower end while I am hunting. Two of my primary hunting rifles have both been on 4x for several years, accounting for both close and long distance shots. I find the 4x and 5x settings quite comfortable for anything under 600 metres.
 
I wish Leupold could have just kept making the M8 4x and added click adjustments. Glass was always good but coatings have improved. The slightly longer tube offered some latitude in mounting location. I have a couple of Bushnell Scopechiefs which are a nice length. The old K-4's are also good. There are reasons to like a short tube (strength and rigidity) but there are drawbacks as well.
Right now, I have 8 hunting rifles which wear various fixed power scopes and one which is saddled with a variable because I had it. I have a couple of variables on target rifles but mostly use fixed powers for those applications as well.
 

Here is a 6X42 on a favourite rifle, my 256 Newton Mod. 70., Mr. Leeper will recognize it.
For me its the perfect combination and I carry it more than any other.
 
I recently added scopes to my rifles after many years of receiver sights only. I did use a 2.5X20 M8 Leupy Compact ,today's Ultralight, on my 444 for a few years. To 250 yards I could make a good shot with decent clarity down to coyotes. Lately I added a M8 4X28 Compact and a Zeiss 4X32 for my 223 CZ 527. If I was a varmint hunter I would have gone to 6X on the 223.

The 2.5X20 was all I needed for big game but I restricted myself to 250 paces. It was surprisingly bright with its 8mm exit pupil. Someday I hope to add the new Ultralight 2.5X20 for the superior coatings and reported glass upgrades. Another sweetheart for low power is the SWFA 3X20 Custom Leupold with much more length than the little Compact. A costly pain to get in Canada!

http://swfa.com/Leupold-3x20-FX-2-Riflescope-P50862.aspx
 
conor_90 said:
Any impressions on the Leupold 2.5x scopes?
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I've owned two . My first one came with a Ruger M 77 Tropical in 458 WM . It was the older style with the longer body . Bullet proof little scope . It went with the rifle when I sold it , another one I should have kept .

The second one was a newer , shorter model that I got with a Marlin 1894 in 357 Mag . Again , a great little scope . I have heard some complain that they're harder to mount on a long action rifle because they are shorter . Having never tried , I can't comment , but since these scopes do get mounted on a fair number of long action , large caliber rifles , it would seem Leopold might have made a bit of a marketing error . I'm sure there are some on here who have used them on long actions , I'd defer to their experience . Other than that , they're great scopes .
 
Canuck Bob said:
Lately I added a M8 4X28 Compact and a Zeiss 4X32 for my
Another sweetheart for low power is the SWFA 3X20 Custom Leupold with much more length than the little Compact. A costly pain to get in Canada!
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Hey CanuckBob
Is there much difference between the M8 vs the Zeiss - clarity, brightness,
The SWFA 3x20 looks nice - does no one stock them in Canada?
 
BigUglyMan said:
A real Fudd has no need of click adjustments!
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A real Fudd uses a receiver sight, which is in effect a fixed power. :)

I just bought this olde clunker M98 with peep sight in 30/06. Now that is Fudd!

M98%203006_zpsjoghpa5y.jpg
 
The rifle I just bought came with a Leupold M8 4x scope on it, this is the first fixed scope I have used and I really like the light weight and generous eye relief it offers, and the magnification seems about right for big game hunting with a medium bore rifle, I may get some quick detach rings for it so I can use the express sights on it if I choose. So far the only thing I could complain about is that it is a gloss scope and my rifle has matte bluing, if that remains my biggest complaint then I will be quite content with it. It certainly has me thinking that if I do get a scope for my Ruger Scout that it will likely be a low powered fixed scope (though not necessarily an extended eye relief model for forward mounting).
 
What a great discussion! I have an older Busnell Banner 6x on a 22 hornet, no complaints other than the glass is not as clear at low light as my redfield revolution.

Kevan - what a sweet model 70!
 
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