Any love for fixed scopes?

[Downeast]

I probably have half dozen SWFA SS scopes in fixed 10 and 12. They are great scopes in a pinch and as backups when one of the "high maintenance" brands fall flat on their face and have be sent back to the "beauty parlor".

 

[pertnear]

For a .22lr hunting rifle, a nice fixed 4x or less is the way to go! I can't believe they even make variable .22 hunting scopes.

 

[Emmett Dibble]

You have a whole lot of silhouette shooters who have been feeling the lack of lightweight fixed power scopes for a while... We have weight limits on the rifles and Leupold was really the only show in town.

 

[Bob3700]

love my Leupold 24x. Great glass n light weight compared to the variables in that power range. When u hold up a rifle in your two hands, weight becomes a factor. The higher power variables add significant wt. to already hefty rifles.

 

[SSL]

Personally, I like variable power scopes for most hunting, varminting and target work for their ability to adjust for conditions. I do however have a scope that a friend gave me many years ago as a joke that has weathered a lot of conditions and rifles. He had picked it up at one of the countless gun shows he attended for the princely sum of $5...new in the box. It is a 6X42 Ultralux, a scope neither of us had even heard of at the time (and little good about them since). Glass is exceptional and focus is amazingly sharp and it has proven to be exceptionally rugged. It has spent time on a .45-70 Marlin, .30-06, .444 and now has rested for some years on a Pedersoli Rolling Block .50-caliber muzzle-loader that kicks like a Missouri mule. It still works perfectly and I haven't had the crosshairs blow out like so many other 'cheap' scopes have done. I have found that the 6X is great for deer in light brush and out to maybe 200 yards, making it a good choice for changing conditions without adjusting.
Does that mean I would look for another one? Nope, a good variable is still my preference, but I learned to not just dismiss the 'lowly' fixed-power scope.

 

[danny]

For a .22lr hunting rifle, a nice fixed 4x or less is the way to go! I can't believe they even make variable .22 hunting scopes.

I don't have an issue with variables on a rimfire. You don't have to use the feature, and fixed scopes are becoming less common. With that said, I prefer fixed when I can use/get them, and on a rimfire, 4 or 6x is good, but I probably prefer 6x a bit.

Danny

 

[rjtfroggy]

I had a 4x Leupold on a model 1300 Win. for 10 - 12 years never missed a deer in the Ct. woods, but there are not many long shots there either.
I use 6x, 40x, 45x, for BR just depends on what class I'm shooting at the time, really enjoy the challenge of the 6x hunter class, unfortunately the 6x's have been discontinued so it may become a dying competition class.

 

[topclass2017]

replaced a variable scope (20x max) with a fixed scope (25x) on my smallbore silhouette rifle to save weight. the 3-4 ounce difference meant I made weight for both classes with the same rifle

 

[rkittine]

On short range benchrest out to 300 yards I am using fixed power scopes, more for weight savings than anything else.

 

[Larry Koch]

I thought thats all they make is fixed power.

 

[john 800]

When i was a kid (14 or 15 maybe, in the mid 90s) I saved money from odd jobs and pop cans and bought a rem 700 with a varmint barrel and laminated stock, didn’t have money for a scope, so I borrowed my dads old scope off his deer rifle, a 50s or 60s vintage weaver fixed 6 power with a fine crosshair. Certainly not what I wanted, but it was clear enough for what i was doing with it and I came to appreciate the fine crosshair and later missed it when I “upgraded” it tracked perfectly and held zero. Shot alot of my personal best groups with rhat scope and rifle, and learned alot shooting it.

Also, imho of note: for many years, as I understand, the standard issue scope for US military snipers was a fixed power scope with a mil dot reticle. I would put money that the minds working for uncle sam wanted the snipers to know ranging and holdovers inside and out and a reticle like a mil dot and fixed power scope would make it much more KISS

 

[potatojudge]

Both have their place. I have Zeiss, Leupold, and S&B fixed power scopes on some rifles and variables on others. I do enjoy the simplicity and lightweight of fixed power scopes, but for hunting a good, modern variable gives you great light gathering and zoom range, and actually does help resolve deer from brush at some ranges in some lighting.

I could live with a fixed 6x BDC reticle illuminated scope with great glass as my primary hunting scope.

That said, I'm primarily a handgun hunter and fixed 2x or 4x scopes are the norm so the mindset of not relying on high magnification is entrenched already.

For hunters, good binoculars can bridge the gap and help you know what you're shooting with your 6x scope in low light.

 

[Fast14riot]

Those 10x Bushy Tacs are a hellofa scope for $150 when they were available. I'd like to have another!

My fixed 10 on my hunting gun is a Bushnell Elite 3200, fantastic little inexpensive scope!

 

[PRR1957]

I’ve been a fan of fixed power scopes for handguns and rifles. A few years ago at a gun show I happened across a long since discontinued Burris second gen 10x long eye relief scope to mount on a custom Sako Vixan PPC action handgun. With its optics in pristine condition and fine duplex reticle I can resolve woodchucks out past 300 yards. Plus it has PA and target turrets with 1/8” adjustments. I have and had plenty of high dollar firearms scopes over the years, but that Burris the one I cherish the most.

 

[300_whisper]

I like 2x, 3x, 4x, and 6x. I have the fixed 3x p223 on my 10/22. They have their place. Also, simple design makes them pretty tough. Couldn’t agree more on the SWFAs as well.

 

[Herzo]

Rules for the CMP sniper match limit my Swedish Mauser to a Weaver K4. Seems to work for me!

 

[sscoyote]

Recently I found a 6X Japanese Tasco LER scope with i think .25' dot, and stuck it on my Ruger Charger Kidd barrel for prairie dogs. One of the best things I've done optics-wise in some time.

 

[danny]

Recently I found a 6X Japanese Tasco LER scope with i think .25' dot, and stuck it on my Ruger Charger Kidd barrel for prairie dogs. One of the best things I've done optics-wise in some time.

6X seems about ideal for a straight power rimfire and it is what I have on mine.

Danny

 

[FNSafari]

Agreed. One of my all time favorites was a 2-7 power I ran on my .308. If I was hunting in the thick stuff it was turned down for maximum field of view. When I hit the field at the end of the day, it would get jacked up.

JM, agree! I have several Denver Redfield 2-7X scopes and all are great at tracking and holding POI. Much under-rated used scope and they can be fixed if necessary. I had one I had to send to IronSight to clean up the glass and re-seal it.

 

[FNSafari]

My opinion of fixed sight, or even a variable, is that it has to track and hold POI. So, with a scope exhibiting those traits the next important thing to me is the objective lens size(light gathering ability). As I've gotten older the smaller objectives, under about 30mm, just don't cut it for me as sunset approaches of if I'm in dense woods. I now need all three traits.