Pro's and Cons for fixed V variable power scopes please

[Ogre6br]

Hi
I use Fixed power scopes on all my rifles except my air gun and that hardly every changes of 8X so it may as well be fixed.

I am getting a .338 Federal and I am wondering if I should scope it with a Fixed 2.5 scope
or something in a variable 1.5-6 or 2.5-10?

I have really no modern experience with variable scopes and have no idea what they are capable of in terms of accuracy of movement, movement of reticle when power changed, sturdyness, first or second plane reticle- which is better, side focus V AO, variation in eye relief, changing in twilight factor and exit pupil with power change.

all the variables I have ever owned were purchased years ago and were in the low to very low $$ end of the market and had all or some of these problems.

I am looking for something in the $500-$1000 range, probably with a 30mm tube and will consider a larger than 40mm objective but dont really know their advantage with a lower power variable. please explain if there is one.

Thanks

later
p

 

[M700]

Ogre - like you, I really appreciate a good fixed power scope. I imagine you're getting the .338 Federal for hunting, likely deer, black bear and maybe something bigger like elk, out to 250 or maybe 300 yards. If that's what I was doing, I'd pop a compact Leupold 4x on there in about a half a heartbeat and be done with it. I've got one of those great little 2.5x fixed Leupold scopes on my .45-70 Marlin for the same purpose - but I see it as a 150 yard or 200 yard rifle at the max. The 2.5x compact does exactly what I need it to do on that rifle. With a little more range, I'd appreciate a 4x, and in fact I have one on my .30-06 general purpose hunting rifle.

All that said - I've found that in some cases a variable is a real nice thing to have on a hunting rifle. Walking through black timber or thick brush it's nice to dial down to 1.5x or whatever setting is lowest. Once in my blind, with a clear field of view covering a meadow or other open area, it's nice to zoom up to 5x or more. On a multi-purpose rifle, like my .25-06, I've found the 4.5-14x Leupold to be an excellent scope. I walk around with it on 4.5x for deer. Also dial down to 4.5x for coyote calling when shots are likely to be at shorter ranges at moving targets. For sniping rockchucks, it's hard to knock being able to dial in 10x or 14x... I've seen no change in point of impact while changing from 4.5-14x, and have had no reliability issues related to the variable power feature.

Likely doesn't answer everything - but FWIW - those are my thoughts based on experience.

Regards, Guy