Fixed power scopes

[ChrisG]

Other factors being equal, the fixed-power scope should be brighter than the variable-power scope. Variables have extra sets of lenses that fixeds don't need. Every lens the light passes through absorbs and reflects at least a small percent of the light. No amount of lens-crafting brilliance can change this bit of physics. Since the fixeds are much simpler in design and have fewer lenses, they should be noticeably brighter than variable scopes.

That said, I have to admit that most of my scopes are variables.

Not only that, but because less stuff inside the scope needs to be buttoned down tight to keep it in place, they are typically lighter, and far sturdier for comparable variable scopes. Leupold built its indestructable reputation with its old fixed power scopes. I once saw aleupold ad where someone had found a rifle that had been dropped down a cliff and never recovered. It laid there for years until someone found it. The rifle was completely useless. The scope however, was still clear and bright... Or so the ad goes.

 

[Newboomer]

Fellow Rifle Enthusiasts,

If I were not so easily distractible, aka - forgetful, I might hold variable power scopes in higher regard.
I definitely do understand how carrying a variable power scope on low power in case the quarry presents itself at extremely close range (happens to me more often than I would have ever guessed when I was first developing a keen interest in hunting).
Then, if you arrive at some wide open space, such as one hill top, looking way over to the next or, across a large pond, etc., etc., and you see your quarry, barely visible in the foliage/shadows, you could hopefully have time to turn up your scope before settling in for your careful , to be more sure of a vital hit.
I totally understand that and wish it worked for me.

But alas, when I did hunt with a variable scope (when I was 18 to 19 years young, I put a Redfield 6 to 18x on my .244 Remington), I all too often discovered my scope on the wrong setting for the situation I stumbled into.
No fault of the scope whatsoever, strictly the fault of the operator.
After a couple of frustrating encounters with very fast moving, erratic / close range jack rabbits, that literally "leaped out of my scope" before I could touch-off a proper shot, I just left the dern thing set on low power at all times.

Eventually, I sold that over-powered, (especially in hot weather with mirage/heat wave target distortion, over about 9 or 10x) "top-heavy/too many options" thing and bought a Leupold fixed 3x to go on my then brand new Ruger M77, in .257 Roberts that, I traded in my old .244 Remington Model 722 towards.
With the .257 and 3x scope in Ruger rings, I proceeded to bag untold numbers of crazy-running jack rabbits at close range, as well as the ones missed but, foolish enough to stop out at much longer distances, then stand up on their hind legs and look back at me - RIP.

Also, in spite of the low magnification, I continued counting coupe on the local ground squirrels.
Last but not least, one of my best shots with any rifle scope / rifle combination in my life was with the 3x scope on that .257 / 100 grain Hornady Spire point at about 2900 fps on a standing coyote, stepped off across a flat stubble field to 396 long "goose step" paces (I'm about 6' tall), very proud of that one.

Well anyway, I have stayed with fixed power scopes all these many long years with no complaints.
My favorite big game hunting scope these days is as mentioned earlier, the 1980's model of Zeiss 4x that has the rubber coating over the front bell.
With that scope on a Mauser .300 H&H / 180 gr Nosler Partition going a little over 2800 fps, I shot a dozen game animals in Namibia, including one just a tick over 400 meters, according to the PH's Leica range finder.

I do not necessarily make a habit of shooting that far at live targets but, I do confess to having done so a very few times in my life and a larger scope would surely have made it easier/more sure of a precise hit, way out there.
However, that being said - I have yet to loose an animal, large or small, due to not being able to crank my scope up to some higher magnification.
I've definitely lost opportunity due to having too much magnification at close range, (as described in my jack rabbit portion of this rambling senile manifesto) - again, no fault of the variable scope, only the fault of my skittish brain cells.

One more thing that I like about fixed power scopes is that when I finally close with my quarry, I am not tempted to waste a precious second or two, jacking around with the power adjustments on my scope when, I should be touching off a carefully aimed shot at my soon to run away target.

Parting Shot as it were:
The secret to using a low powered scope at long range is the same secret for using a high powered scope at long range - from field positions, especially the sticks, you practice, practice, practice and then practice some more.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

I can equate to missing a shot by fiddling with the power ring. I had a coyote at about 100 yards on 4 power and I thought I'd be brilliant and crank up the power. He figured that out right quick and took off for parts unknown. I use variables now but leave them on low except to check holes in paper or if I have time to play with them on a long shot with the prey not knowing I'm there. Problem is, the higher the power the more the movement of the crosshairs.

 

[mdwest]

growing up I thought a 3-9 x 40 was the answer to all questions regarding optics.. I put a 3-9 on literally every rifle I owned.. from about the age of 14 until 40...

It took me a long time to wake up and realize that in 25+ years of hunting, I had never shot an animal on anything greater than 4 power.. even at distances of a couple of hundred yards.. and a lot of times I wished I had something lower than 3x when I was trying to take a shot at something that wandered directly under my tree stand or on a hog that I just bounced out of the bush in front of me at 20 yards, etc..etc..

So.. while a little late in life.. I am a bit of a convert.. and a few of my shorter range rifles and carbines now sport either 4x fixed or 2-7x adjustables..

 

[Clayton]

...Problem is, the higher the power the more the movement of the crosshairs.

Movement of the crosshairs is the same with all the scopes. You just see it more with the higher magnification.

 

[Velo Dog]

Now with 4x and 5x zoom ranges common, variables are more versatile that ever. I run a 3-15x on the bulk of rifles these days but a 2-10x is a nice option on a DG scope that doubles as a plains game rifle and 5-25x is ideal for a varmint rifle. Zeiss just came out with a scope with 8x zoom range. A 1-8x seems just about perfect for a DG rifle and 2.8-20x for everything else.

I like the extra moving parts and variable power options on my wife, not so much on my rifle scopes.

 

[Ernie Shipman]

I had a Weaver 6x on my CZ 22 Hornet for several years & loved it; never felt handicapped. Used it mainly @ my farm for pest control. I just ordered a Leupold FXII 6x for my Kimber 243. I wanted a light set up for antelope & target shooting.

 

[Ronnie Pace]

My favorite scope is a Meopta 6x42 with a #4 reticle. It replaced my old favorite Leupold 6x42 scopes. I have shot critters from 10 ft to over 400 yards with these scopes and never felt handicapped at either distance.

 

[Scrumbag]

I must admit, my scopes tend to live on the bottom end of mag for working around, whatever satisfies the Mag/Obj = 6mm equation when in a high seat and on max for zeroing....

 

[Ray B]

Several years back I was involved in Hunter class Benchrest shooting. there were weight limits and scope power limited to 6. The Burris & Leupold fixed 6x's were far and away the most common scope used.

 

[Tam Dl]

what would be a good fixed scope for DG. Not a common item around here, everything ends at 1x4. I'd like the lowest possible magnification.

 

[Royal27]

Then why not use a red dot?

 

[larry4831]

I like a fixed power scope. I have a 416 Ruger and I have a VX3 straight six on it. If your gun fits you ,you throw it up and the scope is right there. Good for 30 yards out to 300 yards.

 

[Tam Dl]

Not against using one at all. I have several rifles with the TRS 25 on them. One thing I did discover is that they don't work for some reason if you have astigmatism, and you aren't out of the woods if your sight is corrected. Initially I bought a cheap red dot, that none the less had a reputation for indestructibility. It was terrible with my astigmatism, I saw like 6 dots. The TRS25 is just slightly less focused than it should be, so I get by with it.

I was surprised, because I do have astigmatism in my left eye, but my aiming eye is "fine" or so I thought.

Red dots are not as precise, however. Scopes can have the advantage of good acquisition at close ranges and reasonably precise fire at longer ranges.

There are other options I haven't tried, like an aimpoint, or an eotech.

The rifle I have is a Ruger 77, and doesn't have forward optics capabilities, which is too bad.

 

[Velo Dog]

Not against using one at all. I have several rifles with the TRS 25 on them. One thing I did discover is that they don't work for some reason if you have astigmatism, and you aren't out of the woods if your sight is corrected. Initially I bought a cheap red dot, that none the less had a reputation for indestructibility. It was terrible with my astigmatism, I saw like 6 dots. The TRS25 is just slightly less focused than it should be, so I get by with it.

I was surprised, because I do have astigmatism in my left eye, but my aiming eye is "fine" or so I thought.

Red dots are not as precise, however. Scopes can have the advantage of good acquisition at close ranges and reasonably precise fire at longer ranges.

There are other options I haven't tried, like an aimpoint, or an eotech.

The rifle I have is a Ruger 77, and doesn't have forward optics capabilities, which is too bad.

Even though I prefer fixed power scopes, if I had a sturdy 1 to 4 power variable on a powerful short range rifle, set down low over the bore, I'd try my best to remember to carry it in 1x and then I'd probably be a fairly happy fellow in hunting camp.

 

[Tam Dl]

It doesn't seem reasonable to carry extra weight, pay extra, and get an optic that is more fragile, if one doesn't want any of that stuff. But I am sure you are right that the conventional choice would be fully functional.

As far as the overall thread is concerned, I thought there would be more on variables being less rugged. Of course since they are so popular people don't have much to compare them to. Some of the writer types tell stories about their lessor scopes coming apart with regularity. I have been lucky with my Burris and Leupold optics. And even some very down market types designed for air rifles. Air guns, well the spring guns, tear the heck out of scopes.

It is also possible there never was much of an issue with variable scopes. If one tends in that direction, any breakdown is likely to be blamed on the variable mechanism, though if it was something like fogging it might not be a seal related to that at all. Likewise, missing using a fixed power scope may well be blamed on the lack of higher powers, as though one was incapable of a miss where it not for an imperfection in the equipment.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I started my hunting over 40 years ago with a fixed 4x40 Rhino scope and never found it lacking.
All my variables sit on the lowest power and only get wound up if I have the time.
I would love a kahles 8x56 on my lowall Hornet but the price is above my means. Even 2nd hand if you can find one they are over a thousand dollars.
Bob

 

[James Adamson]

My 30-06 and 6.5x55 are both tikkas, one is blued with a walnut stock and the other is blued with laminated stock and both wear a 8x56 schmidt and bender. I love the simplicity of the fixed power scope and the light gathering in the S&B scopes is fantastic. I definitely think that it helps me shoot better with both rifle set ups being almost identical, the muscle memory is the same for both and the bolt operation is identical. My .223 is also a tikka which is stainless/synthetic but has a zeiss scope with variable power for longer range pest control, rabbits crows etc. With this set up I can set the scope to 8 power and practice with cheaper ammo from various hunting/stalking positions, again it's the same muscle memory and with the tikkas actions being the same length for all calibres the bolt operation is the same.

 

[Hunt anything]

I have a pre 64 30-06 that my dad bought in South Dakota in the 50’s. It has an old k4 weaver and to my knowledge it has never had to be adjusted. When I go to visit I always take it to deer hunt. It is a great combination for our dense woods, I’ve never had to shoot over 100 yards with this combo and I really like the extra fine cross hairs on it until it starts to get dark. That is one rifle that I will never give up!

 

[noyb72]

Wow,
this thread has been going for a long time. Just read all of it, because I am a fixed power nut. Jeff Cooper said variable magnification and internal adjustments are bad, and I followed along.

I really like Nikon scopes, even though I haven't read much about them on here. I have one of the old 4x Buckmasters on a 30-06 and the 3x designed for the AR on a 300 Savage Arisaka that I take everywhere with me other than hunting. 100s of rounds, never had an issue, never worried about a power ring, always as bright as I needed them to be in the dark woods.

 

[sestoppelman]

Nikon used to make good scopes, but no longer make them and many got mad because they dropped them.
I have been using a Nikon 3-9 for years and my boys model 70 has a Buckmaster on it, they work fine.