Fixed Power Scopes

[Kjay]

I've used some "bargain" variable scopes in the past and found I was leaving them on one setting. The image clarity seemed to change with the power setting - not what I wanted. I'm not into long range shooting so 6x is probably the max magnification I could use. Are good quality variables really that much more versatile than a good quality fixed?

 

[redneck]

Pretty much all my shooting is inside 100 yards and I'm not even much of a fan on using scopes, so your mileage may vary. But I think I wouldn't want fixed power of more than 4 if your range is going to vary at all. At higher magnification it gets tough to find the target in close, and it can take up the whole sight picture.
I'd rather try to put the crosshairs on something tiny than not know which part of the target I'm seeing, but I shoot iron sights so it all gets tiny once you get out there a ways

 

[shooterIII]

I have a number of rifles that have 2.5 X 8 leupolds and my Springfield 30-06 has a 1.5 X 6 Swarowski (man what a scope) but the only times I use the upper magnifications is at the range because I have never had to shoot at much over 200 yds and even when I shot a moose at 200+ I only had the Swarowski at 6 power and I could see every thing great. So IMHO a 4X is good for anything 200 yds and less.

Stan

 

[E=MC^2]

1.5 X 6 Swarowski (man what a scope)

My thoughts exactly. I've came to the conclusion this is probably the perfect MN Whitetail scope. This is mainly because it can get down to 1.5X in heavy brush. When turned up to 6X the reticle has grown with the magnification making it excellant for lowlight conditions.

The glass easily adds 15-30 minutes on each end of the hunting day, the time most find to be peek. Actually I spent an entire night glassing deer with mine last month. Probably the next best thing to night vision. I considered the fixed 8X56 for these conditions but had to have the large reticle the Euro variables can produce. Now I have 2 of the 1.5-6X42 Swaros. Will be adding a 3rd next year.

Back on topic, I used fixed 6X for nearly 20 years before I got into the Swarovskis. Having now been introduced to lower powers I would consider 4X max for me, were I to go with a fixed power. People might suggest purchasing a variable and just leaving it on one power. Here you are just adding extra lenses that are eating light transmission.

Nikon produces a 4X40 Monarch that I've found to have excellant clarity. It's also fairly inexpensive. The Monarch series is advertised as giving 94% light transmission with their variables. The fixed versions might be slightly more. Could be something to look into.

 

[JohnKSa]

My understanding is that for a given quality level and if lens size is comparable, a fixed power scope will have better light transmission and image quality--to say nothing of being lower priced.

If you find you're using your variable on one power nearly all the time then you're shorting yourself on image quality. You could have had a better quality image and better light transmission for the same price in a fixed power scope.

Then, there's the issue of reliability. The fixed scope has fewer lenses and fewer moving parts.