Hunting Rifle scope - Fixed vs. Variable power.

[itgoesboom]

Yup, I am still researching the scope for my hunting rifle. This might take awhile.

So the question today is:

What is a better choice for a big game rifle? Variable power vs. Fixed power.

If you could please list advantages, disadvantages, opinions, and anything else that you think might be relevant to the decision I am making.

I.G.B.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I guess it would all depend on what type of hunting your gonna do and where your going to do it at.

I decided on a Burris Fullfield 2 in 3X9X40 with the mil-dot reticle for my
30-06. It gives me good field of view along with the ability to have points on the reticle to hold out to different yardages.

I sight it in at 100 yds with my 165gr Sierra Gameking loads. The second dot down hits the bull at 210 yds. Haven't tried the 3rd dot down yet.

If its long range shooting for say Antelope then something higher than 9 power might be on the books. For 100yds and under you could get away with a 4 power fixed scope.

When I hunted back in Missouri I never went above 4 power since I was hunting in woods and my max shot was 90yds.

Dunno if this helps.

 

[cracked butt]

Fixed or variable doesn't matter too much, just don't set the power too high unless you are taking a very long shot.

FWIW, I use a Leupold 2-7x scope and leave it set to 2x for where I hunt. 3-9x scopes seem to be the most popular.

 

[sumpnz]

Since you want pro's/con's:

Variable Pro: More flexibility, most scopes are variable so there's an easy selection of second hand ones available

Variable Con: More expensive than fixed for the same optical quality (but any decent brand will have more than adequate optical quality for hunting purposes), less robust - easier to break

Fixed Pro: Less expensive for a given optical quality, more rugged, no real need for more than a good fixed power can give, lighter weight

Fixed Con: less selection of used examples, if you want to take that rare longer shot you can't crank up the power, dweebs at the range might sneer (but who cares about them anyway)

 

[cracked butt]

Fixed Pro: Less expensive for a given optical quality

Fixed Pro: Less expensive for a given optical quality

It should be that way and I always believed it to be true until I did price comparisons, but in practice a 3-9x variable scope can cost the same as a 4x fixed power scope of the exact same optical quality because the manufacturers produce ALOT more 3-9x variable scopes.

 

[dfaugh]

I'm a big fan of the variables, notably in the case of a deer/big game rifle. When you're in the woods where shots are likely to be short, you can dial down to get a wider field of view and faster target auisition, but in a more open area, you can crank it up for longer shots.

WHICH one to choose would depend on the various conditions you're likely to encounter (and the gun/caliber limitations fo clean shots)... For example, what I might put on a 30-30 would be quite differnent than a .270 or 30-06, given the length of reasonable shots you might take.

3-9x is good all around, but I might go (a bit) higher or lower depending on conditions and gun.

P.S. I'm NOT of the school that says you need to spend a ton of money for a scope, I've had good luck with less expensive ones for years...So I would put a relatively inexpensive one on, and see if it works out, then you can always get a different and/or better scope later.

 

[Bwana John]

I dont like variables.
Scopes for me begin and end with the Luepold M8 4X.

 

[Essex County]

I'm a fixed power type of person. Keep it simple, buy quality...Essex

 

[Legionnaire]

Ditto for "it depends." I'm a fan of fixed 4X scopes for the woods. Problem is that not all my shooting is done in the woods. So a couple of my rifles are 4X, but most are Leupold variables. Big game = low power. Varmints = high power. So my favorite deer rig wears a Leupold 2-7X compact, whereas my walk-around varmint gun is a 6.5-20X.

I like good optics: Leupold, Nikon, and Burris mostly.

 

[HankB]

Generally, I prefer good variables. For example, I've had a Leupold Vari-X II on my .30/06 for over 30 years, thousands of rounds, three safaris, and conditions ranging from subzero Minnesota winters to 100+ Texas summers. Never a problem.

On the other hand, I put a Leupold 6x42 with heavy crosshairs on my .375, because 1) I like 6x on that rifle; 2) The rifle fits me so well the 6x mag is not too much power, even for close shots; 3) The 'scope has 4 1/2" of eye relief.

Others may disagree, but on a centerfire rifle, be prepared to spend at least several hundred dollars for a decent 'scope.

 

[foghornl]

My humble 1/50th of $1...

For my .22LR and my .30/30 (OK, let me install my asbestos bloomers before you guys crank up the burners... ) I use fixed-power 4x32 scopes.

On my Mossberg ATR-100 in .30-06 I have a variable 3-9x50.

Your Mileage Will Vary

 

['Card]

I deer hunt with a Remington 7400 in .30-06, normally moving (I don't use treestands or that sort of thing) and normally in fairly rough terrain with dense cover. I prefer low-end (meaning cheap) variable power scopes for the type of hunting I usually do. I need low mag (3X) for fast target acquisition for that close range snap shot, and I need the 9X for those rare occasions when I spot the deer down in the holler or on the opposite ridgeline.

So why do I specifically like cheap scopes? The typical hunting season will have me getting rained on, snowed on, climbing in and out of rocky creek beds, up and down the occasional cliff face, beating my way through laurel thickets, tumbling down the occasional hillside... whatever. I'm hard on my equipment. Hell, sometimes I'll strap my deer rifle to a kayak and paddle some whitewater if that's what it takes to get to where I want to be - although for the last few years I've only got the 'yak out during bow season.

The point being that from my point of view, it'd be stupid to invest a ton of money in a gun and/or a scope that I'm just going to abuse the hell out of - especially when (in my opinion) if you know what you're doing you can get performance that's every bit as good from the cheap ones as you can from the high-dollar stuff.

My current favorite scope is a BSA I bought from Bass Pro two years ago for around $60. 3x9x50mm, waterproof, and as reliable and consistent as any scope I've ever tried.

 

[Sulaco]

I like variable power scopes. Nowadays optics quality is so good, there is no real benefit to a fixed power other than the simplicity. The prices are better on fixed power, but not by much and certainly not in all cases.