Which Fixed Power Scope To Look For

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AKMtnRunner

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I don't have much experience with scopes so I'm asking for suggestions on which ones to look for. It's to sit on a 375 Ruger Guide Gun. I'll be hunting for large moose, caribou, perhaps bear if the opportunity presents itself. The longest I would shoot game would be a sheep or goat within 300 yds as I know my limitations and it's not likely I will fire hundreds of rounds to become a sharp shooter. So the magnification does not need to be high, I am thinking 6x tops and leaning more to around 3 or 4x.

Priorities order:
Price < $500, hence another reason for fixed power
Durability, it'll take it's fair share of 375 recoil, bumps, and extreme weather
Compactness, (<35mm bell) thinking this will help durability
Field of view, I hate having to pan around aimlessly to spot what I just saw

I'd like to know what to keep an eye out for on the used market. Thanks!
 
I love me a fixed power scope.

Leupold FXIII. 6x42 is next on my list. I plan to put it on my 336, at some point I need to return the old Redfield TV screen 2-7x I borrowed.

I have a 6x Super Sniper on my Blackout. It has a really bright picture and is really a well made scope for the money. This rifle takes a beating. It is my ranch rifle, so it is a truck gun, it rides on the quad or UTV, and dragged through the brush. It has been dropped and bumped, rained and snowed on and never lost zero. I have since put a SWFA SS 10x on my daughter's rifle, and it is just as sweet.

My buddy has an old Leupold 4x on his 22mag, it is a creampuff, a really nice optic.

He just bought a Weaver K series in 6x to stick on his Blackout, I haven't gotten to shoot it, but just looking through the scope it looks great.



For some darn reason, Leupold seems to be the only manufacturer making a scope in gloss finish anymore. I just don't like the look of a matte black scope on a classic blued rifle.
 
Interesting you mention the Leupold 6x42, there's an used Leupold M8 6x42 by me for $200. What is it you like about that one?

There's also a Leupold FX 2.5x20 Ultralight near me for $180.

Decisions, decisions
 
The Leupold 6x has long been a favorite scope of mine, but...I don't think it will be a good choice for a .375 Ruger. The very nature of that rifle would limit me to a 4x if I required a fixed scope. I do prefer a fixed scope but don't have one mounted on my 35 Whelen Guide Gun (a rebored 30-06.) I do have a leupold ultralight 2.5x on my .358 Win Frontier rifle. I chose a low power variable 2-8x Nikon Monarch as a primary scope and carry it on 3x normally. I also have a 1-4x Nikon Monarch with German reticle in an extra set of rings and closely available if I decide to use it. I have had no problem with my Nikons (yet) and I prefer them to the many Leupolds I have used over the years primarily for their fast focus and clarity. You would not go wrong with any reputable brand in a small variable scope.
 
If I had a m8 x6 close to me for 200 I'd buy it to have for the next rifle but that 375 needs something 1.5 - 2.5, no more than 4. If you go top quality you will have plenty of brightness in the scope even in low light with the smaller bell.
 
I've never used one but the Leupold 6X42 has an excellent reputation for low light use and rugged dependability. On a different rifle I could see it making an excellent choice.

Personal opinion, but I think it is too much magnification for what you want to do though. Great for the longer shots, but a bit of a handicap for the closer work I'd imagine a 375 would be called on to do. I'd think a fixed 4X would work better, at least for me. Or a good variable in the 2-7X range

To me this would be the perfect match for a 375

http://swfa.com/Leupold-175-6x32-VX-3-Riflescope-P12640.aspx
 
In general there is a tendency to choose a scope that is too high power ( it's the American way...bigger =better).

I'd be looking at 4X power , maybe less.... Good clear, bright glass helps a bunch !
 
On the expected targets of the large sizes you mention, less magnification and more angle of view would be my choice.
How much would depend on your eyesight.
But less is definitely better than more in this choice.
 
I'd go with a reg 4X.
But have always had a hankerin' for a 6x 42mm with AO.
They a bit on the pricey side.
 
Fixed or variable, it's glass in a tube.
All can break.
I run a 4-12X on my yote rig, but for deer run a 2-7X. Low power makes movers up close easy. Used to run a 4X compact Leupold on my slug gun, worked and I could smoke movers up close when things were silly fast.
But I shoot both eyes open and have scopes low, stocks that fit correctly.
My AR, for yotes, runs a 2-7X.

I'm not sold on a fixed power scope being all that superior in strength over a modern variable.

One oops and any can be ruined.

Even a few decades back my western hunting buds either brought a backup rifle and or a backup scope (in rings, previously zeroed). Only took a few shots with a quickly swapped scope/rings to get a rig back in action after one scope got stepped on, gun in soft case, back of truck.
 
Thanks everyone for your thoughts, even the suggestions for a variable. I've used a Weaver V series 2-10x38 on this rifle before and found that in that moment of getting ready for the shot, the fewer details to manage, the better for me. I don't like having to think, okay what's the scope set on now, what do I want it set to, how do I adjust the aim for that magnification . . . while I could be paying that much more attention to the animal and making more accurate adjustments because I am very familiar with one magnification. If folks can learn to shoot well at 300 yds with iron sights, surely I should be able to use 2.5x with precise cross hairs. And I do intend on hand loading a "do everything" load/bullet combination and becoming very familiar with it's trajectory.

I've decided to get the Leupold 2.5x20 Ultralight. I love how it is small, has generous eye relief, great field of view, and should be very bright. While I'll use this rifle for all of my big game hunting and I do want to be able to make those longer shots, needing to take long shots is not my goal and me not doing my part. I don't want to find myself struggling to keep the cross hairs on my intended placement.

Thanks again
 
Well, here she is. I really like its small size. I could even drop it down onto shorter rings but I can already see the front sight post in the bottom of the view. Should work well!
 

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Do you realize that a duplex reticle and variable power can be used as a kinda sorta rangefinder?

And once you shoot a bit, even without using the scope as a rangefinder, you'll not have to think about stuff so much.

Zero at highest mag, everything less is................lesser.

Me thinks you worry too much.

More range and field time should erase it :)
 
In general there is a tendency to choose a scope that is too high power ( it's the American way...bigger =better).

I'd be looking at 4X power , maybe less.... Good clear, bright glass helps a bunch !
Click to expand...
All my rifles that don't have 4X scopes have 2.5X scopes -- with two exceptions: I have a Burris Mini 3X9 on my Ruger 7722M and a Weaver K6 on my Kimber M82 in .22 Hornet.

My dad hunted all over the world with a 99 Savage mounting a Weaver K2.5.
 
I have both a fixed 4x and a fixed 2.75x on my hunting rifles. I'm happy with both. The 2.75x seems enough mag when I've shot steel at 400 yards. I'd never shoot that far hunting.
 
You`ve put your self into a box.............

For $500 ( your number) you can get a really nice variable scope that will serve you better than a fixed at your "possible" yardage.

Check out the Natchez. Scopes heaven.
 
Akmtnrunner

Sounds like you'll be in grizzly country most of the time. If so, retaining the use of your open sights, when needed, would be a priority for me. A quick detachable mount that will allow you to use the open sights and retain their zero when reattached may be as important as the scope. Like when you have game down (skinning and working it up), or traveling ( packing meat) near thick brush that may harbor a grizzly. You'll have to research the height of the mounts (so they don't interfere with the sights) and which ones are proven to work. The Griffin and Howe side mount (If money is no object), and the Leupold quick release come to mind and there may be others.

At an extremely close range grizzly any scope will be too big. OYE
 
Sav .250 said:
You`ve put your self into a box.............

For $500 ( your number) you can get a really nice variable scope that will serve you better than a fixed at your "possible" yardage.

Check out the Natchez. Scopes heaven.
Click to expand...
will second this^

at that price point, no need for a fixed power, not sure what the point of fixed power is if you want fixed power just keep your 3-9x50 or whatever on one of the 7 settings.
 
I just can't justify the extra scope size when all I'll need is low magnification. When I need to look far to spot, count brow tines, estimate antler size, I have my binoculars. But I do have a decent 2-10 variable scope to use if I change my mind. For now, I am happy with the 2.5x Ultralight.

I'll think more about quick detach mounts. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
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