Who Makes a Good 4X Fixed Power Scope?

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drivadesl

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I looked at Leupold, Nikon, Burris, Swarovsky even Zeiss for a fixed power for my .30-.30 Marlin model 36A. The only fixed power scopes I see are 4X32 which are meant for .22 rifles. I'd like a larger objective if possible, (or am I wrong about the 4x32?) Otherwise, all low power scopes are variables, (1-5 etc) which I don't need in a woods scope. Plus theyre more $$. Anyone have any suggestions or comments on this? Thanks.
 
4x32 scopes aren't just for rimfires, unless they're set to be parallax free at 50 yards from the factory. Low power fixed magnification scopes have smaller objectives because there's no reason to have a larger objective. Larger objectives gather more light. A larger exit pupil diameter will allow your eye to see more of this light. A small fixed power scope like the Zeiss Conquest 4x32 MC has an exit pupil diameter of 8.0 mm. Your pupil is no more than 6 or 7 mm in diameter at the maximum, so having a larger objective would simply mean wasted glass. If you divide the size of the objective by the magnification power, you'll get the exit pupil diameter of your scope.

For hunting applications, a large exit pupil gives your eye more area to see what you're looking at. Divide the objective size by the magnification power to figure out the exit pupil on other scopes as well. Some of higher magnifications make it more difficult to hunt because you can't see through it as well. I hunt with a 4x fixed scope exclusively and don't worry about ranges out to a few hundred yards. I do use a laser rangefinder on longer shots.
 
The Leupold FX is a great 4x for any centerfire rifle.
Great eye relief and very lightweight.
Well worth the money.
 
Great sale price ($299) on a great scope (Zeiss Conquest, 4x fixed) -- I picked one up several weeks back and couldn't be happier.
Click to expand...


The Zeiss Conquest 4X32 is a super scope. Have two of them on my guns and received another one from Cabela's yesterday.
 
Hardshell said:
Great sale price ($299) on a great scope (Zeiss Conquest, 4x fixed) -- I picked one up several weeks back and couldn't be happier.
Click to expand...

Wow, it's priced at $249.88 right now! That's a steal for that scope. It's what I use on my hunting rifle, a Remington 700 MTN in .30-06. Works perfectly for Wisconsin hunting conditions.
 
no reason to spend that much money on a 4x32 scope... get this weaver "shotgun" scope that has been on sale at natchez for a while. It is a much more expensive scope than the $80 that it is selling for. I use it on .22 hunting rifles and it does great... the parallax is set 50 yards from the factory and the reticle is not as thick as I thought it would be. It is definitely a rugged and very nice scope for the money.

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cf...e 4X32 Rifle Scope Black Matte Dual X Reticle
 
ohh, i just noticed that they raised the price on these back up. Sorry, it was a great deal when it was only 79.99.
 
After playing around with other brands, for years, I finally settled on a brand that will NEVER let me down and the scope will always move POI just as I adjust it, without fail, using a number of different model scopes from the same manufacturer.

I must warn you, they are not cheap.
They are made here in the USA, and they are guaranteed for life.

Brand Name?

Leupold.
 
Haven't seen this one mentioned yet. IOR makes a 4x I've considered getting a few times.
http://swfa.com/IOR-4x32-Hunting-Rifle-Scope-P6742.aspx

It is most definitely hard to go wrong with the Leupold M8/FX. It would be near/at the top of my list of fixed powers.

The Japanese Weavers are darn good scopes.

I actually would be more inclined to buy a Weaver. At 4x, the glass isn't really all that critical. IMO, the difference between Zeiss glass and Weaver's glass wouldn't be evident or worth the money. Weaver's glass is actually pretty decent anyways. IMO, the adjustments on the Weavers are as good and often better than many scopes that cost more. Benchrest/Target shooters seem to agree.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/weaver-rifle-scopes-k4-4x38.html
 
The Japanese Weavers are darn good scopes.
Click to expand...

You are correct...excellent scopes! I've got Leupold and Redfield, Bushnell Elites, etc. The Japanese Weavers are hard to beat for the money...quality is fantastic and they have fully-multicoated lense.

In the Japnese Weavers, I've got two 4X fixed power ones, one 2.5-10X, one 2.5X fixed, and one 1-3X variable.
 
I own several Nikon Prostaff 4X scopes that retail for around $125.00
One is on my .17 HMR Savage, one on my .50Cal. T/C Omega and the last is on a Marlin 336 in .30-30 that my Grandsons use.
Great optics and seemingly rugged.
 
Thanks for the great info, this is very helpful. Definitely learned a bunch from all this. I've got two Leupold scopes, a VXII on my .270 and a fixed 2X on my .44 mag. Love them both, so my first choice would be a Leupold. Looking forward to pulling out the ole .30-.30 Marlin, its been while since I've hunted with it. Have some handloads worked up that I want to try, but since the Weaver it had cratered many years back, pretty much just used it for plinking now and again. A new scope will help me realize the potential of the gun and new handloads. Thanks again.
 
The "old .30-30 Marlin" as far as accuracy goes us an unbeatable rfle especially with reloads.
My grandsons do well annually with a Model 336 that I picked up at a yard sale some years back,topped it with Nikon optics and worked uo a good handload for it.
 
I have a 3x compact Weaver on my 16" Marlin 30-30 and believe it is proportionally and magnification wise perfect for the application.
 
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