Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Tell me about a fixed 6x in the woods....

I'm looking to put a scope on a new-to-me "deer rifle". It looks like the Leupold FX-3 6x42 gets a lot of accolades by many here on the 'Fire. I hunt fairly dense woods here in PA. The longest shot I've ever taken at a deer in my 30 years of hunting has probably been +/-80 yards, with most being closer than that.

I use a variable scope and typically set it at 3x while stalking and 4x while on stand. However, I do crank it up on occasion when shooting at a stationary/slow moving deer at the end of my visible range. I find that the higher power helps me to pick an opening through branches and brush that may deflect my bullet.

I've never had a scope let me down mechanically. So other than the fact that the fixed powers may be more durable, what other advantages do they have over a variable power scope for my style of hunting?

Also, for a guy on a limited budget, would a FX-II 6x36 be serviceable, or is the FX-3 6x42 the only way to flY?

Thanks.

The 6x36 doesn't give up much to the 6x42, particularly in the FXII. You can find the old M8 6x36's for around $150-175 here on the 'fire if you check the classifieds often, they're great scopes for that kind of money but will show their age in really low light.

I'm a huge fan of the 6X42 Leupold. Most of my big game rifles wear them. But, frankly, I believe you'd be much better served with an FXII, 4X.
While I do hunt some heavy cover with mine and I've made running shots at 20-25 yds. with mine, I still think you'd be better off with the 4X.
At 100 yds. or more, being able to see detail, like twigs and leaves in the way of your shot, does give the 6X42 an edge. But you said you've never shot anything over 80 yds., so....
The only place where they would work better than a 4X that I've seen, and I've got lots of time with 4X scopes too, would be on a dark night. A 6X42 shoyuld allow you to see about 50% further than you can see with a 4X33. E

You said you only use 3X to 4X for hunting. Why would you box yourself in to a fixed power scope at greater magnification and therefore less field of view?

There has been a long litany of pushing the fixed 6X for big game hunting. Keep in mind that some shooters have poor eyesight and need the magnification to try and make up for that. Others only hunt at longer ranges or have some zeal or need to push fixed scopes.

I have all kinds of hunting and target scopes and in fact was 'blessed' with a fixed 6X on my first CF hunting rifle. It bothered me in the woods. I could not pick up moving game in an easy way. Back then there were few variables and I found that the 4X scopes were just right for me.

Go with a variable as thats what almost everyone else does. They do it because it is the best choice for hunting.

Stick a decent 3x9x40 on there and go hunting. A few years back I fell into the 6X fad and bought a leupold 6x42, it now sits on a gun in the back of the safe. I think I've hunted with it maybe five times. It's a nice enough scope but I didn't like the limitations it came with. With a 3x9 I leave it on 3x until I'm ready to shoot, lots more field of view than a fixed 6x. If I need the extra power then I crank it up. Variables are so reliable nowadays that any durability difference isn't even a consideration, for all practical purposes a good variable is just as tough as a fixed. Price wise you can buy a decent variable for as little or less than a comparable fixed power. There's just no advantage to a fixed 6x today and there's some significant disadvantages.

I've got two 6x Leupolds, a FXII 6x36 w/ LRD reticle and a multicoated M8 6x42. I shot my deer this year at about 75 yds. with the 6x36. I only had a small hole in the brush to shoot thru but the 6x36 did just fine.As far as the advantages of fixed power scopes over variables there are three I know of. First, fixed power scopes tend to be more durable. Second, fixed power scopes do not change point of impact when changing power as some variables do. Third, when you are running a balistic reticle with a fixed power you don't have to worry about having your scope set at maximum magnification for the balistic reticle holdover marks to work (I'm a firm believer in keeping things simple). I'm sure either of the Leupolds will work great for you.

Very well said.

I'd hunt PA's woods( and about anywhere on the continent) with a fixed 4...not that something else might not be "better" under one circumstance or another,but across the board I doubt I'd be terribly deprived.

I like fixed 6X and use two,but do find it a bit much in the eastern woods I hunt.That's just me, though........

I don't know, but I thought maybe I was missing something. For me, a variable scope has always worked well, but since I've joined the 'Fire, I have seen a lot of obviously experienced hunters/shooters swear by the fixed power. I never really understood why, except maybe if dangerous game were being hunted.

I'm not trying to be a wiseguy, but why would you choose a fixed 4x over a decent variable, say 2-7x or 3-9x? I'm trying to figure out what the advantage is. Someone mentioned POI may change between power settings, but at the distances I am accustomed to, I doubt that it would be significant.

The bias is based on the fact that the first variables weren't that great. It's the same way with inexpensive scopes. Current production is remarkable.

I prefer fixed magnification scopes because they are very tough. I don't know about others, but in the desert ranges I hunt, I always seem to fall on the rocks or some ice and snow. I've never had a 3X,4X or a 6X change zero on me. In spite of this treatment.
The other is that many think that field of view is no.1 when it comes to acquiring game on the move in close cover. Actually, it's highly over rated. A properly positioned scope, one with lots of eye box and a rifle that you can handle rapidly are what is needed.
Last of all, extra magnification, really anything over 4X, has never made a difference to me when it came to shooting any big game animal, even at the longest ranges.
I've used all sorts of variables for many years. I stopped using them when I learned, in the field, just how practical fixed magnification scopes are. E

I do most of my hunting in very heavy woods, thickets and swamps. A fixed power 2.5 or 3X does everything I need. Many of my lever guns wear a low power variable, and it usually is dialed to the lowest setting.
Longest shot I have taken in those sort of woods was probably 50 yards.

4x; 3x would be even better...

CoalCracker: I own and use variables but did not grow up on them,so don't spend a lot of time worrying about whether I have one on my rifle or not....

I have shot a lot of game with them, but until last year never turned one up to max setting to shoot anything,and only occaisionally have I turned one down.Mostly I put them on 4X and forget about them.

I have jumped bucks,and elk and bears, in heavy cover from Maine to the Rockies and killed them with a fixed 4X at spitting distance.I've also used them to kill elk, antelope and mule deer,and whitetails at distances as far as 500 yards,mostlt less,and while they may not have been ideal for the purpose, they were always good enough to get the job done.

I am one of those who still believes a fixed power scope is a more rugged hunting sight for BG than just about any variable,simply because I have had far more variables let me down and break mechanically than any fixed powers,and really never experienced scope problems until the late 80's and early 90's,when I started using variables more frequently.

I did recently have some issues with a fixed power scope and this would make a total of two fixed powers that gave me problems in about 35 years of hunting and shooting;I don't know how many variables I have had crap out but it has been far more than two.

A fixed 4X is old school and a compromise for sure, but will give you sufficient FOV in heavy cover and sufficient definition in the open for most shots presented. I do like a bit more power in the open than I used to which is why I still use variables and fixed 6X scopes, but if I grab a rifle mounted with a fixed 4X I don't worry about it at all because I will kill with it as well at 400 yards as I will at 20 in the woods.

4X Conquest is a hell of scope if you find one, there are a few still out there. The fixed Weavers are rugged/light/priced right also.

Go '42.

No trick to paste crosshair intersection where you wish and to press trigger at the same time...................

I hunt the NY woods, not much different than PA, at least where I have been in PA.

If your a stand hunter and your going to be shooting at deer 10-80 yds that are not moving much, or walking a 6X is just fine. I have a 4x33 FXII and a 6X36 FXII and from a stand its really no difference.

If you game is still hunting or deer drives your much better off with something at 4X or less.


In my opinion the advantage of the fixed scopes are , fixed eye relief (and with the two I have, very generous eye relief) This is not true with some variables particularly the Leupold variables that while generous at low power are really far less friendly at higher power.

Light weight, They are lighter and less bulky than variables.

Based up on my history, they are tougher than variables. I have put a couple of variables out of comission but yet to do it to a quality fixed power.

That said I really think that for the GP wood hunter the scope to look at is a good 1.5-6X40. 1.5x is as fast as can be, I can shoot comfortably with both eyes open, which is the key to getting on a deer fast like when you kick one up out of a bed 20 yds in front of you. If you doubt this take your rifle to a trap range and try dry firing on some birds..two eyes open is the key. 6X with a 40mm objective is a pretty fair combo for the early and late when low light performance is required. all in a package thats reasonably sized.

Never shot a 6x or anything else,with a blinker closed. The big ocular and generous depth of the eye-relief window,speeds things right up on the '42.

They's faster,than a whole bunch fast and by quite a margin...................

A 6x will be fine if that is what you want. Here is a thread I started a couple of years ago on this very subject...

Fixed 6X Discovery

RH