was thinking about getting a leupie fx 6x42 wondering if it was a capable enough scope for ranges between 50-500 yards. if not what would you recomend?

Sure, unless you're shooting ladybugs.

That would probably be my first choice assuming the rifle and shooter are up to the task.

A fixed 6 is hard to beat, it will work fine.

I second the six. Hard to beat...

at those ranges would you recomend turrets or dots?

Turrets

If a deer, elk or whatever was 83 yards away could you do the job with a 1X scope?


Edit: I'm not a real long range shooter, and my taste in magnification is fickle so I won't presume to tell you what to get. But let me use my last range trip as an example.

I recently picked up a little VX-III 1.75-6x32 with a heavy duplex reticle. The thin part of the reticle covers 3" at 300 yards when the scope is set on 6x. Nevertheless I was easily able to center punch a clay pigeon I placed on the 300 yard target board with the first shot after dialing dope referenced from a quick 100 yard sight in.

A 6x is capable, but you only have to satisfy yourself with what size sight picture you prefer. I like shooting my 6.5-20x too.

i may be wrong mathman but the power level of a scope does not work as a multiple.

?

I have a Leupie FX II 6x36 on my .260, and I've had no problem shooting two running deer at less than 50 yards, nor deer a lot farther away -- though I've never shot one at 500 yards with anything. Nor am I likely to, but that's just me.

I think the 6X's made today are among the best hunting scopes available.

Dennis

i retract my earlier statement

Swampfoot............Here`s a good little audio/video to watch, that you might find interesting.

"shootingtimes.com"........click onto "view all" on the front page video section.......and then hit "optics" at the upper right.

Then find the video "Fixed vs Low Powered Variable Scopes" with Wayne Van Zwoll.

If you`re going with a fixed, I`d pick a 4x over the 6x as a slightly better all around power, especially for shots within 100 yards.

6 power means that the image appears 6 times closer than it really is. Six times 83 is 498 yards (~500).

I have no problems shooting empty beer cans at 500 yards with a fixed 4 on my 308. But the crap I hunt in, 200 yards is a long shot... If you're living in more open country, a fixed 6 (the FXIII) with turrets would be hard to beat.

Still believe OPEN areas are easy even with LOW power, greater magnification really helps finding that crease in the brush at 70 yards to slide a bullet. Another reason I don't like [bleep] hitting 3" high at 100.

Save yourself a $100 and get the 6x36 LR... works fine from 5 - 555 yards..

I dunno... Shooting in/through brush is always a bad idea, 2X more really isn't going to make that big a difference in that instance.

Funny you mention 4X in open country... Its looking like the Montana with the FXII 4X is going to be my Antelope rifle this year

Not sending a bullet through the brush, just finding a hole to place the bullet, if more magnification didn't help we'd all use a peep.

Ahh.. Well if we're talking about a hole that big, then whats wrong with a 4??

Since were talking about a 70 yard shot, I'm assuming offhand shooting is what were talking about. If thats the case, the 2x less makes for much less apparent wiggle, and IMO a better scope for that particular application.

Big time!

Dober

Don't have to be offhand, or it can be. Finding a hole through is easier with more magnification. Wiggle issues is the person.

i had a 4x leupy on a tang ruger 270 for almost 30 years. for me, it did everything i needed, from alaska to florida. however, these days i prefer a 3x9x40. i can't fault a man who uses a fixed 4 or 6. they get the job done too.

Weavers K series in a 4x38 did a great job for me for many,many years!!

From 5ft to my longest kill to date a 550+ yards!


The Boy is running a 6x36 loopy this year!

For your stated conditions, 50-500 yards, a 6x scope would be best. I've had several 6x42's, but my next 6x will be a 6x36. They can do everything the 6x42 can do, and are a whole lot better looking on a sporter.
For my stated conditions, for ranges of 15 yards to 150 yards, in the swamp, a fixed 3x or 4x is best.

Yep, my advice exactly!

I've killed BG animals from about 20 yards to about 500 with a fixed 4X.I've used a fixed 4X for some antelope, a couple of elk, and mule deer at over 400 yards;one big mule deer at about 500.Have no idea how many at 200-300 yards.

I like a 6X but I must be handicapped somehow because I simply can't love the things in the brush, (notwithstanding the worthy opinions of others on here),because when I swing on anything running in heavy cover it just has too much magnification,and the brush blurs into this picket-fence menagerie that makes picking up running game difficult. Apparently others don't have this problem.

I worry more about that than I do about 500 yard shots,because close range chances(under 300 yards)are a lot more common than 500 yard opportunities,which are(for me) pretty infrequent.I think 500 yard shots "out west" are the delusion that drives the sale of a lot of big variable scopes.

If a guy likes to chase BIG mule deer, it's good to be prepared for anything, but I have found over the years that they love cover, are never real far from it,and you frequently have to go in after them. That's reality,and that's where a lot of my best bucks have been killed.Two of the better "big buck" specialists I know use 4X and 6X leupolds.

Besides,something the size of an elk, or even a large mule deer is just easy with a 4X to 400 yards.You have to try really hard not to see a 300-700 pound animal through a 4X...

I have a sneaky hunch that the 6X Leupolds that folks love so much on here may not be true 6X's,and I came to that theory when I started using a 4X Conquest,which to my eyes has as much magnification as my 6X Leupolds.,and slightly more field of view.

Last large whitetail I killed a couple years ago was on a mile long field I sat for 5-6 days;when he showed, he was running like hell and I killed him at 70 yards.The Leup variable was set on 4X;ditto a good mule deer at 300 yards(lazed next day),right at dark....again, set at 4X.

I don't know, but if forced to pick one I would just take the 4X; I have for the last 30 years and have never been denied a chance at a BG animal because I could not see it well enough.And on those rare occaisions that I was "forced" to take a 400-500 yard shot, the 4X had enough definition to get it done,while having enough field to handle the close urgent shot in heavy cover.

This is spot on! People should take notes on this. Hey, I hunt in Northern New England and most of my shots have been 100 yards or less. IMHO, there is a huge advantage in being able to see the gaps in the trees. Even though I drive 2x7 scopes, I always find myself at 6x most often.

this is what i meant about my earlier statement, i also dont believe you can just divide the distance by the magnification of you scope and get a true "visual distance" the difference between 2 and 4 power does not seem to be 50% to me...... please let me know if im full of sh#t, i honestly dont know

swampfoot: We all seem to "see" things differently...highly subjective topic.So you're not full of shidt at all.Best way to tell? Take them out and compare them for yourself,and use what YOU like best....and don't listen to us at all, other than to get a feel for what we think....

In the desert southwest, 400 yards is a "normal" range to see game. I like the 6 power scope better than the 4 for longer ranges, and have the Leupold FX3 6x42 on two rifles. There are other considerations in choosing between the 6x36 and 6x42: The 36 is FX2, 10 oz., 17.7 fov @100 yd, 4.3" eye relief. The 42 has the superior FX3 optics, 13.6 oz, 17.3" fov@100, 4.4" eye relief. Only the 42 is available with the heavy duplex that I prefer for hunting.

longbarrel: Sure. I have a 6X on one 7 mag,and when I use a variable, it's frequently on 6X.Depends on where you are that determines the "best".You can tweak depending on your conditions.

There sure seems to be a lot of overlapping scope topics lately, especially centered around 6X vs variables, which brings out more points and views from other members, The preseason hunting bug is starting to bite, Good Stuff,I enjoy your savvy BobinNH

fixed 6x is popular here on the fire. in the hunting world i frequent (and read about) they are hard to find. i don't know how many gun shops and big box stores i have been in looking for a 6x. never once have i found one, always had to order them. perhaps it's different in your area.

Always had to order as well...but the prices are usually better.

I have four rifle with 6 power scope two with the Leupold 6x42, one with Leupold 6x36 and one with Nikon 6x42. I also have a Pentax 6 power but it isn't mounted on a rifle at present and carry it in my truck for a back up if someone damages their scope while we are on a trip hunting. I like the 6 power and it is all you really need for most hunting.

My 6x42 Kahles is fine for its intended use: 7.62x51 NATO shots on men at up to 600 yards.

The 4x Zeiss Hensoldt with BDC turrets works well out to 500 meters.

For big game, where you are trying to kill humanely, you shouldn't be making 500 yard shots, anyway, and it is fine to 300.

The problem after 300 is estimating holdover in inches, when you need to stay inside a 6 inch circle.

I would rather have a fixed 10x42 Mil-Dot scope like the Tasco Super Sniper (heavy), 10x Bushnell with target knobs, or the 8x or 6x30 military IOR Valdada with rangefinder and stadia.

I practice out to 500 yards with my leupold 6x36 lr but normally end up shooting my deer at 50-150 yds..by the numbers 6x is to 500 yards as open sights are to 83.3 Yards..

It is my scope of choice on my 25-06AI.

No, they can't. On really dark nights, they quit. 6X42 have never quit for me, even on nights so dark I couldn't see much over 15 feet.
The 6X36's don't come with finger tip adjustable knobs. The 6X42's do.
The 6X42's come with Diamond Coat Coatings. The 6X36's don't. E

Eremicus, just out of curiosity, what were you hunting given that you said you couldn't see over 15 feet due to darkness.

Give me a 3x, 4x, 6x or even a 2x7x33 and I am good to go..I am not anal over scopes as long as they have a standard or duplex cross hair. I can see a deer just fine to shoot at 800 or so yards as far as the scope is concerned..

In my mispent cowboy youth I shot a lot of deer and elk at some very extended ranges with 3 and 4 power scopes, and on an extremely rare ocassion I still might try a rather long 400 yard shot, but its not likely these days for me to shoot over 300 yards, I prefer to do my hunting before I shoot..I have seen too many legs broke with long range shooting, it just takes a slight error to wound at long ranges, and I learned that the hard way, I also noticed it bothers some of us and others it does not...

I like that. Can I use it?

It sure is often easier to hunt them while they are standing than to hunt for them from far - and sometimes not so far- after they fall down. Besides, after they're down, usually they don't give you any reaction clues to betray their whereabouts even if you virtually step on them.

I have two of the fixed 6x Leupolds on hunting rifles. One in .270 and the other in .257 Rbts. Both have been fine in my experience for shots out to about 350 yards on deer and antelope, which is my self-imposed limit. If you are actually wanting to shoot at 500 yards, then you may want/need more magnification.

Current mania is for higher power, but I'm hard pressed to really see a need for more power than 4x. Some specialty rifles might do w/ more power and heavier rigs, but for real hunting in tough country, anything more than 4x for big game is weight you don't need. I like the duplex reticle that doubles as a rangefinder.

4X for the East and 6X for the West was the rule 40-50 years ago. It is still good.

The only fixed power scope for centerfire rifles that I have ever seen on a store shelf was a used M8 6x42 that I bought.

That really is a great statement...meminds me of my Dad. The first time I ever took, and made, a long shot, I went home and bragged to him. His only comment was "Why didn't you get closer?". Old people used to be really stupid back then.

It's also funny how "old" people could ask a simple question like that and and it really was a multiple choice question which only allowed answers such as:

1. I did not have the skill or ability

2. I was too lazy

but not:

3. It was not possible

I couldn't agree more! Most hunters today seem to think the primary advantage of a scope is having unlimited magnification when, in reality, this is not the case. The real advantage is having the complete sighting picture on one plane. This being the case, a light handy 4x should be sufficient for most big game hunting.

I also like using my duplex reticle as a range finder. Mule Deer explains this system of range estimation very well in Nosler's #4 Reloading Manual.

M Bell

For a more informed answer, I'd ask "what is the intended target?"

4x East, 6x West? Keyboard swamp gas. Idaho is my home, where I hunt, often big game ranges are long. I have yet to find a disadvantage in the 4x scope. This includes some very long shots in the high desert big canyon country (Owyhee County).

True, it is still good.But the 4X ruled among guys like Page,O'Connor, and Keith and legions of others,who traveled all over the west and worldwide to hunt big game.Back here,mostly 2.5 with a bunch of 3X thrown in for good measure.A 6X was the scope for the specialist and really not that widely used,near as I can tell.In the 70's I used to put them on stuff like a 222 or 257 Roberts to shoot woodchucks out to 400 yards or so.

My rancher pal from Wyoming has 40-50 elk to his credit; and likely more big mule deer than many have ever seen alive.I showed up one year with a 2.5-8 Leup,and he said "what is that?".......I told him,and he said (like he was talking to a school kid)...."You know you don't need that damn thing ..."

I would have no interest in shooting game past around 300 yrds with a fixed 6x. 500yrds I like 10x-14x , I shoot 100 yard groups on 10x. I have noticed the 6x has become very popular though.

For most of my hunting in AL and TN a 4X is more than enough. I can see where a 6X would offer an advantage to hunters in more open areas.

Hard to beat the 6X. It will do it's job at most any range if you can do yours.

If we ever meet up, I'll show you just how worthless 4X is past 300 yards

I've found the same thing hunting in brushy whitetail habitat. Extra magnification is often most helpful when trying to thread the needle, and I've had to do that to some degree on 4 out of 5 of the last big bucks I've killed. I want that bullet dead on in such situations, not 2 or 3 inches high. It's also handy meat hunting when I want to break a doe's neck.

I know you're a turrets guy, and while I like them for some applications, I just can't find them as trustworthy as I like on the first shot after I adjust them. When I test them on paper, it's far too often that it takes a shot or two for the turret spin to settle the reticle to the POI I want.

So, for hunting, I've leaned more toward less cluttered ballistic reticles. Here's one thing I've started doing: I'll sight in dead on at 100 at max magnification on something like a Leupy LRD 3-9 or 2.5-8 B&C. When I hunt, I'll run it on 6x almost all the time. Still dead on at 100, obviously, but decreasing magnification makes my dots/marks pretty well spot on at 300, 400 & 500.

While not as precise as turrets, with the time I generally have when hunting and my lack of confidence in getting a perfect adjustment on the first shot after spinning turrets, I'm finding this to work out pretty well. I can range quick and hit vitals on deer sized stuff out to 500 and even usually 600 without too much problem, and can bracket things well enough on in between shots to be pretty effective for hunting situations.

Just thought I'd throw this out there in case it might help anyone, or give a little incentive to try something a little different.

DJ

Funny, I thought 6x was too much for close up and that the 6x36 could do everything the 6x42 could... Until I actually used the 6x42...

Whatever floats your boat...I just got back from the range,where I shot 300 and 500 with a 7 mag and a fixed 6X,field prone at both distance. A buddy shot his 300 RUM with a high power variable with turrets dialed for 500. Funny thing was I hit the target, he hit the target; groups were about the same size.

The notion that 4-6 is not "enough" for shots past 3oo yards is,to me,humorous.Actually I'm kinda with Dan Adair on this issue; I find 6X just a bit too much for an awful lot of BG hunting.I prefer a 4X.

As to shooting through brush...well by the time you think you got it figured and set up to kill him at 75 yards in the brush ( where 2-3 " of midrange may be too much), you'll have to shoot him "fast" through the brush at 250,where 8" of drop will also be "too much".Or the rut crazed whitetail that you saw covering ground at 150 turns it into 300 while you struggle to set up and figure which dot to whack him with,cause you have no trajectory to work with....you zeroed at 100 yards!Meantime, the dots dance around.......

All this micro management of shots at BG is mostly internet BS because it always assumes a rock solid rest,and perfect alignment,perfect letoff, perfect zero,perfect conditions,at one distance,all accompanied,of course, by a "perfect shooter" who can call his shots within a MOA under field conditions......in the every day rough and tumble of BG hunting(sorry, hunting from blinds in fields doesn't count IMO)I have yet to see a hunting situation that the hunter could call in advance,and prepare specifically for; in fact I've seen a lot of shots blown because they did not fit the shooters preconceived- notion of zactly how the darned animal would show! Funny!

I've found that I can shoot groups(out to 430 yards) just about as well with 6 or 7x scopes compared to a 10x scope. Certainly don't feel hindered with a 6x scope hunting the plains and river bottoms of eastern Montana.
My next scope will probably be another 2-7x33LR or 6x36LR Leupold.

Somewhere deep down inside of me, I know you're right..
But, there are rifles that just look better with a 6x36 on top.

I used to use the 6x42 thinking it had to be a better machine, then I went to the 6x36. Now I know that for me the 6x36 can do all that the 6x42 did for me cept in a smaller and tish bit more compact package.

For my eyes there's no diff so I'll go the smaller route.

Either one is one heck of a nifty scope!

Dober

My favorite writer, the late Bob Milek did all that with a 25-06 Rem 700 and a Leupy 6x42. Can not argue with that!

Bob was no doubt one of the good guys wasn't he!

He's on my all time all star list of writers and always will be.

Dober

How do you guys like 6x when you jump a buck at 30 yrds? I find it difficult to beat a 3.5-10x40 for versatility. I use all the way from 3.5 clear up to 10x .I wish I could like a straight 6x, simple is good and all in all I think they are probably some of the toughest scopes out there. Just can't like 6x for close quick shots and long shots where I want to see as much detail as possible.Dan did you catch the last kalispell gunshow? I brought home 3 rifles!

BobinNH puts some common sense in the debate. Congrats!
Nothing wrong with a 4x if treed country is part of your hunting beat. Out in the open country a 6x will cover you cleanly out to maximum responsible big game ranges in the field, imo 400 yards for a skilled hunter/shooter without any special training.
All that banter of shooting deer at 500 and 600 yards, what nonsense. Some believe shooting from the big bench at 500-600 yard targets now qualifies them to molest big game at that range.At the range a breath of wind that moves your bullet is just a missed shot. In the field it is a big game animal gut shot or with smashed bones crippling off for an agonizing death if the yotes don't get him first. This is not Afghanistan where any hit on a Taliban is a good hit. Deer never declared war on us. They deserve a swift clean death. A hunters duty. Treat big game with respect. Do not pull the trigger unless you are sure of a clean shot. Even then, we all make the hopefully rare, unfortunate regrettable mistake. Lets not agravate this by keep stretching the distances.
Shooting sitting position with your but in the melting snow and a wind whipping around is what field positions often are.
Unless you had military sniper training or are a competitive big bore shooter you best stick to 400 yards maximum under ideal field positions. One of our problems is that we have way too many wannabee snipers. Believe me 300 yards is already a long field shot.
In the long range hunting thread some have been known to bring heavy benches out in the field against Taliban deer. Nothing to do with hunting, all to do with bloodlust and ego tripping.

I know, I am going to get howls of protest as how good a shooter some of you are. If I were to believe it all, most of those long range wannabees should be demo shooters for the big manufacturers or make their living on the shooting circuit.
Excepting as I said earlier skilled military snipers or serious competitive shooters exempt, skilled recreational hunters should not pass the 400 yard line under ideal field conditions from field positions, and your 6x scope will do fine here. I suggest besides invest in a good pair of light binocs to check the trophy itself or for glassing the country.

So many variables.

300 yards is easy with the proper field nest and enough time to shoot.

Looks good except for the erector set



What about a typical Montana SPRING photograph (the treeline is 60 yards )

Can you see the mountains at 410 yards over the trees??

No problems pulling off a 300 yard shot here either

Or how 'bout an easy day at the range shooting an FXII 4x Loopy (shooting "winter prone")

Whether this means anything I don't know as I don't have the experience as some other members here but I personally prefer lower magnification scopes. I read somewhere here that a member uses a 36X scope for load workup that would be bad news for me. I have to work hard to have a good day of shooting. Too much magnification makes the crosshairs shake too much. I settled (for now) on a Sightron SSII 1.5-6x42 for alot of my rifles!

While I certainly agree with you (as I usually do...Grin) on 4-6 power scopes being plenty for long shots, I find myself in the unusual situation of friendly and respectful disagreement with you (and some other posters on the thread who seem to assume that others' hunting opportunities are too similar to their own.) My experience is just different on this one.

Most mature bucks I have killed lately have been guarding a hot doe in heavy cover. They take them away from other deer and bed with them - often standing over the doe as she beds and running off less dominant bucks if they venture too close. These bucks are in cover, and they're not going anywhere if the doe doesn't leave. I generally find him from a distance, get the wind right, stalk him, wait for the right shot and thread it in there. Being precise at 75-100 yards is pretty handy the way I hunt since I've figured out where to look for these kinds of bucks during the rut.

I also get the chance to lob some long shots at hogs, coyotes and deer every year, and 500-600 is not that unusual or that big a trick if you know the range. I'm more careful about longer shots on deer, but if I see a hog or coyote way out there, it's not that big a trick to get prone or get a good enough rest to kill him - IF I KNOW THE RANGE.

I'm no great shakes as a hunter or shooter, just been hunting and shooting since I was a little guy and have figured a few things out by trial and error (lots of error...grin), and I generally know my rifles pretty well. I imagine most guys here could do as well or better if they had the experience and opportunities or were interested enough to work at it.

There are lots of different hunting opportunities out there that present some pretty different challenges - I like just about all of them - from bowhunting to long range.

Take care,

DJ

Okay Bob...

You like scotch, fixed 4's, real slings, and you're only old enough to be my father...

Were you a Milkman in Seattle around 1975??





(I'll quit with the "illegitimate grandfather" cracks)

Dan: Our DNA may be bound together in the distant past....But you're so YOUNG! How the hell did you come to like 4X scopes?



Highridge: A big thumbs up on the 6X thing in heavy cover;man I just cannot get used to it,and I have tried!This is typical for me....I like them at the range,and sometimes in open country.My usual solution is a 2.5-8,or a fixed 4X.

Youse guys with the variables have fun mit dem.
Now, if I could get Leupold off their dead a$$e$ and build some NEW 3x scopes with the LONG 1" tube of yesteryear, only with FX II glass, or BETTER, I'd be one happy swamp hunter.
Did you guys know that it snows in the swamps up here??

The rusty old mini barrel(little black dot at the tip of the muzzle) was 510 yards away. It died 3 times in a row...(grin)

When it is so dark I can't see much over 15 ft., I'm not actually hunting. I'm getting into to position in the dark, w/o lights or I'm on my way back to where I parked after legal shooting hours.
Kinda nice to have a rilfe that still can target a large predator in the dark. E

It was just a trend in my hunting rifles... I too like the smaller variables (I have more than a couple 2-7x33 Loopys here) After not needing to crank one of them up past 3-4x for a few seasons, I thought to myself "Why not try a fixed 4??" Had it not been for old crusty bastids on the 'Fire here, it might have taken me another year or two to discover the joys of fixed 4's

Sammers, that hammer forged piece of Eurotrash can shoot that far

....funny how that happens....

I hear its a sickness

Now I watch the classifieds looking for old Loopys in 4x. I look at tables at gun-shows too.

I love it when somebody says "the only thing wrong with that scope is its a fixed 4..."

Dan: I laugh when someone looks at my rifle and asks.."How do you change the power?"

Or when they say "what kind of scope is that ?" E

E: True enuf!That crops now and then.....

Bringing this thread back from the dead. For those who loved or were against fixed powers, do you still feel the same?

1,5-6, 2-7x, 3-9or10x,.... You want largest fov for close range shots at low magnification and higher magnification for long-long range targets. The real problem is with aiming reticle type. Buying six power or even 4x fixed scope for this task makes no sense to me.

PS. Take a hard look at Zeiss 'Terra' 3-9x42 with RZ6 reticle. It isn't perfect but it's pretty good setup. That is what I will likely put on my .300H&H.

All I've got on my rifles. Haven't seen any need to change.

Longest kill to date. 550yds 4x Weaver. Was stellar at dawn and dusk.

I have a few fixed power scopes. 6x Weaver, 4x Burris mini, 6x Burris mini, 6x Zeiss, 2.5x Scope Chief. I like them. They take up to three deer a year and a lot of coyotes. What is not to like? A 6x is my favorite out to 400 yards.

I have a Leupold FXIII 6x42mm on my 308Win. It's crystal clear and nice scope BUT the thing is a long and heavy as my 3.5-10x40mm Leupold!

Think I'll eventually sell it and get either a fixed 4x or 3.5x10mm Leupold.

I was for them then,and I still feel the same about them now.

slavek,

That has not been my experience, having used 6x to take running game as close as 10 yards and standing game as far as 500.

I would rather have a 2x7 or 1x5 where I hunt.20yards moving is way more common than even 100 yards.

My problem with my fixed Leupie 6x42 is purely aesthetics on my part. So it's kind of silly and trivial.

Can't get much better than an M8 6x42 with a M1 up top....

If I wanted fixed power I would look at Weaver Classic K and compare it to Leupold to see if I wanted to bay 2x more for the latter.

i would dislike a 6x scope more at 40yards then at 500.for really closeup shots 6x is way more then i like.i'll take a variable for deer hunting any day over a fixed power.

6x hands down; I run most of my variables on 6x most of the time anyway.........about the only exception might be still hunting dark timber where I'll dial it down to 2-4.

MM

Shot one bedded Buck in the neck at around 4 big steps with a Leupold 6x42.
He was blurry, but didn't have any trouble quickly finding the neck/back juncture.

Shot one at 329 with a 4x and one at 230 with a straight 3. Fixed or 1.5-5s are my favorite for here in Pa.

Yeah, if you know how to mount a rifle it's no trick. Too many folks have to 'find' stuff in their scope.

srwshooter,

"Would dislike a 6x more at 40 yards then at 500"? Does this men you've never tried one at 40, or tried it and didn't like it?

Aren't you supposed to mount the rifle to your should then start looking for your target?

If you're from Oregon, yes...

Tweaking will do that to you...

With proper eye relief, scope mounts and cheek weld a fella shouldn't even have to take his eyes off the target when mounting his rifle. Sitting on a bench and theorizing about chit aint gonna getcha there.

Rifles/scopes gotta "fit" like shotguns.

A while back somebody posted that a 4x scope had far too small a field of view for 100-yard shooting. Since the typical 4x has a FOV of around 30 feet at 100 yards, he's have to be "aiming" over 15 feet to the side of a deer to fail to see it in a 4x at 100 yards.

My wife much prefers even more than 6x for general big game hunting, using either a variable cranked all the way up to 10x or even a fixed 10x--because she can see the target better with 10x. I've seen her quickly shoot a buck at 50 yards with 10x, because she knows how to look at the deer then place the scope between her eye and the target.

Timely subject�I�m swapping a Leupold 2-7 with a new FX-II 4X on a light weight 308 tomorrow for a backpack hunt next month. Like Bob I wanted to like the popular 6X42, but I just feel more comfortable in close/quick shooting with a 4x in my testing; 200 yds is a long shot on big game to me though. I keep all variables on their lowest power when hunting and honestly can�t remember the last time I actually turned up the power when hunting. Out to 200 yds there is no difference in my group size between 4X and 6X (or between 6X and 12x for that matter on another rifle) so I purchased the 4X.

I love the 2-7 power Leupolds, but there will be something comforting about having a fixed power scope on my rifle when over a thousand miles from home and 10 miles back in the mountains.

Actually more so. A swarm of pellets at 40 yards (if uniform) is a lot more forgiving than single projectile especially against running game.

Which is also why I suffer BC stocks. If a fella would pick a target with his gun lowered, then mount the rifle with his eyes shut, he might be in for a big surprise when he opened them. Most are staring at the rear scope base and pretty close to getting their forehead whacked.

I used to have quite a few variables in the 2-7x range on my rifles, including a couple 1.5-6x's. After a while, though, I realized they almost never got turned off the top magnification, even in what's generally known as "the woods."

Do have a couple 2-7's on rifles now and sometimes wonder why.

Embarrassed to think about all the rifles I've bought and sold to come to the same conclusion...except I landed on the kimber montana.

Got one of those too, tucked away for a rainy day.....

I killed a black bear in the swamps this past week with my 6x36 at 40 yards. The shot was fast, simple, accurate with no thought to anything but focus on the target. 4x might have been a better match at that distance but the fov was no problem with my 6x and the swampy terrain was as thick and nasty as the trophy skeeters inhabiting it!

My rifles have 6x scopes on them. I prefer hunting with a Leupold Yosemite 6x binocular. It cuts down on tremor and the critters being viewed in both optics are about the same size. YMMV

Sighted in my 338-06 with a 4x Conquest this weekend. At 100 yds was 1.7 or so high. Then broke 6 straight clays (skeet clays) at 200yds and another 3 straight at 330 yds. 4x or 6x no problems. This 4x Conquest and rifle was dropped 6 feet onto a concrete floor and never changed point of aim. It's one tough SOB. One reason I like fixed scopes.

GOOD to hear. I just mounted a 4X Conquest on my 9.3x62. In fact I haven't sighted it in yet.