A better title for this thread might be, "Are variable scopes really necessary on a hunting rifle?"
My answer would be "define <necessary>".
Technically, no, but very very useful. It is not possible to achieve the level of accuracy I demand for load work-up with a low magnification fixed power scope. Since I tinker with loads off and on year around through the life of a gun, the only viable alternative to a variable is 2 fixed magnification scopes (one low power hunting scope and a 10x or more powerful range scope) with a lot of re-sight-in required as I swap back and forth between the "range" scope and the "hunting" scope.
The pluses of a variable might not be important to someone with low accuracy standards or someone who works up one load and uses it for the life of the gun, but neither describes me.
Tom
