Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics 4X choices, what happened?

4X scopes are all I've ever needed.

Johnny Loco: In response to your latest post - I think YOU do not understand that a nifty Leupold 3x9 variable scope will do ANYTHING your fixed 2.5 power or 4 power scope will - and the 3x9 will provide for some things your 2.5 fixed WILL simply NOT DO!
Let me give you another "gunshow" example of how slow fixed power (6 power or less!) scopes move on the open/used market.
I attended the Livingston, Montana gunshow on Friday February 7th.
I again was the first person through the door that Friday afternoon and it was pretty well attended.
About 2 hours into my perusal of that smallish gunshow I re-looked at a new style Weaver fixed power scope. I had originally thought it was a 4 power scope but it turned out to be a mint condition 6 power scope.
I paid the tableholder what he wanted for it $15.00 (fifteen dollars!) - now I know at least 100 "visitors" had looked at that scope prior to my buying it and probably 50 table holders had looked at it before I did and NONE wanted it!
I bought it because one of my Ground Squirrel Hunting partners is putting together a Gopher Rifle for his new to the game grandson.
I fully plan on "giving" that perfectly fine but not so desirable nowadays scope to the grandson.
If you wish to "stick" with the old technology I say GO FOR IT!
Just don't try to convince those of us that wish to do otherwise that YOUR way is best - its not!
Been there done that - for 6 decades now (since I was 12).
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I meant Weaver Grand Slam 4.75 power. Awesome scopes. The Leupold 4x wide duplex is a total abomination. Older Leupold M8's with standard duplex are the thing.....and I love the friction adjustments, too! Set it and forget it.

While elk hunting in New Mexico, I found that I preferred a friends 3X9 over my own 2X7. I liked the extra magnification in that type of terrain. As for southern Indiana, fixed power scopes seem to work because 150 yards is a long shot and rarely do you get one over 200. Most of my deer are killed in the woods under 50 yards. West of the Mississippi, things are a lot different.
I have found that in the woods, deer can slip up on you almighty fast(bucks chasing does), and there have been times I have struggled to pick them up in a 4 power scope inside 20 yards and this is where a 2X7 or smaller power variable shines. As a matter a fact, I have a Leupold 2X7 I purchased here on the campfire that will be finding a home on my 44 Handi-Rifle.
As for fixed-power scopes, most were purchased or traded for in my younger, newly married days when I didn't have a lot of disposable income. I mounted them on whatever firearms I was using at the time while dreaming of all the expensive, variable scopes I would someday own. In the meantime, I found that most filled my needs admirably and didn't need replaced. I have a Leupold Vari-X III 4.5-14X40 on my 243. Every time I've killed something with it, which is a lot of stuff, I usually find that the scope is set on 6 power. The Leupold 4X on the AR carbine is a trapline rifle that rides mostly on a fourwheeler in all kinds of weather. Shots are fast and usually not over 150 yards, so that combo works for me. All of my larger caliber centerfires (06's, 270's Swede) wear Leupold variables but I love my fixed power scopes too and use them accordingly.
I was taught that when it comes to rifle scopes, buy the best that you can afford. That was good advice. My ways aren't the best and may not be for everyone but they work for me.

The modern variable WILL do a lot of things that old 4x won't do. It will test your mounts better with it's greater weight. It will allow you to shoot with your head more erect as you mount it higher on the rifle. It will allow you to feel good about the extra lenses and moving parts you can count on.
Fixed 4x scopes are simple, lightweight, and rugged.
I have some variable scopes but only because that was all I could get. When I wanted a fixed 16, I had buy a 6-24 variable. I bought a 3-9 because it was available whilethe 6x I wanted was not. GD

Optics Planet still shows it.

As I pointed out very early in this thread, one reason fewer optics companies are offering 4x scopes is they're competing with the thousands (millions?) of 4x scopes cranked out by various companies for the last century.
These don't break all that often, so you can pick them up for anything from $50 to $150, and the price seems to be going down. Why in the hell would some 21st-century optics company spend part pf their time marketing 4x's?

However, geezers who know they can kill stuff even at 400+ yards with 4x scopes can now get some great deals. despite some of them really liking higher-X variables as well--especially if they also like older rifles, where a fixed 4x looks more "correct."

So what are you bitching about?

Just glad I can use what I want rather than what someone else thinks I need. 😃 Fixed powers have worked just fine for me.

MD, this old geezer agrees...well said. Just sad to see that new fixed power are getting harder to find.

What are you gaining with a fixed power scope that a variable can’t do with more versatility? Really want to hear the answer.

you are gaining durability while losing weight and bulk. GD

Dats som funny chit right down there vvvvvvvvvvvv

I thought military snipers used FIXED 10x scopes. I’m curious...Why?

Simplicity.

There's a couple of points. Lighter weight, durability, and simplicity. If made to exactly the same specs, a fixed scope is going to be less likely to have problems simply because there are less moving parts. Lighter because of the fewer parts and fewer lenses. Fewer lenses also results in less light lost on every glass/air surface so a higher percentage of light will make it through the scope than a variable of the same glass/coating specs. The simplicity of the image being the same, the same eye relief, the same exit pupil every time you look through it. Sleek and slim lined without a power ring on the tube is nice...no change of power to consider....

....I'm not really arguing against variables but in use I've not found myself handicapped with fixed scopes and I prefer them, especially 6x42 scopes. Simple things are reliable, simple things last, simple things are efficient. They aren't the best fit for everything but a simple read through this thread shows that for many people they're the best fit for their preference.....and that's as good an argument for them as any.

There you go again, JCM... reducing an entire thread to a couple sentences. Sheesh, what's to become of this place? Rick (and his evil henchman SYSOP) might as well start limiting us to 140 characters.

I like fixed 4x scopes for all the reasons stated above. I've also found I often shoot better at the range with them - they smooth out the crosshair wiggles. I tried to join the cool kids & fawn over 6x scopes, but I just couldn't get my eyes to like one. Trust me, that's far from the only reason I'm a weirdo.

I gotta say, though, that it's tremendously liberating to be devoid of [intercourse]s to give about what others think of my optics predilections. It's so much easier to only have to worry about pleasing my own eyes.

FC

I don’t think simplicity and durability are an advantage if you don’t buy junk scopes. Lighter weight at the expense of not changing the power is what you are trading. No one is buying fixed powers that is why they quit making them

Fixed power scopes also have a more classic look on a gun.

No.5 got my attention. That looks like a fun combo right there. Nice.

Neither are you a majority....

Actually in this case I would rather use one of the 3x Big Bores I have....








4x-1: