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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 11,963 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 11,963 Likes: 2 |
Many of our guns (mine included) spend more time at the range than out hunting.
For pure hunting, a 4x is a very good choice for a lot of difference hunting situations but I like a variable for higher magnification at the range.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,313
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,313 |
I guess what you started with has a big influence on your preferences. I started shooting .22’s with open sights as a kid. Got pretty good at it. My first deer rifle had a peep sight. Most beginners now start with a scope and have no idea how well it is possible to shoot with a peep sight. I was a very experienced shooter and hunter before I got my first scope. By today’s standards it was low powered. As I got more financially mature, I hunted more widely and internationally. I’m not a long range shooter, but I have killed a lot of game between 200-300 yards with a fixed six. My longest shot was an Ibex in Kyrgyzstan at 305 yards. Five years ago I killed a Kudu in Africa at 240 yards with a Leupold 3X. I have never felt I needed more magnification. And I love the relative mechanical simplicity and aesthetics of fixed power scopes on my classic rifles. As a fixed scope user and advocate I'm still trying to figure out if this applies to me. I started hunting small and large game with the bead on the end of my bird and bunny shotgun. I have three rifles that I use for most of my hunting. They are a 6x42, a 4x33, and a 3-9x40. I'd swap out the 3-9x40 for another 6X I have lying around, but it shoots so well that I don't want to mess with it.
Brushbuster: "Is this thread about the dear heard or there Jeans?" Plugger: "If you cant be safe at strip club in Detroit at 2am is anywhere safe?" Deer are somewhere all the time To report a post you disagree with, please push Alt + F4. Thank You.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,068
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,068 |
I wanted a Leupold 4x a few years ago but they only offered it in the stupid wide duplex so I found a used one instead. I think they pretty much killed both the 4 and 6 with the wide duplex reticle. The LRD in the 6 is pretty nice, but it was discontinued awhile back. Exactly, but I was surprised to find out that a buddy of mine that recently traded me a used FX-II 6x36 with the standard duplex actually prefers the wide one. He's the only person I've met that does. Otherwise he is a sensible guy. I’ve had several Leupold’s with a wide duplex and I like them. When I first started using scopes in the 70’s I was using my dad’s B&L with a fine crosshair and it worked great for both of us. So with the wide duplex I guess I figured I had the best of both worlds. Now, my favorite is the 2.5-8 Leupold. I have it on 2 Kimbers and A 3-9 Ultralight on my Ruger American Ranch. FWIW, my 2.5-8 was set on 4x this year when I shot my buck.
Last edited by Blacktail308; 04/24/20.
"May the LORD bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you, may He be gracious and give you peace" from Numbers 6:24-26
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 105
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 105 |
I see all sides, personally I've used 2.5x, 4x, 6x, 10x and 12x fixed power scopes. I've also used variable scopes up to 24x.
I shot my first deer with a 20ga 870 with a fixed Simmons 2.5x scope in the woods about 75 yards with a pumkin ball as my grandfather called it lol. Those where the days!
Honestly I prefer to shoot low power scopes, but I have gravitated to variables that have a very low side say 1x or 2x on the bottom.
I love fixed power scopes, but the truth is I don't own any now. I greatly appreciate and enjoy shooting fixed scopes, but if I m being honest a quality 1-6 or 2-10 or something like that offers more up side to me at least!
Last edited by marshland_max; 04/26/20.
Meat Hunters Do It For Dinner.
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 79,321 Likes: 2
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 79,321 Likes: 2 |
The $60-$80 4X fixed scopes killed off the $300 4X fixed scopes.
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 9,171 Likes: 7
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 9,171 Likes: 7 |
Serious question for some of you fellows...umm,,, on the upper end of the socio-economic scale. Are the European fixed powers a little shy on eye relief? I have only looked through a couple of them at gun shows and they were probably older, if not vintage, and without a side by side comparison with my old B&L's, Weaver's, Lymans and Leupolds my impression was they were a little short on eye relief. Enough to make you think twice before pulling the trigger on a 9.3 or '06 Fwt in the prone sneaky position. I had the opportunity recently to shoot a Steyr .308 with a Kahles 6x with a BDC elevation dial (military scope?)...I loved it but it was in a pretty heavy rifle so eye relief was adequate with the rifle snugged up tight.
Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,751 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,751 Likes: 1 |
I can speak to the Conquest 4x32 in its most recent production - it’s got excellent eye relief. I had it on a Whelen for that very reason.
FC
"Every day is a holiday, and every meal is a banquet."
- Mrs. FC
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,246
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,246 |
I came across a Nikon Buckmasters 4x40(original model) the other day.Seems like a decent scope.Good eyebox,ample eye relief,bright glass,and a great hunting duplex that's fairly thick.Don't have nothing to put it on,so I posted it on the classifieds.Not much interest,so I put it up for something down the road...
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,083
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,083 |
Love my Leupold 4x33!
So who does still make a great fixed 4x?
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,366 Likes: 15
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,366 Likes: 15 |
Meopta makes one that has good reviews but is pretty heavy.
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