Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Does the 4X scope still have a place in the modern hunters lineup?

Replaced by VX Freedom 2-7X.
$199 shipped from Doug.

I think a lot of demand these days is for higher and higher power variables. Lots of hunters are in to the idea of pre idiom rifles and long range hunting.

I say the idea because, for many hunters, they’re still hunting the same areas where realistic game sighting will dictate short range shots.

In today’s market, if the fixed power scope is a dinosaur the 2-7 may be a dodo.

"Does the 4X scope still have a place in the modern hunters lineup?"

Yup, it sure does, for me anyway. In fact I prefer a straight fixed 4X for about 80% of the rifles I want to put a scope on.
I have compromised with variable scopes on a few of my rifles just because I could not find a good fixed 4. Most would think that's backwards, but from my 1/2 century of shooting and hunting, I have found that higher magnification and larger heavier scoped are a hindrance more then a help. I have a few 2X-7Xs and a few 3X-9X scopes, but I leave them set on low power at all times and it's a very rare shot I make with them where I dial them up.

If I could work my will I would have a company make some super clear bomb-proof fixed scopes and I woudl pribably chanc=ge out the variables I have on nearly every rifle I own, I would leave a 2X-7X on one of my AR-15s and also my 4X-12X on my 222.
ALL the rest of my rifles would wear fixed 3X or 4X scopes, except my 404, which would have a fixed 2X on it, if I could buy what I wanted.

This is probably my favorite rifle. M70 pre 64 standard grade .30-06 that's had the stock refinished. Lately it's all I shoot and hunt with (pigs and axis deer in TX). Scope is a Lyman 4X All American Permacenter duplex reticle. No real reason to put anything else on; I have a spare just like it in reserve. I haven't felt the need to upgrade in either glass quality or power.
Bob

I just bought an old Remington 721 chambered in .30-06 with a 4X Bausch and Lomb. It's a sweetie, I'm keeping that scope on it.

NOPE, has zero appeal to me. only fixed power scope I own is a 40X on my BR gun

Not for me. I want more versatility on top of my main hunting rifles.
They need to perform without compromise in close black timber in poor light and wide open mountain tops or prairies, and everything in between.
I use a 3-15x w/ an illuminated dot reticle on them.
That's what works best for my use.
Even have a 3-9x on my 10-22.

I'm 70. Last year I changed this FX II 4X33 on this 257 Roberts to a VX 2 2-7X33 LRD. Which I removed from my 308, which I replaced with a VX 3i 3.5-10X40. Tough getting old!

4X worked for many years. Still does for young eyes. Was a good fit for this little 257.

I run a weaver 4x on my muzzleloader and it’s perfect in the woods for that application. The one thing I really like about 4x scopes is the eye relief and clarity are stellar however in most of my rifle applications I prefer a variable

Yes, when you only own one centerfire rifle.

A fixed 4x scope is like a 30-06—never wrong but rarely the exact right thing. Combine them and you get the ultimate compromise rig. Back when the writers you mentioned were working, few people ever owned more than one centerfire rifle, which is why they recommended that combination. But if you read more closely, those same writers liked a 270 or a fast 7 with 6x for antelope or open country shooting, and a bigger bore with lower magnification for brush hunting.

The rule of thumb in those days was 100 yards of range for each 1x of magnification. That’s still valid. I can get hits on steel quickly out to 350-ish yards with 4x on a 308 or 30-06. That’s double the range that I want to shoot and triple the range of the longest shot on game I’ve had in the last 20 years, so I don’t see 400 as a limitation. 4x is also fast in dense brush, plus I can get hits earlier in the morning and later in the evening than with iron sights.

I’ve owned and tested about a dozen variables in the last few years, but I hunt with a 4x.

A few years ago, I was hunting elk with a guy who was very proud of his new stainless/synthetic 300, new high-end scope, alpha binos, European boots, etc., etc., etc. The day before the opener we were checking zeros and the guide reminded us to keep our scopes on the lowest setting in case we jumped a bull up close—the classic “a guy here last year blew a close shot because his scope was on 9x” line of reasoning.

I said, “That will never happen to me...”

Gear Queer scowled. “Why not?”

When I said, “Because I’m using a fixed 4,” he looked at me like I had just sprouted a second head.

I tagged out before he did. My shot was closer and my bull was bigger, but either rifle would have been just fine for either bull.

For me, the perfect scope would be a fixed 4x with an illuminated reticle.


Okie John

A four power is all I would need because my max shooting range limit is 300 yards.

The 4-X would be the cat’s meow!

Here's a nice little 4x. M8 Leupold matte. Might use it on my 300H&H.

4X compact

I like em

Want another one if I find a #1A w nice wood in .243 win

The first compact 4X I got off Ballentines, LNIB.........it's on an 870 deer gun.
Killed a fair number with it and my hunting buddy bought the package off me.
He's filled his freezer a lot with it.

I shoot both eyes open on everything so even up close and fast a 4x is doable.
Yeah I like a 1.5x better when things get zippy, but a 4x works and some guns just look right with a fixed power.

Whats the objective diameter?

.308 Marlin, Leupold 4X FX II gloss. Perfect fit for the .300 Savage ballistics of the .308 Marlin.
Bob

Objective dia on mine?

Proly 28 ......its an older M8 compact.
Both of the ones I've had were of that type.

The older versions were a bit gangly.

IMHO the reg 4x w 33mm obj is a nicer looking scope.

I didn't mind the longer reg M8, but the compact looks a little better on some rigs
(this a clean reg M8 I picked up for $125 in great shape).
Now folks want twice that on the big auction site.
Ridiculous.

Leaning hard towards a 4x Leupold for my new to me BDL 270.

I have a '70 fingergroove 10/22 that would look good w an old M8 on it