Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Any reason to go M8 over FX-II

There used to be a lot of those around on the used market until people started keeping them after finding out what a good deal they are.

I have one. Looked for another but ended up with a Revenge 2-7 for my CZ 527. It's ok, but nothing like the Revo.

Weight and handling wise that must have been a great pairing. I've had the Revo on a Ruger Ranch in 7.62x39 and it was just perfect for it.

One story I've told quite a few times before involves my first African safari in 1993. Though it was a plains game hunt I took my Mark X Mauser .375 H&H, because it was purchased (and modified) as my "African" rifle. Mounted a pretty pricey 3-9x, but took along a 4x28 M8 Leupold as a back-up--and was glad I did, because the pricey 3-9x went wonky, and I ended up getting a big kudu on the last day with the 4x28--and like most first time African hunters, the kudu was my major desire.

It didn't take long to zero the 4x Leupold despite the friction adjustments--and what I often found back in those days was that many hunters didn't pay attention to the what the hashmarks designated.

But it also turned out that the PH's back-up rifle was a .375 H&H, an old Sako that also had a 4x28 M8. The scope had been on the rifle for at least a decade, and had often been used by clients who didn't want to bring a rifle. Consequently the PH had filed notches ("witness marks") on the adjustments when the rifle was sighted-in with his preferred handloads. When a client used the rifle, they'd adjust the scope for the client's point-of-impact, which often differed some even with the PH's handloads--but especially varied with the commercial ammo the clients often bought in Johannesburg. After the hunt, the PH would turn the friction adjustments back to filed-in "witness marks," and the rifle always returned to his zero...

Oh, and at the end of the hunt I asked the PH whether he'd prefer a cash tip, or my 4x28 M8. He gladly chose the M8.
But that was a long time ago....

My friend who is a rifle nut and a silver star awarded army sniper stated once that he read the M8 4 x scope was recommended by a dangerous game rifle maker.

I like to use the anology of anchoring a boat.

There is some drift before that anchor takes proper hold of the bottom.

A buddy has gifted me a M8 6x36 that has a parallax adjustment ring on the front objective. It's a gift only as long as I use it to hunt.....

Thinking about using on a howa 1500 .308 heavy barrel 20" varmint I use hunting timber situations.

Unfortunately, the inside of a scope isn't meant to have as much slop and play as a chain that connects an anchor to a ship.

I picked up matte m8 6x42 today at a gun show......?had a 4a reticle $200 wasn’t a bad price

I can't compare the FX II to a M8 as I've never used an M8. I had A FX II 4X33 on a Ruger Hawkeye 257 Roberts LA. It was a tight fit on the LA with little to no wiggle room, but it fit. Used it for about ten years, until I moved to a VX 2 2-7X33. My old eyes needed the 2-7. The "wide duplex" never bothered me. It was a set and forget for my application, and didn't miss a beat while on the Hawkeye .257R.

Agreed. Jordan

I use a lot less ammo when a Leupold isn’t involved in the sighting in.

Are you sure it's not a 6x33AO ?

You're probably correct....it just has 6x compact on the bell....

That's most likely a 33 since it says compact. You'll also notice the eyepiece is a little slimmer than the standard M8 eyepiece.

Amazing the old friction adjusts moved better than some of their newer scopes. I’ve got a few and haven’t found them too awfully bad to get on point.

What were the issues with the FX-II, if you don't mind me asking?

There were problems with more than one. The biggie was inability to hold zero, often suddenly going considerably OUT of zero--which almost NEVER happened with M8s. But the adjustments were often unreliable as well, often noticeably more so than Leupold variables being made at the same time.

This was several years ago, and they may have changed for the better. But I simply grew weary of dealing with the issues, and quit buying them.

M8’s look better

Sounds like a good idea, though in that application, a M8 4X might work better.

Also, don't forget the older fixed power Zeiss Diavari scopes, which would also be an excellent choice.

Fixed power and Diavari are contradictory.

I believe you mean Diatal.

No, I meant Diavari, but you are correct. Not sure what I was thinking. I'm not real familiar with the Diatal, but maybe that's what I was referencing.