Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Teach me about fixed 3x scopes.

I would prefer to have an actual 3X magnification with a wide angle lens closer to a field of view of 40 ft. It is certainly possible. Now, to wait and see what it is like. The 3X scope I ordered is for my my 358 winchester on a mauser action. Matt

Don't know what technique(s) you use if moving through cover, such as follow-ups, where you may need to jump shoot game at close range. But I can offer a tip reference your 1-4x20:

Assuming you use a traditional low carry technique, where the butt stock is in your shoulder pocket with the barrel slightly down to keep your sights/scope just below your field of view, so that you can keep your head up to use your natural 180degree field of vision to identify your target. Once your target is identified and you raise the rifle to your eye level, you keep both eyes open. Test this in a typical low light heavy cover situation with your scope set at its lowest 1X setting, and test this at a 3X setting. If you have normal vision to make use of the exit pupil, you will find that the 3X setting actually has some advantage over the 1X setting. The 3X setting will have better resolution in the low light and make for an easy target aquisition while keeping both eyes open. It will not overwhelm and cut into your 180degree natural field of view, and it works pretty darn well. When you go to the low 1X setting, you'll tend to look only through the scope which acts like blinders, and you'll loose some low light target resolution due to the lower magnification. In addition, if the game is wounded and you are obligated to take a shot if presented, you do not need to spend time fiddling with your scope if the fleeing wounded animal pops out of cover a couple hundred yards down range.

Timing yourself on a fixed target, in fair light, at a known location and distance can give you false feedback. Trying to clear a patch of woods during a follow-up while in heavy cover and low light, where the target may jump up just about anywhere, you may find different results if timed. In such a situation, don't cut yourself short by wearing blinders where you are only looking through the scope. Make use of your full 180degree field of view.

As for the 1-4X20, it has a short mounting tube length same as the 4X. Here is an example using my modified M70 416Rem. It uses a mounting system that allows straight up scope mounting with an unobstructed loading port. The distance between the front face of the front ring and back face of the rear ring is exactly 5.5". The 3X is a perfect match and a better fit on this rifle than any of the other offerings.



Later

Personal experience is the best teacher. Had a 6x42 on a couple Mod.70 FWTs and never could warm up to them even tho a 6x36 seemed great and the 1.5-5 seemed better. Then I placed one-6x42-atop a Nula. I just did it out of curiosity, but for me it was a bingo moment.

Stock shape, LOP, weight combined with balance? Don't know the why, just know it works.

Yup I like the 6X42 I have one on a NULA .308 and it's the cat's azz ...3X not so much

Lefty C

I may like the straight 3x with a Leupold dot even more on the Nula, because of the less noticeable wiggles when shooting offhand with a light rifle. Off the bench most anything works.

Addition: In the wide open spaces the 6x42 would be my choice. For most of my woods time here in the East the 3x may be the winner. A different horses/courses decision.

Time will tell....

Upped the magnification and downsized the field of view. Hmmm.....

This sounds very logical to me....scopes get put to various uses by lots of people for lots of different things....mix in that not all of us need glasses,and some do,and not all have the same eyeglass prescriptions, it ain't tough to figure why opinions on scopes vary so widely.

The only subject that matches scopes for differing opinions,is "The Best Elk Cartridge"....I try to refrain from discussing either....pointless with no finite result.....

I don't believe in "perfect elk cartridges" anymore than I believe in perfect scopes....

There is one thing that the new 3X Leupold will likely NOT do, that a variable may........break.

Especially on a hard kicking rifle.......That, alone,makes the purchase worthwhile

I have no need for turrets, ranging/hold over reticles, or enough magnification to see the fleas on an elk at 600 yards.
If you like those features on your scopes fine. I plan to get a Leupold 3x with either the post & duplex or #1 reticle. If the post & crosshair reticle is available I may get that.