Skip to main content
Live chat will not be available on Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor day. We will reply to your request as soon as possible.
Help Center Community Shop

Variable scopes ???

Colt Super
Please explain to me why a variable scope is preferable to one of fixed power, at normal hunting/shooting ranges - say, out to 600 yards ??

Thank you.

Doug
0

Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • Herschel
    With a variable scope, say 3X to 9X, the power setting can be set at the lower power for close in or moving shots and at a higher power if needed for seeing more detail. It is frustrating to have a scope set at 9X and then trying to aim at a deer only 35 yards away with a very narrow field of view. I don't think a variable would have an advantage in most target shooting situations. A scope of 20X or more is preferable for 600 yard shooting but would be nearly worthless at a range of 50 yards.
    0
  • drl50
    I'm not sure if you are asking me or testing me. But for me, it is the flexibility of changing magnification or field of vision from open field to denser cover with the same rifle. I also may crank up the power to use it as a binocular substitute (verifying buck vs doe etc) but never to view anything you wouldn't shoot at. For consistent hunting conditions, it certainly would not seem to have many advantages over a good fixed power scope.
    0
  • He Dog
    Variables are what everyone seems to want, so they do have better resale value. I have some and generally find they are always to high or two low for the situation at hand and must be adjusted. The scopes on my favorite hunting rifles, for use out to about 250 yards, wear 4x or 6x scopes, mostly 4x, and several of my variables are in the 1.5-5x range.

    It is mostly a marketing ploy.
    0
  • wild bunch guy
    A higher power make me a poor shot, it just makes the target bigger.
    try this: take your best shooting firearm, and at 100 yds or longer,
    put a 6", a 3", a 1", & a 1/2" target dot, leave your scope on a fixed power, no higher than 5, take 3 shots at each dot, your best group will likely be the smallest dot that you can cover with your crosshairs. Summary: small targets = small groups.

    WBG
    0
  • Colt Super
    I have been using RedField Widefield fixed scopes 4X for years, but for the Rem 742 .30-06 that I bought from Locust Fork, I mounted a the same scope, only in 2-7X.

    I don't think it's gonna be any more accurate than my 4Xs.

    I'm thinking of storing it and getting a fixed 6X for the Rem.

    Just seeking information from the experts.

    And, as usual, I got it.

    Thank you, Men.

    Doug
    0
  • beantownshootah
    quote:Originally posted by Colt Super
    Please explain to me why a variable scope is preferable to one of fixed power, at normal hunting/shooting ranges - say, out to 600 yards ??

    Thank you.

    Doug

    First of all, 600 yards is probably not "normal" hunting distance for the overwhelming majority of shooters, and in fact most hunters probably should not be attempting shots anywhere near that distance.

    If you're talking deer, probably 90%+ of deer taken in the USA are killed with shots under 200 yards. If you consider THAT to be normal, I'd agree that a variable power scope really offers little advantage.

    But stipulating up to 600 yards for the purposes of your question, at close distances (eg under 100 yards) a high-powered (say 9x or higher) scope is too much. You have a very narrow field of view, and it can be difficult to localize your target.

    Conversely, at long ranges of 500+ yards, a simple fixed 4x scope may be too little. Sure its absolutely POSSIBLE to connect at that distance with a low-power scope, but in practice more magnification usually makes it easier to place shots precisely.

    So in short, a variable power scope can make your gun a little more versatile if you want to use the same gun for really close and really far shots.

    Can you get away with a fixed 4x (or 6x) for everything? Of course you can, and if you're a seasoned shot, I think there is something to be said for doing so. Fixed power scopes are generally less expensive, more reliable, and give you one less variable to worry about.
    0
  • OleDuk
    CS, realize that one can't shoot any better than he can see. On a recent hunt in SW VA hunting in the woods in the morning and fields in the afternoon the advantage of the variable allows you to use less magnification in the woods and consequently a wider field of view which makes it easier to get on the target.
    On the other hand, on a longer shot from a hill-side through a tree line and into a meadow I had to pick a hole in the trees to shoot through. The higher magnification made that easier to do.
    Results of that hunt were two deer in the woods (one of which almost slid into my feet (killed two, missed one out of a running bunch of 6 or so) and one shot in a field at almost 300 yds with the same rifle/scope.
    0
  • Colt Super
    I have shot into M.O.P.P with open sights at 500 yards, a few years ago (20??), before my vision improved to its' current 20/20.

    I have never shot game over 400 yards, and that was using a 4X scope, 1 shot, down, and with a weapon of a curvier trajectory than my new '06.

    I think I'll leave the 2X7 on her, after reading the Expert comments, of my Friends.

    I don't contemplate taking 600 yard shots at 4 legged game.

    Thank you, again.

    Doug
    0
  • jptatum
    I have to agree with He Dog.
    0
  • chiefr
    From a military perspective, its all about target identification.
    0
  • He Dog
    Do think about buying a Burris or better, see what you have been missing.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity