Who uses a high magnification fixed power scope?

[armed85]

I found a good price on a 25x fixed power Leupold FX-III Silhouette scope. The other option I'm looking at is a 6.5-20x variable power Leupold VX-III scope. This will be for a heavy 26" barrel target rifle chambered in .223 Remington.

Who uses a high magnification fixed power scope such as a 25x? What are the pros and cons?

 

[taliv]

cons:

with such a tiny field of view, it may take a few minutes to find your target and slight movements may move the target out of view. it wouldn't easily double as a spotting scope.

depending on where you shoot, you might want to be able to turn down the power to lessen the mirage

shorter eye relief, but that's probably not an issue with a 223 as long as your stock doesn't suck

pros:
price, as compared to a variable
reliability in theory as there are fewer parts to break

sometimes i like more power, sometimes less. i'd go with a variable unless it's a dedicated bench gun.

 

[rangerruck]

the best hi power fixed scope is a Weaver 36x. Find this in new, or old, and never look back...

 

[Shawnee]

High magnification for targets - see taliv's post.

for hunting - No.

 

[Zouave Rifle]

I've read that the USMC snipers use a 10x scope and regularly make shots out to 1000 meters, so why go to a 25x or 36x scope? The higher the magnification the worse the mirage effect and harder it is to hold the target in view.

 

[rangerruck]

most of your long distance shooters use hipower scopes, because they wanna see the targets strike on the paper if at all possible, I know that at 200 yds, I can read the instructions at the bottom of the paper, with a 36x.

 

[10X]

I used to use a model 70 target rifle with a 15X Lichert target scope for antelope hunting.

It worked well for open country and the long ranges we have here in the plains or at the range.

The field of view was too narrow for anything else.

 

[foghornl]

I have a couple of 3-9 variable scopes, but that is as high as I go...

My hands are too unsteady for more than 9x

 

[eflatminor]

No cons with the right scope

On my .22-250 varmint gun I use a Nightforce 22x scope that works beautifully. No downside I can find. Field of view even at 22x is great. Of course, you only need such high magnification if your target is very small...and ground squirels at 500 yards are small!

 

[JohnBT]

"so why go to a 25x or 36x scope"

Depends on what you are using it for. 36x with AO is about the minimum for 50-yard rimfire benchrest. 40x and 45x are common.

And centerfire too come to think of it. Here's one blurb googled up at random.

"It features a Stolle Panda Action, a Jewell Trigger, a Hart barrel, and a Lee Six benchrest stock. I added a Leupold 45x competition scope. At one time I had three range records and numerous screamers. At Super Shoot I shot a .149 at 200 yards, which was the smallest group shot at 200 yardsout of over 300 shooters."

www.kinneman.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=10

John

 

[yesit'sloaded]

I have a 6-24x on my .308. I almost never use anything over 12x for anything under 200 yards. A fixed power like you are talking about is a nice chunk of change for something that isn't very diverse in applications. What is your application? If it isn't targets or prairie dogs from a benchrest I might want to think about the variable.

 

[R.W.Dale]

the best hi power fixed scope is a Weaver 36x. Find this in new, or old, and never look back...

WRONG!

An OLD Weaver is a good scope new ones are Chinese made junk. Just be aware that if you buy an old Weaver and it dumps on you you're pretty much SOL. Weaver won't fix it they'll only offer to sell you one of their new crappy rebadged BSA's at a slight discount.

Myself I've got a Leupold 36x coming for my 7.62x39 benchrest rig.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

The main problem is mirage. But-for the mirage problem, the fixed 24, 36, 40, or 45 would be more popular. Great for making very very precise hits with a benchrest gun. But if mirage effect is high (in high heat), then you might be screwed, not being able to dial back down. The longer the distance, the more mirage is a concern. So if you're only shooting at 200 or maybe 300, and not shooting in high heat very often, and not shooting for saving your life, then a fixed high power is great for a benchrest gun. But otherwise, look at a variable - 6-18, 6-24, 6-20, something like that.

I would agree that for a budget fixed power, run with a used Weaver, or new Sightron, or new Falcon. If going for premium, get a Leupold fixed power.

 

[yesit'sloaded]

Don't see mirage as a problem, look at it as a way to read the wind......OK fine, it's a problem.

 

[JohnBT]

"An OLD Weaver is a good scope new ones are Chinese made junk. "

I wonder when they moved production to China. Both of my Weaver T-36's are marked JAPAN and were made by Light Optical Works, Ltd. IIRC.

I know Meade announced last month that they were selling Weaver and Redfield, but keeping Simmons, so things are about to change again.

John

 

[Wildfire]

Wow !

Hey there:
I use high power variables. The fixed work well for target. But I do a lot of varmint hunting and need the high and low.
I knew you were going to get a lot of answers. But , Lets go here for a look.
Eflatminor can tell you about the NightForce and "Mirage".
The very good scopes have very little of it.
As far as 10X scopes for our Snipers ? Well . They did not choose that scope.
It was choosen for them. Not one of them would not wish for some extra power at longer ranges. And That 10X scope is only a fraction of what they really use. There are many other scopes used for sniper work. A NightForce being one of them.

 

[taliv]

The very good scopes have very little of it.

good scopes can stop light from refracting differently in warmer, thinner air than in colder, denser air?

who knew?!?

As far as 10X scopes for our Snipers ? Well . They did not choose that scope.
It was choosen for them. Not one of them would not wish for some extra power at longer ranges.

what are you basing this statement on?

 

[USSR]

good scopes can stop light from refracting differently in warmer, thinner air than in colder, denser air?

who knew?!?

+1. Mirage has nothing to do with the quality (or lack thereof) of a scope.

Don

 

[JohnBT]

I'd guess some of them like the fixed power scope, maybe it's all they know.

Roy Chandler is recommending a 5.5x-15 on his rifle that's being tested in the field. Here's just one of his articles, the scope is listed at the end.

www.precisionshooting.com/psm_2007_11_issue.html

_____

edited to add: For anyone unfamiliar with the name:

"Roy F. Chandler, MSgt. U.S. Army (retired) was an active duty soldier for twenty years. A veteran of WWII and Korea, he operated a sniper school, and during the 1950s he was a test NCO at the arctic Test Board in Alaska. Roy Chandler has been a nationally recognized big game hunter and writer for forty-five years. He has authored 57 published books."

www.deathfromafar.com/htm/08_weapons_menu.shtml
_____

I see that Leupold bought Redfield and ATK bought Weaver to go with their line of Weaver rings/bases.

John

 

[Wildfire]

Based on .

Hey again:
The statement was based on sales of scopes to the military. NightForce sells scopes to them , Leupold as do many others. They are not all 10X scopes.
Most issued hand guns are 9mm , But many wish for the bigger ones. There is a forum linked to NightForce scopes web site. The shooters on there that use the NightForce scopes claim that mirage is much less of a problem with their larger optics and better scopes then they have had with other brands.
my 44mm scopes have more mirage then my 56mm scopes do at the same power settings. If this were not true cameras would not be able to take clear photos on hot days. I see a mirage many times with out a scope. So !
My statement holds. The better the glass and the larger the optics the less mirage is a problem. It is still there , just not as big a problem .
I also have worked with police snipers that use Variable power scopes. 4.5 x 14 leupold tacticals. Standard issue for them. No 10X there.
While I agree many are 10X . Some are not. The ART systems used a 3x9 and some much higher power variables also.

 

[dwwhite]

Depending on your climate, and the time of day that you generally shoot, I would recommend the 6.5-20 variable. This is what I have on my .308 varmint/target rig. I have found that on a cool day with a steady rest or a sling, dialing it all the way up is not out of the question. However, in 95-100 degree heat, the mirage can be too much for anything over about 10x.

Also, if you plan to hunt any at all, the variable might buy you a few extra minutes at dawn and especially dusk as you can turn the power down to gain a little more light gathering power. This should be less of a problem as you get into the higher power scopes though.

 

[armed85]

I'm leaning towards the 6.5-20x variable which is the same price as the 25x fixed.

My made concern is field of view and mirage. Being able to dial down the magnification seems like a good thing, but there are plenty of people who use fixed power scopes, so maybe it's not such a big deal?

I'm shooting .223 Remington, so I don't think I'll shoot past 600 yards, though it's possible I'll shoot past that distance.

From time to time, I'll practice at 100 yards because a few ranges I go to are only 100 yards. The majority of the ranges in my area are 200 yards. Unfortunetaly, I have to drive an hour to get past 200 yards. The rifle I'm using is purpose built for 600 yards or longer.

The scope I want is going on a rifle that will only be shot from the bench and prone.

 

[USSR]

Being able to dial down the magnification seems like a good thing, but there are plenty of people who use fixed power scopes, so maybe it's not such a big deal?

When mirage is present, you'll be amazed at how much better of a sight picture you have when you dial down the magnification.

Don