diaperchanger
New member
I've been reading "The Complete Book of Rifles and Shotguns" by Jack O'Conner. Though written 40 years ago and a bit dated, it is still relevent and informative. I'm especially intrigued by his chapter on rifle scopes. He writes...
"Variable-power scopes are extremely popular, particularly with riflemen of modest experience. However, the variables are at their optical best at only one power. They are more fragile and more complicated than fixed-power scopes. If a scope of a certain power is ideal for a certain purpose, then the variable feature is of no value. Most users of variables set them at one power and leave them that way."
Of course, it's a given that optics are more sophisticated, tougher, and more precise than they were in 1961. And variable scopes are not necessarily more expensive than fixed power any more. It just seems natural to just go ahead and get that 3-9x40 because it covers so many possibilities. And yet, the arguement for a fixed 2.5x or 4x for whitetail deer is compelling. I remember Art Eatmans' post about killing a deer at 300+ yards with a snap shot and his scope dialed down to 3X. ( It may have been 400 yards. Sorry Art if I'm mis-remembering.)
So anyway, who hunts with fixed power? What type of terrain? gun?
"Variable-power scopes are extremely popular, particularly with riflemen of modest experience. However, the variables are at their optical best at only one power. They are more fragile and more complicated than fixed-power scopes. If a scope of a certain power is ideal for a certain purpose, then the variable feature is of no value. Most users of variables set them at one power and leave them that way."
Of course, it's a given that optics are more sophisticated, tougher, and more precise than they were in 1961. And variable scopes are not necessarily more expensive than fixed power any more. It just seems natural to just go ahead and get that 3-9x40 because it covers so many possibilities. And yet, the arguement for a fixed 2.5x or 4x for whitetail deer is compelling. I remember Art Eatmans' post about killing a deer at 300+ yards with a snap shot and his scope dialed down to 3X. ( It may have been 400 yards. Sorry Art if I'm mis-remembering.)
So anyway, who hunts with fixed power? What type of terrain? gun?