I know they're not popular and are minimally produced anymore, but for me, fixed power scopes still work very well, especially when it comes to moonlight hogs and coyotes. Currently, three of my Contender rifles wear them. In the photo (from left) are a Docter 8x56 (.300 Savage), a Zeiss Classic 8x56 (6.5 Bullberry) and a Zeiss Classic 7x50 (MGM 1:8 .223).
All are terrific in the lowest of light and feature illumination that goes extremely dim. Thus, they won't negatively impact one's vision at night. In fact, the Docter has such a dark illumination curve that -- even on the highest setting -- you can't even see it until after sunset.
The Docter and the Zeiss 7x50 feature reticles based on a heavy #4 while the Zeiss 8x56 has a more conventional #60. Only a small dot illuminates, which aids in quick target acquisition and allows precision under poor lighting conditions. The reticles in the Docter and the Zeiss 7x50 are bold enough that you don't even need the illumination in near-dark conditions.
No, straight-power scopes aren't for everyone as individual hunting needs vary, but for me, they're still a viable "fix" to the age-old problem of being able to match up with creatures of the night.
The photo directly below is the reticle in the 8x56 Zeiss looking west after sundown. The middle photo is the reticle in the Docter. The very bottom photo is the reticle in the Zeiss 7x50 with illumination activated. Pardon the poor phone photos!
They are definitely light gathering optics. I’d say they are the right fit for you since almost all of your shots come after sundown it seems. For your setup and typical shots, I can see where a fixed power would be useful.
I usually put variable power scopes on everything but most of my shots, at least on deer, I’ve found I rarely have a scope turned up into the higher settings. Unless of course I’m hunting in open country out west, 4-6x is usually sufficient.
When I was more mobile, variables were a necessity -- and I still use them. In fact, I've been thinking about putting the Docter/Noblex N4 2.5-10x50 back on the 6.5 Bullberry and putting the 8x56 on a heavy-barreled .308. It seems I'm forever swapping around scopes. Maybe that's my means of justifying a little extra range time ha ha.
I woodchuck hunted for years with a Remington ADL in .222 Rem topped with a Leupold 6X. Like a fool I sold the rig thinking I needed more. I really didn't. Shot my one and only five shot 3/8" group at 100 yards with that set-up. Wish I had my 20 year old eyes back, too. ;-)
"They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance." Last words of Gen. Sedgwik
Low magnification + a large objective = brighter image
This is why soo many of the German optics you see come with 50 and 56mm objectives. When light reaching the forest floor is minimal even at mid-day you need all the light gathering ability you can get.
Biggest problem these days when it comes to fixed power optics is that you have one of two options: super cheap/garbage scopes or super expensive European scopes that start at upwards of $1500. There's just nothing in that $400-800 range anymore which is a real shame. My search for a quality fixed 4x32mm or 4x36mm for my squirrel rifle continues...
Still have a Leupold FX3 6x42mm and a Pentax GameSeeker 6x42mm sitting in boxes. The Pentax I believe I paid $200 for, and the Leupy was $400 or $450 and I purchased both a good 15 or so years ago. As far as clarity and sharpness they're pretty much on par with one another, but the Leupold definitely has an advantage when the light starts to fade. The Pentax was on a Savage bolt-action 17HMR up until I sold it, and the Leupold had seen time on rimfires, a .30-30 lever gun and my old Savage 10ML-II muzzleloader for a short while.
"Life' is tough. It's even tougher if you're stupid." ~ John Wayne
“Under certain circumstances, urgent circumstances, desperate circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.” —Mark Twain
You will probably laugh at this but I had a 6 power swfa SS on a 308 hunting rig at one time. clarity was good enough. Light was good enough and the durability was great. Discontinued. all that to get a chance to say, beautiful tools there Bobby.
I am sorry, I may have mispoke.
I like the original SWFA line and how reliable the scopes are. The only ones I ever got to check out, however, had tall target turrets and reticles that just didn't suit my needs. But the usefulness and simplicity of a good 6x like that can't be denied.Originally Posted by Robinhood
Many scopes have good enough glass nowadays to get you to and through legal shooting light. The reticles often make the difference for me. Even the Leupold VX-2 line could do it back when they offered a German #4 reticle. I had a 3-9x40 with one and eventually -- foolishly -- sold it. I also had the VX-3 3.5-10x50 with a heavy duplex, and I even used it in moonlight. I actually peferred the less expensive VX-2 over the "3" model.
Nikon once offered 4x and 6x scopes in their Monarch line, and those were vey good indeed. I remember making a long (for me) shot on a coyote at my Uncle's place one morning when the crafty canine decided it wanted one of his free-range chickens. That 6x was more than enough for the 279 yard shot.
Good to see you posting Bobby. Love the pics and the write ups as always. Been awhile since I've been over here. Used to lurk around a lot on the old Specialty Pistols website back in the day. Keep up the good shooting and keep the posts and pics coming!
Norm in Indiana
I think most would be surprised how little magnification they really needed if they would just force themselves not to crank it up and get used to shooting at lower magnification. Yes, when punching paper it helps to have higher magnification to shoot those small groups, but when hunting anything bigger than a prairie dog or even shooting 2 MOA or larger plates at various distances 4x or 6x is more than sufficient. The AR crowd has figured this out with the 1-6x LPVO's, but like you I don't like the busy reticles they put in the bulk of those.
We have steel plate targets at my local range at both 100 and 220 yards that range from 10" down to 2" and I have no problem hitting the 2" plate @ 220yds with my Tippman Arms M4-22 22LR rifle topped with a 1.5-4x Leupold with the rather heavy PIG Plex reticle.
German Precision Optics has a nice 1-6x variable in their Spectra 6X line that has a G4i reticle for around $900.
"Life' is tough. It's even tougher if you're stupid." ~ John Wayne
“Under certain circumstances, urgent circumstances, desperate circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.” —Mark Twain
Thanks. I hope you are doing well.
I agree. It doesn't take much magnification at all. But there is one exception to that: shots in moonlight at moderate to longer ranges. Without ample magnification, you just won't be able to discern if that target animal is facing left, right or even if it may be quartering. At 2 or 3x, a 175 yard shot on a coyote in daylight is a piece of cake. But in pure moonlight, you wouldn't be able to decipher whether it's a coyote, calf or even the neighbor's dog.I think most would be surprised how little magnification they really needed if they would just force themselves not to crank it up and get used to shooting at lower magnification. Yes, when punching paper it helps to have higher magnification to shoot those small groups, but when hunting anything bigger than a prairie dog or even shooting 2 MOA or larger plates at various distances 4x or 6x is more than sufficient. The AR crowd has figured this out with the 1-6x LPVO's, but like you I don't like the busy reticles they put in the bulk of those.
We have steel plate targets at my local range at both 100 and 220 yards that range from 10" down to 2" and I have no problem hitting the 2" plate @ 220yds with my Tippman Arms M4-22 22LR rifle topped with a 1.5-4x Leupold with the rather heavy PIG Plex reticle.
German Precision Optics has a nice 1-6x variable in their Spectra 6X line that has a G4i reticle for around $900.
For night work, my variables almost never gone below 8x -- that's where they tend to be set -- and a few years ago, I even had a Minox ZE-5i cranked up to either 13 or 14x to take a coyote that was blending in to the winter foliage. Without that magnification, I wouldn't have been able to try the shot. Hunting under twilight changes things dramatically. There is no color, tonal ranges are reduced, and the angle of the moonlight can make a huge difference as well.
Doin' just fine!
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks