Hi guys. I bought a Remington 770 30-06 at Wal-Mart a few days ago (the action is kind of crappy, but still performs well.) The scope that came with the gun is a 3-9x32 Bushnell variable power scope, and has a 3 1/2 inch eye relief. It's not real clear, but it does zoom much farther than my others.
I also have a tasco fixed 4x32 scope. It is much clearer than the Bushnell scope and has a 4 inch eye relief.
Very seldom will I shoot over 200 yards. Should I stick with the variable scope or the fixed scope? Can I even make a killshot at 200 yards with a 4x scope.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Last edited by banjoboyjohn; 03-17-2009 at 10:01 PM.
Reason: mispelled words and unclear descriptions
Personally, I feel the fixed power is the way to go
I feel it is better to practice often with a fixed power thus developing a sense of what is to be expected at various distances. I am not so hot on people screwing up and screwing down the power of a variable scope in the field when they should be concentrating on the shot. Note- game can move away while all this adjusting is going on.
200 yards is a distance that requires lots of practice but a 4X is enough
for a deer.
But this is a forum and I know I will get disagreements which is just fine with me.
I think the key is what kind of environment you will be hunting in. Nathangdad is right, you won't be moving the scope in the woods. However, I hunt both woods and field edges. I leave it fixed on 4 in the woods, but its nice to crank it up when you have a long field shot.
I feel it is better to practice often with a fixed power thus developing a sense of what is to be expected at various distances. I am not so hot on people screwing up and screwing down the power of a variable scope in the field when they should be concentrating on the shot. Note- game can move away while all this adjusting is going on.
200 yards is a distance that requires lots of practice but a 4X is enough
for a deer.
But this is a forum and I know I will get disagreements which is just fine with me.
You won't get any argument from me. I had an old Weaver K4 on my old .30-06 Remington 700 and I could hit 200 yards just fine; of course, I never killed a deer more than about 110 yards in my life, and I’ve killed more than a few. I would go with the fixed 4X scope.
Since the 4X is clearer it may be better out to 200 yds. The only deer I have shot with a 4X32 scope was at 320 yds, since it was very good glass it worked fine, but I wouldn't try the shot with a cheap scope at 9X. I have shot many deer with my 3-9X40 but I have never shot a deer with the scope set above 7X, most of the time it is set at 3X-5X. My last 3 years hunting, I have been using open sights for shots out to 160 yds.
Too many people get variable power scopes and leave the thing cranked up all the time. The big advantage that I see with a variable power scope is the ability to zoom in while sighting in to get a good zero, and then backing off for hunting so you can quickly aquire the target.
The 4X may be a better hunting scope unless you hunt open ground and need to take long (200+) shoots.
When I did hunt back in the caveman days I used a fixed 4 or 6X scope. Today I like high power scopes for target shooting.
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I think the answer is, how good are your eyes ?? I need the greater magnification of the variable to help identify/judge game. I think you can get by with the 4x if you have good eyesight and the scope is bright and clear. One of my favorite scopes is a 1.5x6x42.
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I think the answer is, how good are your eyes ?? I need the greater magnification of the variable to help identify/judge game. I think you can get by with the 4x if you have good eyesight and the scope is bright and clear.
+1
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thanks for all of the feedback! i think i'll go with the fixed power scope. i took a close look at the variable scope and saw that below ~70yds. the image distorts if i move my head any.
fixed w/mil-dot since you know the distance at max you doing if zero in at 50 and if you need to reach further you'll have the clearer picture with the fixed at all distances just ajst paralliux....
fixed w/mil-dot since you know the distance at max you doing if zero in at 50 and if you need to reach further you'll have the clearer picture with the fixed at all distances just ajst paralliux....
No need for a mil-dot since it is a range finding feature and no reason to sight in at 50 yds. Sight in at 150 and you will be within an inch out to 150 and only about 2" low at 200. That way if it is within 200 you can hold right on.
The fixed power is clearer. I have used an old Weaver 2.5x in W.Va on the family mountain, out to 150 160 yds. In the woods maybe 40- 50 yds tops. Today if I were to go hunting ( I don't hunt anymore) I'd take my sporterized '03 with Lyman 57 sights and a douglas barrel (30-06).
It's you choice, the hillbillies are still hunting with real period muzzel loaders. There is no right or wrong, just what you are comfotable with.
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its up to u. the deer i shot this year was about 150 yards and i had my bushnell banner cranked to 18x. was it necessary, no. i coulda put it to 6x and still made the kill, but i prefer to zzoooooommm in just because i can. my eyes are 20/20, but i still like to have that high magnification on hand incase i see the deer of a life time at 400 yards. i would be kickin myself if all i had was a 4x scope in that situation. then again i always think "better safe than sorry" in pretty much everything i do. if ur sure the most u will shoot is out to 200 then the fixed 4x would work. but if u ever go somewhere else to hunt big fields or open country, then u will have to buy another scope. so i guess my thinking is, why not get a variable power and u could leave it turned down. but should a situation ever come up when u need it, its there.
