Variables??

After 45 years of pursuing whitetails, mulies and elk I'm seriously wondering why variable scopes have become the standard. I have a couple of rifles with good variables and a couple more with straight 4 power 30-year-old scopes. I find I just set the variables on 4 power and leave them. So the obvious question. Why the increased cost and complexity of the variables?

I really have no preference and would just as soon reach in the rack and get the non-variable scope as the one that will zoom up and down.

Maybe it's just me. Do many of you hunters out there really use the variable feature of your scopes in field conditions?

Ben R. Ogletree Jr. Livingston, TX

My history and thoughts of variable vs fixed is about the same Most people with variables dont use the variable and leave it on 4x. I usually have 4xs on my big game rifles, do have a couple of vaiables and have used them in the past. if its too far to tell what something is or cant see enought to shoot on or with a 4x,its too far to shoot. fixed are lighter and less likely to be damaged.

Maybe I'm the oddball out there, but yes, I do use the variable power feature on my rifle scopes. There are stands that I have where the typical shot is less than 40 yards. By the same token, I also have stands where the potential for a 300 yard shot is possible. I have other stands with shot ranges in between.

I have a rifle scoped with a compact 2x7 (.450 Marlin) that I use if I'm going to be hunting the 0-100 yard stands. I have another rifle (custom built .300 Win Mag) with a 2.5x10 that I use on the longer range stands. I'll keep the scope turned down, anticipating a quick, short range shot, but if the animal is out there farther, then I'll turn up the magnification. Usually, on these longer shots, I have the time to do this as the animal is far enough away not to be spooked. Many areas that I hunt, a fixed 4x would have too much magnification.

It works for me,

I picked up a Leupold 4x at a garage sale for $65, and mounted it on my Marlin lever action. It's a real nice combo. The 4x is just right.

The new stuff is what keeps the manufacturers in business, but there is some perfectly good old stuff out there. I have pretty much given up on ever being a rich man, so I try to make do. Sometimes it does very well, for not much money.

I do. Not necessarily on the same day, if I'm hunting in the woods of north-central Minnesota, I put it on 3X and leave it there, I'm not going to be getting a shot of more than 70 yards anyway. But on other days, in other places, I may set it to 6X and leave it, or on occasion crank it up higher to look over an animal that I've spotted.

Scott