Fixed Power Scope

kevinpagano · Post by **kevinpagano** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 6:48 am

What are the advantages of a fixed power scope. Sometimes I tinker too much with stuff and I only can think of that for an advantage. Is there some other technical advantage to a fixed power scope.

thanks

Kevin

ajj · Post by **ajj** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 6:56 am

It's lighter. It's cheaper. Some say it's harder to damage. It has one fewer thing to confuse you as you go from one animal to the next. As if all other things were ever equal.

kevinpagano · Post by **kevinpagano** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:00 am

I find that I have a tendency to start playing with power whenI am wiggling too much instead of concentrating on my hold. Maybe a fixed power might help me with that.

papabear · Post by **papabear** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:10 am

One advantage of fixed power is that you will not mess with it while shooting and add to your aggravation.

One disadvantage is that you cannot use that as an excuse.

Also when the sun is almost down and you still have a shoot off to win, adjusting to a lower power will let you see the animals clearer.

Adjusting it low enough for you to see where you missed helps massage your ego as you congratulate the guy/gal that beat you.

dave imas · Post by **dave imas** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 8:55 am

so it sounds like you wiggle too much and the answer might be to change scopes from a variable to a fixed... instead of learning how to stop wiggling? Kevin, changing your scope won't help you hold still. one of the most significant mistakes silhouette shooters make, both new and experienced, is to use too much magnification. too much magnification for their skills to hold steady. too much magnification to allow them to see a clear follow-thru. one of the advantages of a variable is to learn how to shoot on 12x and then be able to boost your power to say 16x without having to buy a new scope. work your way up so to speak. but that won't process won't work either until you learn how to stop wiggling.
dave

kevinpagano · Post by **kevinpagano** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 9:51 am

That all makes sense dave. On 12x I am able to stay with in the chicken on 80 percent of the duration. I have been practicing my hold at home and went from an 11/40 to 19/40 just by reducing power. I was just curious instead of changing powers that I just concentrate on my hold more. You have answered the question. I will try and stick to 12x until I can hold within the chicken 100% of the time?? then move power. I think that is what you are saying.

Thanks

Kevin

Quonset Hut · Post by **Quonset Hut** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:11 am

Fixed scopes have fewer parts to go out of adjustment. There is a reason that the majority of experienced shooters go to Leopold. I have a Tasco WC 24X on my NS-522 because I had a weight problem and didn't want to spend the extra $300 at the time for the Leopold 6.5 x 20. There are times in matches or practice when I've dialed the power back a little to "improve" the hold. I usually go back before the end of the day.

Quonset Hut · Post by **Quonset Hut** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:14 am

Quonset Hut wrote:Fixed scopes have fewer parts to go out of adjustment. There is a reason that the majority of experienced shooters go to Leopold. I have a Tasco WC 24X on my NS-522 because I had a weight problem and didn't want to spend the extra $300 at the time for the Leopold 6.5 x 20. There are times in matches or practice when I've dialed the power back a little to "improve" the hold. I usually go back before the end of the day.

I meant dialing down on my standard rifle, a 54-18 with rail installed for indoor position, and sporting a Weaver 6-24.