Fixed power scope recommendations

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I admit I'm cheap ... Got a Marcool 8*44 fixed magnification scope (30mm tube) with side focus. Cost: around 80 bucks. All adjustments are really high end and the mildot crosshair reticle is very clean.

I really like the ease of using fixed magnification. Most people I know leave their variable mag near maximum setting anyway in order to keep POI without having to re-zero. Also the lenses of fixed mag are usually high quality, providing an excellent image.




 
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The SWFA SS 10x is clearer than the SWFA SS 20x. Don't know why. The 10x is fantastic and the 20x is meh IMHO when comparing both side by side and comparing the 20x to an old Simmons 44 MAG front focus both at 20x specifically. I had thought fixed power scopes are supposed to be clearer than variable power scopes. The SWFA SS 10x is a winner though.
 
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I would rather chance a Leupold FX-III 12X40AO from Natchez for $299 and send it to Leupold Custom shop for a nice reticle upgrade and reparallax if needed since the lower magnification non EFRs usually have around 15 or 20 yard minimum front focus.

AND! Its 5.2oz less than the 18.7oz 30mm SWFA SS 10x coming in at only 13.5oz 1" Leupold and typically Leupolds are really bright and clear light weight scopes.

14.05" vs 12.1" length Leupold is shorter too.


 
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I would rather chance a Leupold FX-III 12X AO from Natchez for $299 and send it to Leupold Custom shop for a nice reticle upgrade and reparallax if needed since the lower magnification non EFRs usually have around 15 or 20 yard minimum front focus.
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Thanks Odoyle. I didnt even know that was an option. Can you reparrallax any scope and change the minimum focus? 
 
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Leopold Custom shop can do it when you send it in for reticle upgrade. Just state what you need and ask them what the maximum distance will change to because it's probably no longer going to be infinity unless they actually add more threads to the objective front focus to screw it some more turns for closer focus.

You can reparallax it yourself if you want but I won't get into that since its going to the Leupold Custom Shop anyway for reticle upgrade.
 
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You can reparallax any scope just unscrew the front objective thread protector you see 2 notched slots across each other on the threads you make a tool from a scrap piece of metal that fits those notches or 2 flat head screwdrivers at the same time just be careful don't scratch the lens to twist it in or out depending what you want just look at a measured 10 yards or whatever close distance you want to set it to. Bear in mind you will lose maximum infinity distance and possibly on many cases less than 100 yards maximum focus if you screw too much. You can do it for NON AO scopes too if you want to use cheap or centerfire no parallax scopes to focus closer but lose that long distance ability.
 
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Leopold Custom shop can do it when you send it in for reticle upgrade. Just state what you need and ask them what the maximum distance will change to because it's probably no longer going to be infinity unless they actually add more threads to the objective front focus to screw it some more turns for closer focus.

You can reparallax it yourself if you want but I won't get into that since its going to the Leupold Custom Shop anyway for reticle upgrade.
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Thanks! This is awesome. Didnt know you could do this....
 
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Leupold Custom shop comments. I have sent in many scopes to get a dot reticle in the past for firearm scopes. I figured I would get a new 6.5-20 EFR and send it in and get a reticle change. After sending it in I was called and told they could only put in certain reticles. Not the one I wanted. So I chose one from the choices and didnt care for it after I got it back. 



Another phone call. I wanted to send in a couple variables I had that were 18 on the top end that had a minimum parallax of around 25. They wouldn't reparalax even when I told them I wouldn't care if I had a man of close to a hundred. I figured if they would focus to 75 yards I would be happy. Doing business with them in the past I have came to the conclusion. It sometimes depends who you get on the phone if they will fix up something special. On the EFR they even put a dot at 16x for me. My older ones have a 16x mark the new one didnt. 



your milage may vary I just thought I would mention so some won't waste money. Just check before you buy. I didnt
 
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Leupold Custom shop comments. I have sent in many scopes to get a dot reticle in the past for firearm scopes. I figured I would get a new 6.5-20 EFR and send it in and get a reticle change. After sending it in I was called and told they could only put in certain reticles. Not the one I wanted. So I chose one from the choices and didnt care for it after I got it back. 



Another phone call. I wanted to send in a couple variables I had that were 18 on the top end that had a minimum parallax of around 25. They wouldn't reparalax even when I told them I wouldn't care if I had a man of close to a hundred. I figured if they would focus to 75 yards I would be happy. Doing business with them in the past I have came to the conclusion. It sometimes depends who you get on the phone if they will fix up something special. On the EFR they even put a dot at 16x for me. My older ones have a 16x mark the new one didnt. 



your milage may vary I just thought I would mention so some won't waste money. Just check before you buy. I didnt
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I would via phone call specifically ask for a senior tech. Sounds like newbies to me.
 
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Hey Odoyle,

I wonder if you're able to help me. I got a 10-40*56 scope from a buddy -- no name -- and the image is slightly blurred. Never totally crisp, irrespective of magnification or parallax setting. Diopter change doesn't help either. Any idea what it could be?

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tme.try to optically center the scope first and see if that helps and hopefully that scope tube hasn't been squashed or stressed to be the underlying cause of this. Many a times you can't see squashed or stressed scope tubes due to shimming or improper scope ring mounting practices or just flat out using some sub par cheap generic rings that hadn't been lapped properly.

Do a search on the forum first and if you can't find the mirror and flashlight on a flat piece of glass piece trick I can type my version of it. Or the v notch cardboard box version.
 
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I use Leupold Golden Ring fixed X scopes,they are light ,well made ,great lifetime warranty and among the best.The older scopes are great,Leopold hold their value.I also like Sightron....the SWFA have a good reputation also.I always look for light weight.

Also have many Burris scopes,you need to get the higher end models .Usually Japanese scopes are good.
 
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You can reparallax any scope just unscrew the front objective thread protector you see 2 notched slots across each other on the threads you make a tool from a scrap piece of metal that fits those notches or 2 flat head screwdrivers at the same time just be careful don't scratch the lens to twist it in or out depending what you want just look at a measured 10 yards or whatever close distance you want to set it to. Bear in mind you will lose maximum infinity distance and possibly on many cases less than 100 yards maximum focus if you screw too much. You can do it for NON AO scopes too if you want to use cheap or centerfire no parallax scopes to focus closer but lose that long distance ability.
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On “some” scopes. I tried it on a cheap scope, and it did not work. Wonder if that will void your warranty?

And if you take the homemade tool with you out hunting, if you need a different setting you can change it. It’s just like having an AO scope
 
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Of course it may void the WARRANTY if it's obvious that it had been tampered with so be careful.

On the scopes that it did not work the ocular is the last resort after adjusting the front objective first all the way out popping its front eyeball out you are lengthening the scope spacing out the front and rear glass to their farthest distances to do it.
 
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Hey Odoyle,

I wonder if you're able to help me. I got a 10-40*56 scope from a buddy -- no name -- and the image is slightly blurred. Never totally crisp, irrespective of magnification or parallax setting. Diopter change doesn't help either. Any idea what it could be?

Click to expand...

After optically centering the scope and for sure it did not help you can try adjusting the front objective in both directions as previously instructed with home made tool or 2 screwdrivers and see if that helps. Let us know how it goes otherwise if still not clear I'll give instructions to take it apart to dig further into it. May have lost its Nitrogen and gotten mold and the internal lenses just need cleaning.
 
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Hey Odoyle,

I wonder if you're able to help me. I got a 10-40*56 scope from a buddy -- no name -- and the image is slightly blurred. Never totally crisp, irrespective of magnification or parallax setting. Diopter change doesn't help either. Any idea what it could be?

Click to expand...

After optically centering the scope and for sure it did not help you can try adjusting the front objective in both directions as previously instructed with home made tool or 2 screwdrivers and see if that helps. Let us know how it goes otherwise if still not clear I'll give instructions to take it apart to dig further into it. May have lost its Nitrogen and gotten mold and the internal lenses just need cleaning.
Click to expand...

Many thanks -- will do and keep you posted.
 
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