I am thinking about getting a fixed 4x scope to put on my AR-15 for coyote hunting. I never shoot more than 120-150 yards so I have no need for a high power variable scope and I have always like the small, compact packages and low light ability that fixed power scopes provide. The scope I am looking at is the Leupold FX-II 4x33, which I found for around $270. Is that a good price and good value? Also, are there any other fixed 4x scopes for under $300 that I should look at? Also, can anyone think of any reason a fixed power scope would be a bad choice? Keep in mind I have a nice 3-9x40 that I could always put on the rifle if I hunted somewhere where more magnification would be needed. Thanks.

Look around more, there probably a better choice

Great idea. With fixed power scoped you don't have to worry about the focal plane or point of impact. They're lighter and far tougher than variables. It's why most sniper scopes up until recently were all fixed power.

That was my thinking. I have several variable scopes and it seems that they get set on one power and stay there 99 percent of the time. A 4x scope is nice and compact and has all the magnification I should need. I see that the Zeiss Conquest is $299 and while I know Zeiss' are supposed to be awesome, I have no experience with them. The Zeiss scope is larger and heavier (although weight is not a huge issue to me) than the Leupold. I know Nikon makes good scopes, but I am not sure what model line of scopes is comparable to the Leupold and Zeiss (I am thinking Monarch but I am not sure.) If anyone has any thoughts on the different brand 4x scopes, I would love to hear them.

A good 4 power scope is all you need for the range you mention. I should give you enough field of view for a running shot if you need it.

Might try a fixed 6 power also, fixed 6 is getting to be my favorite big game scope.

Leupolds 6x36 is a great scope, light and compact.

The 4x33 Leupold you mention is a very good scope. I'm sure the Zeiss is excellent, but I have no experience with it in fixed power.

It's nice to see someone who realizes you don't need a 6x-20x Huttle telescope mounted on a gun to shoot game just fine.

Bill

The original Colt scopes for the AR were 3x....Another idea.
There are more companies making scopes taylored for the AR platforms specifically

A Fixed 3X ACOG (TA33) would work well.

I hunted with nothing but a fixed 4x scope for years in Crockett and loved it. Never gave it a second thought. The longest shot I ever had was probably not over 50 yards.

The only problem I had was at the 100 yard gun range. It was a little hard to see the point of impact. But I did have a spotting scope.

Nikon has a 4 x 40 fixed power scope.

I recently bought a bushnell 10x40 for my remmington .223, anything from 30 yards out is in focus. I bought a 4x32 simmons for my 22 mag. I prefer the fixed scopes over the variable

Thanks for the input. While I am sure the ACOG is awesome, I don't want to spend $800-1000 on a scope. I will probably get either the Leupold or Zeiss. The Nikon Buckmaster 4x40 scope mentioned here is available a few places on the web, but it is not listed on the Nikon website, so I think it may have been discontinued.

Here are the specs on the two scopes I think I have narrowed it down to (prices are from SWFA in Red Oak, TX):

Leupold 4x33: $269.95 - 9.3 oz, 10.47 inches, 4 inches eye relief
Zeiss 4x32: $299.95 - 13.75 oz, 12.2 inches, 4 inches eye relief

The Zeiss is a little over four ounces heavier and about 1.5 inches longer. I also think I like the looks of the Leupold a little better, although that is the least important criteria for me. I'm sure the Zeiss has awesome optics, but no one on this forum or the others that I post on seems to have any experience with this particular scope. I know some people that have Zeiss scopes in the $1500-2000 range and they swear by them, but that may be apples and oranges when you are comparing them to a $300 scope.


The other thing I need to know about is mounting the scope on the rifle. All of my scope mounting experience deals with mounting them on bolt guns, where I mount them as low as possible and usually with Leupold rings and bases. Does Leupold make rings and bases that attach to a picatinny rail, and if not, who does? I also read that you need to mount AR scopes in high rings to have the proper cheek weld. (If it matters, I have a regular collapsible stock on my gun).

Thanks for the additional links. The Sightron looks interesting. The only negative thing I read about it when looking at the reviews is that while there is a ton of eye relief, 4.5 inches, you have to be at exactly the right place of the image goes dark. Don't know if that information is accurate, but it should be easy to check once I get one of the scopes in my hands at the store.

Also I found some info on the Zeiss. Reviews say that even though it is a 4x scope, it really appears to be more of a 6x scope, which is more magnification than I am interested in since most of my shots are at short range. I also read that while the image quality is better than the Leupold, the Leupold is better in low light.

I am not crazy about the looks of the Nikon and Burris scopes. Something about the small front barrel diameter just rubs me the wrong way. I think I will get either the Sightron or the Leupold. The Sightron is probably just as good, but I have always wanted a Leupold and that is drawing me towards picking it. I will go check both of them out in a store and decide then. Thanks.

www.laruetactical.com

Best AR mounts in the business.

You might want to try this guy, He is from Texas good guy, Super fast shipping and even though his stuff is clones the guys on AR15.com which are all brand whores swear by his stuff.. I actually had a reddot magnifier combo from him and it was awesome. This is a new scope he came out with that might be perfect for you. Your not going to be using this for combat situations or anything like that, it is modeled after the ACOG TA01... There is a guy that has one on a FAL 308 and said it holds zero great. Take a look at it, great price, fast shipping, and he is from Texas so that makes it even better.

Actually your post made me start doing some research and I'm glad I looked back at this guy, I'm about to buy one myself.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=124&t=461189&page=1

LaRue is the best mount money can buy. A cheaper alternative is a set of Burris Assault rings. They are very high quality extra high rings.