Benefits of variable power vs. fixed power scopes?

[aus_Rob91]

Gday I just wanted to know what sort of thought processes people were going through when deciding on whether to get a fixed or variable mil dot scope. In my mind, a variable scope is most likely going to be even more benefit for rimfires due to the close ranges they are going to be largely shot at (if I am waaay off the mark here and just talking bs let me know why)
But what I really need is a list of pros & cons for each type to help me decide...
The obvious ones are to do with the variable being benefitial for a variety of ranges, while the fixed is lower cost for a comparable product. Also does the mil ratio change with variable power?, as I heard that some scopes have a preditermined power factor that the mils will only work with.

As you can tell I am a total noob so any extra info would also be helpful, as I am really keen to get into some more 'tactical'/target style shooting.

 

[Redmanss]

Re: Benefits of variable power vs. fixed power scopes?

That's actually a lot of questions that will be better answered with your own research, but I'll give you the quick rundown.

Variable vs. fixed when talking about inexpensive scopes comes down to versatility vs. durability. Less moving parts is less that can go wrong with a fixed, but you can't dial down when you need the wider field of view or you might be restricted on how much you have on the top end. Really comes down to your application on which is better. If you're going to use it on a rimfire for hunting, I would get a variable but if it's going to be a range gun you can get away with a fixed 10x for 50m and further.

The other side of setting for proper ratio of mils on your reticle is the difference between First Focal Plane (FFP) and Second Focal Plane (SFP). Again, application and budget will dictate what is best for you. With FFP scopes a mil is a mil regardless of magnification setting, and SFP requires a certain setting for it to be fully accurate. FFP scopes always come with a considerable upcharge due to the increased complexity in assembly.

Read this post from Top Predator for an outstanding overview on optics selection:
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...692#Post2264692

I also recommend hitting up the stickys and FAQs in the Optics Forum.

 

[aus_Rob91]

Re: Benefits of variable power vs. fixed power scopes?

Thanks for the info. And I just found how to google search through SnipersHide, so I'm cooking with gas now