6x42 Fixed Power Scope?

[Boredrill]

I've been using a meopta Artemis 6x42 on my .308 for a few months and I'm very impressed with the glass. A huge improvement over the Nikon variable it replaced. Meopta has some different reticle options as well. It is heavier that the Leuopld.

 

[rookhawk]

I found a 6x42 fixed power scope for sale (Meopta MeoPro) with a German 4 reticle. I am trying to decide how I would use if I bought it and what to mount it on. My rifles range from .223 up to .375 with many (my wife thinks too many) in between.

I am open to suggestions as to why I should or should not buy it.

It's a great scope for a stalking rifle where the shots are from 50 yards to 300 yards. It would be a good "point and click" optic with no complexity. I'm thinking calibers like .243, 257R, 250-3000, 7x57, 280, 270W, etc.

The Schmidt & Bender Klassik can be found in the same configuration. Roughly a $700 optic, sometimes used on eBay as well. An absolute bargain for a world-class optic.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

As an all around fixed power scope, MY choice is the 4x! For open country habitats, plains and/or mountains, then the 6x, perhaps, would be marginally better. I grow up with open sights and 2,5 and 4x scopes. Always worked, for me, more than enough even here, in the Patagonian Andes. Is a personal taste of course. All my, few, rifles have two scopes already sighted: a variable of 1,5-6 or 2,5-10 AND a 4x32 or 4x36...

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I had a Swaro 6x42 on my PreWar 275 Rigby, but swapped to a S&B 3-12x42 w/ illuminated reticle. Was going to put the 6x42 on a No 1 in 275 Rigby but sold the rifle.

 

[De_Tomaso]

These simple non-variable scopes are, unfortunately, becoming a thing of the past. But in some situations, the experience with them is simply better than with a more modern scope. There are no settings to think about. You concentrate on the hunt, and when the time comes, you just point and shoot. No parallax adjustment, no magnification adjustment, no reticle illumination adjustment, no turret movement, and thinking about the correct dial in. Just point and shoot.

 

[ZG47]

These simple non-variable scopes are, unfortunately, becoming a thing of the past. But in some situations, the experience with them is simply better than with a more modern scope. There are no settings to think about. You concentrate on the hunt, and when the time comes, you just point and shoot. No parallax adjustment, no magnification adjustment, no reticle illumination adjustment, no turret movement, and thinking about the correct dial in. Just point and shoot.

Also … fewer pieces of glass mean better significantly better light transmission. That is why the macro equivalent of any camera lens will have a smaller minimum stop. Same applies with parallax adjustment at or behind the adjustment turrets. It requires an additional lens which may contain multiple pieces of glass. Every change from glass to glass or glass to atmosphere results in a loss of light.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hi ZG47,

This is true but, with today anti reflective multi coatings, the loss of light amount is not an issue.
To me the "advantage" of a fixed power scope for my hunting needs is its simplicity, always in the "right" setting!

 

[ZG47]

Hi ZG47,

This is true but, with today anti reflective multi coatings, the loss of light amount is not an issue.

You will notice the reduced light transmission at dawn and dusk. You will also notice a reduced eye box when practising and making snapshots. No such thing as a ‘free lunch’.

 

[Southern Cross]

I have two 6x fixed scopes (Leopold & S&B). They have harvested springbuck to 375 meters. Like others I also used my variable scopes at a 6 power setting. My backup scope when using a variable is always a 6x fixed scope

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@jpr9953
I wouldn't put it on a 375 but anything from 223 upto 30-06 would be fine. It would allow you to shoot medium game to 300 and small game to 250 or so.
I remember when a 4x40 was the most common scope in use and that served us well until we got variable scopes.
Meopta make a bloody good scope.
Bob

I found a 6x42 fixed power scope for sale (Meopta MeoPro) with a German 4 reticle. I am trying to decide how I would use if I bought it and what to mount it on. My rifles range from .223 up to .375 with many (my wife thinks too many) in between.

I am open to suggestions as to why I should or should not buy i

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

From memory, the 6x42 was the standard for sniper rifles for quite some time....

Roger

@yumastepside
WW1, open sights or 2-3 power
WW11 usually 4 power
Vietnam 6 power Unertal or 19 power Leupold Mk4 10 power.
6 power covers a lot of shooting territory.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Great scope for 0 to 200 yards, maybe a little further. Prefect for a lightweight walk and stalk rig. I had a 4x scope on my 30-06 for years. Now a 4 to 12 that stays on 4 most of the time. Those scopes are light and easy carrying.

@Nhoro
The six is good for more than 200.
Back in the days of yore when I could actually see I had a 4X on my old tricked up 303. With that combination a house brick at 300 was not a problem. Smashed a lot of bricks and game with that old rifle.
Pity I can't shoot like that now. I need more magnifying but even then my scopes only go to 10X but are always carried on the lowest setting 3-3.5.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

The German #4 is very useful. Mount the fixed 6x up to a 35 Whelen or down to a .25 caliber.

@Schüler Jumbo
Would be ideal on my Whelen
But my 25 needs a little more as my son and I take the occasional shot to 490 and a bit further.
My 25 has a 3.5-10X44 Meopta that usually sits in five power but for the rare long shot it's nice to be able to crank it up to 10. Pity the don't make a CDS for their scopes but the BDC reticle is pretty good once you know all your ballistics and then verify it at the range
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have three 6x fixed scopes & like them all. Whenever I'm hunting, I don't want to be adjusting my scope by turning knobs. I prefer to have it set for an appropriate magnification & leave it alone. For the moderate hunting ranges I shoot at, this is easy to do. I shoot a lot of single-shot falling-blocks. A simple rifle with a simple scope is a favorite setup.

I have a pair of 303 British. The Ruger No. 1A has a Leupold 6x42:

My Winchester 1885 Safari Octagon in 375 H&H has a Zeiss Diatal Z 6x42 MC:

My Browning 1885 in 44 Magnum that I use for the straight-wall & primitive seasons has a Malcolm 6x:

@odonata
I love those old 85s they just exude pure class.
I have a lowall in in 22K Hornet but would love two more one in 25-06 and the other in a Whelen
What would be ideal is a quarter turn interrupted thread receiver and two barrels complete with scopes. Flick barrel locking lever, turn, remove, replace and lock similar to the BLR takedown.
My gunsmith did offer to do it for me if I could get a Browning 85 but then he told me the cost. Lucky I was hanging onto the table at the time.
Give me an 85 over a Ruger No1 any day but both are nice
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@rookhawk
I wouldn't waste a good scope on a 243. It shouldn't be out hunting to start with
All your other choices are excellent especially the two 25 cals
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

You will notice the reduced light transmission at dawn and dusk. You will also notice a reduced eye box when practising and making snapshots. No such thing as a ‘free lunch’.

@ZG47
The maximum the human pupil can expand to gather light is 5.5mm
A 6x42 scope gives an exit pupil of 7mm (42÷6=7). This is more than the human eye so better light transmittance.
This is why a variable scope set on 10 power would need a 56 mm objective to be similar.
The old Kahles 8x56 was the scope favourite for roo shooters and fix hunters in the day
Bob

 

[Chuckbuster]

All this talk of fixed 6 power scopes has got me to thinking of the 6X Kahles I have buried in a drawer. There’s probably something I own and could mount it on.

 

[ftothfadd]

They used to be mighty popular in Europe. If I were forced to pick a non-variable fail safe scope, it would be a 6x42...

 

[mooze]

They used to be mighty popular in Europe. If I were forced to pick a non-variable fail safe scope, it would be a 6x42...

This is exactly why I had a fixed 6X Leupold on my toss-in the canoe gun. Less parts to fail.

 

[ZG47]

@yumastepside
WW1, open sights or 2-3 power
WW11 usually 4 power
Vietnam 6 power Unertal or 19 power Leupold Mk4 10 power.
6 power covers a lot of shooting territory.
Bob

Some of the top German snipers were supplied with 6x scopes.