I have, and have been using 3x9 for 50 years, never felt 'slighted'. I have one Leupold III in 3.5x10 but only use 10 for sighting in a 200yds and 9 would work just fine. To me the 3x9 is 'norm' - not exception.

I don't hunt varmints but suppose I would go higher but it's back to the weight 'thangy'. I don't shoot anything past 300 yards but feel capable 'if required' with a 3x9 and a steady rest.

Have a 3x Tactical on AR pistol and love it. Thinking about same on another AR.

I'm with Bill. 35 years of 3x9s on my rifles (yeah...only vintage calibers too). I'd think this configuration will always be around.

Quick look at the SWFA website tells me that the minimum magnification of the overwhelming majority of variables is 3x, but 9x just edges out 25x to lead in the maximum magnification of rifle scopes.

The 3-9x is still hanging on. It’s been trusted and been the standard for a very long time.

It has just become so much cheaper to build them, and to build variables that have lower minimum settings with higher maximum settings, that are brighter than scopes of the past.

It will be beat by the variables that max at 10x or a little higher, with mil dots or etc. because most of the lower end “mil dot” scopes are only true mil dot scopes at 10x magnification. And can be had for the same or sometimes less money than the same scope in a 3-9x. Even though most people can’t or won’t learn to use them or even shoot that far.

There will always be people that use a 3-9x as sure as thee will always be a 30/30 reticle.

Dead no, but it could use some improvements. My longest shot on a Mule Deer was made with a 3x9x40 on a 7-Mag and it was around 450 yards. What I want from a 3x9 is more field of view. The old Wide field Redfield was a great scope in it's days.

Not dead at all. I've got a bunch a 3x9x40 & 3x9x50 scopes.

I like straight 3 and 4 power scopes for hunting. That said I have used 3-9 power scopes also for years seldom using them set at more than 6 power. You guys must be legally blind.

I have upgraded most of mine and might have one left on a smoke pole. They are dead in my house, I like the 3-15x range and it normally lives between 6-8x but is cranked up if shot.

Deer vitals at 100 yards, under a feeder, is pretty easy to hit.

Add some yardage and other animals that are smaller, and more magnification can help.

Not dead in the ultra light rifle segment.

But loosing traction in normal market. Lot better mag option for a small weight gain that's normally not noticed in a everyday deer rifle

Obvious geographical difference here. The increased magnification with today's glass and coatings have no down sides except weight. I'm a fan of 3-15

Agree. It really comes down to a weight trade off in most hunting situations. If I'm target shooting, I love a having 15x or 16X on the top end.

Of course the argument comes in, maybe I should get in a little better shape to carry the extra 8-12 oz of scope weight.

For many traditional rifles, the 3-9 just looks right.

didnt read all this thread but for me it died in about 1970. I had a Redfield 3-9 on my first rifle .270. Killed a bunch with it. but now I like a WIDE range of power

8-32

Did a lot of hunting in Wyoming for many years with two rifles, a 30-06 Springfield topped with an old Leupold M7-4x and a Mauser 270 topped with a Weaver K4. Used very effectively out to 450 yards on Antelope and 400 yards on Elk, 300 yards was my longest shot on a Mule deer. A 4 power scope makes an animal at 400 yards look like he is standing 100 yards away. Not such a hard aiming point. That and I like those rugged light scopes on rifles I lugged around the mountains near Bondurant and Davy's Junction. If they were good enough for Jack O'Connor they were good enough for me. I bought my first 3-9 in the mid nineties. I used the reticle for a rangefinder and kept it set at a bit over 6 power to get the reticle to subtend just right. My coyote/gopher gun was a Remington 788 in 223 topped with a 4 power Leupold. Those rifles put truckloads of meat in various freezers.

That would be by last choice for a hunting rifle. I could never live with 8X as the lowest setting and I'd never use the magnification on the top end for hunting.

There you go, you have different yardage restrictions.

Jack would of used what ever he was paid to sell that day, which would of been the latest and greatest technology for that time period.

I'm personally a fan of 3-15x out west, but I can so see the allure on sub 6 lb mountain rifle also

Leupold 3x9 has been my go to for a long, long time. I doubt I will ever been in a hunting situation where I need more magnification than that. Heck I have 2 rifles with fixed 4X scopes and I wouldn't hesitate to use either on any hunt I'll go on.

Not dead. My son's CZ 550 .270 Win wears a Sightron S1 3-9x40 scope, and his Mini-14 a Bushnell 3-9x32 scope. Both work just fine at seeing animals just before they become food.

Hah that old Springfield was nowhere near sub 6 pounds, more like 8.5 ready to go. I far wish I were in shape enough to climb mountains all day long carrying those rifles. In actuality 450 yards was no yardage restriction and most of the time I was able to get much closer. I prefer to keep my shots under 350 yards no matter what magnification my scope has available. I feel if you need more than 6 power you are moving into specialized situations. You can't always have a predictable wind or a solid rest.

Have a couple 3 x 9's left, most have been replaced with 4 x 16 or 3 x 12.

OK, 5-30X50

I can live with that Buzz.

I don't have anything over 12x and I only have one of those. The vast majority are 3-9x, with a sprinkling of 2-7x, 1-4x, and a couple fixed 6x.

I have old tastes in firearms. I put period scopes on my rifles. I put a Weaver K6-60B on my 40's Husqvarna 8mm Mauser and a Bausch & Lomb 2.5-8x with a Buehler Micro Dial mount on my pre-64 Winchester Model 70.

On my custom .264 Win Mag I just built, I put a Leupold VX-3i 2.5-10. Light and handy scope and clear.

The 3-15 SWFA SFP is one of the best all-around scopes I've ever used, and it's very affordable. Decent glass, reliable tracking, good reticle for hunting or precision work...it's just a good scope. SWFA 5-20 HD is another bulletproof option for a hybrid hunting/target scope.

I did buy a 3-9 for my AR-15 and would consider the same for a 22, but would prefer a 3-12 or 3-15

3-9 is just fine for clean shots on deer and hog, 50 to 200 yards, where most of us hunt. With decent glass, it will work out to 500 yards.