So there are mods for long range scopes and short range....anyone else wish there was a way to "zoom in and out" even if you have to craft a new scope? Kinda frustrating to aim through your scope on your sniper rifle then have to stop aiming because Mob A decided to run away and you gotta find him again. Be so much simpler AND more realistic to allow zooming.

They're fixed scope with a fixed magification. Variable scopes are a lot harder to come by and a lot harder to make, even in real life. And even so, most professional snipers use a fixed scope anyways, usually around 10x magnification.

The reason for this is how they calculate distance using the reticle markings in the scope, and how they relate to each other as well as the origin and each marking to the next can vary, but it is a set variance between each one. By having a variable scope, your calculations would also have to vary and things get really messy, really quick

Now, that being said there are more variable scopes used by professionals today than there was 10 years ago, but that's because of some improvements that have been made in the last 5 years or so for these scopes, including computers that do the calculations for you. Even so, these systems are not common at all and they're delicate. Not sure how they would hold up in a nuclear apocalypse.

You know those dials that are on the sides of scopes? They arent merely their to look pretty. You can "use" that same dial and manually zoom in and out...nothing "post apocalyptic" about that

There are flip down scopes and magnifiers which are very common IRL. I have a flip down 3x magnification eotech. It's not a true "zoom", but you can have either 3x or 5x variability. I think we can allow a 5x/10x setup in post-apocalyptia where you can flip between the two . I think would be very doable for a level 1 gun nut and would satisfy OP.

Edit: words

Heh, those are not there for magnification. Those are there for adjustment for wind (side-to-side) and elevation (up-and-down) so that a sniper can zero in on the target in their scope. These are precision adjustments and you need to be in a set position and calculate the two things I just mentioned to use them properly.

EDIT: There are scopes that do magnify, I'm not saying they don't exist. Usually though it's a ring on the towards the rear of the scope, just in front of the eyepiece. These types of scopes are not typically found on sniper scopes. More of a hunting application than anything. Pretty much like using binoculars. (there typically would also be a second ring, towards the front maybe? not sure, but it's for focus after you get your zoom.)

Those scopes would be a lot more practical, but they're also for smaller magnification. Though for a game, I can see a 5x/10x coming in handy and would be a lot more practical and realistic than a variable zoom.

No knobs to switch between them, right?

Agreed..that I can see as well. I just hate how you are forced between a "short range scope" and "long range scope" with no way to "zoom" out if you need to reacquire your target without lowering your rifle

I use reflex scopes on everything. You can snipe from ridiculous distances with just that reflex scope and you don't lose track of your surroundings. I have one gun with a recon scope I found that I only use to mark enemies but then I just switch back to another gun when I am ready to actually shoot them.