Air rifle scope on 30-30?

[Northslope Nimrod]

Local shop tried to sell me a Bushnell Air Rifle scope the other day to put on my Marlin 30-30. I have heard that Air rifle scopes must be built very well due to the type of recoil delivered by an air rifle.
However, do you recommend that I put one on a 30-30? Will it maintain zero? Will it hold up? Are they typically the best value? This one looked pretty good and was only $50 or $60 bucks.

Is there a parallax issue when you are shooting out to 300 yards?

 

[RNB65]

You could make it a THR test! Give it a try and let us know what the long-term results are. Depending on how much shooting you plan to do, I'm guessing the scope will have a pretty short life.

 

[marksman13]

If you're shooting a 30-30 at three hundred yards, more power to you. I wouldn't mount an air rifle scope on a center-fire rifle, but it's your money. I would mount some quality glass from Leupold or Nikon and never look back.

 

[B.D. Turner]

The Bushnell air rifle scope may be the same one that they are selling as a rifle scope. Do some checking to see. I like a 3-9 x 40 scope on a 30-30 for hunting other folks like a fixed power scope. Have you tried a rear peep sight?

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

It should withstand the recoil fine. Air rifle scopes, particularly those made for spring type rifles, have double-mounted lenses to prevent them from shaking apart under the two-way recoil of the spring release and rebound action.

Honestly, it could even be considered 'too much scope' for that reason.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[George Hill]

Your kidding, right?

Air rifle scopes are paralax adjusted for 10 to 40 yards. Optical quality is just not there. Why on earth would you waste your money and time on one of those? You could get at least a Simmons 3-9 for like 30 bucks and at least it is set up for 100 yards.

 

[Hemicuda]

What George hill said... I use air-rifle scopes ON MY AIR RIFLES...

i would NOT put one on a centerfire (or rimfire) rifle, as they are made for use at the shorter air-rifle distances and are set up for best clarity and adjustment at those ranges...

I shoot even my WORST .22 rimfire at a longer distance than I shoot my BEST air rifle...

 

[AK103K]

Air rifle scopes are paralax adjusted for 10 to 40 yards. Optical quality is just not there.

I dont know what type of air rifle scope you were using George, but my Beeman SS3 1.5x4 is parallax adjustable from 5m to infinity and the optics are very good. Its also rated for full auto fire on a .50 BMG, or at least thats what they claim. I know it works well on 7.62, 5.56, and 9mm full autos, as I've personally used mine on all of them, and its still going strong after all these years.

Of all the scopes I've owned or used over the years, its still my favorite. Its been on and out lasted numerous rifles, and right now sits on an ARMS claw mount for my MP5. Its also repelled many juicy offers from my buddy who I got it off of, trying to get it back.


As with any scope, you usually get what you pay for. If you buy quality, you usually get it. A $30 scope is a $30 scope, air rifle or not.

 

[MrDig]

I've got a 1.5 fixed scope on my 30-30 and like it a lot. I find the ballistics of Round nosed ammunition to make the 30-30 a 100 to 150 yard gun at best. I have not tested the leverevolution ammo so don't go off on me. 150 to 170 gr RN make it a 100 yarder, any shot gun type of scope will do Very Well on a 30-30.

 

[Avenger29]

He's probably using the Hornady Leverevolution, considering he's trying to reach out to 300.

 

[Northslope Nimrod]

I am using the Hornady. While I don't make a habit of 300 yard shots and have not even approached that yet with my 30-30.....There could be a deer shot or coyote shot near that distance. I threw out 300 yards as the furthest most distance for the sake of arguing the paralax issue.

 

[Nhsport]

Go to brownells or midway and get a peep sight and be done with it. Sight will cost you about what a decent set of scope rings will end up at . I just don't find scopes to be of much value on a lever gun. Stocks are shaped to allow you to get a low cheek weld which is perfect for a peep sight but all wrong for a scope.Many times a scope will completely mess up the ballance and handleing that is what a lever gun is all about.
Even with my not so good 50+year old eyes I can do pretty good with apeture sights!
I have plenty of scopes on my other rifles, they just are a real hard sell on a lever gun.