Another good hunting rifle scope recomendation thread....

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BBQLS1

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I've got a Remington 700 in .30-06 on the way and I'll need some glass for it. It has a cheapie tasco golden antler on it now.

I need some good feedback as I intend to get the most for my money. Let me tell you what I'm thinking:

Most likely I'll want a 3-9X40mm
Most shots will be less than 100, but I want the option for longer shots as I hope to expand my shooting and hunting environments.
Low light is quite the possibility.
I haven't decided on price range. I may go a little cheap now and upgrade later or I might sell a gun to fund some nicer glass.
The gun won't have iron sights.

Glass I'm considering:

$200 Range: Vortex Diamond Back
$300 Range: Leupold VX-2 (the new model)
$400 Range: Zeiss Conquest with Z-Plex recticle

While you're at it, recommend some rings! :D
 
I use BSA for target shooting they have a 1/8 adj witch makes it good for target shooting CHEEP but a good staying scope I have 7 of then on my rifles. You do not need a high price scope to shoot good. GOOD LUCK
 
I had a BSA on a scout rifle. It worked fine, but I am looking for something that will have better light transmission.
 
would look at the nikon prostaff for an inexpensive scope with good light transmission.
 
I like Lepolds and at this point I don't look at other brands. I'm also a huge fan of fixed power scopes on a hunting rifle.
 
I too am looking to see what is out there. I recently acquired a Remington 700 (circa 1984) in 30-06 that has an older Leupold 3-9 on it. Other than the magnification I know nothing else about the scope.
3-9 seems pretty popular, and Leupold has a great reputation, but I am out to learn more.
Any more info somebody can pass on I would appreciate.
 
dallors to doughnuts, I'd go with a Nikon , leupold is a little better in low light by only 5min of daylight, I can hunt past the end of hunting hours with my Nikon's and still see clear so I just can't see spending more that I have to ,and I have 4 of them. I have never lost zero with any of them eather.
 
IMO, best deals going:
1. Nitrex TR1 $152
2. Burris FF e1 $121
3. Bushnell Elite $175
4. Nikon Buckmaster $150
Prices are after shipping and rebates.
 
The new production VX-2's are really a lot of scope for the money. And I would not settle for an older version. Make sure it is 2012 production. There were several upgrades made on scopes made starting this year that have made the VX-2 a darn good scope.

The Zeiss is a slightly better scope, but is a lot heaver than the Leupold if you are trying to keep weight down.

The upper end Vortex scopes are a lot of scope for the money. The Diamondack suffers from too short eye releif, but is otherwise a good $200 scope. I'd go up to the Viper in a Vortex. If you are trying to keep it at around $200 look at the Leupold VX-1. They were upgraded as well and new production VX-1's are the best scopes in the $200 price range now for the same reasons the VX-2 is better.

If the best, clearest glass is important then the Zeiss is the clear winner.

Overall, and especially for the money Leupold is my pick. It offers several advanages over all the other suggestions made. They are lighter and generally considered the most rugged of any scope made. They do cost more, but the Leupold and Zeiss are the only options that offer any real re-sale value if you ever decide to upgrade

You will get the most generous eye box (the non-critical distance from your scope where you can clearly see through it). This makes it possible to use it from odd angles and with both eyes open.

Many scopes, and several of those suggested leave a thick black ring around the edge of the scope when looking through it. This obstructs your view and is like looking through a cardboard tube. Many other cheaper scopes are clear only in the center of the image and out of focus at the edges. Leupolds and Zeiss are clear right up to the edge and have only a very thin black circle at the edge, making more of the image usable.

Many of the cheaper scopes do not have reliable adjustments and will make zeroing a chore. Often you'll spend the money you saved on the scope buying extra ammo getting it zerod. If you need to move a Leupold 2" right @ 100 yards, moving the adjustmet knobs 8 clicks will be 2". With many of the cheaper scopes 8 clicks could be 2" one time, but 3" the next or 1".
 
Thanks for the input. I think I'm going to handle a few at Cabela's and/or Bass Pro.
 
let us know what you pick, I did the same thing when I bought my last Nikon , I wanted a bullet drop type scope , I looked at a Burris with the dots in it , and a Lepold , and a Nikon BDC, I was in the Rodgers MN Cabelas , it is one of there bigger stores , and after looking through all three up in a dark corner of the store the Nikon BDC was the winner , not because it cost less (I think the burris did?) but because it was as clear as the lepold and the plus was it had cirles that you can see through, not just dots , and you can go online and use there SPOT-ON software to get the drop for the load you are useing , tryed it, and it is real close, I don't know if your looking for a BDC or not but for a few more buck there nice ,

and just so I don't sound like a NIKON FANBOY:) I have Tasco's, Simmons, Nikon's, and a Bushnell, and the last scope I bought was a Shepherd V1A 6-18X40 Adjustable Objective 18" stadia reticle, but that is in a class of it's own :neener:
 
Leupold is a great scope for the money. If you are not set on new you can get a VXIII on ebay, used, in the 3x9 - 40 class quite often. Plus the lifetime guarantee goes with it.
 
I would never get a side focus scope to hunt with. Very few shots in my experience afford the opportunity to set the side focus.
 
I have a Redfield Revolution 3-9x40 and it is a fantastic scope for less than $200. When picking a scope at Cabelas, I tried a Nikon Prostaff, Leupold VX-1, VX-2, Burris FF E1, and a few others. I found the Redfield was better than the VX-1 and only slightly behind the VX-2. The others were all good, but nothing fantastic. Mine is sitting on a Remington 700 in .30-06 and has been flawless for me. Its going to see it's first real hunt in two weeks and I have no doubt it will hold up to whatever use and abuse I may put it through. It has the same lifetime waranty as any other Leupold and is a fantastic scope for the price.
CApighunter
 
5 day trip to Cabelas , I thought I was bad, lol, I was hopeing the OP would let us know what he found
 
For my 700 '06 I use a Leupold 6X fixed, with Leupold low mount QD Weaver style rings. That allows me to transition back quickly to iron sights if the scope takes a bashing. Been using that rifle since 1980 with lots of game taken.
The benefit of a fixed scope is that there is no monkeying around with power settings when you should be taking the shot. I have seen many hunters loose good opportunities at game while they fiddled with scope settings.
 
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