Browning A-Bolt III

[twarr1]

Picked up this new Browning (Maroku ) A-Bolt III in 308 yesterday from a guy who bought it and never fired it. Now I’m in the market for a decent scope for it. Anybody own the ‘new’ AB3? What are your thoughts? Recommendations for optics?

 

[CptnAwesome]

Nice rifle. I seriously looked at those and the Winchester XPR for my last rifle purchase.

As for optics.. Burris Fullfield E1 is hard to beat for the money. I'm particularly fond of the 4.5-14X42

 

[troy fairweather]

I'd just throw a Burris on it.

 

[LoonWulf]

+3 for burris

 

[Bandit67]

I hunt deer in Northern MI with my .30-06 AB3. For a budget rifle I think it's great. It's light, reliable, and accurate. I picked it up for 50% off when Gander Mountain went out of business.
I found a great load with 150 Hornady interlocks and Varget without even trying very hard.
What I mean by accurate is 1 inch groups at 100 yards. Most shots where I hunt are less than that. I sighted it in about 1.5 inches high at 100 and it will ring the 6 inch gong at 220 all day with no holdover. That's the longest shot at our club.
That's with a cheap Vortex scope on it. I'm really happy with the Vortex too. Nice and clear for a budget scope.
I think you'll like that rifle in .308

 

[Hugger-4641]

Normally I'd go with Burris, but right now Sig Buck Masters are on sale at sportsmansguide for $79. I have one already and they're decent.
Correction, https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/search.cfm?kword=Sig+buckmaster

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

I know glass has came a long way but a 99 dollar scope on a nice several hundred dollar rifle no thanks. Personally if it were mine it would get a Leupold just like all my other hunting rifles. I've always been a firm believer that a cheap rifle with good optics will out shoot an expensive rifle with cheap optics.

 

[Moparnut]

Picked up this new Browning (Maroku ) A-Bolt III in 308 yesterday from a guy who bought it and never fired it. Now I’m in the market for a decent scope for it. Anybody own the ‘new’ AB3? What are your thoughts? Recommendations for optics?

View attachment 1062554View attachment 1062555View attachment 1062556

Congratulations! In another thread I asked about this rifle and 2 others. Between the caliber and my budget the AB3 may be what I end up with. Let us know how it shoots after a range session.

Also, I second the vote for a Burris. Inexpensive and extremely clear. Very good Scopes for the money. I think someone referred you to a Full field E1, I think that is the model I have and never thought it would be as good as it is.

 

[redneck2]

Would help if you specified a budget and preferred power range. I could recommend a $3,000 Nightforce but I suspect it’s not in the mix

 

[Hugger-4641]

I know glass has came a long way but a 99 dollar scope on a nice several hundred dollar rifle no thanks.

I general I agree with your point, Don't skimp, don't get optics that aren't at least better than the gun. The Op didn't state his purpose with the gun, but putting a $1000 scope on a $600 gun that you are only going to use for hunting at 300yds or less isn't necessarily smart either.
Personally I'm not hung up on price. Just because my Vx3 cost $500 and you only paid $300 for yours doesn't make mine better. Performance is what matters. I put an equivalent Vortex side by side with that Sig when I bought it. Both were $169. I bought the Sig and put it on my CVA Wolf.. If I'd have known they were going to be on sale now for $79 at Sportsman, I would have waited, if the Vortex was on sale for $79, I'd get one..

 

[DustyGmt]

I don't have the vast hunting experience or many opportunities to test many different optics to recommend one over the other, but I would not feel comfortable spending less than $250 on an optic I planned to use and expect to perform well in the field. On the flipside, there are some here who have gotten on pretty well with budget priced optics and many in the sub $200 category have been said to punch above their weight in terms of clarity and overall performance.

I actually have an ABII (Miroku Browning) and was hunting for an optic for it a couple seasons ago. I settled on the Luepold VX-Freedom 3-9×50, but was tetering back and fourth between that and the Vortex Diamondback. The Vortex looked like better glass to me but went with the Leupold pretty nice because of the name and reputation and it also seemed like pretty good glass. Plus I thought the 50mm obj was a plus but have since wished I went with a 40mm.

I really like 4-12×44 scopes but couldn't find any in my price range. I'd take any suggestion @LoonWulf says, lol.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

I general I agree with your point, Don't skimp, don't get optics that aren't at least better than the gun. The Op didn't state his purpose with the gun, but putting a $1000 scope on a $600 gun that you are only going to use for hunting at 300yds or less isn't necessarily smart either.
Personally I'm not hung up on price. Just because my Vx3 cost $500 and you only paid $300 for yours doesn't make mine better. Performance is what matters. I put an equivalent Vortex side by side with that Sig when I bought it. Both were $169. I bought the Sig and put it on my CVA Wolf.. If I'd have known they were going to be on sale now for $79 at Sportsman, I would have waited, if the Vortex was on sale for $79, I'd get one..

Absolutely performance matters and a scope they can sell for 79 dollars is not going to stack up to that VX3 you mention.

I also have to disagree about need the highest quality for hunting because hunting is when you absolutely DO need quality and reliable glass regardless of distance. No way I'm I going to take a chance on losing a chance in a lifetime buck because a scope fogged up or couldn't see well in those first or last few minutes of legal light or looking back into a shaded tree line. I want a scope that I can dang near see in the dark with. Hunting scopes are going to take the chance of getting bumped, dropped, or whatever more than plinking or target so it's every bit as important or more on a hunting rifle. IMO there is no place anywhere for a cheap low quality scopes, if I'm going to have a nice rifle like that Browning I'm going to make dang sure it's pointing at the target properly and that I can see the target precisely. People spend all kinds of money on a nice rifle, gadgets, cameras, scents, blinds, and stuff to get to a deer and then want to use a cheap scope when it's payoff time. No thanks but to each his own I guess.

 

[Hugger-4641]

Absolutely performance matters and a scope they can sell for 79 dollars is not going to stack up to that VX3 you mention.

Nope, I didn't say it had to compare to Vx3. But I don't need a Vx3 to kill deer at 300yds or less. Been doing it for years with a 3x9x40 Bushnell. My X-bolt Pro Long Range 300wm has a Veracity 5x25x50. That scope is still less than half the cost of the gun it sits on, but it does anything I need it to out to 600yd, and maybe further. I haven't tried 1000yds yet. If I need to go further than 600yds, I may need to step up another level, but I'm not spending money I don't need to,..until I need to.

 

[LoonWulf]

I don't have the vast hunting experience or many opportunities to test many different optics to recommend one over the other, but I would not feel comfortable spending less than $250 on an optic I planned to use and expect to perform well in the field. On the flipside, there are some here who have gotten on pretty well with budget priced optics and many in the sub $200 category have been said to punch above their weight in terms of clarity and overall performance.

I actually have an ABII (Miroku Browning) and was hunting for an optic for it a couple seasons ago. I settled on the Luepold VX-Freedom 3-9×50, but was tetering back and fourth between that and the Vortex Diamondback. The Vortex looked like better glass to me but went with the Leupold pretty nice because of the name and reputation and it also seemed like pretty good glass. Plus I thought the 50mm obj was a plus but have since wished I went with a 40mm.

I really like 4-12×44 scopes but couldn't find any in my price range. I'd take any suggestion @LoonWulf says, lol.

Thanks for the compliment!

I think you made a good choice with the VX-f. While i do think the DBs glass is better, ive found the eye box pretty critical on them....and for me to notice it, its gotta be pretty tight lol

View attachment 1062608 Normally I'd go with Burris, but right now Sig Buck Masters are on sale at sportsmansguide for $79. I have one already and they're decent.
Correction, https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/search.cfm?kword=Sig+buckmaster

Im curious about those BuckMasters from SIG.
The Whiskey 3s offer great optics for the price, and if the BuckMasters are similar in quality they will be a great buy in the 100 dollar price range.


Ive got some nice scopes on my rifles, tho nothing fantastic.
Most cost 1/4-1/2 what the rifles did, tho some are more than the rifles they equip (Arken on my 6.5cm long range gun, and that one cost 400), and some significantly less (the Droptine I had on my Ridgeline while the Zeiss was out for repair).

IMO, exp etc....buying an optic is more about weighing the pros and cons of the scope against the primary use, than it is buying from a specific brand. Cost is actually one of rhe last criteria i look at but often will be a deciding factor....course, wanting to try that specific scope is also a major deciding factor.

 

[Moparnut]

Optics, IMHO, should always be under the "get the best you can afford" rule.

 

[twarr1]

Thanks everyone for your input! I’ll look into the Burris E1 More info: The Browning will end up going to my son who will use it at 300 yds or less. I’d like to keep the budget at $500 or less.

 

[Hugger-4641]

Im curious about those BuckMasters from SIG.
The Whiskey 3s offer great optics for the price, and if the BuckMasters are similar in quality they will be a great buy in the 100 dollar price range.

I held it side by side with the Crossfire 4x12x44 when I bought it. I liked it better just enough to buy it instead. It's worth the $169 I paid, it came with lense covers, and I liked the power lever. It's not a Veracity or a Vx3, but I think its every bit as good as the Crossfire or the Fullfield.
Can't get a good pic of the reticle with my phone, but it's clear and the eye relief is about the same as the Crossfire.

 

[Hugger-4641]

IMO, exp etc....buying an optic is more about weighing the pros and cons of the scope against the primary use, than it is buying from a specific brand

Exactly this!!

 

[.45Coltguy]

There are many scopes to choose from, so, I'll leave that one alone. As far as a Browning A-bolt goes, Have a A-bolt Medallion in .270 Win wearing a Leupold VX II 3x9.
This is an outstanding rifle in all regards. Hope your A-bolt comes close, because if it does, you are going to really enjoy that rifle. BTW, my A-bolt is from the late 80's if I remember correctly.
It is a very nice rifle to just look at, let alone shoot.