Good .30-06 hunting scope for $250 or less?- Suggestions?

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GWARGHOUL

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Right now I have a decent Simmons, but my buddy told me it won't hold zero in the field with the recoil of a 30-06.

Its a 3-9x40.

He suggested a Bushnell Elite.

I'm wanting your suggestions. Its for hunting, and some 500 yard skilled shots.

$200-$250 max budget.

Thanks.
 
Oh, and when I get this scope for the .30-06, would the Simmons be suited well for my AK or would it be better served on my Marlin 60 (Might be over kill on the range/accuracy of a 22?)
 
In that price range, Id consider Leupold, Nikon, or Redfield.
Some people like the Bushnell 3200's, but the one I tried wouldn't hold adjustment well,
(I think there was something wrong with it).
 
I have several Nikon ProStaffs on various rifles including a 3x9 on a Savage Edge in .30-'06.
The 3x9 sells for around $150.00 and is of excellent quality.
Other Nikons reside on my Grandson's .30-30, my T/C Omega and on an ancient FN Mauser in .250-3000 Savage that was my first center fire rifle.
 
Elites are great scopes, My dad sold several hundred of these at his gunshop and we never had one return for problems.
 
I have a number of Elite 3200's on 270 and 30-06 class hunting guns, and they have given no issue. I like 'em, especially the 1.4x-4.5x variant.
 
Just a thought... if you go with the Nikon scopes, I would go with a Buckmasters, since they have the reticle focus. That's really nice to have. Otherwise, either the target or the reticle are out of focus, and it drives me nuts. I think you could find these in the $200 range at most online retailers.
 
Right now I have a decent Simmons
Click to expand...


Try it and see for yourself. You may be surprised.
I have Leupold, Nikon, Bushnell, and BSA. I am happy with them all except for the BSA. And it's problem isn't holding zero, it's poor eye relief on a heavy recoiling rifle.
My brother has a cheap $50 Simmons on a muzzleloader and it withstands the heavy recoil just fine. I have a cheapo Bushnell Sportview and it holds zero fine as well. Of course it is on a .243 so heavy recoil isn't a factor.
Bottom line, see for yourself. If you aren't happy, then spend extra money.
 
I really like the redfield scopes. I have them on my most my rifles.

Edit: You can get a 4x16x40 for around $220
 
Whats an AO scope... and for te life of me I do not understand this parallax stuff when it comes to scopes.

The price is nice on that Mueller, but will it hold up and hold zero?

I trust Luepold, but can I reach otu to 500 yards with a Luepold rifleman?

I'm just going to put the Simmons on the marlin 60, or the SAIGA. Which leaves me with a $40 Bushnell laying around with no purpose.
 
AO = Adjustable Objective.
It can be a scope with a side focus knob, or a scope with a front lens that can turn to adjust to the range you are shooting.

I changes the parallax setting to 0 at various ranges.

Parallax is the apparent movement of the cross-hairs on the target when you move your eye from side to side behind the scope.

AO isn't necessary at lower power scopes, below about 9x or 10x.

Higher power scopes need it, as parallax error gets worse at higher magnification.

See this:
http://www.6mmbr.com/parallax.html

rc
 
good input, I kinda understand it now.

the Mueller seems very appealing for the price.

Are they known to be good optics for hunting and long range shooting.... and easy to use (I'll read the manual)...?
 
Mueller is a less known name compared to the Bushnell Elite, Nikon Buckmaster, Zeist, Leupold, etc. I have 2 of them and I am quite pleased with how they perform. They are not a $1000 scope but you also are not paying $1000. Here are some of the threads that helped me make the decision to give them a try.

FYI a BOX Test if you do not know is this:
Put up a target that has no holes in it. Larger the better. Put a single dot in the center of it.

Shoot 1 round at the center,
Adjust scope 5moa up and 5moa left, shoot one round.
Adjust scope 10moa down, shoot one round
Adjust scope 10moa right, shoot one round
Adjust scope 10moa up, shoot one round
Adjust scope 5moa down and 5moa left, shoot one round.

http://weww.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1529770&page=all

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1676026

To be honest I did find a negative post and I am sure I could find a dozen more but I read this one so I will throw it up here too.
http://w.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1795810

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2851237

I first started looking at the Muellers based on these two reviews. They are for older model scopes but they helped with my decision on quality. I wanted the adjustable Parallax - the first one didn't offer it. I didn't need the illuminated rectiles - second one. The model Muller puts out now was spot on for what I wanted.

http://www.snipercentral.com/muellertac.htm

http://www.snipercentral.com/muellertac2.htm

Whatever decision you make you will be pleased I am sure. All of the scopes mentioned are a great step up from what you are currently using. I might also suggest if you go with the Bushnell Elite try and stick to the 3000 series and higher. I have read a number of times that at the 3000 series the quality takes a big jump up. I have only handled and used the Elite 3200 10x and it was excellent but just didn't look right on the old Mauser I put it on :)
 
When it comes to optics, price has a direct affect on quality of glass. Bushnell, prostaffs will fall into your price range. Save a little more and get a better bushnell, or nikon, or leupold.
 
The Bushnell Elite and Nikon Buckmaster are good scopes in your price range. But my favorite is the Weaver Classic V.
 
Burris FF-II is my first choice in that range, Redfield Revolution is a close #2. Nikons ain't bad either
 
Busnell Elite 3200's are great scopes. I've got three...on a Remington 700 .30-06, a Remington 700 .270, and a Browning .243.

If I were to buy another scope today I would buy another 3200. They hold their own against my Leupold, Redfield, and new Weaver scopes.

Plus I'm a big fan of the Rainguard feature (coating?) on the Bushnell Elite scopes.
 
i got a 3200 4x12x40 on my savage 06 and a 3x9x40 on my 17 cal. both very good scopes and the rainguard works super too. wish i had money to stock up on them
 
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