Model 70 30-06 needs a scope but what to buy?????

[CKweigand]

So long story short.

Walked into the GS saw a brand new Model 70 Super grade maple in 30-06. The Gun store owner sees me drooling over it.

Owner says: yep, you don’t see them everyday.

I say: But I’d like to....

So I bought it.

I need help finding the ideal scope for it...budget is anywhere from 600-900 bucks.
Looking for a scope I can use to push the limits of the 30-06 on paper (more like my limits) and game anywhere around 300-350 yards no problem. Was looking at Leupold,Nikon, but I’m not fluent in optic talk and I need some enlightening. So what type,brand,series scope should I be looking at in my price range that is tough enough to handle the 30-06 and be an excellent precision range scope to help hone my rifle skills???

 

[troy fairweather]

i would get a minimum of a leupold vx-3.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'm a crusty, opinionated old bastard. My two scoped .30-06s wear a steel Weaver K2.5 (on the Ruger) and a Leupold M8 in 4X. In your place I'd go with a Leupold, used, from eBay. You can find some decent scopes for reasonable prices there.

 

[Frostbite]

Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm with Boone and Crockett reticle, but I like more magnification for a pure target scope. Since you mentioned both hunting and shooting, I put hunting first. I woul like to see pictures of your rifle, it is one I see when I am asleep.

 

[IndianaBoy]

Vortex Viper PST GenII 3-15 with the EBR-2C MRAD reticle.

Great glass, great reticle, great turrets, very tough.

 

[troy fairweather]

remember do not over scoe a fine sporting rifle like the SG. 9 power is more then most need i would not go over a 42mm objective.

 

[joed]

For hunting (not varmint) I like a 3x9 on a rifle but for use to 350 yards I'd feel better about 4x12. My only scopes are Leupold and Weaver, I've been very happy with both. Never owned a VX-3 but they are tops, I have VX-2 which work fine for me.

 

[Laphroaig]

Whatever you get, make sure that it is blued not matte.

Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm

Exactly what I was thinking. You might have to deal with the Leupold custom shop to get a new one that is blued. Or get an older gold ring Leupold used. It still will carry the warranty.

 

[CKweigand]

@Frostbite I take it you’ve thought a good deal about this?!?!

Here are some pics I took when I first got it home..



I notice some people saying or maybe insinuating don’t go over 40 or 42mm objective. Is there a reason not to go bigger? I always thought the bigger the objective the more light it lets in, which is good right? Is this correct or false thinking? Excuse my ignorance.

 

[troy fairweather]

oooo you were holding out on us, you did not say it was a maple.

 

[CKweigand]

Pics really do not bring this rifle any justice. Just the slightest angle in the light and it goes from zero tiger striping to BAM!!! Fiddleback galore!! Lol! I was very happy with the purchase since I’ve always wanted a model 70 pre 64 design and I have a feeling I’ll be getting a few more in different cals. Soon!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

@Frostbite
I notice some people saying or maybe insinuating don’t go over 40 or 42mm objective. Is there a reason not to go bigger? I always thought the bigger the objective the more light it lets in, which is good right? Is this correct or false thinking? Excuse my ignorance.

The key thing in low light performance is Exit Pupil -- that's the size of the spot of light at the focal point. The human eye can dilate to about 7mm, so a 7mm Exit Pupil gives you all the light you can use. To calculate Exit Pupil, divide objective lens diameter (in millimeters) by magnification power. For example, a 4X28 scope will give you a 7mm Exit Pupil -- all you can use under any conditions.

Now you will never need all this light -- at least not under normal hunting conditions in the US. A 5mm Exit Pupil is plenty -- so a 4X20 scope would do just fine.

At the same time, big scopes have problems -- they increase weight, force you to hold your head higher, have smaller fields of view, and so on.

People often get obsessed by the optics and miss the main point -- binoculars are for seeing, scopes are for AIMING. If you want something that will allow you to see better, in dim light, get a good pair of binoculars. When you find the animal, a 4X20 scope will do fine for aiming -- and be less burdensome to carry and make it easier to shoot accurately.

 

[sage5907]

You can't go wrong with something like a Leupold VX-3 with a 40 MM objective and I like a 3 to 9 variable. Many people buy a nice rifle like a Model 70 and then install a heavy scope which is a mistake. I like my rifles to have a scope that weighs about 13 ounces and that weight works with a VX-3. A scope that weighs 18 ounces is a heavy clumsy turkey on a hunting rifle. If you're buying a target rifle or a safe queen it doesn't matter.

 

[CKweigand]

So after looking at the Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm

I also saw the Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14x40mm 30mm Maintube side focus.

Now can you guys explain to me I guess the obvious differences to you guys? Would side focus for parallax be worth it? Is a 30 mm main tube the cats meow? Is the 4.5-14 just too much scope? Reason I’m asking is I can find both of them within 50 dollars of each other brand new and still be under 600 bucks. And both have the Boone and Crockett reticle which I’m really digging right now. Would you still go with the 3.5-10?

And if this was more of a target rifle than a hunting rifle would you go with the 4.5-14 instead, if indeed it was your rifle and scope we were talking about?

I love hearing your guys’ ideas, insights, and experiences. And I appreciate everyone who has already chipped in their 2 cents. You all have been heard and heeded. Just a couple more curves thrown your way. Trying to look at this at all angles before making a decision...

 

[Varminterror]

If I’m hauling a working artwork 30-06, it’s wearing something in the neighborhood of 4-16x44mm, with a milling reticle. The Win is pretty heavy, but it’s a classic sporting rifle - lean enough to be mean, but well-muscled enough to reach out and knock on the door down the block... I ran through a handful of VX3’s and VX3i’s in 4.5-14x on my hunting rifles for several years, but the glass isn’t as good as less popular scopes, and the adjustments felt like mushy diapers.

It’s rather pricey, but the Bushnell LRHS 4.5-18x44 with the G2H reticle might be my new go-to hunting scope. They’re available in certain venues in your price range.

 

[Captcurt]

It is hard to say which scope or power is best. A lot depends on what type of hunting that you do and the type of cover that you are likely to encounter. 90% of the time a 3X9 will work fine. 2 years ago the deer hit the woods when the acorns fell and I was in the timber with my Bergara with a 6X18 Vortex. I had a shot at a doe around 40 yards and she filled the scope with it on 6 power. The next day I had my ultra-lite Model 10 Savage with a 2X7 Leupold. Used it until season's end. Even took another doe at 218 yards with the Savage. Come to think about it, the longest shot that I have made on a deer was with a 4X scope.

 

[300Whspr]

I've always been a Burris fan... but I don't even know if they're still in business. And you cannot go wrong with Leupold either. Zeiss I have always heard good things about as well, but never been behind one.

 

[eastbank]

I like and use a 2x7 leupold vx2 on two 3006,s and two 2.5x8 leupolds on a .308 and 7mm08. I have killed deer with all four with no problems taking the shots under some bad conditions, rain-snow-fog and close up to 300 yards shots..

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I like and use a 2x7 leupold vx2 on two 3006,s and two 2.5x8 leupolds on a .308 and 7mm08. I have killed deer with all four with no problems taking the shots under some bad conditions, rain-snow-fog and close up to 300 yards shots..

And I will bet you used those scopes on their lowest setting.

 

[eastbank]

I carry them on the lower powers while hunting and I have found that I have had time to turn up the power when needed. and have found 3-4x enough power for 90 % of my shots a big game. my longest shots with the 7mm08 with a 2.5x8 leupold scope were on two prong horns out west, one at 280 yards and one at 310 yards. one shot each prone with a bipod and I had the scope on 8x. I think I could have made the shots at a little lower power as I had plenty of time for the shots at standing animals.

 

[Frostbite]

So after looking at the Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm

I also saw the Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14x40mm 30mm Maintube side focus.

Now can you guys explain to me I guess the obvious differences to you guys? Would side focus for parallax be worth it? Is a 30 mm main tube the cats meow? Is the 4.5-14 just too much scope? Reason I’m asking is I can find both of them within 50 dollars of each other brand new and still be under 600 bucks. And both have the Boone and Crockett reticle which I’m really digging right now. Would you still go with the 3.5-10?

And if this was more of a target rifle than a hunting rifle would you go with the 4.5-14 instead, if indeed it was your rifle and scope we were talking about?

I love hearing your guys’ ideas, insights, and experiences. And I appreciate everyone who has already chipped in their 2 cents. You all have been heard and heeded. Just a couple more curves thrown your way. Trying to look at this at all angles before making a decision...

Beautiful rifle, thanks for the pictures. I do fancy that exact same rifle, but won't buy it anytime soon.

30mm gives you more adjustment. Not needed, should weight more. Side focus? Yes, for target, not hunting. Me? At the range, I run 18x at 200 yards. If I had more, I would use it, but I see the holes of .223, so it is enough. When hunting, always lower. I have a 1.5x6 on my BAR in .270 and it sits at 1.5x. If the deer is so far I need more, I should have time to set it higher and take a rested shot (always killed offhand). Chose 3-9x for the 26" barrel .30-06 single shot. Nice match. 4.5 is a little too much for my taste when hunting. 90%+ of my kills within 100 yards, I think. Been hunting 25 years with gun, five before that being hound dog for dad and uncle. 50mm objective for target only, and even then... I go to the range during daylight. Too cumbersome for hunting IMHO.

 

[cdb1]

Tube size isn’t important to me. Glass quality is more important than objective size. Side Focus/AO isn’t necessary for my hunting needs.

Of the scopes I currently own I’d feel comfortable putting the following on a 30-06 M70 Supergrade:
VX-2 3-9x40
Elite 4200 3-9x40
MeoPro 3.5-10x44
Conquest 3-9x40
VX-R 2-7x33

VX-3 2.5x8-32 as referenced by eastbank would be perfect IMO.

 

[jmr40]

notice some people saying or maybe insinuating don’t go over 40 or 42mm objective. Is there a reason not to go bigger? I always thought the bigger the objective the more light it lets in, which is good right? Is this correct or false thinking? Excuse my ignorance.

The amount of light coming through the scope is a function of both front objective size and magnification. It is described as exit pupil and measured in MM's. Simply divide the front objective size by the magnification. A 40mm objective set on 8X allows a 5mm beam of light to exit the rear of the scope and hit your eye. A 20mm objective set on 4X and a 50mm objective set on 10X let exactly the same size beam of light through the scope. On lower magnification settings more than 5mm comes through, on higher magnifications less.

With most people around 5mm of light is all their eye can handle and that is the optimum exit pupil you want. It isn't an accident that most binoculars are traditionally 6X30, 7X35, 8X40, and 10X50. That gives them the optimum exit pupil to use in low light for the magnification. Some people, under age 30 with better than average eyes can take advantage of about 6mm. But as they get older that decreases.

If someone is debating between a 40mm and 50mm scope they will both be equal set on 8X and 10X respectively. The 50mm scope will allow you to use 9X and 10X in low light where the 40mm objective would be less than optimum. Once you go above 8X with a 40mm objective and 10X on a 50mm scope both are less than optimum.

But this only measures the size of the beam of light, not the brightness. That is determined by the scopes light transmission rating which very few manufacturers list. Most budget scopes are in the 80-85% range. Decent mid priced ($200-$400 scopes) are usually in the 90% range. The high end $1000+ scopes can be in the 95%+ range. A better quality scope with a 40mm objective will be brighter than a less expensive scope with a 50mm objective.

To me 40mm is the sweet spot. Going bigger only results in 2-3 minutes more usable time in the morning and evening. And only when the scopes magnification is on 9X or 10X. The added cost, weight, and having to mount the big optics higher isn't worth the tradeoff.

 

[CKweigand]

Okay, appreciate all of the education guys really, I do.

Just ordered the VX3i 3.5-10x40 with B & C Reticle with STD. Medium Gloss finish Leupold rings and the 2 pc Leupold base for Winchester 70.

I wanted to get the scope in a gloss finish as well but it would take close to 2.5 months the earliest to get the scope from Leupold Custom shop and I want to shoot this thing in the next couple of weeks.

Hopefully the matte and gloss finishes don’t clash that bad. But I saw some pics of some with a similar setup and it didn’t look bad at all. Once I get everything installed I put up some pics. Thanks everyone.

 

[redneck2]

That should be a great set up. I’ve got pretty much all VX-3’s and a VX-6 2-12x40. I would have consideredthe VX-6 ideal because of the wide magnification range, but it’s at the very upper range of your price point if you find a screaming deal (I did).

I’ve never been disappointed in the VX-3’s.

Dunno if you got the Firedot. I’ve got it in my deer scopes. It’s amazing how well it works