New scope for my 30-06

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blackd24

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I am replacing a buckmasters 4-12 that I paid about $125. I’m limited to optics with 1 inch tubes because I want to keep the CZ rings on the 557. I am looking at the Leupold vx-freedom 3-9 ($300) or the vortex diamondback 3-9 ($200).

I’m leaning towards vortex because it has the BDC. The primary purpose of the scope will be whitetail 50-200 yards sitting on a 30-06.

which would you choose or would you go a different route?
 
Not a huge fan of Vortex. However the only ones I have seen have been the cheapest ones. Friend had 2 , don’t remember what model, and both had wandering zero when the power was changed.

Have only had one issue with Leupold and it was an old scope.

You don’t need BDC for 200 yards with a 30/06. Personally don’t know of any average hunter that has used it in a hunting situation.

Just my thoughts and experience. Everyone feel free to disagree.
 
I'd go with Leupold. I got a Vortex, on the advice of a friend, glass just isn't as good.
As to BDC, I use 180 grain 30.06, and the first holdover is 180 yards. (with most major manufacturers, it's within +/- 5 yards.) So if you are shooting 30-06 with
165 or 150 grain hunting loads, your first holdover should be at well over 200 yards, and no BDC should be needed.
 
Personally, I love Vortex optics. But only their Razor and Viper lines. I had a Diamondback spotting scope years ago I gave away.

In you’re price range, I’d go Leopold.
 
Take a good look at the Athlon Argos HMR 2-12x42. It's a lot of scope for the money and I am impressed with Athlon. It's Second Focal Plane which I prefer in a hunting rifle and I think available $350 -$400. Give Doug at Cameraland NY a call; he always has great prices on Athlon.

Also cannot go wrong with a Loopy.
 
Take a good look at the Athlon Argos HMR 2-12x42. It's a lot of scope for the money and I am impressed with Athlon. It's Second Focal Plane which I prefer in a hunting rifle and I think available $350 -$400. Give Doug at Cameraland NY a call; he always has great prices on Athlon.

Also cannot go wrong with a Loopy.
Cannot go wrong calling Doug on anything!
 
Leupold makes a great scope that they gaurantee for life. The scope is very clear and rugged. I have a Vortex on a Target rifle and it is a decent scope. But in my opinion not as good as the Leupold.
 
I am biased in favor of Leupold. I'm also not a fan of gadgetry on general purpose hunting rifles, and would strongly prefer a scope without a BDC.
 
For what the original poster is doing why do you recommend a 30 mm tube?
A 30 mm does give more adjustment range, but, at 200 yards any 1 inch tube will have plenty.
Bigger sight picture, pulls up faster . 30 mm tubes used to be expensive. Less so now . I’m sure a 1’’ tube would be fine . I’m changing to 30mm on everything , and for me , no regrets. Waiting on Arken Optics for my 34mm .
 
Leaning towards Leupold. The CDS system looks pretty interesting. Anyone have any insight on it?
 
Bigger sight picture, pulls up faster . 30 mm tubes used to be expensive. Less so now . I’m sure a 1’’ tube would be fine . I’m changing to 30mm on everything , and for me , no regrets. Waiting on Arken Optics for my 34mm .
Have to disagree about the sight picture. Size of tube has nothing to do with field of view. Objective lens size does. A 50 mm objective at 10x gives you a 5mm exit pupil no matter what size the tube. A 40 mm objective at 10x gives you a 4 mm exit pupil. Smaller objective lens means less field of view and also less light. Most human pupils only reach a maximum of 6mm , with a few rare people , getting 7 mm. As we age it gets smaller. My max is about 5 mm. After a certain exit pupil size a larger objective doesn’t help me a bit. My eyes simply cannot take advantage of it.

A good read is John Barsness’ book on optics. Blows a bunch of scope myths out of the water.
 
The only thing a 30mm tube gives you over a 1" tube is a little more light and room for a little more reticle adjustment, if the mfg's internals took advantage of it.
The extra light might benefit at dusk/dawn, but the extra adjustment won't likely be any benefit inside 400yds.
 
Not enough drop at 200 yards to worry about. With a 100 yard zero you're talking about 2" or so at 200. Even at 300 yards you can still hit deer with little or no hold over. You'll be 8-10" low, but can still hold on the top of an animals back, or a couple of inches high and hit vitals. It is after 300 yards where drop starts being important.

But that said I prefer some sort of BDC or adjustable dials on my rifles. I don't just hunt with them. I use the same rifles to shoot at longer ranges during the off season and they do come in handy. But for hunting inside of 300 yards they aren't necessary.

On a target rifle a 30mm tube will allow for more adjustment and the tube is probably a little tougher, but a 1" tube is hard to break. I have some of both. 30mm tubes are generally way heavier. The Leupold you're considering is around 11 oz. Anything with a 30mm tube will be double that.


The only thing a 30mm tube gives you over a 1" tube is a little more light and room for a little more reticle adjustment,

A 30mm tube has no effect on light transmission.

Vortex ain't a bad scope. But only in their upper end scopes. The budget Leupold is a better scope than the budget Vortex.

Looking around everything I'd recommend is on back order. But if you can find one any of the Leupold VX-Freedom scopes are good. I've seen some deals on VX3i Leupold scopes selling for not much more than the VX-Freedom.
 
The only thing a 30mm tube gives you over a 1" tube is a little more light and room for a little more reticle adjustment, if the mfg's internals took advantage of it.
The extra light might benefit at dusk/dawn, but the extra adjustment won't likely be any benefit inside 400yds.
I don’t doubt you and it sounds like I need to read up more , but , most of my hunting where I actually shot something was at dusk or dawn where the extra light meant a lot to me . Just my experience . It’s possible that maybe I just think it’s better, not that I need much of an excuse to buy gun stuff .
 
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I put a Burris ff2 4.5-14x42 ballistic plex reticule on my 7mm08 a couple of months before hunting season because my buckmaster 2 4-12x40 started fogging up. It's a real good optic clear glass and good field of view, on par with Leupolds lower line optics. Not as good as my vx3l but darned close for its 200.00 price tag, after tax.

I sight my rifles at 200 yds and don't have to ever worry about lr under on game animals, but like @jmr40 I shoot my rifles to longer ranges 5 -600 yds during the year, so the bdc recticals have an advantage. 300 yds, meters, is my usual distance.

My Burris had an adjustable objective wich works well for shots that you have time to adjust for, longer distances, for the woods though I set it for 50 yds cause most shots are either teal close or close on moving game, I only adjust in the field when I'm hunting the cornfields.
 
Nother recommendation for thr burris ff2 or e1 depending on what focus and power adjustments you prefer. Glass quality is the same as far as I can tell.

Ill also second the recommendation of the Athlon Argos HMRs, if your going over the 200 dollar price point.

I have (had 3 total) and like a sightron S-tac 3-16x42 and im very happy with that scope. The reticle is better for target work than hunting in low light tho.

For leupold at 300 id skip the vx-f (200 is what i paid for mine) and look for a vx-3i or maybe spend on the new HDs..

I havent messed with leupolds newer locking cds turrets, but ive got the older one on the vx3i that rides on my .375.
Its tracked well, and if your paying attention it works fine, im not real impressed with the way it feels in use, and i kinda wish id saved 100 bucks and got the regular style turret.
 
I don't know about Vortex's higher end offerings but I bought a Diamondback once and only once. Someone else mentioned wandering zero and that's what I experienced. The side focus was useless as well. I use to say I'm sticking to 1" tubes but I bought a 30mm 3xi on sale awhile back and now I'm all in on 30mm tubes. Shop around, you can still find good deals on the 3xi series for not much more than the Freedoms. I know they have rebranded the 3s to HD but I have not tried one to see what the difference is. As mentioned the BDC is always extra money and not necessary with 200 yard 30.06 shots or any other decent hunting caliber.
 
Freedoms are great but not for that kind of money. They were a steal when you could get them readily for under $200. $300 is what I paid for my vx-3i new. Be patient and look for a used 3i or a deal on a 3hd. If you know where to look you can get a 3HD for under 400 otd. For $200 or less get a fullfield ii. Fantastic little scopes for the bucks, pun intended. Can get them new for $150-175 at various places. As others have said and I tend to agree, hold off on vortex until you can swing at least the viper line.
 
Go with the Leupold, but shop around. I bought mine for $200 OTD at the local hardware store and couldn't be more satisfied with it.

The primary purpose of the scope will be whitetail 50-200

At that range, you really don't need a BDC; sight the gun in for 200 yards and you've got a dead hold from 50 to 250. You won't be over 3" high or low anywhere in that range. I know, because that's how I sight in my '06.

Mac
 
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