Suggestions on scope for my new 30.06?

[Malone LaVeigh]

Made the mistake of taking my son to the gun show today. He's been wanting me to buy a new hunting rifle so he doesn't have to lug the Garand around any more. Normally, I just go the the shows to buy ammo and accessories. I am still so undereducated about center-fire rifles I don't like to try to pick out a rifle from all of the ones there. But the boy honed in on a Whitworth English Mauser in 30.06 in what looked like new condition with an after-market synthetic stock. I've been wanting to check out a Mauser action, but definitely don't have the know-how to try to build up a military surplus. My son's been wanting to try a 30.06, and the price didn't seem too bad, so I pulled out the old Visa card.

Now I need to know what kind of scope and other hardware to get for it. My only other hunting rifle came with a cheap Simmons scope that I haven't felt a need to change out yet. It gets pretty good groups at the range, about 1.5 inches at 100 yds, and I have gotten 3 pigs with 5 shots fired so far in the field.

But I'm up for getting something nicer for the new rifle. The Simmons fogs up in the rain, and one of the reason I went with the synthetic stock is I hunt pigs year round. The Simmons is a 4.5-14x40, and that seems to work pretty well for me.

So, any suggestions?

 

[Art Eatman]

I've mostly used an old Leupold 3x9x40 on my '06, since "we" were much newer back in 1970. From close up to out around 500 yards, in poor light and in drizzly weather, it's worked well. Nothing bad happened inside during a couple of involuntary descents down steep mountainsides.

SFAIK, the VX-Is are equal to the old Vari-X IIs. WallyWorld's price isn't bad. Or, find one for sale here on the net. It's a lifetime guarantee, without regard to one's being the original purchaser...

Art

 

[Malone LaVeigh]

Thanks, Art. Looks like Midway has a pretty good selection.

 

[fslflint]

I would say a luepold rifleman, a nikon buckmaster (Ibelieve thats the one I'm thinking of) or a sightron. all have great reputaions and can be had for under $250.

 

[Marshall]

Leupolds have always been my favorites. However, I did pick up a Burris Fullfield last year and replaced one my Vari X II's on a Browning A-Bolt.

I was very surprised the reports I heard and read were all true. I must say, it's a lot of quality mid-range scope for the money!

 

[Ben Shepherd]

A little bump for this thread.
I got a catalog from luepold, weaver, burris, nikon and bushnell. Then spent the entire weekend going over them, looking through family members and friends scopes.
The one I settled on (for my 700BDL 30-06) is a burris with illuminated ballistiplex, 4X12, 40mm objective lens. Looking through them and at the features for the money this is the one I want. Personally, unless I need it to double as a spotter or I'm shooting off of bags over a 12X is useless, as I can see my heartbeat in the crosshairs. And the light transmission is as good as the VXIII.

I will post a range report as soon as I can go wring it out.

 

[Malone LaVeigh]

Thanks, all. Ben, what's the price on the Burris? I was offered a Vari-XII for $289 by the dealer that sold me the 30-06. And how much should I spend for the rings?

 

[Edward429451]

I just went through the catalog shuffle also. I just ordered a Burris Fullfield II Ballitiplex 3-9X40, non lighted, for 197. It's coming with a free spotting scope also. My first Burris was so good I had to come back to them again. Here's the link to where I ordered my Burris.
http://www.riflescopes.com/store/departments.asp?dept=203

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Malone, a little change since my last post. I took it back yesterday and got twin to Edward429451's scope with a lighted reticle. After a long think session with myself I decided that 3X9 was plenty, the 12X might tempt me to take shots I shouldn't.

Sat out on the porch at dusk last night, and was totally satisfied with the light transmision. I could make out the crosshairs just fine on a tree at 50 yards without the reticle illuminated until it was dark enough I would most likely be in trouble with the warden for shooting after sundown.

The price was $270. The variX you're looking at sounds good for the price.

I like the burris rings with the inserts, they mount up solid, make up for any reasonable flaw in reciever mis-alignment, and don't mark up your tube. They were about 35 bucks.

 

[Edward429451]

Ben, how does that lighted reticle look (with the power off) as compared to a non lighted reticle?

(was thinking about the day the batteries fail and you still have to shoot)

 

[Ben Shepherd]

It just reverts to black. They did that to adress the exact concern you have. I most likely will never need the light on, unless I've got a jet black background or that once in a lifetime shot at dawn or dusk.

 

[Poodleshooter]

The Simmons Aetec is a decent scope available in the $130-150 economy range. It's far superior to their lower priced sub $100 scopes. Nikon and Leupold always deserve some attention in the slightly higher price bracket.

 

[Black Snowman]

From what I've heard and read Burris is an excellent value in a quality scope. I'm a cheapscate and only shoot paper at 100 yards in good weather so I've been opting for BSA scopes lately. Their shortcommings aren't a major issue for how I use them but if I needed a scope I could trust I'm looking at Leopuld and Burris tward the top of my list.

 

[cheygriz]

The ideal power for the .308/.30-06 range of cartridges is 6X. IMHO the best hunting scope for your son would be a Kahles or Swarovski fixed power 6X42 with 30MM tube. A little pricey, but you get what you pay for.