New Tikka T3 what glass

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Dave-A

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Just got a new Tikka T3 30-06. I cannot decide on the glass. I am looking at Zeiss Terra 3x 4-12 x50mm or Leupold VX2 4-12 x50 which are similar price. I am also considering a Leupold VX3 4.5-14 x40 which is a few $ more.

Opinions please thanks
 
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i wouldn't go bigger than 40 mm on a hunting rifle. 2/7 or 3x9 luep vx2. no need for super large objectives or high power on a 30 06.
 
The blueprint for a close to perfect scope for a huntng rifle is the leupold VX_-3 2.5 x 8 x32. They can be mounted low and over the bore, long eye relief, dependable ( they hold zero under hunting conditions ) , they are reasonable in weight and overall size. They have a wide field of view at low power and at 8x, have ample power for long shots. Good optics plus that leupold warranty. By keeping the magnification range down to what is useful rather than trendy, it keeps the cost down. You get a better scope for your dollar. You are better served with a $500.00 2.5-8 than a $500.00 4-16.
There are other similar scopes on the market and they are good to but as a template, the leupold is a good start. You might also look at the Nikon Monarch 2-8 or any other quality brand in the same general specification range
If you have a dedicated open plains rifle, more magnification might be warranted, but for a all around 30-06 the 2-5 x 8 is close to ideal.
 
X 2

Got the vx3 2.5-8 on my no1 in 300 win mag, excellent scope and the 2.5 is great in the bush and low light. I have a vicious 3.5-10 x 50 on my tikka 30w and love that as well. Great eye relief in the Leupolds.
alinalberta said:
The blueprint for a close to perfect scope for a huntng rifle is the leupold VX_-3 2.5 x 8 x32. They can be mounted low and over the bore, long eye relief, dependable ( they hold zero under hunting conditions ) , they are reasonable in weight and overall size. They have a wide field of view at low power and at 8x, have ample power for long shots. Good optics plus that leupold warranty. By keeping the magnification range down to what is useful rather than trendy, it keeps the cost down. You get a better scope for your dollar. You are better served with a $500.00 2.5-8 than a $500.00 4-16.
There are other similar scopes on the market and they are good to but as a template, the leupold is a good start. You might also look at the Nikon Monarch 2-8 or any other quality brand in the same general specification range
If you have a dedicated open plains rifle, more magnification might be warranted, but for a all around 30-06 the 2-5 x 8 is close to ideal.
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i like the luepold vx2 over the terra series . i have looked at the terra series and didn't buy one. don't think there as good. i do own several vx2's and a couple of 3's. also i like minox and meopro.
 
I just put the Prostaff 7 2.5-10x50 (30mm tube BDC) on my T3 Hunter, I'm quite happy with it, I like the bigger tube over my friends zeiss conquest with 1" tube. Clarity, eye relief and lack of peripheral darkening are much better then you'd expect for a scope at it's price point.

I have a set of the 30mm hunt master DNZ rings in low if your looking for rings, there two piece with 4 screw caps, they were too low for the 50mm tube on my Prostaff 7, if your looking for rings send me a PM.
 
I wouldn't bother with a 30mm tube, unless you're generally shooting longer distances (500 yards up). The only real advantage to the 30mm tube over the 1" is the internal adjustment. The upgraded light transmission is minimal at best. If you're doing regular hunting, a 1" tube would be fine. I would do some thinking about the 40mm objective and 50mm objective though. The larger objective size can make a larger difference in light transmission, and can give you that edge when hunting at dawn or dusk. However, you also have to consider what kind of hunting you'll be doing. If you do a lot of stalking or bush whacking, the 40mm is nice to save on weight. But if you do a lot of truck hunting and glassing, the 50mm might be worth the advantage.

I too would suggest looking into the Nikon scopes. Very nice glass for the price. You have to expect it from a company that gets to use all of the glass technology developed on the professional camera lens side of things. Gives them that advantage of being able to offer excellent glass at an affordable price. All of their tech costs are on the camera side, so they just get to use the product in their sporting optics.
 
freddyfour said:
Don you say that from experience or are you buying their budget models? I have had 2 Vortex Vipers on my hunting rifles and love them and I am not gentle with my rigs. I am currently running the 2.5-10x44.
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Ha no budget models. I speak from experience. One Razor HD and one Viper PST. Both failed with minimal .223 use. I have a set of viper binos that I actually really like... But I'll never touch one of their scopes again.

The warranty IS good and took care of my issues. However, I've never needed warranty on my Leica, Nightforce, or Leupold optics.
 
You actually expect a straight answer to the question. Do you not know how forums work. We provide all answers except to the question asked.
I guess I would go with the ziess if forced to choose between the 2. If I could I would not go with either.
I have never seen a Terra 3x but it seems heavy. A scope on a hunting rifle should not weigh over a pound. 12 oz is more like it If you never walk with the gun, that probably does not matter.
IMO the vx-2 are a little overpriced for what you get. You are paying for the reputation and the warranty, which is up to the buyer if it is worth it. Although more money the vx-3 provide more value and are the sweet spot on the leupold line.
Still, if you cannot see it well enough to shoot it in a VX-2, you are way past legal hunting hours. Really bright glass is important but reliability is underrated. If the scope does not hold zero, it does not matter how bright it is.
I am old enough to remember how common the old steel tube Weavers were. They were like looking through the bottom of a Coke bottle, but they were solid. A lot of game went down to them. Some of the best hunters I ever knew used them
 
My absolute favourite all-purpose hunting scope is the VX3 2.5-8x36 with the Boone & Crockett reticle. Perfect for everything up to about ~400m IMO, though the reticle works out farther yet.

A Leupold rep told me about 6 years ago that it was their brightest scope. I'm not sure whether that holds true today, but it's an excellent choice.

A hunting rifle does not need the Hubble telescope mounted on it.

If the VX3 is a little out of reach, a VX2 2-7x33 with or without the LR Duplex reticle is also an excellent choice.
 
Have the same rifle a T3 stainless 30-06. Wears a Vx1 3-9x40. The only other thing i did was replace the factory hockey puck with a Limbsaver recoil pad. Super nice lightweight walking rifle. I boresighted it, and it shot right wear i wanted 1" high at 100, have never touched it.

Try some lightweight glass, something with giant range is not needed for most hunting. Maybe your area is more open? I would think the whole rig weighs less than 7lbs.
 
TDizzle said:
I wouldn't bother with a 30mm tube, unless you're generally shooting longer distances (500 yards up). The only real advantage to the 30mm tube over the 1" is the internal adjustment. The upgraded light transmission is minimal at best. If you're doing regular hunting, a 1" tube would be fine. I would do some thinking about the 40mm objective and 50mm objective though. The larger objective size can make a larger difference in light transmission, and can give you that edge when hunting at dawn or dusk. However, you also have to consider what kind of hunting you'll be doing. If you do a lot of stalking or bush whacking, the 40mm is nice to save on weight. But if you do a lot of truck hunting and glassing, the 50mm might be worth the advantage.

I too would suggest looking into the Nikon scopes. Very nice glass for the price. You have to expect it from a company that gets to use all of the glass technology developed on the professional camera lens side of things. Gives them that advantage of being able to offer excellent glass at an affordable price. All of their tech costs are on the camera side, so they just get to use the product in their sporting optics.
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Ya, I see what your saying, it's hard to give it a metric, to quantify, but I feel that the 30mm gives a wider view, and I feel I can get my target in the crosshairs quicker at close range, perhaps I'm just used to it now, but with James's 1" zeiss it feels like looking through a tunnel in comparison. I have had a few circumstances where there was deer at close range and with a 4-12 VX-II it took me a second to figure out which one I was looking at with the 1" tube and 4x magnification, the 2.5 and 30mm just gives me better peripheral.

The Nikon 7 I now have is a 50mm, as per what you say about light transmission and truck hunting, I've had better luck at first light, if you can get to your hunting spot before suns up you can catch the game coming out of the fields, thats where I appreciate the larger objective, as for it being heavier, your not wrong, but the 50mm vs. 40mm makes very little difference to me slung over my shoulder walking through the bush, a shorter barrel or carbine makes more difference in my opinion.

But... I'll give the scope a go for a year or two and see if my opinion changes, I just got it and have only had it out once so far, been hunting with a short .303 mostly.
 
cody c said:
Ya, I see what your saying, it's hard to give it a metric, to quantify, but I feel that the 30mm gives a wider view, and I feel I can get my target in the crosshairs quicker at close range, perhaps I'm just used to it now, but with James's 1" zeiss it feels like looking through a tunnel in comparison. I have had a few circumstances where there was deer at close range and with a 4-12 VX-II it took me a second to figure out which one I was looking at with the 1" tube and 4x magnification, the 2.5 and 30mm just gives me better peripheral.

The Nikon 7 I now have is a 50mm, as per what you say about light transmission and truck hunting, I've had better luck at first light, if you can get to your hunting spot before suns up you can catch the game coming out of the fields, thats where I appreciate the larger objective, as for it being heavier, your not wrong, but the 50mm vs. 40mm makes very little difference to me slung over my shoulder walking through the bush, a shorter barrel or carbine makes more difference in my opinion.

But... I'll give the scope a go for a year or two and see if my opinion changes, I just got it and have only had it out once so far, been hunting with a short .303 mostly.
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You bet, the 50mm objective doesn't add a lot of weight. I think it's more of a "bulk" issue and having it catch on branches and what not. Also, technically and scientifically speaking, there is no difference between the 30mm and 1" tube visually-wise. However, I can see how someone would become used to a 30mm and feel as though they have a better field of view. I won't talk anyone out of a 30mm, and the extra adjustment is nice to have. I'm just saying that it's not a necessary option to have. I actually just picked up a Monarch 3 with a 50mm objective to throw on my 270 for this year. I currently have one on my coyote rifle and absolutely love it. Very clear glass, and you can really see the difference with the 95% light transmission.
 
Leupold stuff is way overpriced for what you get and if you buy used, Korth can and will deny warranty if it wasn't brought up to Canada by them. From what I hear they wont even warranty some scopes sold in Basspro. Id forget Leupold. Zeiss has terrible warranty service, personally have had a nightmare with a Conquest and the Terra line isn't that great. Id look at a higher end Nikon or the high end Bushnell scopes, Bushnell has really stepped up their game in the past few years. I have a Bushnell 3.5-21 x50 DMR and like it as much as my Swarovski Z5 3-18x44. Vortex is also an option, their Viper Hst series is very good, warranty and turn around is very quick from what I hear.
 
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