First Time Scope, Need Help

Joe549

Joe549

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I am hoping to get a new rifle by the end of this summer and plan on getting a scope to go with it. I have never owned a scope and have only fired a couple of times from a scoped rifle, therefore I know nothing about scopes, mounts or rings. I plan on getting a Winchester Model 70 Ultimate Shadow chambered in .308. My shooting range for this rifle will be between 100 - 300 yds. Terrain will be medium forest to open field. I would like to keep the cost between $200 - $400 max.

What should I be looking at and why do you suggest it?
 
Bushnell Elite 3200 series, 3-9x40mm, which can be found new at a retail price near the bottom of your range, leaving enough for mounts and rings.

The Elite series are what Bushnell made of the old Bausch & Lomb Elite models and are very good scopes for the money. The 3-9x40mm has been the most popular configuration of scopes for a long time because it is enough for almost all the shooting that almost all shooters do. 3x magnification is very rarely too much for short range hunting, and most of us shouldn't be taking shots at ranges that are too long to see the target well enough with 9x. It's certainly enough for what you should be hunting with a .308 out to 300 yards. Bigger objective lenses are very fashionable, but it is mostly fashion - if a scope can't bring in enough light with a 40mm lens, the lenses probably aren't very good. A bigger bell complicates mounting and makes the whole gun heavier and bulkier. Very few people really need that in the field, and if you were one of them you'd know it already and you wouldn't be on here asking advice on which scope.
 
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I'd go for the Burris Fullfield II over the 3200. The glass is on par with the 4200, the scope is well built (I have two of them), I prefer the ballistic plex reticle over most of the ones on the Elite scopes.

The only downside is a lack of an adjustable objective. If you shop around you can find these new, for $250 everything included (tax, shipping etc). They're a great all around scope.
 
Look at the redfield 3-9x40, for the ranges you are considering it is all you need, good sharp bright optics, priced around $200, click adjustments and covered by the leupold warranty.
 
Nothing but good suggestions above. I own a Bushnell 3200 and also Burris FFII's, and I'd like to try a Redfield. All good optics for the money. Only other option is if someone has a good used Leupold VXII in 3-9x40 you could buy at a reasonable price. Don't buy anything cheaper than those listed above. My favorite rings for a weaver base are Burris Signature Zee's, the one's with the plastic inserts. Other than that, Leupold rings are good value.
 
Go with Talley Lightweight one piece mounts as I think they are the best bang for the buck...they can be had for $50.00. Any of the above scope suggestions are good although I would go with a Bushnell 4200 3-9X4. Site sponsor Al Flaherty's has them for $301.99 which is a great deal.
 
best scope you can buy would be a used leupold vx11 3-9x40, should find one for $200-$250,( new... $500+) and comes with full transferable warranty. All scopes mentioned would be good glass for the money, used Leupold would be a bit better.
 
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