hunting scope help

T

Toddburton

Member
Rating - 100%
22   0   0
Hey guys before anyone says use the search I have and I'm looking for people's opinions

I just picked up a tikka t3 stainless 30-06 on here and it's going to be mostly a hunting gun with some target shooting I'm having trouble deciding on which scopes to choose from

I have a 3.5x10x40 vx3 on my 22.250 and I like it but I want more then just 10 power I hunt in all different areas some bring big farm fields and others being close wooded areas and I like to be able to see what it is I am shooting so I was thinking something between 3-4 to at least 14-20 for high end power.

One other thing would be the ffp and sfp I know the ffp reticle gets smaller on lower power but with a illuminated reticle at dark I think it should be fine I have good eyes , and I want my scope to be zeroed no matter what power I have the scope set on I'd like to keep it in the 800-1200 dollar range for a good quality scope I may even move it to my target rifle every now and then

Thanks in advance
 
I use QD mounts on my "go-to" rifle, with a 1-4x20 VXII on one mount, Nikon Prostaff 4-12x40 on the other. First is good for hunting here out West, the other trying to hit the same hole on the target at the range. Good quality QD mounts cost more than fixed mounts, but they create a reliable and flexible sighting "system" for the rifle.

I prefer the QD mounts from a manufacturer in Finland; All my Tikkas (M07, M55 and T3) have them. I've been trying to convince the manufacturer to start selling them directly from their website so that people like you would be able to get them here as well... Do a search here for Ma-Si QD mounts and check the links mentioned on those threads.


Toddburton said:
Hey guys before anyone says use the search I have and I'm looking for people's opinions

I just picked up a tikka t3 stainless 30-06 on here and it's going to be mostly a hunting gun with some target shooting I'm having trouble deciding on which scopes to choose from

I have a 3.5x10x40 vx3 on my 22.250 and I like it but I want more then just 10 power I hunt in all different areas some bring big farm fields and others being close wooded areas and I like to be able to see what it is I am shooting so I was thinking something between 3-4 to at least 14-20 for high end power.

One other thing would be the ffp and sfp I know the ffp reticle gets smaller on lower power but with a illuminated reticle at dark I think it should be fine I have good eyes , and I want my scope to be zeroed no matter what power I have the scope set on I'd like to keep it in the 800-1200 dollar range for a good quality scope I may even move it to my target rifle every now and then

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
 
10X is far too much for a deer rifle. 14X to 20X is completely unnecessary. Field of view is too small and the scopes are usually heavy. 3X to 9X or 2.5X to 8X is enough.
A Tikka T3 isn't a target rifle and switch scopes between rifles is a giant pain in the buttocks. Regardless of what a manufacturer claims about 'em you have to sight in again every time you change sights.
 
I'm looking for scope options not my power ranges everyone has there own preferences and I have my mind made up on that area but thanks for the input
 
sunray said:
10X is far too much for a deer rifle. 14X to 20X is completely unnecessary. Field of view is too small and the scopes are usually heavy. 3X to 9X or 2.5X to 8X is enough.
A Tikka T3 isn't a target rifle and switch scopes between rifles is a giant pain in the buttocks. Regardless of what a manufacturer claims about 'em you have to sight in again every time you change sights.
Click to expand...

10x too much for deer? Not everyone chooses to hunt in a tree stand/blind.

For your budget a 4-16x44 Viper HST
bushnell 2.5-16x50 6500

Both are about 500-600 on EE or approx 800 retail.

For 1200 you can get a zeiss hd5 in 3-15 or swarovski z5(used). Id go on ee as there are some deals there which might allow you to reach the tier one scopes.
All these ares SFP scopes but that really is fine for non tactical applications.
 
Toddburton said:
Hey guys before anyone says use the search I have and I'm looking for people's opinions

I just picked up a tikka t3 stainless 30-06 on here and it's going to be mostly a hunting gun with some target shooting I'm having trouble deciding on which scopes to choose from

I have a 3.5x10x40 vx3 on my 22.250 and I like it but I want more then just 10 power I hunt in all different areas some bring big farm fields and others being close wooded areas and I like to be able to see what it is I am shooting so I was thinking something between 3-4 to at least 14-20 for high end power.

One other thing would be the ffp and sfp I know the ffp reticle gets smaller on lower power but with a illuminated reticle at dark I think it should be fine I have good eyes , and I want my scope to be zeroed no matter what power I have the scope set on I'd like to keep it in the 800-1200 dollar range for a good quality scope I may even move it to my target rifle every now and then

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

No, you're way out to lunch. You don't want or need more than 10x. More power than that and you'll need adjustable paralax which is a full-value pain in the @ss on a hunting rig. Some guys love illuminated reticles. I've never used one on a hunting rig but given the heavy timber we hunt here I can see a real benefit to them as the light starts to fade. FFP scopes are a real @sshole of a thing. On low power you will have a tiny crossbar that's hard to see. On high power it is a thick miserable PITA.

Honestly, given your query and they way you're talking in your original post I am just guessing that you haven't got much experience. You're not going to be "target shooting" with your 30-06, and certainly not the kind of target shooting that requires a skookum tactical scope nor are you likely to have any business in taking shots at game much over 200 yards. I don't know what kind of long a shot you think you're going to take with a standard hunting rifle, but I would counsel you take that distance and divide it by three and consider that where you should draw the line.

Sorry if I seem harsh, but people that wander in and immediately start asking questions about scopes and rifle and mention "long-range" always cause my noobsausage detector to max out. Add to that a stubborn unwillingness to take good advice...we'll, you might be better served by just visiting site sponsors and not asking questions. You clearly don't want advice, you want someone to do the legwork for you.
 
zxexn said:
10x too much for deer? Not everyone chooses to hunt in a tree stand/blind.

For your budget a 4-16x44 Viper HST
bushnell 2.5-16x50 6500

Both are about 500-600 on EE or approx 800 retail.

For 1200 you can get a zeiss hd5 in 3-15 or swarovski z5(used). Id go on ee as there are some deals there which might allow you to reach the tier one scopes.
All these ares SFP scopes but that really is fine for non tactical applications.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the opinions ! I've been looking at the zeiss and that is probley the route I will take if I can find one on the ee , I'm just wondering what the difference in impact will be with the different setting say I zero my rifle at 10x at 100 yards for a example at 6x how far off zero will that land me ?

Has anyone done any testing on this ?
 
I use a weaver tactical 3-15 illuminated FFP and the most important: locking turrets
Its mounted on a custom 300WM and at 15X I can take a clay bird @ 600 yards
It might worth you give a look at this one
 
Toddburton said:
Thanks for the opinions ! I've been looking at the zeiss and that is probley the route I will take if I can find one on the ee , I'm just wondering what the difference in impact will be with the different setting say I zero my rifle at 10x at 100 yards for a example at 6x how far off zero will that land me ?

Has anyone done any testing on this ?
Click to expand...

Your crosshair is always in the center of your scope so whatever magnification youre on, the crosshair will always be true. In short, if you zero your rifle at 100 on 10x, point of impact will be exactly the same at 100 regardless of whatever magnification you change it to; your Zero is not affected at all by your magnification. What IS affected is if youre using a scope that has reticle in s econd focal plane, the reticles and subtensions are true at only one magnification (usually the highest). A great source of info is this forum but also i recommend sniper 101 by rex on youtube, will familiarize you with many important markamanship principles and he also goes deeply into gear selection. Its geared more to long range shooting but much of what he talks about can be extrapolated to normal hunting.

Also the 3006 is a highly capable round and should not be limited to under 200 yards lol

Howeever before you go hunting, spend a lot of time on the range and know how your rifle performs and develop your confidence. I hunt with a rangefinder as I pride myself on shot placement landing exactly where I expect it to but suffice to say, do some more research so you can make a more informed decisiom and develpp a deeper love for the sport.
 
Last edited:
BigUglyMan said:
No, you're way out to lunch. You don't want or need more than 10x. More power than that and you'll need adjustable paralax which is a full-value pain in the @ss on a hunting rig. Some guys love illuminated reticles. I've never used one on a hunting rig but given the heavy timber we hunt here I can see a real benefit to them as the light starts to fade. FFP scopes are a real @sshole of a thing. On low power you will have a tiny crossbar that's hard to see. On high power it is a thick miserable PITA.

Honestly, given your query and they way you're talking in your original post I am just guessing that you haven't got much experience. You're not going to be "target shooting" with your 30-06, and certainly not the kind of target shooting that requires a skookum tactical scope nor are you likely to have any business in taking shots at game much over 200 yards. I don't know what kind of long a shot you think you're going to take with a standard hunting rifle, but I would counsel you take that distance and divide it by three and consider that where you should draw the line.

Sorry if I seem harsh, but people that wander in and immediately start asking questions about scopes and rifle and mention "long-range" always cause my noobsausage detector to max out. Add to that a stubborn unwillingness to take good advice...we'll, you might be better served by just visiting site sponsors and not asking questions. You clearly don't want advice, you want someone to do the legwork for you.
Click to expand...

I'd appreciate if you do not post in my thread anymore , your rudeness and ignorance is not welcome here , I'm not experience in long range shooting but I am more then able to take a deer at 200 yards I didn't mean I'll be using the 30-06 as a target rifle so why don't you read my or go on a post again , I've been hunting for years but never really looked into a nice scope I'm looking for advice on a good scope for the price and in the power ranges I asked for everyone else is helpful and I appreciate everyone's advice but yours you sir are a complete jackass

Thanks for the responses and explaining the second focal plane I have watched Alot of rexs videos he's very helpful , I'm going to try pick up a zeiss and I also looked at the weaver tati cal that has my eye as well
 
sunray said:
... switch(ing) scopes between rifles is a giant pain in the buttocks.... you have to sight in again every time you change sights.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%... but that was not what I was suggesting. I use one rifle, two scopes, each on their own mounts zeroed for that rifle. I've used these mounts for three years now, and after swap they consistently return to zero (as close as I can tell with my shooting skills...) Just another option for OP to consider!
 
Toddburton said:
I'd appreciate if you do not post in my thread anymore , your rudeness and ignorance is not welcome here , I'm not experience in long range shooting but I am more then able to take a deer at 200 yards I didn't mean I'll be using the 30-06 as a target rifle so why don't you read my or go on a post again , I've been hunting for years but never really looked into a nice scope I'm looking for advice on a good scope for the price and in the power ranges I asked for everyone else is helpful and I appreciate everyone's advice but yours you sir are a complete jackass

Thanks for the responses and explaining the second focal plane I have watched Alot of rexs videos he's very helpful , I'm going to try pick up a zeiss and I also looked at the weaver tati cal that has my eye as well
Click to expand...

Just because you don't like what I'm saying is no reason to pitch a fit. I'm not wrong, I'm just not advocating that you waste your money. But it is your money to waste so fly at it.
 
Toddburton said:
I'd appreciate if you do not post in my thread anymore , your rudeness and ignorance is not welcome here , I'm not experience in long range shooting but I am more then able to take a deer at 200 yards I didn't mean I'll be using the 30-06 as a target rifle so why don't you read my or go on a post again , I've been hunting for years but never really looked into a nice scope I'm looking for advice on a good scope for the price and in the power ranges I asked for everyone else is helpful and I appreciate everyone's advice but yours you sir are a complete jackass

Thanks for the responses and explaining the second focal plane I have watched Alot of rexs videos he's very helpful , I'm going to try pick up a zeiss and I also looked at the weaver tati cal that has my eye as well
Click to expand...

Don't take it the wrong way but not knowing the scope "zero" is the same at all magnifications makes you look like really new to shooting.
 
I don't take it wrong, I said in my post I've never did much research on long range shooting , or really nice optics untill last winter and over the summer my car has all my attention so I just started researching things again and I missunderstood what I read I guess , that doesn't mean I need to have rude comments directed to me and that I can't hit a target because I don't know every detail about a rifle scope I'm doing my research and though id ask a question to help make a decision , I asked a simple question that was all and 95% of the people answered it politely and thanks again for all the comments .

Ended up picking up a used zeiss conquest , because yes it is my money and I don't see the need in spending my money twice
 
Toddburton said:
Thanks for the opinions ! I've been looking at the zeiss and that is probley the route I will take if I can find one on the ee , I'm just wondering what the difference in impact will be with the different setting say I zero my rifle at 10x at 100 yards for a example at 6x how far off zero will that land me ?

Has anyone done any testing on this ?
Click to expand...


In theory, zooming a scope does not change the zero. But you have touched on an issue that should be verified for your particular scope.

I zero my scopes and test ammo at the high end, and 99% of my hunting is at the low end (Eastern bush - 100 yards is a long shot).

If my scope changed zero by going to the low power setting, I probably would not notice, since shots are usually around 50 yards.

But don't take stability for granted. One day when zeroing, try a few shots at both high bad low and make sure nothing happens. Given your budget, the scope should be perfect, but check anyway.
 
I think you'll find over time that a good 3-9 power and the .30-06 go hand in hand for hunting purposes. I have 2 30-06's wearing good 3-9 scopes.Higher power scopes have their place and a niche to fill but not on this caliber imo. I have a 4-16 on a .204 ruger but all of my big game rifles wear either 2-7's or 3-9's with the exception of a .243 which wears a 4-12.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom