Looking for a good .308 hunting scope...

M

Max-4

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Southern Ontario
I am researching my options for a good quality scope for hunting with a .308 bolt action rifle. Basically I have a compact (40" OAL) bolt action rifle in .308 that I want to get very very good at shooting with. I want to get so accustomed to shooting this rifle that it is just like an extension of my body when hunting. I need a scope that will perform well in the bush when hunting moose and deer which may be on the run.

My hunting situations here in Ontario dictate that shots will likely be 60-100 yards in the bush, but I would like to feel confident out to 200 yards incase I hunt a field or across a lake.

With that being said I want the scope to come up to the eye quickly and offer a wide enough field of view that I can pick up on a moving animal fast. What do they mean when they say "wide angle"? Should I be looking at a variable power scope and what objective lens would be right? What type of scope offers the best eye relief for this type of fast shooting? I will be mounting it in the traditional fashion and not scout style. Thanks
 
Try finding an older VariX-III Leupold 3.5x10 power with 40 or 50mm adjustable objective for your 308 hunting rifle. Now let's assume this 308 will most likely never be used on truly dangerous game. Remove those pesky irons sights now, and mount your optics as low to the bore as possible, with the best rings & bases you can afford.

done........
 
Brutus said:
Try finding an older VariX-III Leupold 3.5x10 power with 40 or 50mm adjustable objective for your 308 hunting rifle. Now let's assume this 308 will most likely never be used on truly dangerous game. Remove those pesky irons sights now, and mount your optics as low to the bore as possible, with the best rings & bases you can afford.

done........
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i disagree with removing"those pesky irons"- scopes are made of glass and even the best are not immune to a horse stepping on one or falling on a rock- so you just unspin the rings and CARRY ON- you're kind of screwed if you have no back up- now maybe a FOLDING set up
 
Kelly Timoffee said:
3-9 Zeiss conquest absolutely best bang for buck!!
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This is what I am going to mount on my T3 in 308. Thinking of getting the Optilock rings for it as well. They seem very solid

To the OP, Wholesale sports has the Leupold VX-II 3-9x40 on sale online for 299 with wide duplex or 379 for the LR duplex. This may be a good scope within your budget as well
 
Redfield Revolution in 2-7x, made by Leupold with Leupold warranty.

Bushnell 3200s are on sale a lot because they are discontinuing that model series, good value at the sale prices. They are most commonly found in 3-9x40 but there were some with lower magnification that you might like better for close in work, especially if you are going to try to shoot moving deer.

Weaver K4

Leupolds in good condition used are better value than new, since their warranty is still good.
 
blargon said:
FXII - 4x33mm. Light, good eye relief, and works well close or far.
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^^^^This is far and away the best option for a 308 up close and easily out to 300 mtrs. Fits budget and is a superb quality scope that will serve you for the next 20 years trouble free. You said you want to shoot a lot and get good with this rifle, a fixed power scope is exactly how this is done. Every time you put this rifle to your shoulder you will see exactly the same thing (power wise) every time. Familiarity and practice is what makes great shooters.

Douglas
 
blargon said:
FXII - 4x33mm. Light, good eye relief, and works well close or far.
Click to expand...
:agree: You can find for even less money used US made Burris 4x20mm mini with 5" ER or older Redfield 2-3/4X20mm scope with tv objective and 55ft FOV at 100yds or V3 Weaver 1-3x20mm with 88ft FOV at 100yds and many others. For your kind of hunting (60yds or so) the low power makes a lot of sense, even longer (200yds) shot with that kind of scope is not a problem. Aim for wide field of view (min 30ft at 100yds) large eye relief (3,5" or more) and heavy duplex croshair or the one with the post.
 
There's some excellent advice here and I think what you want out of your hunting rig is pretty mush the same as me. A compact easy carrying reliable rifle that can be swung around fast in the bush for this quick shots, but also the ability to take some 200+ yard shots. I hunt the bush in central-northern Ontario and that is what's best for me.
The most common mistake hunters make (experienced or not) is to get big scopes. Stick with the lower magnifications like 1.5-4(or 5 or 6) and sit it down on the barrel as low as you can but NOT at the sacrifice of a natural eye position. You eye has to naturally line up with the scope without too much cheek movement. The option of an illuminated dot within your reticle is also very nice when the Sun is setting.
 
So I get that I am looking for a scope with a large FOV/100 yards. When I looked into the Leupold FX-II 4x33mm the field of view at 100 yards is only 24 feet. Thats is alot less than the min of 30 feet recomended. Why would a fixed 4 power scope like that not have a wider field of view at 100 yards?

Do I need to look into the smaller objectives like 20mm to get this larger field of view?
 
Leupold VX-II 1-4x20mm: a light, compact scope for a light, compact rifle. You don't need lots of magnification for the distances you have in mind.
 
Ok, so I just wanted to update everyone that I finally bought a Browning BLR Lightweight 81 in .308 Winchester today. I know its a little away from the bolt action rifle I was talking about in my first post but I just fell in love with the way it handled and pointed so I forked down the cash.

So I am now in the market for a good quality scope to match this rifle for big game in Ontario. Like I said before the shots will be on average 50-100 yards in the bush but I would like to be able to make them out to 200 if the need presents itself.

So with a MAX budget of $400 what scopes should I consider for my BLR? I want it to be fast, clear and with a good FOV. Thanks
 
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