New Scope

kklapstein

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This year I've decided my big hunting purchase this year is going to be a new scope for my ruger American 30-06. Setting myself a ballpark $1000 budget. I'd like to target shoot longer distances (maybe up to 600 yards or so just for fun) but main use is going to be hunting, don't want to take any shots really any longer than 300 at an animal. What can anyone recommend
 
This year I've decided my big hunting purchase this year is going to be a new scope for my ruger American 30-06. Setting myself a ballpark $1000 budget. I'd like to target shoot longer distances (maybe up to 600 yards or so just for fun) but main use is going to be hunting, don't want to take any shots really any longer than 300 at an animal. What can anyone recommend
Consider a Swarovski Z3 3-9x36--a compact and lightweight (12 oz.} scope having exceptional glass with good eye relief (3.75" at all magnifications) and tolerant eye box. These are going new for something like $850 these days. In my opinion, it is the perfect big-game hunting scope. If you desire a little more magnification, consider the Swarovski Z3 4-12x50. Another 1" tube lightweight scope with excellent glass and eye relief/eyebox. They're going for about $1050 new.
 
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what features do you want in the scope? Will have impact on price.

illuminated?
plain duplex reticle, competition xmas tree style etc.
High Density, extra low dispersion glass or "regular" Achromatic
tube size? 1inch will get you to 600 easily with 3006. vs 30mm vs 34mm
 
OP - What sort of 'targets' do you plan on shooting ? That can define your magnification and reticle. A 3-9 Duplex will not give much definition at longer distances IMO. Do you plan to use a spotting scope ?
 
OP - What sort of 'targets' do you plan on shooting ? That can define your magnification and reticle. A 3-9 Duplex will not give much definition at longer distances IMO. Do you plan to use a spotting scope ?
Most likely will just be a steel plate or a couple clays, I'd like to eventually be able to shoot a clay consistently at about 400, probably an ~8 inch plate at 600
 
Consider a Swarovski Z3 3-9x36--a compact and lightweight (12 oz.} scope having exceptional glass with good eye relief (3.75" at all magnifications) and tolerant eye box. These are going new for something like $850 these days. In my opinion, it is the perfect big-game hunting scope. If you desire a little more magnification, consider the Swarovski Z3 4-12x50. Another 1" tube lightweight scope with excellent glass and eye relief/eyebox. They're going for about $1050 new.
I've heard tons of good things about the glass quality in Swarovski. It's mainly what I've been looking for the past few days. Have found a z5 on ####### but I don't have access to the EE on here yet as I'm new to the site. The 50mm is definitely what I want through my research because I'd like to have the best of the ability to hunt in low light
 
what features do you want in the scope? Will have impact on price.

illuminated?
plain duplex reticle, competition xmas tree style etc.
High Density, extra low dispersion glass or "regular" Achromatic
tube size? 1inch will get you to 600 easily with 3006. vs 30mm vs 34mm
I would like illuminated but not necessary, and would definitely like a few compensation marks to account for yardage easier. FFP as well
 
Burris Signature might be an option
3-15 is a good range, 15x is suitable for targets out there, 3x is good for hunting
Burris has some of the best glass for the price and the reticle isn't too cluttered
 
A 50mm objective is ridiculous on a 30-06 hunting rifle in my opinion. The quality of the lens coating does more for light absorption than the size of the lens. 50 mm is bulky, heavy and requires high rings on most rifles...
Yeah, I tend to agree with this, guntech. For some reason, all the new scopes are heavier and bigger than necessary for a big-game hunting rifle, with many now sporting 56 mm. objective lenses. This was the reason for my recommendation of the Swarovski 3-9x36. That's a scope I've used on several hunting rifles over the years, and it has always been adequate with respect to light-gathering. In addition, I've never felt I needed more top end than 9 power.

I think that the more recent long-range competitive shooting programs, like F-class and PRS, are exerting far too much weight on shooters' choice of optics. It's one thing to lug out a huge scope on a heavy competition rifle, but another thing altogether to carry the scoped rifle miles on foot in search of big game. For the latter, compact and light are what's needed, and the Swarovski, at about 12" and 12 oz., or the comparable Leupolds like the 3-9 or 3.5-10 with 40 mm. objective lenses are ideal.
 
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My self I like lighter scopes, 1” tube, usually 1.5-6, 2-7, 2.5-8 or even straight 4 or 6 x fixed, mostly leupold some Bushnell and some Bush&lomb
 
I use a burris signature HD in both the 2-10x40 and the 3-15x44. My go to for years were leupolds, but they seem to be starting to get up in price, for the options offered, and I feel are slowly slipping on their quality. I still have a few I use, but hesitate to purchase new ones. That is a hard statement, because they still generally have a smaller weight, and size than most optics, and their alum caps are by far a great add on.

I use the 2-10 on a 450Bm and practice out to 300 M with is on a regular basis, and have reached further for fun at the range.

The 3-15 was mainly for a 223 that I was using out to 500m with and more for some fun.

They have very good lenses on them, and both have the ability to dial up when reaching out a ways, and yet simple reticles that are not cluttered. The 3-15 has the illuminated reticle, which is a bonus on dyeing light. Just a matter of the foot print size of the scope you want, but both will work, and both under $1K new, and a few deals better for used.

I also have some alpha optics glass, and by far no comparison to them, but the burris HD is at a great price point for what you actually get.
 
I like the 4 to 14 or the 4 to 16 power range. for many years I used a 3 to 9-power scope. never had any problems.
 
You can't go wrong with Leupold. I've had two Austrian made Swarovski's and eventually sold them and replaced them with Leupolds and keep adding more each year. If you're into long range target shooting you'd be wise to understand Leupold and the way they rate their scopes for intended purposes; e.g. Freedom,VX-3, 5+ 6. My new VX-3 HD is a wonderful light scope weighing 11.6 ounces but my favorite Leupold scope is my VX-7. Leupolds hold their value and their unconditional warranty is the very best.
 
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If you're into long range target shooting you'd be wise to understand Leupold and the way they rate their scopes for intended purposes;
This is an interesting statement.

What do you call long range target shooting?

Most "long range target shooters" are not really using leupolds, as there are better options out there for that specific task. Leupold was the last one that I even though about for that when I started looking into it.
 
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