scope suggestions for hunting/durability

beanshooter

beanshooter

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Hi folks,

I should have my first hunting rifle on the way any day now, a Marlin xl7 in 30-06. I am currently trying to figure out what scope to buy. The gun will be used for hunting deer and black bear mainly (new hunter so possibly other game too) and no precision target shooting.
I am looking for a scope that will allow the rifle to live up to its potential. I also want something that is very durable and will last a lifetime (or at least 40 - 50 years). I know Leupold has a great warranty program, but I would rather not have to rely on it and get something that will just keep working if cared for properly.
I am on a bit of a tight budget and would be willing to spend $200-300, possibly a little more for the right item.

Any experience with a scope that has never let you down?
Any suggestions/recommendations are very much appreciated.
Thanks
 
beanshooter said:
Hi folks,

I should have my first hunting rifle on the way any day now, a Marlin xl7 in 30-06. I am currently trying to figure out what scope to buy. The gun will be used for hunting deer and black bear mainly (new hunter so possibly other game too) and no precision target shooting.
I am looking for a scope that will allow the rifle to live up to its potential. I also want something that is very durable and will last a lifetime (or at least 40 - 50 years). I know Leupold has a great warranty program, but I would rather not have to rely on it and get something that will just keep working if cared for properly.
I am on a bit of a tight budget and would be willing to spend $200-300, possibly a little more for the right item.

Any experience with a scope that has never let you down?
Any suggestions/recommendations are very much appreciated.
Thanks
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You know, if I count them all up I come up with 22-23 Leupold scopes sitting around here. Mostly VX111s,with a few Vari-X 111s, a new VX3 and a couple Mark 4s. Also a couple or 3 VX11s and some fixed powers. I have had no, none, exactly zero problems with any of them. Leupold's warranty service is great, but the reason it is great is that if you do happen to break one you have a better than even chance of hunting with it before the season is over. With everything else, it's maybe next year. If you're getting by with one rifle you just bought another scope.
 
There are not many bad scopes out there right now. Stay with the mainstream brand names such as Leupold, Bushnell, Burris, Vortex, NightForce, etc. All of them will work well for your intended purposes. I have recently made the switch to Vortex and I really like their optics, very good value for the money, and their warranty is excellent too.
 
One of the reasons Leupold's warranty is so good is that they make the scopes well enough that very few need the excellent warranty service that would be too expensive for the maker to offer if their product wasn't good. If Leupolds are too expensive for you, look at Bushnell Elite models in the 3200 series.

A fixed power scope can be made a bit more reliable than a variable for the same money, all else being equal, and at 4x or 6x will do very well for most of the hunting most people do, and personally I use mostly fixed power scopes because I like their simplicity. But today's manufacturing technology allows variable power scopes to be so reliable you needn't fear a good name variable will let you down. 3-9x40mm is probably the most common specification for a variable power hunting scope, and the reason for that is it will easily handle all the hunting your 30.06 is suited for. If you can't see your quarry well enough on 9x magnification, you probably shouldn't try the shot at all. The advantages of an objective lens bigger than 40mm are not often really necessary, while the disadvantage of extra bulk and weight are constant.
 
TheTooner said:
One of the reasons Leupold's warranty is so good is that they make the scopes well enough that very few need the excellent warranty service that would be too expensive for the maker to offer if their product wasn't good. If Leupolds are too expensive for you, look at Bushnell Elite models in the 3200 series.

A fixed power scope can be made a bit more reliable than a variable for the same money, all else being equal, and at 4x or 6x will do very well for most of the hunting most people do, and personally I use mostly fixed power scopes because I like their simplicity. But today's manufacturing technology allows variable power scopes to be so reliable you needn't fear a good name variable will let you down. 3-9x40mm is probably the most common specification for a variable power hunting scope, and the reason for that is it will easily handle all the hunting your 30.06 is suited for. If you can't see your quarry well enough on 9x magnification, you probably shouldn't try the shot at all. The advantages of an objective lens bigger than 40mm are not often really necessary, while the disadvantage of extra bulk and weight are constant.
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Tooner has said it all, I love Bushnell products as I believe them to be the best bang for your buck. The 3200 3-9x40 will fit nicely on your new 30-06, I think they retail for $235.00 or there abouts, plus you will want a good ring set , Burris or Leupold around $40.00. FS
 
IMHO the Leupold 2x7 is just about THE perfect hunting scope. Small, lightweight, and excellent optics. The low power setting allows use in thick brush while 7x is lots for longer shot and range use.

Don't buy cheap scopes. They're not so cheap after you have to replace them with something better.



.
 
I just scoped the exact rifle you have with a Burris FF II 3x9x40. I also have a Ruger with a Bushy Elite 3200, but I now prefer the Burris over the Bushnell.

BTW, you are going to be impressed with the accuracy of your Marlin. For such an inexpensive rifle, this thing shoots great.

The last time at the range, I shot four groups of 4 shots each. The smallest grouping was a nice cloverleaf, and the largest was 0.657in.

Pretty decent hunting rig for a $250 scope and a $379 rifle. :)
 
Thanks for all the input guys, very helpful. Glad to hear I can expect good things from my Marlin.
I've been checking out the suggestions and am wondering what type of reticle I should be looking for. I really like the idea of a mil dot or something similar that allows range estimation. Are these typically used for hunting or is there something else that is better?
 
My Burris has a Ballistic plex

ballplexreticle.gif
 
I have exactly same rifle/caliber with a VX1 3x9x40 on it. Chose it on the advise of Clay from Prophet River who sold me the rifle. Very happy with both. Both perhaps the best value in their segments. Good combo. Why temper with a working arrangement?
 
I just bought a new Tikka T-3 300wsm and I fitted it with a Burris FF II 3x9x40 I'm extremly happy with this scope and feel it is a lot of scope for the money.
 
Used Leupold VX II 3-9 x 40's come up on the BST all the time for about 3 bills. Get one of them.

If you decide to sell it, you'll lose very little money.
 
I am a long time user of bushnell scopes. The last one I had was a 2-7x32 3200 and it worked perfectly for 6-7 yrs until it finally fogged last nov while deer hunting. That scope went into the mountains every year and had all the dents and scratches that go with that kind of hunting. The bushnell warranty is excellent, I sent that scope in and they sent me a brand new one free. The problem I have is that I sent it on dec 1 and didnt get it back until end of may, with no info on the site until the scope was on its way. I had the same kind of long wait with a pair of binos to. In that same time I picked up a rifle that had a leupold varixll 2-7x32 scope on it. I wanted the rifle and not the scope, but the scope had a bit of a rattle in it so I sent it in for repair. The scope was back in my hands within 2 weeks. So as a result I sold the new 3200 and the varixll and now have a new fxll 6x36 on order.
 
mod7rem said:
The problem I have is that I sent it on dec 1 and didnt get it back until end of may, with no info on the site until the scope was on its way.
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Interesting that they were so slow. About a month ago I emailed a question to the Canadian Repair centre (directly to the tech guy's general email address) and got a response back the same day, and was an unexpectedly fast response time.

I am curious to hear other people's recent experiences with Bushnell service.
 
SandRoad said:
Interesting that they were so slow. About a month ago I emailed a question to the Canadian Repair centre (directly to the tech guy's general email address) and got a response back the same day, and was an unexpectedly fast response time.

I am curious to hear other people's recent experiences with Bushnell service.
Click to expand...

I don't know anyone that has had a bushnell replaced or repaired in less than 4 months...Most were 5-6 months...

If its anywhere near hunting season, you will be buying another scope, then trying to recoup your $$ when they finally send yours back...Ridiculous
 
blargon said:
I don't know anyone that has had a bushnell replaced or repaired in less than 4 months...Most were 5-6 months...

If its anywhere near hunting season, you will be buying another scope, then trying to recoup your $$ when they finally send yours back...Ridiculous
Click to expand...

Wow, I guess their service has gone down hill. Years ago, they replaced my 10yr old Trophy scope with a brand new Elite 3000(which was the top one back then) and I received it by carrier in 3 days. They also replaced a pair of my bino's with new ones, and just up until about 2 or 3yrs ago, they replaced a very old Tasco spotting scope with a brand new one, though it did take a few weeks to receive it.

Thats too bad, I have always been impressed with their customer service.
 
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