Best scope for .30-06

[NukeBOMB88]

G'day guys I've got a question reguarding what scope would be best for my Howa .30-06 , I've been thinking about either a Bushnell Ar-223 4.5-18x40 scope ( yeah I know it's meant for a .223 but it's a great scope in my experience) or a Nikko-Stirling 6-24x44 scope. I've been leaning toward the Nikko but I don't know if it'll meet the same fate as the Weaver scope that's on the gun at the moment that can hold zero due to ( I believe ) the recoil. Also I'd like the extra power of the Nikko cause I'd like to stretch the legs of the .30-06 a bit to maybe 400-500 metres to hit some gongs but the Bushnell could manage that too I'm sure. Anyway I'd really appreciate your input on this one fellas, thanks

P.s I forgot to mention I'm looking to not pay too much cause I won't be using the .30-06 all the time

[North East]

An Aimpoint Hunter 1X will get you out to 200 meters....but that's all I use. Handles recoil easily. Very light.

[Chronos]

I've put a leupold VX3 2.5-8X36 on two of my rifles in the last year. They are a fantastic little scope. Plenty bright and enough mag for most hunting situations.

Chronos

[NukeBOMB88]

An Aimpoint Hunter 1X will get you out to 200 meters....but that's all I use. Handles recoil easily. Very light.

Yeah North I have been thinking about the aimpoint but it seems a little pricey for what is basically just a tube with a dot in the middle ( not dissing the scope I just dunno if it's in my price range )

I've put a leupold VX3 2.5-8X36 on two of my rifles in the last year. They are a fantastic little scope. Plenty bright and enough mag for most hunting situations.

Chronos

How much would that scope cost do you think mate? I've got the Vx-3 8.5-25x50 on my .204 and its by far the best scope I've ever used but i don't know if I want to pay quite as much as I payed for that one ( $1300-$1500 by memory)

[Chronos]

An Aimpoint Hunter 1X will get you out to 200 meters....but that's all I use. Handles recoil easily. Very light.

Yeah North I have been thinking about the aimpoint but it seems a little pricey for what is basically just a tube with a dot in the middle ( not dissing the scope I just dunno if it's in my price range )

I've put a leupold VX3 2.5-8X36 on two of my rifles in the last year. They are a fantastic little scope. Plenty bright and enough mag for most hunting situations.

Chronos

How much would that scope cost do you think mate? I've got the Vx-3 8.5-25x50 on my .204 and its by far the best scope I've ever used but i don't know if I want to pay quite as much as I payed for that one ( $1300-$1500 by memory)

Bought mine 2nd hand in excellent condition mate, one was $320 plus shipping the other $350 for the other which is about half new price

Chronos

[North East]

An Aimpoint Hunter 1X will get you out to 200 meters....but that's all I use. Handles recoil easily. Very light.

Yeah North I have been thinking about the aimpoint but it seems a little pricey for what is basically just a tube with a dot in the middle ( not dissing the scope I just dunno if it's in my price range )

They are a lot more complicated than that.

[NukeBOMB88]

An Aimpoint Hunter 1X will get you out to 200 meters....but that's all I use. Handles recoil easily. Very light.

Yeah North I have been thinking about the aimpoint but it seems a little pricey for what is basically just a tube with a dot in the middle ( not dissing the scope I just dunno if it's in my price range )

They are a lot more complicated than that.

Yeah your right and I've heard that they are great for fast target acquisition too

[bigfellascott]

Whatever you get make sure its got good eye relief, ya don't want a "Weatherby Eyebrow"

[Gwion]

What about something like this?

http://www.4scopes.com/zss-5226119981.html

Plenty of scopes out there in this sort of mag range and size.

[Chronos]

Whatever you get make sure its got good eye relief, ya don't want a "Weatherby Eyebrow"

Common BFS, it's only a 30-06

Chronos

[bigfellascott]

Whatever you get make sure its got good eye relief, ya don't want a "Weatherby Eyebrow"

Common BFS, it's only a 30-06

Chronos

And they kick like furken mules with a good load!

[NukeBOMB88]

What about something like this?

http://www.4scopes.com/zss-5226119981.html

Plenty of scopes out there in this sort of mag range and size.

Yeah that's a damn nice scope but the cost is a bit steep for what I'm looking for

[Oldbloke]

I have a Sightron 3-9x40 S1 on my 3006. I believe the S1 is the cheapest, I paid about $200. Nice and clear seems to track ok an holds POI OK. Seems just as good as my $350 Bushnell 3-9x40 just the cross hairs are thicker which is the reason I got it.
As always gets back to type of use and how much u want to spend.

Are u using it mainly for target, hunting in the open, or hunting in the thick s**t?

and there are these.

red dot.JPG (63.86 KiB) Viewed 7221 times

[Oldbloke]

If you hunt in the thick stuff these are worth a look. A lot cheaper than NEs option.

http://bushnell.com/all-products/rifle- ... rst-strike

[NukeBOMB88]

Nah oldbloke I shoot in open paddocks at ranges any where from 25m- 400m

[Strikey]

I have a Nikko Nighteater 6-24 x56, 30mm tube side focus, the glass is okay for its price point but over 16-18 magnification eye relief and head position is very critical to maintain a sight picture, not sure what model Nikko you are looking at, but I would reckon it would have the same issue and on a 30-06 that may give you the extra eyebrow, lol. My Nikko has been on air rifle so recoil is not an issue, it has held zero and tracked reliably but if I was shooting out to 4-500metres I would be looking at something a bit better.

[Sender]

I've been thinking about either a Bushnell Ar-223 4.5-18x40 scope ( yeah I know it's meant for a .223 but it's a great scope in my experience)

Well, the only thing that makes it "meant" for a .223 is the holdover points, which won't match the trajectory of a 30-06.

If you don't mind looking at them though or you're happy to work out the distances they represent with the different trajectory there's no reason not to get the scope if that's the one you like.

[NukeBOMB88]

I've been thinking about either a Bushnell Ar-223 4.5-18x40 scope ( yeah I know it's meant for a .223 but it's a great scope in my experience)

Well, the only thing that makes it "meant" for a .223 is the holdover points, which won't match the trajectory of a 30-06.

If you don't mind looking at them though or you're happy to work out the distances they represent with the different trajectory there's no reason not to get the scope if that's the one you like.

Yeah that's right and the thing is I looked up a ballistics calculator and it showed the the .30-06 ammo I use is only very slightly different in trajectory to an average .223 projectile

[Bourt]

None of the hold over reticles match exactly anyway.

Heavier or lighter pill, faster or slower velocity etc. all change the POI.

It's a guide and can be used for any cartridge, you just need to know what ranges the points represent.

[Gwion]

None of the hold over reticles match exactly anyway.

Heavier or lighter pill, faster or slower velocity etc. all change the POI.

It's a guide and can be used for any cartridge, you just need to know what ranges the points represent.

Yup.
I have a couple of Vortex scopes with the BDC reticles. Their online ballistics calculator can be used to get a good idea of drops if you plug in accurate data according to your round. I can only guestimate my reloads until i get a chrony or go by pack velocitity with the 22lr. It's a good guide, though, and then i refine it on targets to get to know my actual drops.

[SendIt]

You should be able to work out your muzzle velocity to a reasonable margin of error just shooting at a few ranges and trying a range of velocities in your ballistics calculator to find a match.

Zero for 100, shoot a group at 50, 100, 150, 200 and record the rise/drop over the range.

Put your projectile weight, BC and all the rest in and go through a likely range of velocities. If you know your muzzle velocity is around 2800fps try 2700, 2710, 2720 etc. up until you get a match.

Won't be exact to the foot but will be fine for the purposes of matching to your BDC reticle. And save yourself the expense of buying a chrono if you don't really want one.

[Garth]

I just put one on my 30.06 will tell you tommoro what went like I love these scopes got one on 223 and 243