Any day now
I will be getting a call from Doc at MPI stocks. My JC Higgins (FN) 30,06 will be ready.
It is a 22 inch freshly blued and has a timney trigger.
In the MPI stock, It will be vrey light and should be acurate too.
When I get it It will have temporarily, a Elite 3200 3X9. A good enough scope but this rifle will be getting her own new one.
Leaning twords a leupold VX2 2X7 or if the money is flowing farly freely at the time mabye a VX3 1.75X6 or a 2.5X8. This rifle is intended to be an extreamly versital big game rifle.
anything from speed goats to Elk. From thick timber to 350 yards.
I really like the new series of nikkon monarchs , and could be talked into buying the 2.5X10.
Some of the Leupold 30mm euro models are xciting too.
Please tell me what you might want to put on her. I do want to keep it fairly light and no adjustable objective...tj3006

I realy like my luepold VX1 and VXII 2x7's. Compact and lightwieght. Very nice field of vision too.

I've got a Zeiss 1 1/2-6 30mm tube on Craigslist now and plan to but 2 Leupolds when it sells. Leupold scopes have never let me down as opposed to 3 European failures during hunting season.

I have a 1.25x4 Leupold Euro model on a 376 Steyr with a #4 German reticle. I like it but I wish I had the 2x7 Euro. Mine has so much FOV that I can see the barrel plus I was shooting it at over 200 yards in Africa and would like a little more power. Also do not try to put a scope cover over the rear as the focus (eye piece) does not lock and you will jam the rifle when it turns and interferes with the bolt travel. I am talking about a Butler Creek type scope cover. I think I will move this one to a Marlin 45-70 guide gun as the scout scope has too fine a reticle for me. Like you I also want something light in weight and with good eye relief.

Do you have a budget in mind??

The new Monarchs are indeed sweet!! Just got a 4-16x myself the other day.

Thomas: First of all, congratulations on selecting a range of scopes that are appropriate for the caliber and usage. Nothing could be more of a hindrance on gun intended for big game than a 6-24 variable the length and size of an aluminum baseball bat. Your choice of a scope with a low end of 2-3x and a high end of 6-8X provides the versatility you need for game hunting. At low power you can find the game when you jump it in close timber at 25 yards, and at high power you have no trouble seeing it clearly at 350-400 yards across a prairie or canyon.

Most of the scopes you mention are also relatively lightweight and compact. Why would anyone build a "mountain"-type rifle, then burden it with an extra pound and a half of scope? THat's why I would advise staying away from the 30mm tubes -- they're just heavier and offer no utilitarian advantages.

There are really no poor choices among the scopes you mention. I've just located a Leupold VX-II 2-7 to go on a Kimber .300 WSM, which is slated for similar uses to your gun. Either that scope, or the 2.5-8 would make a nice package. But having used both the II and the III line extensively, I wouldn't pay the difference for the III. For that matter, the VX-I will give you the same performance if you don't mind the non-click stop reticle adjustments. The optics, despite advertising hype to the contrary, are essentially the same.

I have to agree with Stonecreek on the power range you selected. I have 2 VX-III in 2.5-8 and 1 in 1.75-6. What can I say about these scopes excellent eye relief, plenty of power for big game hunting, with clear glass. That said I sure wouldn't mind a VX-II in 2-7 power either, I've been looking at that scope for my 6.5X55 Sporter I just bought.

I have only on 30mm scope on any of my rifles and it is a Tasco Titan in 1.5-6 with German #4 reticle. I like the scope but it doesn't really compare with the Leupolds I own. It is bulky and heavy compared to my others, but it looks good on top of my 8mm-06. I like the 30mm Euro scopes but wouldn't choose one for my light weight walking around rifle.

I am glad to see so many people agee with me.
I took a look at the new monarch again today and it awfully impressive.
If I were to do it today , I think I would put the monarch on my 6.5X57, its a 26 inch barreld rifle, and I would put the 2.5X8 VX3 that is on my 6.5 on the 06.
Now as for the 30,mm stuff and the VX 2 and VX3, the advantage of the VX3 is the lens coating gathers a little more light.
Is it enough to make or break a shot at dawn or dusk ? I,don't know.
The 30mm tube will also let more light through, I was told this by an opticle engeneer at leupold.
The factory is about 25 miles from my house.
But right now I think the 2.5X8 that is sitting on very prety custom mauser in 6.5X57 will likly go on the 30,06.
The 06 is likly to get more use than the 6.5
And the 6.5 is more of an open country specialized rifle where close in shots are not as likly.
...tj3006

Tom,
I've owned a number of Loopies... 2-7, 3-9, 4.5-14, 2.5-10 illuminated, a fixed 4 and a fixed 6. They have been VX 1,2,3 or FX 1 and all have been good scopes and served me well but..... just bought a Bushnell 4200 Elite 2.5-10 and have to say it makes the variable Loopies look a little sad in the value department.

The two things the big L has over the 4200 is a tiny bit more eye relief and a greater choice of reticles. Other than that, the 4200 wins hands down. Brighter, clearer, smoother zoom, Rain-X, etc, etc.
I can't comment on Nikons or others cause I haven't owned any, but if your on a budget and looking for value, I think the Elite 4200 is a hard one to beat.

Tip - Don't get the Firefly reticle unless you're going to hunt elephants at night. Look through one and you'll see what I mean.
Personaly, if I was buying a scope for big/dangerous game, I'd stick to a fixed 4 power.

Cheers.
Boof

quote:

Now as for the 30,mm stuff and the VX 2 and VX3, the advantage of the VX3 is the lens coating gathers a little more light.
Is it enough to make or break a shot at dawn or dusk ? I,don't know.
The 30mm tube will also let more light through, I was told this by an opticle engeneer at leupold.

Thomas, you've been misinformed.

The lens coatings do not "gather light". Magnesium floride coatings (and MF "multicoatings") prevent light from being refracted from the surface of the glass and thus allow more of the light to be transmitted through the lens. This is highly important if the lens has a surface exposed to the air, like the objective lens of the scope. All modern optics are MF coated. Most modern optics use multiple coatings of MF -- but simply because an instrument is advertised as "multicoated" doesn't mean it is superior to a "single coated" lens in that simply slopping more of the same coating on a lens doesn't necessarily improve its light transmission. The multicoating process used by Leupold and other reputable optical companies does improve light transmission over single coated lenses by a tiny, but measurable degree. Other claims of features which provide optical superiority are mostly realized only in the word processers of the marketing department.

30mm tubes do not "let more light through". This is about the most pernicious misinformation floating among shooters. The only advantage of a 30mm tube is a mechanical one, an that is to allow the internal erector tube more side-to-side room to move, thus increasing the maximum adjustment of the reticle. Some might argue that the 30mm tube is "stronger", but some 30mm tubes are of lighter gage metal in order to partially offset the necessarily heavier weight of the larger tube, so they may actually be "weaker" in terms of dent resistance. Trust me, all the light your objective can "gather" can be transmitted through a tube of one inch, or even 3/4 inch, for that matter. The size of the tube has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the "brightness", "transmission", "gathering of light", or any other optical quality of the scope.

I would look at the conquests in 2.5x8 and 1.8x5.5 and perhaps the 3x9. Check with Jon at the opticszone and Doug at cameraland.

dave

I have been working on an 06 and I am going to put a 6 X IOR on it. I think 6 X will be fine in the hardwoods and good enough to 300-350

quote:

Originally posted by 12FVSS260:
I would look at the conquests in 2.5x8 and 1.8x5.5 and perhaps the 3x9. Check with Jon at the opticszone and Doug at cameraland.

dave

+2

The Zeiss Conquests are hands down a much better scope and value and cheap enough.

I have been very happy with the 4 Zeiss Conquests that I used to replace Leupold scopes.

THOMAS
a 30mm tube will not transmit more light......i think your must have misundestood the people @leupold
the leupold can not even compare with the conquests, its like day and night, have a look for your self
Daniel

You can't go wrong with any of the Leupies. For the money you can't beat the VXI. They are the same as the VXII save the friction adjustments and coating. I have two VXI 2-7s and a 1 VXI 1-4 and I am just as happy with them as I am my VXIIIs. I will probably try a Conquest in the future just to check them out, but I like the aesthetics and durability of the Leupies. Lou

Jump on one of the show demo Conquest 1.8x5.5 scopes at Cameraland. For $350 it is the best deal on the planet!!!

TJ3006,

For an '06 any of the scopes mentioned in this thread would be good. Even though the "engineer" at Leupold told you the 30mm tube will let more light pass I would be VERY skeptical on that statement... The quality of the glass, quality of the grind, coatings and number of lense surfaces is the only determining factor for the amount of light transmitted through an optical system. Too small a diameter "internal" lense can cut back the amount of light transmitted but anything over "x" amount will make no difference... The diameter of the objective lense will be the main factor in the amount of light gathered for an optical system however... Understand that glass/grind quality and coatings make a difference here as well...

Enjoy shopping around for a scope and certainly let your eyes sell a scope to you...

Ken....

Boofhead--Not to flame--obviously you have yet to experience a malfunction with a Bushnell and the lack of customer service trying to get it fixed. I have used the Leupold 2x-7x and really like it. They also make a compact 3x-9x and the model with EFR----extended focus range is tops on air rifles--but would be equally at home on even a magnum. The major factor in poor light is the size of the exit. This is a ratio of the power to the objective lens. For eample the 2x-7x by 33 on 7 power the exit would be 7 into 33 which is 4.714 mm exit. When this exit size matches the size of your pupil you will gain no more going bigger. As you get older your pupil gets smaller thus us old geezers go into a theater and are still trying to see the floor when youngsters will be spotting their friends all over the theater. Most of us will have a pupil 6mm or less thus on a 2x-7x by 33 5.5X and below will let you use all the light. On 2x you have a 16.5mm exit that even a cow wouldnt gain going to a bigger tube.

Carpetman,

The only thing you wrote that is relevent to what I said was the word Bushnell.
My local smith/dealer tells me there is no problem with their service if required and he doesn't tell BS like some.
Just for the record....My 1st VX3 2.5-10x50 iluminated reticle Leupold had an internal optical imperfection from the factory. Pretty poor for a scope that costs over $1150 here. It was replaced no questions asked as one would expect whether it be a Leupold or a Bushnell.

I think the rest of your expert optical opinion should perhaps have been directed at someone else because it has no relevance to my post and you're not telling me anything I did'nt already know.

Merry Xmas.

I'd go with the new Nikon.

Why are you putting such a low power on it?

I hate 2-7s on rifles capable of 300 yard shots. I have several 2-7s, IMO they are best suited on close range rifles. Much easier to check out the head gear and get a fine bead on a buck at 300 when you have a variable in the 3-12 or 4-14 range

It's much easier to hold on a game animals vitals at ranges over say 150yds with a higher mag scope. Sure, you can kill em with a fixed 4x, but I'd rather be more precise and go for the higher Mag.

Have a Good One,

Reloader

You've gotten a lot of good advice so far, but I can't resist throwing in my 2 cents.

I'm a big fan of the Conquests. For the money I don't think they can be beat. However, they are a bit heavier than some.

The 4A reticle is fantastic. Once you've used one, you may want to change all your scopes.

If you get a Leupold, get one with the click not friction adjustments. I've had two friction adjustment Leupolds and don't like adjusting them. How far am I moving it? Huh? Am I sure?

If you think you will be shooting at closer ranges be careful getting too much magnification on the low end. Too much magnification close up is a much bigger hindrance to shooting than too little farther out.

LWD

quote:

Originally posted by LWD:.

I'm a big fan of the Conquests. For the money I don't think they can be beat.

I'm not convinced.

I have a 3.5 - 10 x 44 Zeiss Conquest. It's OK, but I think you can probably do equally well (or better) for less money.

I do agree with the recommendation to go for higher magnification. I like at least 9X at the top end -- with that you can see the bullet holes in targets at 200 yards without using a spotting scope.

Boofhead---You are correct--it did sound like my whole post was directed at you. The only intended part was the part about you have obviously not experienced problems with a Bushnell---and you did confirm that in your response. I have experienced it on more than one occasion and yes it was pure BS. Leupold did replace your scope no questions asked--yes that would be expected--I wouldnt bet on that from Bushnell. Best true example of Bushnell was trying to order some missing adjustment covers. Were missing when I bought the rifle used with scope. They sent a form to be filled out wanting serial number,country of origin,and every minute detail you can imagine. They sent wrong ones. Then they sent some used ones(at full price) saying new ones not available. Then scope was returned for other problems. Scoped returned--not fixed--but with new scope covers. Have a Happy New Year mate.

I say get a 3-9 something. IMO, a 30-06 and 3-9 scope is like apple pie and vanilla ice cream!

I'm curious why more people don't try or use Burris Scopes? I own 3 of them, and I am totally pleased with their performance and quality. Their pricing seems inline, too.