I finally picked up my new Weatherby Ultralight in 338/06 yesterday. I had planned on buying a Zeiss Conquest 3-9, but they didn't have any available. Then I got to thinking that that might be a little too much scope for the little rifle anyway. Now I'm thinking about a Leupold 2-7. That would seem to fit better than the Zeiss. Any other ideas for a fitting scope on this rifle?

My custom built 338-06 wears a Burris Signature 2-8x.

Admittedly, I'm a rabid fixed power fan and this was never to be a permanent combination. Even so, this piece of glass is a tried and true favorite that has seen action on several rifles. Fabulous scope! Should the itch ever become unbarable, I do have a 4x IOR waiting in the wings. But you know about tinkering with what ain't broken.

This year my 338-06 has seen action on both deer and elk. Devistating 1 shot kills! The variable has not left 3x since mounted a couple years back, and I tend to hunt very open country. Get something you like, of good quality, along the lines you're thinking, and you'll be exceedingly satisfied.

PS. A tip on purchasing scopes: Buy them used! Don't shell out the $$$ for a new one. Any of the upper crust manufacturers (Burris, Lupie, Ziess, Swaro) will warrant the things forever whether you were the first owner or not! Besides, if you're like me, it's bound to get a few 'beauty marks' after a time or two out anyway.

1.5-6 or 2-7. Leupold, Zeiss, Swarovski, Kahles, Leica (if you can find one). Among the lesser lights, Bushnell 4200, Burris, even the Simmons aetec is a good scope FOR THE MONEY. - Dan

I just bought a 'scope for my 338.06,a 2.5x8,because they were sold out of the 1.75x6.I got my second choice. A 338.06 is not your main varmit rifle is it? The quality of the glass means more than the magnification number for the distance that you shoot a 338.06,<300yards.The higher number 'scope will have a smaller field of view.

I would put a Burris with the Balistic plex or the new leupold with their new muti cross hair scope on it. They make hitting out past 200 easy just range them pick the proper cross Hair check the wind and hit with them. Muticross hairs are the only way to go with any rifle you might be shooting past 200 yards with.

I've got a 2.5-8X Leupold on my .338-06 M70 and its worked out perfectly. Hits out to 300+ on big game are not a problem. Mine has taken everything from deer and impala to elk and eland. ALL with one single shot each. A very impressive caliber. Penetrates like crazy but its easy on the shooter.
If your ULW is as accurate as the .280 Rem ULW I have your in for a treat. That one wears a 2.5-8X Leupold as well and it looks just right.

DO let us know how yours shoots OK??

FN in MT

My 338-06 wears a Leupold 2.5-8X, and it works just fine...

Just put a Leupold VX-1 2-7 on my .35 Whelen and have no complaints. The scope is very bright and from what I understand identical to the old var-x II line. I have not hunted with this combo yet, but it has survived a few range trips w/out changing zero. The gun & scope weighs 7.8 lbs, so Whelen recoil at this weight can get up there.

-Lou

I'd go with the 2.5X 8 or the 1.75 X 6. The 8 is a more compact scope than the 6 which is designed for long actions like a 375. The 2X7 is a good magnification option, but it's a VX-II, the other two are VX-IIIs, much better scopes optically. jorge

Frank & the other guys have it right here. My Ruger wears a Leup. VXIII 2.5x8. A perfect match for just about any big game rifle. You don't really need the extra weight & bulk of a 3x9.

I would place a 2-7 or 1-4 leupold, I like smaller scopes on big game rifles.

Really light rifles are hard on the larger, heavier scopes. Breaks them down much faster than the smaller scopes. Any quality scope in the smaller sizes should work well. The toughest are the Leupolds, the Bushnell Elites, the Weaver Grand Slams and the Sightrons.
If low light performance is a concern, a heavier than normal reticle is a good idea. I find they also make fast target acquisition easier.
I prefer Leupolds because of their non critical eye relief characteristics and light weight. E

Keep the weight down. Leupold 2.5-8x os 2-7x.

I've got a Leupold Vari-X III 2.5-8x on my .338-06 Mark V Ultra Lightweight. I'm very satisfied with it. I think the Vari-X III 1.75-6xE would also make a good choice. Also, I have a Vari-X III 1.5-5x (20mm obj) on my Ruger M77 MkII in .35 Whelen (a limited production run). That would be another good choice for the .338-06. A less expensive alternative would be the Leuopld VX-II 2-7x.



Just my two cents worth.........

-Bob F.

I'd try to find one of the recently discontinued Burris Signature 2-8x. Some of the online vendors still have them. But, most of the ones I've seen on the web have that damned Posi-Lock abomination.



I can't believe they discontinued this scope. A great low-profile scope with plenty of magnification. I thought it was the perfect glass for any medium rifle. Makes me wonder what they've been smoking up in Greeley lately.



Otherwise, definitely the Leupold VX-III 2.5-8x.



RSY

You can easily pay more than twice as much for a scope as you would pay for a Leupold VX-I 2-7, but you'll only get about 2% better image (if at all) at the expense of more weight, more bulk, and more critical eye placement. The Leupolds are for usin'; the others are for braggin'.

My 7-08 U'lite wears a Leupold 3-9 Compact. I've been using the Compacts on a number of rifles lately; aside from having a little less field of view than my next choice, the 2.5-8 VXIII, they're great.



As another poster noted, the recoil of lightweight rifles can be pretty sharp, and can give the scope a real workout, so you want a quality scope on there.



R-WEST

Well, I ended up with a little more scope than I had planned, but I think it will work pretty well. It's a Nikon Monarch 3-9x40. I had bought a 2-7 Leupold Rifleman, but it was too short and I could not make it look right on the rifle. I went to buy a VX1 3-9, but found the Nikon for just a few dollars more, so I figured I'd give it a try. Most of my rifles have Leupolds, this is my first Nikon. Any opinions?

After using a number of Leupolds, you tell us. Will be interesting to hear what your experience is after a period of use.