I have a Ruger #1 1B with factory fixed sights in 30-06 which is used as a kind of all round rifle. An experiment so to speak. Am a big fan of peep sights, and own only two rifles with scopes. Am not familiar with modern scopes. I have used the rifle with handloaded loads from 110 gr. To 220. Have finally surrendered, and feel to get the true accuracy in the lighter gr. Bullets, I need optics.

Even though it�s not my primary varmint rifle, I would like to use it for coyotes, and ground hogs. Mainly it�s my big game rifle.

Am willing to spend a reasonably amount commensurate with the price of the rifle. Any opinions would be much appreciated.

Thanks, Scott

Leupold VX-II 3x9x40. Retails for $269. I have one on my Ruger #1 and you can't go wrong with Leupold. If that is too much $$, Leupold makes a VX-I for about $50 less. Any less than that, and you are getting questionable quality.

I dont think your rifle is a 1B if it has factory open sights it must be a 1A.1B,s have a factory rib set up for scope rings.I prefer 1A,s but am not sure of the best way to set up for scope but will think about it and reply later.

I ordered it from a gunshop sight unseen a few years ago, and it's not a special factory, so it must be a Number One 1A. It's not the Tropic model for sure. Can say it's been a great non-scoped rifle. Also has been fun seeing what an 06 is capable of. Will scope it out by the weekend. Had no idea there were so many scope models out there. Will check out the Leopold. Value your opinions. Thanks

Scott

I am a big fan of the Burris handgun scopes, but have been shooting the Bushnell Elite 3200 and 4200 out of my rifles for some time now. I feel they are optically the equal of the Leupold and Burris but more reasonably priced. I have heard their service is excellent, but have not had to use it yet. I would go to your local dealer and check out a few. Everyone sees scopes differently and what looks good to me might not to you.

Check out SWFA.com, they have the best service in the industry, and the best prices, and to top it off, there head guy Chris is a hunter.

I'm also a leupold fan, but the real question is, what is your budget? It seems that quality optics start in the $200-300 range. As far as magnification goes, I believe it depends on some degree as to your eyesight. I've tried a 3-9 (albeit a cheap bushnell) an old 6X Weaver, and a 2.5X leupold and group sizes were the same on my 35 whelen. I will add the caveat I have 20/15 vision, so perhaps you're results will very.

I would say you'll get more quality for the same dollars in a 2-7/3-9 then a 6-24. You ought to be able to get a quality scope for $200-300 from most all the major makers. I'm a leupold fan, but for your application, think you'll likely be happy with any of the choices.

Almost dropped a load when I began looking at scopes in Gun Digest. The 2-4 hundred dollar range will suit my budget though. This forum is so valuable for folks who don't have many gun people to chat with face to face. Thanks for the input, and have made notes. Have heard a great deal about Leopold, Bushnell, and Burris. As luck would have it, a medium drive from here is a new Cabellas, and Bushnell has a factory outlet store in the KC Metro area. The Cabellas was much to crowded the time I stopped, it was impossible to do serious researching. Now I can go with some models in mind.

As far as eyesight, am getting a bit long in the tooth, but see distances better than the average person my age. Again, I'm an iron sight fan. If memory serves, I spent more on my son's new Marlin 336 for the Williams peeps, than the rifle cost but am truly excited about getting the Number One rifle scoped.

If you can add anything more it would be appreciated. Am heading into the city Saturday for the purchase. Will let you now what's placed on top.

Thanks,

Scott

I have a #3 "K"Hornet with a Weaver V-16 scope, 4x to 16x with an adj. obj. and very nice optically, adj. under the turret caps that can be set for "0"...Nice set-up, but more power than needed for the cart.
(Note: The #3 stock is too low at the comb and heel to work well with scopes, particularly large obj. target/varmint scopes that are going to be mounted higher than an old Lyman Alaskan straight 7/8th" tube, for instance...)
Regards,
Dave 32-20

Thanks for the help. Stopped at Cabellas and picked up a Leupold VX-II 3-9 40mm. Cost me $467.00, of course that included some virgin brass, Sierra bullets, two cases of target shotgun shells, and several boxes of hevi-shot goose loads. Oh, the scope cost 269.00, and more than likely a night on the couch.

Much brighter field of vision than any scope I�ve ever owned. Much tighter adjustments, very nicely made. Will sight it in this evening, for we have quite a few dove hunters out today.

Hey, this is a bit off topic, but since I�m writing anyway, I will throw this out. A fine shooting friend of mine is suffering from deteriorating eyesight from a disease. He has shot more than his share of deer over the years, and now uses a .44 Mag in Ruger. I use the same in a Legacy Winchester, but shoot jacketed bullet handloads. He can�t reload much anymore and requested I load some for him, but in lead swagged 240 grain. I could not find any today, and chatted with a fellow loader who warned me against shooting lead in a rifle. Any thoughts?.

Thanks again, the Ruger looks great, hope it shoots great too.

Scott

I'm not positive, but I believe the old Ruger 44 mag auto carbine cannot use lead bullets, as they will gum up the gas operating system.

As far as lead in rifles, it is ok so long as they are hardcast, and better yet gas checked. The swaged lead bullets are soft, and will lead teribly, especially in a rifle.

I must admit, for years I've been tooling around with a rifle I did not know the capabilities of. Since mounting the Leupold scope, this rifle simply has the feel, and accuracy of a great deer gun. I've been playing around while getting it to zero with 180 grain handloads. I use large popcorn tins, with stick-on targets to zero usually at 100 yards or so, but today I stretched to 150. Once in a while, one gets tipped over at an angle, which happened today. Not much of a target with tall grass around, so I adjusted the scope, and could see the top of the can. Hit it dead on, wow. I could not see this target with the naked eye.

Thanks for the help

Hello Jayboid - you're looking good again are you?

To think how I struggled before I accepted that eyes age - which is why they invented glasses and scopes.

I only wish that I had fitted scopes to my rifles earlier - there are memories of a couple of early morning and last light shots that passed me by while I struggled trying to make out the iron sights ...

Leupolds are just fine - I have three and never a moments problem in over 20 years. Enjoy - edi