Rifle Scope Advice Please!

[RHARVEY]

For the last few years my eye site is slowly getting bad. Not bad enough that I cant see... just bad enough that I cant shoot open sites like I use to.

What I want to know is what 3X9 scope would be the best for my Remington Model 700 06??? My son and I are planning a hunt in Montana next year and I dont want a scope that will fog up. . I will also be looking for another 06 for my son before our hunt. .

OK what is your advice... .



Thanks

Rick

 

[wlowe]

Having done a lot of hunting in wet country, 12 years in Alaska, my preference is for the single power scopes, less chance for leakage. I had the best luck with 4X leupolds. The leupolds are kinda spendy but the brightness and clarity is excellent and I never had one fog up, but then again I never used their variables.

My only suggestion is if you go with a variable, make sure your rifle has open sights as a backup. Many of the newer rifles don't come with open sights.



Good Luck

 

[BV]

Rifle Scope

Not going to say it's the best for you but I have been very happy with my Leupold Vari-X II's and an older Redfield.



IMHO - Low end Bushnells aren't worth buying.



If I had the money - Zeiss or Swarovski would be a brand to check out.

 

[jgillott]

I will have to agree with the last two replies. For the money, a leupold is a very good scope. I have a Vari-x II 3x9 on my 300WBY and have been very happy with it.



Check out this link to their site



http://www.leupold.com/products/scopes.asp



Justin

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I've also been VERY happy with Leupolds - in my case they are on handguns but are awesome scopes IMO. I have a Burris 1. 5-4x posi-lock scope on my hand cannon (which isn't a cheap scope by any means) and I WANT a leupold for it. The 2. 5-9x leupold has way better optics than the burris I have on there now.

 

[Duluth Diesel]

I have a Remington 700 model 300 Rem ultra mag (long action). I have a Leupold Vari-x II 3x9 and have been very pleased with it. The only other 3x9 scope I own is a Simmons (I have this scope of my Marlin . 22 mag). The Simmons is a good scope, but for the recoil of a . 300 I went with the Leupold. You get what you pay for. Scopes that outlast guns are cool.

 

[RHARVEY]

My whole mind set is that if we are going to pay this much money for an out of state hunt... I WILL NOT BUY a scope that may have issues when it comes time for a shot...

The other scopes may work great but I dont want to take a chance and be upset if I have problems...



Rick

 

[JConley]

I had a Burris, and it was OK, but not good enough for competition. For a hunting Rifle the Leupold would be a good scope. I have a Nightforce on my M25, and it is amazing. At 100 yards, I was shooting steel plates at night when it was so dark you couldnt even see the burm with the naked eye. You can take a Nightforce swiming, and pound nails with it. Yup it is a bunch of money, but you will never have to buy another scope.



www.nightforceoptics.com



John

 

[Philip]

In my scope usage I have tried most that have been mentioned. If you are going with one of the variable type scopes. The Leupold seems to hold the point of impact better when moving the yardage ring. I have had semmins and other bands change point of impact by just dialing in a different yardage and then going back to the orginal setting.



My vote goes for leupold.

 

[snowracer69]

Leupold or higher ups that have already been mentioned... .



Also look at the top end Nikons... . Monarch I believe is their better line. Know many people on www.varminthunters.com who are VERY happy with them, comparing their clarity and always coming back to zero to the likes of Zeis and Nightforce. And, unlike many strictly big-game hunters, a varminters rifle is usually re-zeroed monthly, if not weekly, and put on paper probably twice a month compared to twice a year. When guys are putting 1000 rds. down the tube every couple of months and the scope holds up, it's gotta be decent.



Josh

 

[GTop]

Take a look through a Swarovski scope and you will be amazed by the clarity and the brightness. For the long distance shooting in all kinds of weather conditions you'll encounter out West, dont skimp on optics.

 

[Rocket]

I love my Leupold Mark4 M1 10 power but any Leupold will do.

 

[SRadke]

Leupold or Nikon Monarch. Both are top knotch. Avoid the Bushnell and Tasco, they have terrible paralax (sp?).



-Scott

 

[KBennett]

My guns are setup for Varmint/Target shooting so I can't tell you the best in the 3-9 category but I will give you some cost and performance data form the brands I have used.

Here are my favorites in order with a rating of 1-10, cost, and 100 yard groups:

Nightforce 10-40X56, 6mm Rem700VLS - 10(this is the best scope I have ever looked through), $850 best group . 7"

Simmons 6-20X44 target, . 223 Rem700VS - 7(good scope, lower clarity) $200 best group . 2"

Simmons 6. 5-20X50, . 223 Eagle AR15 Target - 7(another good scope, kind of big) $139 best group . 5"

BSA 6-24X40, . 17-222 Sako - 4(love the 1/8 MOA crosshair, clarity OK, controls are poor) $99 best group 1"- still working up a good load. All except the BSA have been in damp/rainy conditions without a problem.



For the price I don't think you can beat a Simmons but they are not the strongest scope if you are rough on the gun. Leupold, Burris, Nikon, Swarovski, and Pentax all get my vote as top notch scopes but can be pricey.

 

[Rman]

Originally posted by JConley

You can take a Nightforce swiming, and pound nails with it.

John

Man that would be a sight to see!



I'm with everyone else, buy a quality scope the first time. I have several leupolds. . my 6. 5-20 var. III is my fav but I hunt with a 3-9 var-II. Both are fine scopes for the money.

 

[Rogue Ram]

Life is SHORT Rick........

..... so don't scrimp when it comes to your eyes!!!!!!!!!



Like all above, I own Leupolds. From the basic 3x9 to the big side focus varmint scopes. Given a decent price, I'd stay away from Leupold for a couple reasons.



First, until you get in larger high end Leupolds (unless something has changed recently I am not aware of) like the big side focus (adjustable parallax) models, you don't have anything to focus the scope to your eyes with.



Second, Leupolds have issues with precise adjustments. My lowly 3 X 9 and my big side focus have never had the problem. My compact 3x9 and my Vari X III are stricken with it. An internet search will verify the problem is out there; I have had my scopes back 3 times each (I live close so I drop it off in person) and each time "nothing wrong". What happens is when you make an adjustment, you fire a shot, and there is no change in POI..... until the next shot because the recoil jarred the scope! I had heard for awhile from several benchresters and 'smiths that they all whacked the top of their scope rings with a rubber mallet when making adjustments... ... ... ... . and recently talked with a very renowned military sniper who brought this thing up without me saying anything about it first. Even the military person said that in many cases (not all) the scopes need to be jarred or, make double the adjustments (when moving left and up... ? I can't recall at the moment) then bring it back by half.



Again, I have had many Leupolds. My opinion is the issue is like apples and oranges... . you might get a lemon mixed in, but they are all pretty much designed the same. My 20 year old VariX II 3X9 does not do this. Some of my others do. I'll dump the lemons and keep those that work.



That in mind, and the fact your eyes have problems, I highly recommend trying a ZEISS Conquest 3 X 9 which has the focusable eyepiece; either that or go whole hog and get a nice Swarovski (focusable eyepiece). The ZEISS will run you $399 I think, maybe cheaper, at www.samplelist.com or riflescopes.com. Nightforce are sposed to be incredible scopes... others would know if they make a basic hunting model, I thought they were pretty much higher end target/sniper items.



Sorry for the long post. Take care of your eyes, and get a decent scope!



RR

 

[JConley]

Rman. . This is from the Nightforce website.



Nightforce NXS riflescopes are tested to three atmospheres or 66 feet of water. Thermal stability is tested by freezing the scopes in a nitrogen atmosphere to -80º F and then heated to 250º F in a one-hour period. Function is checked at both temperature extremes. Recoil and impact is tested at 1,200 Gs for both positive and negative forces.



I am still trying to find the article where the tested the scope by driving nails. I cant find it right now, but it has been done.

 

[Glen]

When I bought my SAKO 75 I was going to put a Leupold LPS on it. I looked at several brands at the gun shop and ended up with a B&L 4000. It is an excellent scope and is brighter than the Leupold.



This scope is great. It has survived several falls that have scarred up my pretty walnut. All of the top, expensive, brands are good.

 

[Rman]

Originally posted by JConley

Rman. . This is from the Nightforce website.



Nightforce NXS riflescopes are tested to three atmospheres or 66 feet of water. Thermal stability is tested by freezing the scopes in a nitrogen atmosphere to -80º F and then heated to 250º F in a one-hour period. Function is checked at both temperature extremes. Recoil and impact is tested at 1,200 Gs for both positive and negative forces.



I am still trying to find the article where the tested the scope by driving nails. I cant find it right now, but it has been done.

Oh I wasn't questioning it, they make incredible scopes (at an incredible price)... but tell me if you saw someone swimming with a scope attatched to themselves and then got out and framed there house would you chuckle a little?



I'm building a 6mm bench gun and am considering a NXS 42x scope. Im not sure if 4k is worth it or not yet for a rifle, we'll see!!!

 

[KBennett]

Originally posted by Rman

Oh I wasn't questioning it, they make incredible scopes (at an incredible price)... but tell me if you saw someone swimming with a scope attatched to themselves and then got out and framed there house would you chuckle a little?



I'm building a 6mm bench gun and am considering a NXS 42x scope. Im not sure if 4k is worth it or not yet for a rifle, we'll see!!!

4K???

I didn't know Nightforce made a scope priced that high. Mine has the Varmint illuminated reticle for ranging and I bought it about 5 years ago for $850.