Scope selection for a 30:06

[goose]

Thanks to all who took the time to share their knowledge on the ballistic difference between a 30:06 and a 300 rifle on my last post. I decided to keep the 30:06 and get a better scope to help me shoot past the three hundred yard mark. I currently have a 4 fixed power Leupold scope and to be honest it works really good until the animals are 300 yards out, after that I can't see if the elk have three horns or better.

I would appreciate any advice/input on selecting a better Leupold scope. There may be better scopes out there but I have had service work done on my current scope by Leupold at no charge as they claim and you can't beat that for service.

Thanks again to all who contributed to my last post.

best regards
Goose

[Scott N]

I would look at either a 2X7 or 3X9 VXII, or if you can afford a bit more money, a 2.5X8 or 3.5X10 VXIII. If I hunted thicker stuff / short range, or if weight was an issue, I would go with the lower power scopes. I currently have a 3X9 VXII on my 270 WSM, which I have been using recently for my main hunting rifle.

My 30-06 currently has a straight 6X on it, but like yourself, it has carried a straight 4X as well. I found that the 4X was a good all round scope until you got out to 250 or 300 yards or so, then I too wanted a bit more magnification.

[Win94]

3-9x40 or a fixed 6x40 is the ticket for an 06.

[Duk Dog]

Leupold VXIII 3.5 - 10 x 40

[nekred]

I have a 4-12 x 40 VX-1 on my rifle and love it!....

[catnthehat]

You need a chunk of metal the muzzle, and a chunk of metal with a hole to look through at the back.
I couple od twisty thingys ( tech term) one on the side, and one on top work nice as well!
I think they are called .....IRON sights!!!
Cat

[Okotokian]

I have a Leupold VXII 3x9. I know there are better scopes on the market, but I don't think for anywhere near that price. All I know is that if I can barely see a deer at dawn with my eyes, I can see it in that scope pretty well.

[lilsundance]

If the scope has served you well and you just need it to find out if an elk meets the number of points in the zone you are hunting in. I say keep it and get yourself a good pr of binoculars. Some might say they don't have time to look through a set of binoculars to confirm that. In mho if you don't have time to look through a set of bino's then you probably wouldn't get a shot at it at anyrate.
But then thats just mho.

[rena0040]

x2 on the binos

[Rust]

NightForce... I'd have to say that a VIII 3x9 or 3.5x14 would go nicely on the '06

[raised by wolves]

Leupold FX3, 6X42 with a long range reticle. Perfect for "on the fly" range estimation. No screwing around with a variable magnification or parallax adjustments.

[harv3589]

I have been down the VXII & VXIII roads but now I have a FXIII 6x42 on my 30-06 and love it. No need for the variable...