killer243

all of my hunting rifles wear a 3-9 scope. a very long shot in my area is 175 yards and 99% of the time it is right around 50 yards or so. i had a 2-7 for awhile but i never really like the 2 power and they scope almost always set on 3 or 4 power

what i do is this. i keep it on 3 on the 3-9's because you can't be adjusting your scope at close range anyhow. then if i need a longer shot and need more mag. i turn it up and when they are father away you can almost always get away with it.

get a good 3-9 or a good fixed 4x

trailer

I would have to agree with 3-9x. It’s more then enough for shooting at 150 yards.

Cal g.

In my opinion, I would stick with the 3X9. It should be plenty for most shots out to 300 yards. I use 3x9 leopold Vari11 on my model 110 .3006 and a 3x9 Nikon Pro staff on my new model 11 .243 win. The advantage that I see with the more powerful scope is at the range seeing bullet holes without having to use spotting scope at long distance. I hit a 4 inch dia. bulls eye 4 out 6 times with the 3x9 on my .243 at 300 yards, but had to use spotting scope to see holes. I notice the others with the ?x16 or12 didn't have to do this. CG

RedAllison

I agree with the first reply, in fact last week I did just that EXACT same thing. I have many rifles from mild (my gpaws old 35 lever gun) too wild (a 4000fps 30cal) but this year I have a "desire" to carry out my old trusty 30/06 that I grew up with but havent hunted with in over 10 years. I will be carrying it too MO and will only shoot it in the woods and really just use it that one weekend. I replaced the old 3x9x40 World Class that was on it with a 3x9x40 Nikon Buckmasters, it was a "guest rifle" for several years so I didnt see the reason for placing more expensive optics on it than the lil Tasco. As much as I hate to promote far east products, the Nikons beat just about anything else out there for the money. I likewise have a 20 year old 4x12x44 Nikon (would be a Monarch today) that has sat atop a 7mag Ruger since new with 0 problems!

The lil Buckmasters is clearer than the VariX II 3x9x40 I have atop my Savage smokeless muzzleloader. I personally dont think you would gain anything by getting a scope that is "to small" like a 1x6 etc. The 06 can be loaded for deer to be a 400yd gun so why handicap yourself with a small scope? Anyone that knows how to properly use a scope doesnt need a field of view that practically allows one to see behind themselves! Years ago when I was young and the 06 was the only thing I had I quickly replaced the 3x9x32 that was on it with a 4x12x40 Simmons Silvermedal (what a POS Simmons are but thats for another day!). The 12 is nice but it comes at the expense of being on a larger and heavier scopes. My 700 30/06 is the smallest and lightest of any of the guns I hunt with so its my "light/fast rifle" so I wanted to stay with a more normal sized scope vs the high powered, mega belled tubes atop my other rifles.

What if the 06 was my only rifle that I must use for any and everything 100% of the time? I would go ahead and put a 3x9x40 Zeiss Conquest on it and be done with it. I have 1 Swarovski, 3 Leupolds, 2 Nikons on my big stuff and then a sprinkling of "cheapstuff" on 22s and air rifles. IMHO the entire Conquest line is simply UNBEATABLE for the money. This summer I just got a pair of 15x45 Conquest binocs and have already used them in Wyoming on a mulie/antelope hunt and they simply are "da cats pajamas". My guide even was impressed with them and he was toting Leicas.

Good luck and do the ol 06 justice, she deserves nothing less!
RA

stubblejumper

I have shot big game out to almost 500 yards with a 3x9.You don't need more power on a big game rifle.