Scope 7mm-08
 

Ok. I finally got my first real rifle. After months of going back and forth, looking at gun stores, and mulling it over I went with the 7mm-08. Now on to the optics... I think this might even be a harder decision. Nikon and Bushnell are looking good to me. Leupold was recomended to me as well. I figure something around 40mm OL, not too bulky? Around 3-10 (maybe even 14?) magnification would probably be good for plains deer? Maybe parallax adjustment? I'm concerned about reticles also. There are a lot to choose from. Drowning in information! Help!!

............................ Nikon 3-9

I have a Nikon Buckmaster 3-9x40.I have no problems or complaints with it.But in all honesty i think that a Leupold VX3 is a better scope. Leupold is a more durable scope.

For me;

4X -16X 44MM illuminated BDC "type" reticle (very few lines, not circles).

Side adjustable objective (parallax), whenever possible.

What is the aversion to circles?

For me, a Burris FFII 4.5-14x42 would be my choice.

I guess circles are fine for deer size game within 100 yards.

Just not precise enough for me (longer shots are common out west).

If I were to buy a scope today, right now, it would be a Leupold VX-R 3-9X x40mm.
Perfect scope for all conditions. Be it low light, long range, etc.

Leupold VX-II 3-9x40, Look on Cabelas.com they maybe having the sale on these I picked one up a few weeks ago for $239 with a $20 coupon plus free shipping

B :devil: U :devil: R :devil: R :devil: I :devil: S

Halfbaked,

You're on fire alright !


"Hunt like you mean it" I'm a Burris guy also

There are many very good scope choices out there. For general purpose hunting at short to medium ranges, a 3-9 X 40 is quite satisfactory. Get the best quality glass you can afford. Reticle choices are personal and very dependent on shooting specifics (range, low light???, illuminated or not, etc). I would not worry about parallax correction until you get over 12 X at the top. Do you hunt in nasty weather? If so, consider a scope with some sort of lens coating like Bushnell Rainguard.

I have both a Fullfield II & Bushnell 4200 (both 3-9x40) and I'd go with the 4200. I think Cabela's has them on sale for $180.00.

I would stay away from high magnification.You really don't need anything over 3-9 at least for hunting.

i mean ya can, but ya ever tried that at 600? i aint sayin it isnt possible, but it sure is more ethical, imo, to use whats available to get the best possible shot on the animal, vs a center mass, possibly gut shot deer that never gets found..(i could go find 50 stories on this site right now of never recovered deer usually not as long of a shot)

I just purchased a Minox ZA5 3-15x42 for the 7mm-08 I plan on buying.

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/minox.pl?page=66020

Very true but, IMO, most hunters (especially newbies) have no business attempting 600 yards shots on live big game.

true, but he said he got his 1st real gun?

Very few people should be shooting anything but paper or steel out at 600 yards because most will not have practiced and shot the hundreds of shots needed to be doing it. I would rather have too much magnification in a scope than not enough for the one time you might need it. All mine have been 3x9, but I just bought a Leupold VXI on sale at Cabelas and I went with the 4-12 for my Sako .243 as I'm well into my 60s and am needing all the help I can get for these poor old eyes of mine! The OP lives in Kansas and he may find the higher magnification handy for some of the longer shots he might get out there.

No amount of magnification will make you a better shot unless your vision is shot.Even then your skill level is what it is.Practice,practice,practice!

What Topgun said +1

I disagree. If you can't see the target well enough to be able to see the same point to aim out repeatedly, you can't be but so accurate. When shooting 450-500 yards with a 3-9, I have trouble even seeing the 1" bright orange bullseye on the targets I use. So, I have to aim at the center of the paper. Obviously I could shoot a tighter group if I could see the bullseye well enough to aim at the exact same spot.

That said, for hunting purposes or shooting steel plates where you have a fairly large area to hit and aren't trying for groups, you can get by with less magnification.

That said, in general I agree with you guys that practice is a lot more important than magnification. If you don't have the proper fundamentals down, having more magnification isn't going to help things, and will probably make it worse.

True but why would you use a 1" bull at that distance?This is for a hunting rig and those distances are at the far end for a 7-08 under the best of circumstances.

For hunting, the Shepherd Scopes are hard to beat. I own several for different calibers. The Shepherd website lists applications for your 7mm-08 depending on which loads and bullet weights you choose. I has been my experience, however, that the mention of Shepherd scopes on a gun forum is a bit like mentioning Ron Paul in politics. There are many and varied opinions.:biggrin: