Posted on 10/20/2015 1:50:25 PM PDT by w1n1
When is the last time you saw a deer rifle without a scope on it? I am betting it has been quite a few deer seasons ago. I think it has been 1970 since I saw a deer rifle in the woods using only open sights. I remember this because it was my first deer rifle, a Winchester Model 94 in 30-30. I bought the rifle at J.C. Penney for $66.
I killed my first buck with that rifle at a whopping range of 20 yards. I hardly needed an optical scope to make that shot. Truth is though in those days not one deer rifle in camp had a glass lens scope on it. That was long ago.
Those early deer hunting days were in Missouri when I was in college. By the time I moved to Mississippi in 1983, virtually every deer rifle I saw sported an optical scope of some description. Today a riflescope is considered essential, not a custom accessory or a luxury item. Everybody uses them.
One question arises though. Are most of the scopes on rifles used by deer hunters these days the right ones or the best choices? Is there really such a practical thing as an ideal scope for a deer rifle? Let’s examine these parameters to profile what the best recommendations are for an optical scope to mount on your deer rifle.
Keep in perspective too that the factory offerings and options for today’s riflescopes can be mind boggling and are getting more confusing all the time. The market is congested with many high quality scopes at some fairly reasonable prices, but there are also plenty of low quality scopes out there with dubious reputations for long lasting quality, optical clarity, waterproofing, and over all reliability. Read the rest of the story here.
Nikon makes great affordable optics, Burris too.
I guess the only “deer rifle” I have right now is a 1939 Savage 99 in .300 Savage. Too classic to put glass on.
Luepold MK IV....
Reach out and touch sumpin....
I recently updated one rig using a Nikon BDC. I like the way the Spot On app lets you e-mail field ballistics charts to yourself for later reference.
Sure it is. You just have to hike an awfully long way to pick the game you take, with a long distance cordless drill.
But, then you have hump out all your gear and the meat back to your truck.
I find it best to walk out 1 mile, turn around and take game between where I am and my car is. Less work.../S
I like my Luepolds
I learned my lesson trying to put a average priced scope on a Magnum Rifle. (Twice)
Never again.
Hard to afford it to. Besides, that's more of a tactical optic than a hunting scope.
***a Winchester Model 94 in 30-30. I bought the rifle at J.C. Penney for $66. ****
He got took! you could buy Win 1894 rifles for $45 back then! I bought several!
By 1980 they were $65.00.
Best scope I ever had was a LYMAN ALL-AMERICAN. We got caught in the Tulsa flood of 1976 and it was the only scope to survive being under water for hours.
NRA ran a “test comparison” of BDC scopes in “The American Hunter” a few years ago. Compared everything from $2,000 Zeiss and Swarovski rigs to a $200 Weaver. Interestingly, the Nikon Monarch BDC ($349) tested as good (and in some tests better) than the big dogs. My response to the editor was that most American hunters would buy the Nikon and use the money saved to but another gun! The truth is, its your money, buy what you can afford that gets the job done and ignore what anyone else thinks!
It is hard to beat anything made by Leupold.
They are more expensive than some but less than the really high end scopes.
You may be thinking of the Trijicon ACOG, which is more of a tactical/military optic.
I have hung up my deer hunting aspirations and shoot at paper instead so I acknowledge my opinion is not relevant to a topic on deer hunting scopes.
I like the zero Stop feature on the Nightforce but not for $2,100 and change.
I have a comparable SWFA mounted on a .308 DPMS LRT SASS. Good scope.. Built off a US Navy contract for @ 1/3 the price.
I have outshot a buddy who shoots with a Nightforce.
I tell my wife when we hit the lotto I am going to mount one on a 20” LWRC REPR.
It’s a real handy app, that’s for sure.
L
” there is no magical scope that works at every range.”
Not entirely true. There are mil grade optics that use a laser ranger finder and continuously calculate the point of impact.
That’s a great rifle. I’m kicking myself for passing on one when I had the chance. I actually have a box of Remington bronze point ammo in .300 around here somewhere.
Just forget the scope. Nuke ‘em from orbit, just to be sure.
Millett 6-25x56 tactical scope. I group pretty good at 500 yards which is about as good as someone of my eyesight can hope for.
http://www.theconsumerlink.com/Millett/detail/TCL+BK81006/0
If you have ghetto wages and want a good cheap scope for low light conditions, the (Leapers) UTG 3-12X44 30mm Scope, AO, 36-color Mil-dot, w/ Rings is as tough as nails and accurate. For closer ranges, the UTG 1-4.5X28 30mm CQB Scope, 36-color Glass Circle Dot,Rings is quick and good in very low light. The cheap, common batteries last a long time. Those of you on grub stubs can use the money saved on food to get nearly the best for next to nothing.
;-)
I like Nikon glass for the money.
I don’t own any guns anymore.............
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