3-9X40 scope?

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I received a new Bushnell 3-9X40 scope for Christmas from my dad. He got it to replace the cheap Tasco scope on my Marlin 30-30.

My question is, once it is sighted in, will zooming it in maintain zero or will the point of aim be changed?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I am just now getting into rifles.
 
Thanks. Like I said, I am just now getting into long guns. All my exp. has been with handguns. I have had a couple rifles, but never messed with them much.
 
I am starting to think the scope may be to much for my rifle which is a Marlin 336 30-30. The 30-30 is not listed in the ballistic charts for the Bushnell DOA 600. Opinions?
 
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Probably most folks wouldn't feel like they needed a 3-9 on their 30/30, but there's no crime in doing it. Most of my lever action years were with a straight 4 power, but I'd have used a variable if I'd had one. Your effective range with that rifle is probably 150 to maybe 200 yards, so sight it in for 150 and don't worry about the BDC lines or dots.
 
It should retain zero as it zooms.
(At least that's the design intent)
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That's the intent, but in actual practice, your mileage might vary. I kow that I've seen small changes in POA as the magnification changes. I have scopes on two of my .30-30s. One, an old 2.5 bushnell, on the other, a 4X Nikon. There's nothing inherently wrong with a 3X9 on a .30-30, but for my purposes that's too much scope. Still, if you like it, go for it.
 
Are all 3-9 scopes this way? I like the idea of the variable scope, but would like one designed more for the 30-30 round. What do you suggest?

If I sight the one above at 100yds, how will that effect closer shots, like 50 or 75 yard shots?
 
What model Bushnell? They come in various models from super cheap Walmart specials (that aren't likely to hold zero) to high-end models that are very well made.
 
The box says Trophy XLT, but the sticker on the scope says DOA 600.
733960B

It came from Dick's sporting goods.
 
Their Trophy line is the lowest of their line that I would ever own (in fact, I do own one or two). It should do OK for you. For it changing POI as you zoom, yes it will likely change some but not enough to really worry about. That Marlin 30-30 is probably only going to give you 2-3 MOA accuracy at best anyway so the small shift in POI won't be noticed. I would sight it in at a medium setting. That way, any change would be pretty much limited to the extreme high and low magnifications.
 
2 or 3 MOA is roughly 1/2 to 3/4 inch.
this link may help you understand answers to your question. It is a rather fasinating subject.

By the 3x9x40 is about the most common on the 30-30 Marlin.
 
normally with quality glass the point of impact wont change but it may be harder to tell if you are not holding steady on 3 power than it is on 9 power so your accuracy free hand will probably slip to some degree but the scope will still be zeroed.
 
Considering the effective range of the 30/30, you have a lot of stuff in your scope that you can't use/don't need. Just sight it in a little high at 100 yards and hold on the brown to 200. Beyond that, you need more gun. All those aiming points for longer range are irrelevant.
 
Your new Bushnell is at best a small step up in quality over the Tasco.

I've never noted enough difference in POI at differing scope powers for it to be a real issue. I use the scopes highest power setting when zeroing at 100 yards. Then I run it down to the lowest power setting and shoot at some targets at closer ranges to verify the zero.

I leave the scope on the lowest setting for anything inside of 50 yards and use the highest magnification for every thing else. I have no use for anything in between. This way for longer shots I know the scope is zeroed correctly. If there is any difference on another power setting it won't be enough to matter at closer ranges.

I know lots of guys who use 3-9's on 30-30's, but I think it is way too much scope for the gun. They are just too big and hurt the guns balance. At 3X you have almost too much magnification for really close fast shots and you will never need 9x at 30-30 ranges. I would prefer a 1-4X20 on a 30-30 and no more than a 2-7X32. If returning the scope and replaceing it is an option I would. If not, then mount it as low as possible and use it. It isn't ideal in my opinion, but certainly useable.

This is what I'd prefer on a 30-30

http://swfa.com/Leupold-1-4x20-VX-1-ShotgunMuzzleloader-Scope-P51851.aspx

At 8 oz it is about 1/2 the weight of most 3-9's and more than adequate.
 
Pages 6 to 8 of your scope manual says sight in at any mag, but use 9x for range lines to work. Your Marlin with FTX loads is a legit 250 yard rifle, and only a few inches worse than 150gr/3006 loads those lines are intended for(out to 300). I'd bet a beer if you sight in about 1.5 or 2 inches high at 100 the 200 and 300 lines will within an inch or two.
 
With standard 30/30 ammo, if you zero at 100 yards, the first two holdover points (at 9X) might line up at just about 150 and 200. You'd have to shoot it to know for sure.
Sighted in at 100, you'd be within an inch high or low at any range from about 15 yards to 125. At any magnification.
 
"First focal plane 'European' scopes cannot change point of impact when changing magnification because the reticle does not move.
First plane scopes with rangefinding type reticles may be used at any power.

Second focal plane scopes or 'American' scopes are smaller and lighter and can have point of impact change magnification, and many of them, especially less expensive one's certainly do. Second plane scopes with rangefinding type reticles are designed to be used at one power only. Second plane scopes also have a smaller appearing reticle on the target at high power than low power, which is extremely important for precise shot placement."
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I like the 3-9X magnification for deer hunting, especially if you must spot antlers. Sometimes it's hard to see antlers in the woods in low light, so even if you normally leave the scope on 4X and identify a deer, but need more power to see antlers, it's quicker to do so with the scope than switching to binoculars.

(That said, someone will say it's not safe to use a scope to spot deer, but I'm saying that you've already spotted the deer, just need to identify it's an antlered deer.)

On the other side, the 9x power makes sighting-in easier and somewhat more accurate to sight-in the rifle.

Yes, 3-9X scopes are a bit big and heavy for .30-30s, but your dad got it for you and it's entirely usable. Besides, some day you may want to buy a bolt-action rifle in a more powerful cartridge, like a .270 or .30-06, which would extend your in-zero range.
 
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