longer eye relief scope reccomendations (beware of noob)

T

ThunderHorse700

Inactive
The other day I bought a marlin 917 .17HMR. It came with the bull barrel and the faux Accu-trigger. I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, but I put the no-name 3x9x40 scope off of my 700 ADL combo package.

The biggest problem I had with the scope on the 700 was that it had what I felt as a short eye relief for a .30-06.

I've developed a habit of pulling back when fire it. I guess I just get the impression that if I get close enough to see the full picture it's going to leave a nice ring on my face.

I don't flinch in hesitation. The times I miscounted how many rounds I had left in the magazine and dry fired it, I didn't flinch. The bang doesn't bother me, the kick doesn't bother me ( I had a 3.5 inch 12 gauge that I could shoot no problem), but I dodge the scope.

I bought the marlin to be a varmint gun/ range trainer. I have a single shot .22lr, but I wanted to have a bolt gun and not have two .22s. The no-name scope/rings will work on it for the time being, but now I need to find a scope/rings for my 700.

The .30-06 is a basic sporter barrel hunting rifle, but I'd like to find a scope that would be as at home in the woods as it would be on the range. I want the rifle to grow with me as I improve.

I was thinking something like a 4x12x50 with a longer eye relief? That way I would have some more magnification and larger objective. I'd also like to come in below $400 for both the scope and a quality set of rings, but I might be able to push to $450 if there is just an absolutely awesome setup in that range. ( I'd also like a price estimate to help me set up a savings strategy)

I know that a new scope probably won't fix my flinch, and in order to do that I need discipline and practice. However, if I have to buy a new one, I might as well find a quality one that will make the gun more comfortable to shoot.

P.S. I know that there is a current scope recommendation thread, but I didn't want to post in it and distract from the O.P.

Thanks in advance, and all replies are welcome :D
 
The extra 10mm objective lens won't get you much of anything, so I would skip it. That said, a 4-12x40 Leupold VX-I would be a good choice.

Once you get that, learn to keep your cheek weld where it needs to be and keep it there when you pull the trigger. Even if you aren't 'flinching', pulling your face away will affect your shot, and it won't affect it in a good way.

It may help to get some of this ammo to practice with and work your way up I full power loads.

http://m.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_28600_-1
 
The original scope that came in the package probably sucks. Get a better scope, and forget about the eye relief problem.
There are some good deals around on Nikon Buckmaster 4-12X50s. Check Natchezss.
 
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As a general rule, the bigger the scope, the smaller (shorter) the eye relief.

Every new scope should have a spec sheet, either a print-out in the box or somewhere on the manufacturer's website, where you can find out how much eye relief each scope you're considering has.

(Even different models from the same maker will have different specs)

I've always been more than adequately outfitted with a scope of no more than a quality 4X32 on my .30-06's - but are more likely to have a 2x20 or 3x20 mounted because of their generous (4.5" to 5") eye relief.



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Sixty years of "O-Sixing" sez to me that a decent 3x9x40 is pretty much the most scope a hunter would need. I've mostly used the old Leupold Vari-X II. Walking hunting, I left it on 3x for probably 90% of the time. Sitting, usually 5X. 9X for sighting in.

The only other scopes I've used on an '06 were a Weaver K 2.5 and Weaver K4s; and a 1997 vintage Simmons 44Mag 3x10x44. They all worked quite well.

I mount them as far forward as I can, with me just barely seeing full field when in my normal mounting of the rifle. Full field, but no "bloused eyebrow". :)
 
Most cheaper scopes have around 3"-3.5" of eye relief when set on the lowest power, quite a bit less when on the higher powers Some better brands will have around 4" at all settings. Leupold as a brand tend to be the most generous with most of their variables closer to 5" on the low setting and about 4" on the highest.

This is probably the biggest selling point for Leupold to me. I'm not concerned about getting hit in the eye with any of them. That shouldn't happen with any scope if you are using good form and the scope is mounted correctly. The advantage is that your eye position behind the scope is not as critical. Shorter eye relief scopes require your face to be an exact distance from the scope or you cannot see through it. Longer eye relief scopes are much more forgiving allowing you to use it well whether you are wearing a T-shirt or the heaviest jacket you own. Or if you have to shoot from an odd angle.

On a budget scope the Redfield Revolution has about the same eye relief as a Leupold, and sell for around $200. At just over $200 a Leupold VX-1 will have the most eye relief for the money.

More magnification = less eye relief. The 50mm objective is a waste of money. A 3-9X40 is a better piece of glass
 
I'm in the process of buying quite a few...what I'll call "midrange priced scopes" at or around $300.00 or less...

I have recently bought 2 Vortex scopes... one a 3 X 9, & one a 4 X 16 both have a lot more eye relief than I'm used to... I actually had to re-mount the 4- 16X as the eye relief was too long, for the position I had it mounted in...
 
+1 on the vortex scopes http://www.vortexoptics.com/category/riflescopes

The only Vortex in your price range with really good E-R is the crossfire 2 I have one and it's a nice scope if you set it and for get it . It holds zero great but the turrets don't track 100% so your POI shifts if you move the turrets back and forth a lot .

If you want to step up to $500-ish range the Vortex viper hs has 4" E-R . I don't own one but the glass on my cheap crossfire 2 is pretty good so I'd like to think the viper hs is as good if not better .

Thing is , if you get to the $500 mark it opens up other scopes .

A flinch is a flinch , it does not matter why you do it . Here is something you can do to work on your flinching . Keep your eyes/eye open when you shoot . If you don't see the muzzle flash you blinked or closed your eyes when you shot . It's not something they say to do to help flinching but there's no way you can call your shot and see muzzle flash if your yanking your head away .

I would add there is no way you pull the trigger and the gun goes bang and you then move your face out of the way before the scope hits you . You are either starting to pull away before the hammer falls or its to late to get out of the way .

Your new rifle that has close to no recoil will help alot with staying behind the rifle when you shoot . You can practice all the fundamentals of shooting with that rifle and it will transfer over .I think a little more eye relief will help as well .

I like to worm up with my 22lr first before shooting the big dogs . Kinda like worming up in the batters box . You can work on your breathing , trigger pull , follow through , calling the shot etc with the 17 then jump on the -06 and you will be more calm and relaxed . If you start to feel your self anticipate the next shot . Put down the-06 and get back on the 17 till you calm down . I do this when I'm out target shooting my Ruger American 308 . It can get to be a bit much after 20 or 30 shots . I can feel my self tensing up in anticipation of the next shot .
 
Thanks so much for the replies!

I took the .17 out today and shot it for the first time. It was a blast. After I got it sighted in I shot some oblonged holes at 25 yrds and some touching hole groups at 50. I am very happy with it and my performance

When I had had my Mossberg 535, I didn't have a problem with the 700. I would always start off with a couple of 3.5" shells, and that made everything else seem gentle, so maybe it is the recoil.

I won't be able to shoot mine again until I get a scope for it, but I do have a friend who has a 700 BDL in .30-06. I might be able to convince him to let me put a few rounds through his in the mean time.

On the subject scopes, I have been thinking on your advice and reading, and I have been looking at the Leupold VX-2 in 3-9x40 and a few of the Nikon Buckmasters. I've read alot of good things about both, and by the prices I see on the internet can get a decent set of rings and a box of ammo to sight it in with while still being under my budget.

FWIW: I live in East Tennessee, about 40 minutes away from the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Most of my hunting grounds are some pretty dense forests. I do have the possibility of shooting coyotes in some pretty good sized fields, but probably no more than 400 yards.
 
I received the Minox ZA5 2-10 yesterday. I have never seen eye relief that generous. The thing could almost be a scout scope. The glass is awesome. I dont mean awesome compared to junk, I mean awesome compared to high end Leupold and Night Force. Its not better than the forementioned, but its as good.
 
The 700, 78 etc beg a scope with added eye relief, particularly at 9X. I first noticed it shooting from awkward field positions. The 700's combination of mounting hole distance and spacing prevent you from sliding the scope way back in the rings. I've seen some one-piece Weaver/Pic rail mounts, which would provide some added range of movement.
 
leopold has a good LER scope

but i note its pricy, i find most GOOD LER scopes are pricy

i have a few low cost ones, they are good but , goofy or not reliable. only one of my ncstars still works sadly....
 
Here is the best deal I have seen on a scope in a while. These are good people to deal with also. If my gun budget wasn't shot for this month I would buy one of these myself. They have plenty of eye relief and the view is like looking through a cleaned plate glass window. I have been upgrading my lower priced scopes with leupold and have never regretted the money spent.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/leupold-rifleman-3-9x40mm-waterproof-scope.aspx?a=1332935

Good bases and rings can be had from Millet. Leupold, Redfield and others. I like the steel bases and rings over the aluminum stuff.
 
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