New deer rifle

Status
Not open for further replies.
I would suggest a scope costing a little less than or slightly more than your rifle, probably a 2 x 7 variable or something similar. There are better scopes available but in my experience (40+ years) Leupold scopes are good quality and a decent value.
 
I'm always a bit bemused by the attempt to relate the cost of the gun and scope. I can't understand why a $300 scope would be good on a $300 .308 but that same scope is inadequate on a $500 .308 and the $500 scope that was sufficient on the $500 .308 (but apparently overkill on the $300 one? :confused:) is insufficient on the $750 .308.

The cost of the gun bears no relation to the scope required. The task at hand dictates the optic requirements. How far are you shooting? What kind of light conditions? How long do you have to prepare for the shot? How "rugged" does it need to be? What is the cost of failure? How picky is the user? Those thing matter.
 
Just as in your rifle you should do some research into the optics. A price equal to that of the rifle isn't exactly necessary, but in my experience, and many of my hunting friends, a blister packed scope for thirty bucks is a waste. When you are seeking the most accuracy you can get, why try to acheive It with a scope that is just " good enough"? Besides image clearity, and minimum paralax there is also reliability. That once in a lifetime shot is no time to see a reticle flopping around inside your scope. Something that happened to me with a bargan scope on British Enfield. Fortunatly on the range after about 30 rounds, and not while hunting.
You can't go wrong with a Leupold, Burris, Redfield, better models of Bushnell. Just do some searching for reviews, and experiences with various models.
 
Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 AO is a sweet scoe right in the price range.
And like Brian I don't get hung up on scopes that cost 300.00 going on an expensive rifle. What I do need from any scope is Crisp Clear Repeatable adjusting that fits my budget. I'd put my Diamondback on any rifle...
Pick one up and you'll see why I'm high on Vortex!!:)
 
With optics like mostly things, you do get what you pay for. I have noticed that there is a point/price range where the improvements almost become subjective.
Seems like that price range is about $1200.000. At that pice point, all the bells and whistles are included. I own scopes in about the 3 most popular price ranges. $200-$400 range. $700-$900 range. $1200 and up range. There is a noticeable difference between all three.
 
I have not suggested anyone buy a "a blister packed scope for thirty bucks " .... what I did say was that the same model of scope I use, and have used for 20+ years, is available on E-bay for about 30 bucks .....

That scope is more than adequate for a new shooter. Hell, mine is still going strong, even though the rifle it is on is nearing the day when it needs a new barrel!

Does anyone else here see the irony in a guy going by the name of "Cheapshooter" telling a newbie he needs to drop 300 bucks on glass?

OP: what you NEED is skill, and that comes with trigger time. Everthing else is just a means to that end.
 
Does anyone else here see the irony in a guy going by the name of "Cheapshooter" telling a newbie he needs to drop 300 bucks on glass?
Click to expand...

Not really three bills. As mentioned by many, a very good, above "good enough" scope can be had in the $100-$200 range.
Maybe 30 years ago, when you bought your $30 scope, they made them better than the blister pack specials today that I have had experience with. Or maybe you just got an exceptionally good one.
My personal scopes range from a Leupold VXII (certainly not a high end, overly priced optic) on my custom Remington 700 7MM Magnum to several in the $100 range on my rimfires, and various T/C Contender barrels. The latest, just purchased, and not tried yet is a Bushnell Trophy XLR 1.75-4 Circle X I bought to try out on a NEC Handi Rifle in 500 S&W Magnum. Still a bit hesitant about it holding up to the recoil on that beast with heavy loads.
 
I'm looking for a new deer rifle I want a rifle I can sight in at 100yards and never have to worry about missing ever again. 400yards is a max I'd ever try to shoot but I prob wouldn't take that shot it be around 300 I got a ruger 308 in layaway at Walmart but I want the most accurate rifle I can get what do y'all think I should get?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

And just where in the OP did he mention he couldn't afford better optics, or ammo to practice with?
Because he had a Ruger in layaway at Walmart? a bit judgmental I would say.

But to the OP. There is never a time you don't have to worry about missing!
That is why I said in my first post "if you do your part"
The Remington 700 I mentioned in an early post is a proven tack driver to 400 yards, and beyond. I have never missed with it, but admittedly my shots have been closer. But I will also never think that I can't miss with it. My shots are taken carefully to minimize any errors. I also shoot a lot. Not as much with the Remington, but with many other rifles. The 7 Mag does get checked out periodically through the year so I don't have any surprises near deer season
 
And just where in the OP did he mention he couldn't afford better optics, or ammo to practice with?
Because he had a Ruger in layaway at Walmart? a bit judgmental I would say.
Click to expand...

He did not, but you assume much: read my posts.....

That money would be better spent on gun fodder and range time, IMO.
Click to expand...

OP: what you NEED is skill, and that comes with trigger time. Everthing else is just a means to that end.
Click to expand...

Any scope that will hold zero (not broken) will likely be good enough, and a new shooter could not do noticably better with a scope costing 10X as much. Save the money and use it for practice ammo, or better yet, get set up to roll your own (and make 2-3X as much ammo for the same $$$.


Quote:
If you do your part!

That is the part of the system most subject to improvement by spending money ...... but also requires time and effort.

Proficiency can be bought, just not with dollars alone.
Click to expand...

Because the greatest variable in the equation is not the gun, nor the scope, but the shooter, I think you should get a handloading set-up and as much components as you can afford to buy.

You have an adequate rifle. Scrimp on the scope (the glass on my deer rifle can be had on E-bay for less than 50 bucks!), splurge a bit on a good leather shooting sling and spend every penny you can on maximizing trigger time.


At the point you can shoot your rifle from field positions, under time pressure, as well as you can from a bench, then and only then, think about upgrading the scope or stock or trigger or whatever.
Click to expand...
 
Nor did he say he was a new shooter. But I will leave it at that.
My chosen username came from many firearms in my C&R collection. Having a Class 03 C&R FFL I have found many a great deal on inexpensive military surplus firearms. Nothing I own is a safe queen, and everything gets range time. Even a French MAS 36 that I have a grand total of forty one bucks in including shipping. Therefor I have a lot of "cheap shooters":D
 
Last edited:
I'd say a Remington model 700 sendero if you don't mind the heavy rifle in a 7mm Mag or a 300 win mag and a lot of practice... If u want a light gun a tikka T3 lite in 7 mag but it'll kick like hell
 
^^^ Good choice . . . but I would recommend the 2 X 7 for a .308. I have a Vari-X III 2.5 X 8 on my .270, 7mm Rem Mag and .300 Win Mag. A 2 X 7 scope would be excellent for shots from 10 yards to 400+ yards.
 
Tikka T3 stainless in .308 for me.

I bought one used, and it carries like a seven pound rifle with a Ziess 3-9 mounted with a DNZ Game Reaper one piece mount, and shoots like a 15 pound varmint gun.
 
There is NO causal relationship between the price of a rifle and the price of a scope for the rifle. Some shooters may put a $1,000 scope on a $500 rifle; others may put a $1,000 scope on a $10,000 rifle. However, in post #10 Swan28 wrote that he didn't want to spend more than $300, about the same price he paid for the rifle. I suggested he could get a decent scope for about $300, more or less, and recommended a 2 x 7 variable based on his intended use of the rifle. I identified Leupold as a brand offering such a scope. If Swan28 can afford a $300 scope, why should he buy a $30 scope? Does anyone believe the optics of $30 scopes are about the same quality as the optics in $300 scopes? Does anyone prefer less quality than they afford? Offering suggestions within the parameters set by the person seeking the advice does not warrant criticism - particularly if the critic does not offer different suggestions consistent with those parameters.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top