Scope Mounting S&W(Howa)1500

H

haliwa04

New member
I recently picked up a Smith and Wesson(Made in Japan) 1500 in 30-06 for deer season. I'm looking for suggestions on base and rings. The scope i've picked out is a Simmons 8 point 3-9x, and it's a toss up between the 40 and 50mm objective lens. This is kind of a short notice setup for deer season, and i've got about 2.5-3 weeks left to get sighted in before recreational shooting ceases on the property. Like I said, i'm just looking for suggesions, especially if you've had the same setup, be it the Howa, Smith, or Weatherby version of the 1500. I've read that it interchanges with the Remington 700 of the same action, so you guys can chime in too, so long as it was long action. Thanks.
 
Any 700 mounts will work with a long action. Short actions are a little different. I wouldn't waste my money on a 50mm scope, especially a budget 50mm scope.

You can do a lot better than a Simmons scope. The absolute cheapest new scope I'd consider is the Nikon Prostaff. You might find something used for less. If you can find a way to move up to a $200 scope there are lots of good options at that price point. The Burris FF-II or Redfield Revolution would be my top picks, but there are other good ones. Much below that and you will be buying something else soon.
 
I agree on the scope but sometimes you gotta work with what you got.

As far as rings and bases I really like Warne rings myself, good rings that aren't overly expensive. Are they as good as say seekins or Badger Ordnance no but I've yet to have a problem with them.

Edit: I don't mean to knock your scope choice, no idea what kind of budget you are under but I would def try to pick up something better than that... I had a simmons on a rimfire and it was ok for that, not sure I'd trust one on a center fire though. If you can swing it I love the weaver K series for a budget scope. I have one on my trunk rifle and it bounces around in there and stays true everytime I pull it out and fire off a few rounds (it's a 308).

You'd have to price it but you might be able to do like a weaver k series and a DNZ mount (which is what my weaver is in) for a lil over 200. Would probably serve you for quite a while, certainly for your first deer season.
 
If your vision is good you will be disappointed with a scope costing $50-$100. If that is the best can afford at this time, then go for it. The quality of rifle scopes, binoculars and spotting scope corresponds with the price. Generally, the higher the manufacturer's suggested retail price - the higher the quality of optics. The quality range is enormous - a few dollars up to a few thousand dollars. (I wish I could afford the best but, so far, I have settled for Leupold Vari-X III for a few rifles.)
 
I actually have a Nikon prostaff on my 10-22, but like the Simmons a bit better. That's the scope I want. This isn't my first deer season, nor my first gun. This is the exact reason I usually refrain from the firing line forum. I asked about bases and rings, and get "that scopes no good". Well, I like it, I have 20/20 vision, have looked through $20 scopes and $1,000 scopes. If I'm going to drop one from a treestand, I prefer it be a $35 scope that's marked down from $60, which I've hit some pretty good shots on guns with more recoil than 30-06. We took one off my friends 10-22 and mounted it on his 7mm mag, because I had the very same doubt's about it handling recoil. 15 rounds later, still zeroed, the sky didn't fall, fish didn't fly, and the sea didn't turn to fire. There was just one big hole in the target I was shooting. Now, when spring comes around and we start shooting long range for ****s and giggles, suggest something that's going to get me shooting 1000yard .5moa groups. For now, what's a decent combo of rings and bases for around $35-45.
 
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I use Leupold rings and mounts on my rifles. They are rock solid never had one single problem in many years of extensive usage. I for one dont blame you on your scope choice one bit. Get what works and fits your needs.
 
Nothing against other suggestions, but I've used Weaver bases and rings for over sixty years with zero problems of any sort. From '06s on down.

I found that a 1997-vintage Simmons 44 Mag was quite good on my '06. I know that I put over 200 rounds through the rifle in load testing and sight-in as well as hunting.

I've never seen a need for a 50mm scope in my own hunting. 3x9x40 has always been plenty good for most hunting. Heck, a Weaver K-4 or equivalent is plenty good, really, since my variables are usually set on the lowest power when actually hunting. Field of view is a primary factor.
 
I put Weaver Grand Slam rings and bases on my Vanguard S2 and on my sons 700. My gun is a 243 Winchester, my son's is a 7mm Rem Mag. We have shot hundreds of rounds through these rifles since and have not had any issues.
 
Art Eatman said:
Nothing against other suggestions, but I've used Weaver bases and rings for over sixty years with zero problems of any sort. From '06s on down.

I found that a 1997-vintage Simmons 44 Mag was quite good on my '06. I know that I put over 200 rounds through the rifle in load testing and sight-in as well as hunting.

I've never seen a need for a 50mm scope in my own hunting. 3x9x40 has always been plenty good for most hunting. Heck, a Weaver K-4 or equivalent is plenty good, really, since my variables are usually set on the lowest power when actually hunting. Field of view is a primary factor.
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The reason behind the 50mm would be to gather more light. Where I hunt, there isn't much open sun areas. The pond specifically is surrounded by big thick hardwoods, and I'll primarily be hunting early morning and the end of the evening.
I've seen Bushnell banner scopes in wally world for around $70 and the trophy xlt for around $100. How do these compare to the Simmons? My high range would be around $150 and I've seen Vortex Crossfire II and the Sightron I Hunter new for around that price.

I'm liking the looks of the Talley lightweights. But I'm also considering Warne bases with Weaver rings. The pair I've got on my 10/22 are meant for center fire rifles and they feel like they have plenty of meat to hold on tight.
 
I have no problem with 50mm objectives; however, given your limited budget it is better to go with a smaller objective/better glass than a larger objective/inferior glass.
 
csmsss said:
I have no problem with 50mm objectives; however, given your limited budget it is better to go with a smaller objective/better glass than a larger objective/inferior glass.
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I actually haven't seen a correlation between obj lense size and price. I'm digging through the open box list at opticplanet.com as well.
 
I agree with the others regarding the Simmons 8 Point scope. Try to find something better. Here are two options available for around $100 + shipping that would be far better, IMO.:

http://www.natchezss.com/product.cf...DD9F59-BE86-530B-9735-CFF8D9DB2C4E&src=mbProd
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=WE94562&src=sim

Either of these would be far superior to the Simmons 8 point. The Nitrex should have better optics as it is made in Japan and is optically similar to the Weaver Grand Slam scope line.
The Weaver 44/40 is similar to the old Simmons Aetec scope line and offers a 44 mm objective lense and is manufactured in the Phillipines. You should be able to get either one for around $112 shipped.
 
scopes / rings--

You will all get a laugh out of this--- few months back I landed a job with Academy Sports here in the south and was required to take a series of computer classes on guns, scopes, scope mounting and quality---now I will not for even a minute argue a point with many of you who are much more experienced than I however, I agree with the extensive scope quality and power training in the course and totally agree that a scope in the $150 to $250 range will work just fine for 98% of us--I have a $230 Prostaff 3-9x40 on my 700 in 30-06 and a $160 Bushnell Trophy, 3-9x40 on my .22--this is the second Prostaff and 5th Bushnell--these both work perfectly, clear, don't fog up, ok to use in low light and the Prostaff is easily up to the recoil---

Now then, my combination on all my 700's and Vanguards has been the weaver bases with the Burris rings with the nylon inserts, gentle on the scope surfaces, hold like crazy and compensate for a slight bit of mis-alignment of the rings although I doubt that the Burris rings have any mis-alignment--

I'm not real crazy about Simmons either because I've seen a fair amount of bad ones, but my lower end Bushnells don't get much praise either but have worked great for me on .22's, .22 Hornet and my .204's-----
 
Call Weatherby and ask if their lightweight Vanguard bases will work on your gun. I think they are made by Talley and absolutely top notch.
 
I actually haven't seen a correlation between obj lense size and price. I'm digging through the open box list at opticplanet.com as well.
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That's just it - there are few direct comparisons. But there are lots of lower-priced scopes out there with 50mm objectives which *promise* all kinds of performance but in reality don't do as well as better quality scopes with 42mm objectives.

Not sure if I'm beating a dead horse here, but IMHO you are better off buying a scope with a smaller objective and better glass than a scope with a larger objective and crappier glass.
 
I bought a .243 for my wife a few years back with one of those "horrid" Simmons 8-point 3-9x32's mounted on it. I always said I would replace it whenever I noticed it wasn't holding zero or some other problem arose. Well, I'm still waiting for it to fail. So I won't knock your scope choice if that's what you want.

I have pretty much the same rifle as you, a Howa 1500 in .25-06. I've got a two piece Weaver base and steel Weaver low rings holding a Burris FFII 3-9x40. The good ole cheap Weaver stuff has never let me down, so I continue to proudly use them, even if they are sold at Wal-Mart:eek:

As for 40 vs 50mm scopes, I have never noticed enough of a difference in brightness in low light conditions to see the advantage of a 50mm, and higher rings must be used with a 50mm, so that's another reason IMO to use a 40mm. You get a little larger field of view with a 50 but I never thought it to be worth it. But everybody has their preferences. Use what you like and don't worry about what the $1000+ scope crowd says.
 
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