Which scope is ideal for Winchester 70 Pre-64 30-06

[CamoManJ]

+1 Leupold 2-10x42 FireDot.
I have the VX-6 version, from our own Mark Biggerstaff. It is my go-to favorite scope, just perfect for Africa PG. I ended up removing the lens caps, my PH hated them, they just got in the way, made noise & threatened opportunities. If I got another one, I’d get the VX-5 version & keep the extra cash.
In the field, most of the time I used 5 or 7 power from 100 yards to 400 yards with my 300 WSM, no problem. I also liked the fact that it does not have a parallax knob to mess with, like my 3-18x44 does.

 

[nomspc]

My two pre-64 .30-06 M70’s:

#1 has a Swaro 3-9X.

#2 has a Leupold Vari-X III 2.5-8X with a Premier reticle.

For hunting under 300, I never dial. I’m shooting a 180 gr bullet @ 2700 or so; 2” high at 100, 200 zero, 8” low at 300.

 

[SStomcat]

I talked with Mark Biggerstaff, and leaning towards the Leupold VX5 2x10 with Firedot reticle,

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I talked with Mark Biggerstaff, and leaning towards the Leupold VX5 2x10 with Firedot reticle,

Good choice.

 

[375er]

Good choice.

Get it done!!

 

[7MAG]

If you want leupold I’d say go older, don’t over look the nightforce shv or Trijicon credo although they don’t offer that “classic look” they’re the only 2 brands I’ve had that didn’t need to be sent back to the factory due to failure to hold zero/tracking issues

 

[Jefferry404]

Leupold Patrol 1-6x24 (just picked one up for my 30-06 to be coming).

 

[CZDiesel]

If you want leupold I’d say go older, don’t over look the nightforce shv or Trijicon credo although they don’t offer that “classic look” they’re the only 2 brands I’ve had that didn’t need to be sent back to the factory due to failure to hold zero/tracking issues

In over 35 years of hard hunting in the western US, mountain and desert, foot and horseback Ive never had to send back a Leupold or Swarovski.
I really try to take care of my equipment but it’s hurting right? These scopes have taken every shot imaginable and never lost POA or needed to be sent back for any reason.
The only optic I’ve ever sent back was a pair of Swarovski SLC’s and that was because while hunting off horseback I didn’t notice that the lens covers had been rubbed off and the saddle scraped one of the lenses pretty bad. I sent them back to Swarovski and they replaced the lens no charge!

 

[Hunt anything]

Off topic a little but I wish more companies stood behind their products like many optics companies. I had a 15 year old pair of Bushnell binoculars that started fogging up. I sent them back just hoping for a reduced price on a new pair but about a week later I received a new pair.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

Thanks for the insight.Without a Windage or Elevation turret it must be Pita to zero in.

Not really, the base has both a windage and an elevation adjustment which work just like the turrets on a modern scope. The main difference is the Kuharsky base adjustment system requires very small adjustments to zero in, but once zeroed, it has locking screws which make it impossible to move or adjust without having two coins to unlock the adjustment screws. It was just tedious to get it right because I am an old benchrest marksman and I like my POI to be exactly where I want it. Instead of two or three shots like with a good MIL dot, FFP scope to zero, it took about 6-7 as I recall and once locked in there is no changing it in the field. I liked the system a lot but the rings have only about 1" spacing between them which prevents using a more moder scope with that mount because the turret bulge will not fit between them.

The whole package worked like clockwork for me. But if you are out shooting Texas bean field deer/hogs or other long range prey like Pronghorn, you would likely feel a bit handicapped when shooting out past the point black range. For my 308 that was about 250y. Longer shots can be done but you will need more skill and practice than if you had a Christmas tree reticle or even a duplex. With the 308, I like to limit my hunting shots to the ranges where the 180g bullet is still going to arrive at over 2000 fps. In my case with my ammo that was about 380y. In my case I decided going in to limit them to 300y more or less. I spoke to my PH about this and he said not to worry, that they were able to stalk us in close enough to make it work. My shots with this rifle were at 20y, 60y, 70y, 202y and 180y. With the larger rifle I shot at 160y, 60y and 10y without any misses or poorly placed shots. With the 308 I missed a bushbuck at 180y in the dark but it was a moving shot in very poor conditions. I also missed a Warthog at 30-35y but it was a running offhand shot and the pig made a very lucky jink to the left as I pulled the trigger. Neither shot was the rifle/scope's fault. But in retrospect a red dot illuminated optic would have worked better on the night hunting shots.

 

[Jefferry404]

Here is my 30-06 scope with external adjustments, not quite hunting but…

 

[Hunt anything]

Here is my 30-06 scope with external adjustments, not quite hunting but…
View attachment 651596

I bet that is good conversation starter at the range!

 

[375er]

I bet that is good conversation starter at the range!

Very good scopes in their day. I believe Carlos Hathcock used one in Vietnam.

 

[Joker12]

Here is my 30-06 scope with external adjustments, not quite hunting but…
View attachment 651596

Really nice combo!

 

[cajunchefray]

That’s what I have on my FN .30-06.

However, if Leupold came out with a 2-7x36 with firedot in a vx3 or better I would buy 5 of them.

Me too!
Is Leupold listening?

 

[RLL]

Here is my 30-06 scope with external adjustments, not quite hunting but…
View attachment 651596

Cool piece of history!

 

[7MAG]

In over 35 years of hard hunting in the western US, mountain and desert, foot and horseback Ive never had to send back a Leupold or Swarovski.
I really try to take care of my equipment but it’s hurting right? These scopes have taken every shot imaginable and never lost POA or needed to be sent back for any reason.
The only optic I’ve ever sent back was a pair of Swarovski SLC’s and that was because while hunting off horseback I didn’t notice that the lens covers had been rubbed off and the saddle scraped one of the lenses pretty bad. I sent them back to Swarovski and they replaced the lens no charge!

Unfortunately I’ve had High end leupolds lose zero riding in a pelican hard case

 

[cajunchefray]

Unfortunately I’ve had High end leupolds lose zero riding in a pelican hard case

Can you share details?
Perhaps some newer production Leupold scopes are just a little too technical.
I think I have one.

 

[7MAG]

Mark 4hd failed(zero)
2 Vx3i’s failed(zero)
Vx3hd failed(tracking)
Vxr failed (zero)


to put in comparison:
Nightforce nx8: rides in the back seat of truck, drove 28 hours to a bear hunt and rode around in a side by side on horrible terrain. Never lost zero or tracked wrong

Trijicon credo: fell 25ft out of a tree stand and landed on the scope. Maintained zero and tracked correctly.

Needless to say, I’m harder on my gear than most. But if you’re spending money on a hunt or drawing tags why not buy the best you can buy.
Leupold, Zeiss, vortex, Swarovski, Nikon have all failed on me

Can you share details?
Perhaps some newer production Leupold scopes are just a little too technical.
I think I have one.

 

[Inkgardener]

If you want leupold I’d say go older, don’t over look the nightforce shv or Trijicon credo although they don’t offer that “classic look” they’re the only 2 brands I’ve had that didn’t need to be sent back to the factory due to failure to hold zero/tracking issues

I didn’t realize Nightforce has a capped, illuminated duplex scope in the SHV. Are they as high quality as the NX series?

How’s the glass on a Leupold Vari-X compared to say the VX-3?