Scopes suggestions and a question?


Jeramie

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I need some new glass for my .30-06. Ive been looking at the Bushnell 4-12x40 Illuminated both red and green.

Does anyone have any dealings with these? Are they worth a hoot? I like the illumination, I bet it would help in low light.

Also, what say ye about Pentax? They seem to have some pretty good prices but I dont know squat about them. Im looking to spend around $100 - $150 and would really like a 4x12 (instead of the 3x9).

Im open to suggestions too.

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Have also heard good things on the pentax scopes Jeramie, but no first hand experience with them. Have a cheapy bushnell sportsman on my ml'er and it has held up pretty well even with having been knocked over from the 4 wheeler on the concrete floor in our garage.

If you don't get anyone here who has good bad or otherwise on the pentax, might look em up on cabelas and check their reviews there.

Would also agree with what was posted above on the nikons. The buckmaster scopes are pretty good, tried to upgrade the buckmasters 3-9x40 on the wifes .243 to a monarch and she was not having any part of me make any changes to her tack driving savage. Worked out in the end, my daughter claimed that scope as hers for her a bolt microhunter. lol.

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I dont know to much about the pentax either. I would check state regulations on the illuminated reticle before you put one on. I cant remember if they are battery operated or not. I know that in montana you can not use anything on your weapon that is electronic. Even luminocks are illegal if you run into the wrong game warden. But as with all optics, you get what you pay for. And also with optics, alot of what you pay for is the warranty. I put a Nikon Buckmaster 3-9x40 BDC on my girlfriend's 270 and i love the scope. Even the Prostaff scopes are good scopes and you can get them for around $150. Like wtnhunt said, i would check the reviews on them on different sites and see what people have to say if you dont get answers on here.

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In my experience I would say an illuminated reticle on a 40mm objective is a waste of money. We can hunt from 1 hr before sunrise to 1 hr after here so I hunt in low light frequently.

On a 40mm scope you have to crank the power down to 5 or 4 to get a good view through it in low light. At about the same time you loose the ability to see the crosshairs you loose the ability to clearly see your target. So if you have illuminated crosshairs it won't matter you still won't be able to see your target.

Illuminated reticles are useful with 50mm and 56mm objectives. 50s will work in low light at up to 7x and 56s up to 8x. The larger objectives show a clear image for quite awhile after the crosshairs are hard to see. I think it has to do with the resolution advantage larger objectives have over the smaller ones. Regardless of why, I've found that good low light scopes start at 50mm.

As far as color goes green is better than red for low light in my experience. Red seems to overpower the view more easily than green. What I mean is it seems much easier for me to see the target with green crosshairs in low light than red crosshairs.

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Pretty much all i have in scopes is a 40mm. I do have one 6-18x50mm on my Ruger M77, .243 custom. Other than that pretty much everything I have is a 3-9x40 in either Leupold, Bushnell, or redhead.

They can get the job done. Ive been just as effective killing deer with a 3-9x40 mounted on a .270 as anything. ;)

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Jeramie,

I am a die hard Leupold guy. However recently purchased an Alaskan Guide Premium Scope from Cabelas 4X12. I mounted it on a new Remington 7 mm Rem Mag And I have to tell you I am impressed and the price is good also for a good quality scope. I think around $345.00 and great glass. Saw it on sale and just gave it a try! Shot a .447 group with it at 100 yards. Subtract the .284 for bullet diameter and it is a great group. So it can't be bad! You sure can't shoot a group like that if you can not see it good and with poor glass.

Take a look at these before you buy. Good Luck!

AR

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