Best Deer Hunting Scope For 30-06
The .30-06 cartridge is one of the most popular cartridges amongst deer hunting and other big game. It delivers accuracy for long-range shooting and is a very effective cartridge. The popularity of this hard-hitting cartridge means the scopes you can marry with a rifle chambered for it are insanely a lot. However, this huge number of scopes in the market makes it a bit hard to find the best deer hunting scope for 30-06.
A great scope paired with this cartridge greatly maximizes your hunting success. Let’s look at why the .30-06 is so effective and what scope it needs.
Here is a quick list of highly-rated scopes for 30-06
| PRODUCT | IMAGE | PRICE |
| #1) Vortex Optics Diamondback Tactical FFP 4-16x44mm |  |
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| #2) Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn |  |
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| #3) Vortex Optics Crossfire II Second Focal Plane |  |
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| #4) Monstrum G3 6-24×50 |  |
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| #5) Burris Fullfield II Hunting Rifle Scope |  |
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| #6) Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44mm Side Focus Riflescope |  |
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| #7) Athlon Optics Talos BTR 4-14×44 First Focal Plane Riflescope |  |
30-06 Springfield Effectiveness
Springfield Armory released this cartridge in 1906 (hence the -06 in its name). It has been used in various wars including the Korean War, World War I and II, and even the Vitenman war.
The reason it was very popular in battle was its deadly performance and its accuracy. These qualities made it a highly efficient cartridge for hunting. With today’s hunting enthusiasts, the .30-06 is very popular, especially among deer hunters. This does not mean it can not take down a bear or an elk, as a matter of fact, it is quite capable.
We seriously cannot declare one specific optic to be the best deer hunting scope for 30-06, we can however help you with as much information as possible to help you get one that works for you.
Advantages of the Best Deer Hunting Scope for 30-06
- Improved clarity- Investing in a good scope greatly improves the clarity of images received.
- Improved precision and accuracy- You considerably improve your accuracy and precision by investing in a good scope for deer hunting.
- Durability- Getting your dream deer hunting scope for your.30-06 that is durable means you won’t have to keep buying scopes unless you want to not because your scope broke and you need a new one.
Best Deer Hunting Scope for 30-06 Reviews
#1) Vortex Optics Diamondback Tactical FFP 4-16x44mm
A scope that comes with premium features but not at a premium price is a scope we can attempt to crown as the best deer hunting scope for 30-06. The Vortex Diamondback is one such scope. Built on a strong durable platform, this scope is one of the best scopes you can use for deer hunting. Deer hunters will most certainly love the EBR-2C reticle that allows you to make quick windage and elevation adjustments. Its ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass and fully multi-coated lenses ensure you get bright and crisp images. This high-quality glass and the precision erector system that makes sure you can smoothly change magnification especially under extreme conditions makes this scope an excellent scope. Long-distance shooters will also love the fact that its tactical turrets are exposed and it also comes with a side parallax knob. Reticle focusing has been made easy by the fast focus eyepiece that ensures you do it first and you do it quickly. Key Features
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#2) Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn
If you are looking for the best deer hunting scope for 30-06 and you are on a tight budget, the Bushnell Multi-X reticle scope is what you are looking for. The sight picture you get is surprisingly clear as the glass used making this scope is high quality. Built to last, this scope is completely fog proof and waterproof with 3.3 inches of eye relief. It is the perfect scope for those dusk or dawn hunting trips as it comes with dusk and dawn brightness technology. This means you get a little extra time for hunting at dusk and at dawn. This fully multi-coated optic is built to ensure you get crisp clear images every time you take your rifle out to go hunting. The one-piece tube is nitrogen purged for fog-proof performance. Key Features
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#3) Vortex Optics Crossfire II Second Focal Plane
If you are an avid hunter you know Vortex scopes are made for exemplary performance regardless of their price. I mean sure, you do not get the same features from a crossfire II as you would, say a Vortex Razor HD but you get great performance from both. This very popular scope for the Crossfire line comes with the Dead-Hold BDC reticle that is ideal for taking on deer at different ranges where holdover estimation is a point of concern. Its lenses are not only fully multi-coated but are also anti-reflective. This means the image clarity is stunning and bright. An ultra-forgiving eye box and a generous eye relief work together to ensure you easily sight your target and squarely acquire it. Housed in a single-piece tube that is fashioned from aircraft-grade aluminum, this scope is shockproof ideal for hunting under the harshest conditions. It is then nitrogen purged and o-ring sealed for fog proof and waterproof performance. Key Features
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#4) Monstrum G3 6-24×50
The Monstrum G3 will surprise you with its great performance even at long range. It’s the best deer hunting scope for 30-06 especially if you want a quality optic with high-end features but at a reasonable cost. You will love the fact that it is a first focal plane reticle scope. This MOA reticle ranging information is easy to read and remains the same throughout the entire magnification range which eliminates the guesswork. It also allows accurate and faster corrections regardless of the target’s range. What’s more, it comes with an adjustable objective lens that is great for parallax elimination, range estimation and sharpens the focus of the deer’s image. Additionally, reticle illumination is controlled by a dial and it comes with several brightness intensities which are great for visibility in low light conditions. Key Features
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#5) Burris Fullfield II Hunting Rifle Scope
This very reliable and accurate scope is one of the best scopes for deer hunting for your .30-06. It was manufactured in the year 2000 and it continues to be one very accurate scope to date. It comes with Hi-Lume multi-coated lenses that are index-matched helping in exemplary performance in low light conditions. Moreover, they help in reducing glare and therefore increasing your accuracy rate. An integrated eyepiece is fitted for quick adjustments in the field. Key Features
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#6) Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44mm Side Focus Riflescope
Leupold is one of the leading optics manufacturers in the world. Their scopes are always high quality. This scope in particular is incredibly versatile and delivers remarkable performance at any magnification level. It comes with Leupold’s proprietary Twilight Max HD Light Management System that prevents loss of light and reduces glare for unbelievable clarity and brightness. The system can also add up to 30 minutes of extra shooting light in low lighting conditions. A zero lock CDS (Custom Dial System) ensures you can simply take longer shots by removing the need for holdover calculations by using a customized dial to your rifle and ammunition. The reticle is illuminated ideal for hunting in low light conditions with a motion sensor technology that deactivates automatically after 5 minutes of inactivity. The best part? it instantly reactivates anytime movement is detected. Key Features
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#7) Athlon Optics Talos BTR 4-14×44 First Focal Plane Riflescope
This is one of the best deer hunting scopes on the market. It comes with a first focal plane reticle that appears to increase in size with a change in magnification. The glass-etched reticle provides great durability and shock recoil resistance. The one-piece tube is heat-treated which gives the scope added strength and durability. The one-piece tube helps in keeping the scope moisture-free on the inside. Nitrogen purging also helps in reducing moisture inside the scope. Key Features
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Factors to Consider When Choosing The Best Deer Hunting Scope for 30-06
Objective Lens
The best deer hunting scope for 30-06 comes with an objective lens diameter that allows you to comfortably shoot at long range. Get a scope with an objective lens diameter that allows maximum light transmission through the scope. This helps in the quality of the images you receive. The bigger the diameter the brighter the images are. 40mm-50mm in diameter is ideal for this. However, a scope with a huge objective lens diameter means the scope might be too heavy. A heavy scope hinders movement while hunting. For this reason, get a scope that allows maximum light transmission while being light enough to comfortably carry around while hunting.
Glass quality
The quality of glass on a scope directly affects the image clarity. Scopes with poor glass quality deliver blurry images and high color distortion. This means your accuracy level is heavily affected regardless of how good of a hunter you are. The best deer hunting scope comes with high-quality glass for clear views and minimal to no color distortions. Most high-end scopes come with very high glass quality hence why they are relatively expensive.
The most common high-quality glass is ED glass. ED (Extra-low Dispersion) ensures low chromatic aberration which delivers more accurate color and sharper image.
Lens Coatings
Different scopes come with lenses coated differently. Some are coated with only one layer of coating while others are fully multi-coated. Lens coatings are materials that are transparent that are used to help in light transmission and scratch resistance. Multiple coatings on a lens mean more light getting into the scope which translates to brighter images and the ability to see your target in low light conditions.
A scope with lenses fully multicoated greatly increases your chances of ethically taking down a deer.
Durability
It goes without saying the best deer hunting scope for 30-06 is one that is durable. Great scopes are not exactly cheap hence why it is important to get a scope that will last you a long time. Some indicators of the durability of a scope are:
Build- A durable scope is built on a strong platform. High-quality material like aircraft-grade aluminum is used to make a scope durable.
Ability to withstand impact- While hunting, we sometimes trip and fall with our gear. A durable optic should be able to withstand impact from such a fall. It should also be able to perform well in unfavorable conditions like in bad weather or in extreme terrain.
The best deer hunting scope for 30-06 is one that is shockproof, nitrogen sealed and argon purged for water and fog-proof abilities.
Eye relief
This is the distance between your eye and the scope’s ocular bell. If you want to avoid getting a “scope eye” ensure you get a scope with more than 3 inches of eye relief. This protects your eye just in case of heavy recoil.
Conclusion
Getting the best deer hunting scope for 30-06 most certainly is a step in the right direction. It helps you improve your precision and accuracy every time you are out hunting. We have reviewed our favorite models to help you choose one that is specific to your needs.
However, owning the best of the best scope does not mean you are now a great shooter. Shooting needs practice. After getting the best scope you can possibly buy and correctly mounting it to your rifle, take some time to practice your shooting skills. You will be surprised at how much your precision and accuracy improves.