Best Scope for 30-06
The .30-06 cartridge is a popular cartridge among hunters and sports shooters mainly because it is lightweight and its a high velocity cartridge. It is a versatile cartridge that can be chambered in different rifles from different brands like Nosler, Remington, Mossberg, and others. This is a tried and tested round that can shoot up to 200 yards and if you get the best scope for 30-06 you can shoot up to 800 yards or more!
This is an affordable cartridge that has proven to be quite accurate in the field. With its moderate recoil, it is ideal for hunting a wide pool of American game species.
Here is a quicklist of the best scopes for 30-06.
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Vortex Optics Diamondback 4-12×40 Second Focal Plane Riflescope
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Athlon Optics , Argos BTR, Riflescope, 6-24 x 50 First Focal Plane
- Vortex Viper Hs-T 6-24×50
What is the ideal magnification?
There is really no straight answer to this question as magnification depends on the range you want to shoot. While sometimes a higher magnification is better, it is not always the case. Magnification should match your shooting distance to avoid blurry or unclear sight pictures.
Up to 200 yards- Close range
The Springfield .30-06 caliber can pretty much demolish anything within this range. The ideal scope for this range has magnification of 1-4x.
200 to 400 yards- Medium range
The .30-06 comes highly recommended by seasoned hunters because its accuracy. For this range, a magnification power of 4-9x would be perfect.
400 yards and above
The best scope for 30-06 will have you have effortlessly hitting your targets at more than 400 yards. A scope with a magnification of 9x and above is the best for achieving this goal.
Chambering this cartridge with the best rifle in the world can only do so much for you. The best way to get the most out of the .30-06 is to pair your rifle with the best scope in the market.
This review is to help you get the best scope for 30-06 in the market.
The Best Scope for 30-06 Review
#1) Vortex Optics Diamondback 4-12×40 Second Focal Plane Riflescope
This is a budget-friendly scope that comes with premium vortex features without the hefty price tag. Vortex is a well know brand in the optics world so you can be sure whatever they put out is of good quality.
This easy-to-use scope comes with high-quality glass and fully multi-coated lenses for crisp clear images. The cherry on top is the fast focus eyepiece that makes focusing the reticle easy. This scope is best suited for slot shotgun, big game, and other long-range applications.
This scope comes equipped with the Dead-Hold BDC reticle which means you won’t need to make elevation adjustments to take longer range shots. The reticle can match your shooting distance and you just shoot at your target.
The Vortex Optics Diamondback 4-12×40 comes with precision turrets and a glide erector system that affords the ability to zero reset after sight-in and precise tracking. The scope is also o-ring sealed and argon purged to keep the scope moisture-free. The hard-anodized finish ensures the scope is shockproof and is durable.
Features
- Fully multi-coated lenses for clear images.
- Precision turrets for resetting to zero after sight-in.
- Shockproof, waterproof, and fog proof.
- Precision glide erector system for precise tracking.
#2) Athlon Optics , Argos BTR, Riflescope, 6-24 x 50 First Focal Plane
The Athlon Optics Argos BTR Rifle Scope is one of the best scope for 30-06. The reticle is positioned in the first focal plane which means adjusting the magnification also adjust the size of the reticle. This makes this scope ideal for long-range shooting. The reticle is also illuminated which makes it possible for the scope to be utilized under low light conditions.
Glass etched high-quality glass is used to build this scope. This ensures the scope is very durable and has a higher resistance to heavy recoil. The lenses are fully multi-coated ensuring images are clear and bright. This scope also features a 50mm objective lens which allows maximum light transmission even in low light conditions.
This Athlon optics scope features parallax adjustment which allows for parallax elimination at longer ranges. The tactile windage and elevation turrets make audible clicks for ease of use.
For durability, the scope is constructed using aircraft-grade aluminum that provides strength and high mechanical integrity. It is also argon purged to make it waterproof.
Features
- Illuminated reticle which ensures visibility even in unfavorable light conditions.
- Fully multi-coated lenses which provide clear images.
- Waterproof and fog proof.
- The reticle is etched in the glass.
- A one-piece main tube that is heat-treated to increase the durability of the scope.
#3) Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm Riflescope
As one of the best scope for 30-06, this scope’s biggest selling point is the twilight max light management system. This system gives you 20 to 30 minutes of shooting time under unfavorable lighting while still maintaining image resolution and color contrast.
This scope is ideal for close to medium range hunting as it comes with a magnification power of 3.5-10X. The 40mm objective lens allows high light transmission for brighter images and an adequate field of view. The objective lens diameter combined with Diamond Coat 2 lens coatings, increases light transmission ensuring images are crisp clear. The coating also increases lens durability and scratch resistance.
It comes with 4.4″ of eye relief which is ideal for protecting your brows against heavy recoil.
This Leupold scope is completely waterproof, shockproof, and waterproof. It is constructed using aircraft-grade aluminum which ensures the scope is extremely durable.
Features
- Generous eye relief.
- Completely waterproof and fog proof.
- Twilight max light management system for extra light in unfavorable light conditions.
- DiamondCoat 2 lens coatings ensure lens durability.
- A fast-focus eyepiece that is also lockable.
#4) Vortex Viper Hs-T 6-24×50
This scope from Vortex is arguably the most rated riflescope in the market. The premium fully multi-coated lenses that are made with extra-low dispersion glass ensure excellent color fidelity and image resolution. The lenses are protected by Armortek coatings while XR coatings ensure high light-gathering abilities.
It comes with a 6-14X magnification range which is ideal for long-range shooting. The 50 mm objective lens diameter is superb for maximum light transmission enhancing the quality of your sight picture.
As one of the best scope for 30-06, this vortex scope comes with side parallax adjustment which ensures parallax removal and optimum image focus. It also comes with a CSR zero stop system that provides for a return to the true zero after dialing elevation corrections.
The scope is argon purged and o-ring sealed to ensure it is water and fog-proof.
Features
- Fast focus eyepiece.
- Extra-low dispersion fully multi-coated lenses.
- A wide objective lens diameter for maximum light transmission.
- A CSR Zero stop system.
- Side focus parallax adjustment.
- Waterproof, shockproof, and waterproof.
Leupold FX-3 6x42mm Fixed Power Riflescope
This is another one of the best scope for 30-06 from Leupold. It comes with a one-inch main tube that is extremely lightweight which makes this scope ideal for hunting as it is easily portable.
The twilight light management system that is common in Leupold scopes helps in reducing glare for high image quality and adds extra shooting light under low light conditions like dusk or dawn. Another feature of this scope is the precision finger click adjustments for windage and elevation which provide dependability and repeatability.
This scope has a durable construction and it is waterproof and fog proof.
Features
- Twilight light management system.
- Completely water, shock, and fog proof.
- The main tube is one inch.
- 1/4 MOA precision finger click adjustments.
- Lightweight.
What makes a great scope for 30-06?
The best scope for 30-06 comes with many features that are ideal and most suited to your shooting needs and style. There are very many scopes in the market and not all of them are suitable for your .30-06 rifle.
Durability
The best scope has water and fog proof integrity to allow you to use it under unfavorable weather conditions. The scope should also be durable for use in unfavorable environments like rough terrains. Still, on durability, a good scope is constructed using high-grade material like aluminum to ensure the scope can endure harsh conditions.
Magnification
A good scope has the proper magnification for your shooting needs. Like for example if you are shooting at a distance above 400 yards, getting a scope with less than 9X magnification will not be useful to you.
Lenses
Another factor that makes a good scope is coated lenses. Fully multi-coated lenses are ideal for clear and bright sight pictures. There are different ways lenses are coated from one layer of coating of the lenses to multiple layers of coating. A fully multi-coated lens has multiple layers of coating which is good for color fidelity and image contrast.
Objective Lens
Another aspect of a good scope is a wide objective lens which allows maximum light transmission ideal for brighter sight pictures. The only downside to a large objective lens is it makes the scope heavy. This, however, can be remedied by getting a tripod adaptable scope.
Conclusion
Our picks for the best scope for 30-06 have been tried, tested, and approved by experienced shooters and hunters alike. Any scope you pick from this list will help you shoot successfully and accurately.
Happy shooting!