Scope recommendations

[bunnybuster]

I’m looking to get a higher magnification scope to put on my 30-06. I’ve currently got a Leica Magnus 1.5-10x42 and whilst I love it, I’m much more comfortable on longer range shots with a higher mag scope.

I’m looking for something with a higher end mag of 24 or 30x, preferably with capped turrets and illuminated reticle. I prefer a 4A type reticle but am flexible on this.

Budget of around £1000 to £1500 new or second hand. What would be your choice?

 

[MarinePMI]

I have no idea what is available to those in the UK, but will make this suggestion.

For hunting you'll almost ever need anything over 16x-20x. And most likely will keep it around 14-16x. This is just coming from hunting and shooting in NRL hunter style matches, dealing with mirage and FOV being a handicap with high mag in hunting environments.
Were it me, I'd focus on better glass (clarity), rather than just massive magnification.

It's out of your price range, but the 4-20x ZCO (Zero Compromise Optics) gets rave reviews as a cross over hunting/long range scope. I'm fairly certain they are obtainable in the UK, but again, they are indeed quite pricey (up near Tangent Theta).

JMTCW...

 

[Overlay]

I’m looking to get a higher magnification scope to put on my 30-06. I’ve currently got a Leica Magnus 1.5-10x42 and whilst I love it, I’m much more comfortable on longer range shots with a higher mag scope.

I’m looking for something with a higher end mag of 24 or 30x, preferably with capped turrets and illuminated reticle. I prefer a 4A type reticle but am flexible on this.

Budget of around £1000 to £1500 new or second hand. What would be your choice?

Have a look at getting a zeiss. 15 x 56 with ASV it’s a cracking piece of kit, should find one around your price parameters

 

[Muntybuck5803]

I’m looking to get a higher magnification scope to put on my 30-06. I’ve currently got a Leica Magnus 1.5-10x42 and whilst I love it, I’m much more comfortable on longer range shots with a higher mag scope.

I’m looking for something with a higher end mag of 24 or 30x, preferably with capped turrets and illuminated reticle. I prefer a 4A type reticle but am flexible on this.

Budget of around £1000 to £1500 new or second hand. What would be your choice?

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Nothing to do with me and might require some wiggle on budget or haggling but that seems pretty close to your wants/needs.

 

[bunnybuster]

One option I had considered was the Steiner Ranger. Anyone got any first hand experience?

 

[Cottis]

You should take a look at the Delta Titanium HD in 4-24x50 flavour. Capped turrets, 4a reticle and good multi illumination. Good scope for the money.

 

[cdrsss]

Definitely consider Kahles 624 - you can get them within your budget 2nd hand and they appear in the classifieds here from time to time. Top quality glass.

 

[topscots1]

Has anyone had hands in the Steiner Ranger 8 4-32 model. Appears to be a good scope for the money.

 

[MarinePMI]

Definitely consider Kahles 624 - you can get them within your budget 2nd hand and they appear in the classifieds here from time to time. Top quality glass.

Unless you're sensitive to chromatic aberration. Khales is known for having a bit of that in many of their scopes (and I have seen it first hand, many times). But yes, I'm very sensitive to CA; drives me nuts (most likely due to my slight astigmatism, or so I was told by an optometrist).

 

[HonestJohn]

New Leica AM..something 3–8x44 with BDC, looks the part!

 

[nun_hunter]

One option I had considered was the Steiner Ranger. Anyone got any first hand experience?

I have used the 4-16 Ranger with BDC turret and it's very good and I wouldn't hesitate to use one for hunting. Great to start off with and then if you want to get into dialling where appropriate then superb for this too.

 

[zerovarm]

You should take a look at the Delta Titanium HD in 4-24x50 flavour. Capped turrets, 4a reticle and good multi illumination. Good scope for the money.

Love mine, great reticle

 

[Bowland blades]

I’m looking to get a higher magnification scope to put on my 30-06. I’ve currently got a Leica Magnus 1.5-10x42 and whilst I love it, I’m much more comfortable on longer range shots with a higher mag scope.

I’m looking for something with a higher end mag of 24 or 30x, preferably with capped turrets and illuminated reticle. I prefer a 4A type reticle but am flexible on this.

Budget of around £1000 to £1500 new or second hand. What would be your choice?

How far are you shooting? and at what quarry ? 10x mag is a lot regards shooting deer , folks tend to get anxious after doing too much paper punching for groups on high mag levels .
look at the mag ten times nearer a 400 yard deer presents like a 40 yarder with good open sights lets not forget that . Very different to range shooting where watching mirage, and the blades of grass at the target area become relevant

 

[bunnybuster]

The furthest shot I’ve ever taken on live quarry was 330m. That was a hare using a Swarovski z5 3.5-18x44. Some wouldn’t consider this ‘long range’ but most of my deer are shot between 40 and 100m.

I was recently chasing sika in Scotland using the Leica, and one was stood at 250m and I wouldn’t take the shot because pretty much the whole deer was covered by the centre dot of the reticle.

I want the scope mainly for practice on paper out to around 3-400m, so next time a longer shot presents, I can at least see what I’m aiming at!

 

[tarponhead]

One option I had considered was the Steiner Ranger. Anyone got any first hand experience?

Hi, I have a 4-16x56 Steiner Ranger as good as my Swarovski’s at last light through my eyes. I have one I would sell if you’re interested. It’s mint condition as I use a lighter 3-9x50 Z4i, so the Steiner is in its box. PM me if interested.
Other choices you might look at are Delta Titanium - amazing glass. There are high mag ones, but I use a 1.5-9x42. Check out Delta reviews - right in your price range.

 

[gixer1]

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Nothing to do with me and might require some wiggle on budget or haggling but that seems pretty close to your wants/needs.

^^this^^

 

[billy_boyle_2010]

The higher mag will demand a lot more from the glass. So your budget would get a much better 3-12x56, for example, than it will a 5-25x56.

Also- at the sort of mags you're requesting- scopes will be mostly target scopes. Big heavy beefy things with huge turrets etc. Are you happy with a monster on top of your gun ?

Also whats the lowest mag you find yourself shooting ? IMO you will use 3x mag wayyyyy more than 25x- even if its just to spot and scan for your quarry. But if a deer comes in to you at 25 yards......

You will also v likely shoot on a lower mag. You may crank it up to look at the deer better- but will often find yourself cranking it back down again after. Potentially shooting on 15x or so. Shooting a deer off sticks at 30x- you will be wobbling a fair bit- and it's v distracting, and noticeable- at 30x. Take the mag down to 15x- and you appear to be much more stable. Downbto 5x- and you feel rock solid.....

You could try and buy a cheap scope- perhaps a used £350 hawke (say it was £500 new) and just try it. If you love the high mag- but want better quality optics at that mag- at least you know what you need.

You may find 15x is more than enough, however...... That swaro linked above looks v nice. A delta titanium HD would do a good job. The 2.5-15 or 4-24 as someone has said.

If you really want to go down the monster target gun route- a secondhand Delta Javelin or Vortex would do.

Or a Bushnell Elite 6500 4.5-30x50 won't cost much as a trial scope.

You don't say what time of the day you shoot- but unless it's beautifully bright daylight- almost any scope at 25-30x will struggle for light and you will prefer the picture at lower mag......

Either way- you will end up shooting at 10-15x most of the time IMO. But try a few and enjoy the experiment

 

[rem284]

I use nightforce scopes. Because they are sfp there is no issues with reticule covering too much of the target. I use lrf binos so I dont need to calculate range using the reticule. Nf scopes have a huge range of different types of reticules to choose from. Tactical turrets are moa or mils so pick the one you prefer. Illuminated reticule is standard. I've not had any time where I wish I had better glass so I could extend the time I could shoot a deer in the last dregs of daylight, infact one time a pal was with me and he couldn't shoot a sika because he couldn't see his reticule but I could so I got the shot. The only downside is they are quite heavy but this might be a reason why they are so robust. I have seen a few on here for sale recently

 

[zerovarm]

The higher mag will demand a lot more from the glass. So your budget would get a much better 3-12x56, for example, than it will a 5-25x56.

Also- at the sort of mags you're requesting- scopes will be mostly target scopes. Big heavy beefy things with huge turrets etc. Are you happy with a monster on top of your gun ?

Also whats the lowest mag you find yourself shooting ? IMO you will use 3x mag wayyyyy more than 25x- even if its just to spot and scan for your quarry. But if a deer comes in to you at 25 yards......

You will also v likely shoot on a lower mag. You may crank it up to look at the deer better- but will often find yourself cranking it back down again after. Potentially shooting on 15x or so. Shooting a deer off sticks at 30x- you will be wobbling a fair bit- and it's v distracting, and noticeable- at 30x. Take the mag down to 15x- and you appear to be much more stable. Downbto 5x- and you feel rock solid.....

You could try and buy a cheap scope- perhaps a used £350 hawke (say it was £500 new) and just try it. If you love the high mag- but want better quality optics at that mag- at least you know what you need.

You may find 15x is more than enough, however...... That swaro linked above looks v nice. A delta titanium HD would do a good job. The 2.5-15 or 4-24 as someone has said.

If you really want to go down the monster target gun route- a secondhand Delta Javelin or Vortex would do.

Or a Bushnell Elite 6500 4.5-30x50 won't cost much as a trial scope.

You don't say what time of the day you shoot- but unless it's beautifully bright daylight- almost any scope at 25-30x will struggle for light and you will prefer the picture at lower mag......

Either way- you will end up shooting at 10-15x most of the time IMO. But try a few and enjoy the experiment

The 4.5-30 Elite is a good shout for around £350 but be aware it really struggles after 20x mag. In my opinion the 4-24 Delta walks all over it with a better reticle and illuminated centre dot.

 

[Klenchblaize]

I was recently chasing sika in Scotland using the Leica, and one was stood at 250m and I wouldn’t take the shot because pretty much the whole deer was covered by the centre dot of the reticle.

Get a scope with the reticle in the 2nd focal plane:

Leica Magnus i - Overview | Leica Camera UK

leica-camera.com

K