If you love hunting deer, bear, and other medium to large game, you probably have come across Springfield 30-06 and are in need the best scope for 30-06 rifles.
This cartridge was first introduced to the United States in 1906 to replace the .30-03 rimless service round. It offers lighter-weight, higher-velocity service rounds with pointed (spitzer) bullets.
The .30-06 has grown to be one of the most popular hunting and sporting cartridges globally. As a target round, the hunting cartridge is handy, reasonably priced, and accurate. In addition, it has moderate recoil making it favorable for even the most inexperienced hunters and flexible enough to cover the numerous game species: from varmints to mid-sized and large game.
When looking for the best scope for 30-06 rifles, you will come across many models, makes, and brands. However, not all of them are ideal for you. Therefore, let us look at what you should look for when looking for your 30-06 rifle scope.
Choosing the Best Scope for 30-06 Rifles
Field of view
The .30-06 cartridges are designed for long ranges; hence the field of view should be among the most significant considerations you make when choosing a riflescope. This depends on magnification, and lower magnification can give you a large field of view. You can go for a variable scope with an adjustable power range up to 9X.
Objective lens
A high-quality scope for.30-06 should be able to accommodate and handle long-range shots. Consider a scope with an objective lens with high light gathering capacity because most hunters for long-range shots are hunting at dawn and dusk. An objective lens of at least 40mm/50mm will be an ideal .30-06 scope.
Eye relief
This is the distance between your eye and the ocular bell. Even though the 30-06 cartridge has manageable recoil, you will want to have a minimum of 3 inches to ensure your eyebrow is safe from the heavy recoil.
Durability
The ideal scope should be durable and heavy-duty for a lifetime of use. In addition, it should be able to handle harsh and extreme outdoor conditions. Most good-quality scopes are made of aluminum alloy or aircraft-grade aluminum. They are also O-ring sealed and nitrogen-purged to ensure waterproof and fog-proof performance.
Price
It would be best if you also considered the price when selecting a scope for the .30-06. You don’t have to buy the most expensive or the most affordable without considering the features it offers. Always balance the price and quality.
Adjustment knobs
The adjustment knob quality translates to the ease of adjustment and the effective focus you can achieve.
Best Scope for 30-06 Rifles Review
1) Vortex Optics Diamondback Second Focal Plane Riflescopes
Vortex Diamondback 1.75-5×32 riflescope is one of the many configurations in the Diamondback lineup. It is suitable for the big game, slug shotgun, and brush hunting applications. The riflescope is made with an extra-low dispersion glass that improves resolution by maximizing shooting light when shooting in low light conditions.
In addition, it has a Dead-hold BDC reticle suitable for any shooting at varying ranges where estimating holdover is a concern. The fully multi-coated lenses ensure clear and bright images while the focusing eyepiece is for quick and easy reticle focusing.
The riflescope features a one-piece tube with an iodized finish for increased durability with minimum weight. The metal-on-metal precision turrets offer the ability to zero reset after sight-in.
Key features
- It has a solid one-piece aircraft-grade aluminum alloy construction
- It is durable and shock-proof
- Has XR multicoated lenses to maximize shooting light
- A precision glide erector system ensures accurate tracking and repeatability.
- The scope is argon purged, and O-ring sealed for fog-proof and waterproof performance
- Metal on metal precision turrets allow zero reset after sight-in
- The scope has a dead-hold BDC reticle
2) Simmons 8-Point 3-9x50mm Rifle Scope with Truplex Reticle
Simmons 8-Point riflescope provides undefeated high-quality features for outstanding performance. The riflescope is made with fully coated optics that ensure bright and high contrast images and 1/4-moa sure grip audible-click windage and elevation adjustments. It is also waterproof, fog proof, and recoil-proof.
In addition, the riflescope offers 3-9X magnification, a 1.0-inch tube, a Truplex reticle, a large 50mm Objective lens, and a mounting base and rings for easy attachment to a firearm. Simmons’ proprietary true zero windage and elevation adjustment system stays tight-locked to zero even in the most strenuous situations.
Key features
- Quick target acquisition (QTA) eyepiece offers a fast and easy target acquisition
- Easy to mount
- Matte black finish
- 3-9X magnification
- It has a 60-inch adjustment range at 100 yards
- Eye relief: 3.75”/95mm
- Exit Pupil: 16.6/5.6 mm
- 31.4-foot field of view at 100 yards at 3X and 10.5-foot field of view at 100 yards at 9X
- 50mm Objective lens
- Weight: 13.2ounces
3) Nikon Buckmasters II 3-9×40 BDC
The Nikon Buckmasters II 3-9×40 riflescope is popular among deer hunters thanks to its low-light performance. It features multiple layers of anti-reflective compounds on every glass surface providing bright, vivid pictures and optimum light transmission from dawn to dusk.
The riflescope has positive-click reticle adjustments that get you zeroed in quicker and maintain your setting, even with heavy recoil. It also comes with a generous eye relief to ensure your eyebrows are safe during recoil.
Key features
- It is waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof
- Fully multicoated lenses for increased light transmission
- It offers a versatile magnification range for flexibility
- Consistent eye relief
- Precise hand-turn 1/4″ @ 100 yds.
- Magnification: 3-9x
- Objective Diameter: 40 mm
- Field of View (FOV) @ 100yds, ft.: 4. 4-13. 3
- Tube Diameter: 1″
- Weight: 13. 1 oz.
- Length: 12. 3 inches
4) Nikon ProStaff 3-9 x 40 Black Matte Riflescope (BDC)
This Nikon riflescope is designed for shooters looking for generous, constant eye relief. It ensures you are comfortable and your eyes are safe even with a rough kickback from heavy recoiling cartridges, lightweight rifles, severe shooting angles, and just plain excitement.
The riflescope features an O-ring sealed housing that is waterproof and fog proof and comes with an optional sunshade accessory for bright, rainy, or dusty conditions. The scope offers enough power for long-range shots and a wide field of view for thick brush or timber.
In addition, the lenses are fully multicoated for improved light transmission for bright, high-contrast views. It has positive-click reticle adjustments to get you zeroed in quicker and maintain your setting even with heavy recoil.
Key features
- It is a compact riflescope with 3 to 9x magnification
- Nitrogen-filled, O-ring-sealed housing for waterproof, fog-proof performance
- It has a 40mm Objective lens
- A fully multicoated optical system ensures up to 98 percent light transmission
- It has a Zero-reset turret with a spring-loaded adjustment knob
- 3.6 inches of eye relief
- It features a BDC reticle, quick-focus eyepiece, and measures 12.4 inches
- Exit pupil: 13.3mm (3x), 4.4mm (9x)
- Field of view: 33.8 feet @ 100 yards (3x), 11.3 feet @ 100 yards (9x)
- Objective OD: 1.98 inches
- Eyepiece OD: 1.73 inches
- Adjustment graduation: 1/4 MOA
- Max internal adjustment: 80 MOA
5) Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen I First Focal Plane Riflescopes
The Viper PST Gen I boasts features found in the riflescopes. It is housed in a one-piece, shock-proof 30mm tube, precision-machined from a single solid block of aircraft-grade aluminum. It offers ample windage and elevation adjustment and generous eye relief.
The riflescope has matching reticle and turret measurements to allow for accurate, fast dialing of shots. The EBR-1 (Enhanced Battle Reticle) is a hashmark-ranging reticle using MRAD-based subtension lines for ranging, holdover, and windage corrections.
Key features
- It has Customizable Rotational Stop (CRS) to aid in return to zero after dialing temporary elevation correction
- It is O-ring sealed and argon gas purged for shockproof and waterproof performance
- Extra-low dispersion (XD) glass increases resolution and color fidelity for crisp, sharp images
- A precision-force spring system uses premium components in the erector-spring system to ensure maximum repeatability and ease of adjustment
- It has coated lenses for increased light transmission with multiple anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces
- The fiber optic turret rotation indicator provides a highly visible and tactile point of reference for turret rotations
6) BURRIS FullField Scope, Ballistic Plex Reticle, Matte Black
The Burris Fullfield II, Ballistic Plex Scope, is popular among hunters due to its affordable price. The scope features high-performance optical glass that is coated for reduced glare and excellent clarity and contrast in all lighting conditions. In addition, the quality, precision-ground lenses are larger than other scopes of the same price range.
The Burris riflescope features a simple, integrated eyepiece and power ring with a no-slip grip allowing for quick adjustment in the field. The positive, steel-on-steel click adjustment ensures repeatable settings for accuracy on the range and field.
Key features
- 1-piece tube construction
- It has reinforced quad-seal gas seals
- The magnification/zoom ring is made of metal and knurled for a lifetime of use
- Multicoated optics provide excellent brightness and clarity with lasting durability
- It is water, fog, and shockproof
- Shock and vibration resistant
- Magnification: 3-9x, 4.5-14x, or 6.5-20x
- Supported by a forever warranty
7) Nikon 6729 ProStaff 4-12 x 40 Black Matte Riflescope
With Nikon’s fully multicoated optical system and a versatile 4 to 12x magnification range, the ProStaff 4-12×40 riflescope offers excellent performance in the field. The scope has a multicoated optical system providing up to 98 percent light transmission for maximum brightness in low-light, low-contrast hunting situations.
It also has integrated a zero-reset turret for easy adjustments. The patented BDC reticle allows you to hold dead-on at ranges exceeding those previously thought possible. The BDC has unique see-through ballistic circles offering an incredible advantage for long-range shooting, yet with a normal sight picture for shorter-range shots where the crosshair itself is the aiming point.
Key features
- Polymer, aluminum material
- It offers 4 to 12x magnification and a 40mm Objective lens
- It has a fully multicoated optical system
- It has a Nitrogen-filled, O-ring-sealed housing for waterproof, fog-proof performance
- Zero-reset turret with spring-loaded adjustment knob
- 3.7 inches of eye relief
- Measures 14.1 inches
- Exit pupil: 10.3mm (4x), 3.3mm (12x)
- Field of view: 23.6 feet @ 100 yards (4x), 7.3 feet @ 100 yards (12x)
- Adjustment graduation: 1/4 MOA
- Max internal adjustment: 60 MOA
8) Leupold VX-1 3-9×50 Rifle Scope
The VX-1 3-9×50 Rifle Scope offers signature quality and exceptional performance from Leupold. It is fog proof, with a proprietary Argon/Krypton gas blend for high-quality images even in temperature fluctuations. It is also O-ring sealed for complete waterproof integrity.
The scope offers a versatile zoom ratio that lets you switch between the bigger picture and the finer details with one turn of the power selector. The 1/4 MOA, precision finger click adjustments for windage and elevation offer absolute repeatability and dependability over a lifetime of extreme use.
Key features
- Crafted from 6061-T6 aircraft quality aluminum alloy
- It offers absolute waterproof and fog proof integrity
- A versatile 3:1 zoom ratio erector system that is ideal for virtually any situation
- It has Leupold’s classic/standard fast focus eyepiece with a low profile lock ring for easy reticle focusing
Final Thoughts
To get a good scope for .30-06, you need to consider multiple things. For one, it should ideally be O-ring sealed and nitrogen-purged to ensure waterproof and fog-proof performance.
Furthermore, the scope should be heavy-duty and durable for a long time of continued use and excellent performance. In addition, a good scope should offer a wide magnification range that ensures a clear image, even in long-distance shots.
The listed riflescopes are suitable for your 30-06, with numerous features that modify the performance of the rifle.
Related article: 7 Best Scope for .243 Winchester Rifle Reviews