Author Topic: Decided on the 7mm-08... now what scope (Read 1680 times)

soggybottomboys20 · « **on:** June 06, 2005, 05:26:22 AM »

First of all, I wanted to thank everyone for their opinions on the post "rookie looking for experienced opinions". Through some research I have decided to go with the 7mm-08. I have also chosen a gun that I think suits my needs and has what I was looking for. That gun would be the Remington Model 700 SPS DM. Now, for the scope I was going to purchase a SIMMONS Aetec with a 3.8-12x44 with a wide angle, adjustable objective,and an illuminated reticle for 219.99 out of the bass pro shops catalog. However, I would like to see what everyone would say and suggest. Again, it will be mostly a 100-300 yard shooter. "Bang for the buck" would be nice, and an illuminated reticle would be nice but not a necessity. Once again, I appreciate everyones time, efforts, and opinions.

PA-Joe · « **Reply #1 on:** June 06, 2005, 05:52:15 AM »

Leupold Compact 2x7 or 3x9 x 33.

deerman12 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 06, 2005, 06:30:27 AM »

I second PA Joe. I have a leupold compact on my Model 7 243. Great scope, paid about $240 new. It looks alot smaller when I hold it up to my regular Leupold 3X9X40. I matches the gun size perfect.

Slamfire · « **Reply #3 on:** June 06, 2005, 03:15:02 PM »

I'll echo the 2x7x32/33, and the Leupolds are fine ones indeed.

biglmbass · « **Reply #4 on:** June 07, 2005, 02:47:32 AM »

Agreed, the Leupold 2x7x33 is hard to beat.

Buckfever · « **Reply #5 on:** June 07, 2005, 03:24:02 AM »

These scopes cost about the same as the one your looking at maybe afew bucks more. They are 40mm and gather more light at dawn and dusk. Also look at the Mueller at The Optic Zone. A lot scope for the money, again a 40mm. 7-mm-08 can shoot quite accurately out to 300yds plus, great gun I would put on a 40mm 3-9. IMHO Buckfever

beemanbeme · « **Reply #6 on:** June 07, 2005, 04:14:58 AM »

You do not need an AO on a hunting scope. Just another whistle and bell to go wrong. I'll totally agree that a good 3x9x40 is the most you'll need. (and Yes Virginia, there are quality scopes out there other than Leupolds) I lean toward 2x7's and 1.5x6's myself but that's a personal thingy.

Put a nice 1.5x5 scope on a Model 7 and you have one trig looking rig.

firstshot · « **Reply #7 on:** June 07, 2005, 03:40:09 PM »

Take a look at the Burris Fullfield II 3-9X40 with ballistic plex reticle. I've got one of these on my Rem 700 Mth LSS 7MM-08 and love it.

With the Ballistic Plex reticle, you sight in dead on at 100 Yds, with standard calibers, and then use the various hash marks (see image below) for 200Yds, 300YDs, etc. Sighted in dead on at 100Yds, I'm dead on at 200Yds using the first hash mark. (Haven't tried 300 Yds yet)

Go take a look through one. You'll be surprised at how bright they are. They are well worth the money, and I really like the B-Plex reticle.

firstshot
--------------------------------
Make your first shot count!

Slamfire · « **Reply #8 on:** June 07, 2005, 06:02:23 PM »

Quote from: firstshot

With the Ballistic Plex reticle, you sight in dead on at 100 Yds, with standard calibers, and then use the various hash marks (see image below) for 200Yds, 300YDs, etc. Sighted in dead on at 100Yds, I'm dead on at 200Yds using the first hash mark. (Haven't tried 300 Yds yet)

Boy talk about a junked up reticule! You can do the same thing by sighting in at two hundred yards, and using the bottom of the coarse wire in a duplex redtcule at 400. You won't be too high at 100 or two low at 300 to make any difference. Besides to make those yardage assumptions, you need another piece of equipmnet , a range finder.

2ndtimer · « **Reply #9 on:** June 07, 2005, 07:27:22 PM »

Quote from: firstshot

Take a look at the Burris Fullfield II 3-9X40 with ballistic plex reticle. I've got one of these on my Rem 700 Mth LSS 7MM-08 and love it.

With the Ballistic Plex reticle, you sight in dead on at 100 Yds, with standard calibers, and then use the various hash marks (see image below) for 200Yds, 300YDs, etc. Sighted in dead on at 100Yds, I'm dead on at 200Yds using the first hash mark. (Haven't tried 300 Yds yet)

Go take a look through one. You'll be surprised at how bright they are. They are well worth the money, and I really like the B-Plex reticle.

firstshot
--------------------------------
Make your first shot count!

And right now, lots of places are offering a Burris Fullfield II 3x9 Matte finish (would match the SPS nicely) for around $200 including a set of Burris binoculars or a compact Burris spotting scope. They are not super high grade, but then again, they come free with the scope and are better than nothing. Check it outhttp://riflescopes.com/products/200162BIN/burris_3-9x40_fullfield_ii_rifle_scope.htm or here http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=3413
I have 2 of the Burris Fullfield II Matte 3x9 scopes with the Ballistic Plex reticle and really like them. Can't be beat for the money.

jro45 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 08, 2005, 03:48:28 AM »

I would go with Leupole 3x9x40. I have looked to 300yd while deer hunting and it was clear as anyone could ever want it. I ranged 300 yds first. That way I was sure of the range for shooting.

Squeeze · « **Reply #11 on:** June 08, 2005, 05:21:46 AM »

OK, I will make my recommendation. First, I have purchased
one of the new to the market Mueller scopes, and I would not
be afraid to purchase a Mueller 3x9 40mm scope for a deer
rifle. But what I have on my .308 Win. chambered Browning
BAR LW Stalker, which is my "perfect" northern whitetail gun,
is a 2x7 32mm Bushnell 3200 Elite. It is very bright, and clear,
has decent eye relief, and FOV, and for real hunting conditions,
the RAINGUARD rocks.

I hunt in brushy conditions, where 50 to 125 yard shots are the
norm. Occasionally, I get a 250 yard shot, across a crop field,
and the 7x is plenty powerful enough to get me aiming small.
The 2x is great for the typical first weekend of the season, where
the deer are nervous, and likely moving fast. The real world
here does not look like the Outdoor Channel programs with the
trophy bucks just walking leisurely in open country, or light
cover. The big bucks in this part of the world, DO NOT break
cover, unless they are forced to, and then they have the
after burners kicked in. If these conditions match yours,
then I would highly recommend a 2-7x power scope. If your
conditions are more open country shooting, then a 3-9x
would be a better choice. Bushnell has a 2.5-10x 4200 Elite,
with a "fixed" objective, that will probably be my next
"open country" deer rifle scope. I have a 5.5-16.5x Nikon
on my long range deer rifle(Tikka M695 in .25-06 Rem), that
is crying for a 2.5-10x 4200 Elite. I have decided that deer
and elk hunting rifle scopes should not be adjustable
objective. That is just one more thing to have to fool with,
and to break, that one really does not need to have on a
big game hunting rifle. For colony varmints, and paper punching,
AO scopes are fine, but for most hunting situations, the last
thing I want to be doing is focusing my stupid scope.

Squeeze

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 08, 2005, 08:42:41 AM »

Either the Leupold 2x7x33 or a 3x9x40 Leupold.

lgall · « **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2005, 10:00:15 AM »

I have both the 2-7x33 Leupold VXII and the 3-9x40 Burris FFII. I prefer the Burris over the Leupold. They are both very good scopes, but I like the ballistic plex reticle better as well as the little extra magnification.

Randy Flowers · « **Reply #14 on:** June 08, 2005, 01:51:15 PM »

As mentioned on another post on this forum, I am enduring the ignorant 10 day waiting period here in CA on a new 7-08 myself.

I have purchased a new Remington 700 Mountain Rifle LSS. I already own a Remington 700VLS in 7-08 and wanted another rifle in this great caliber. Something I could carry around and hunt with as opposed to shooting paper and steel.

I was lucky in that I had an extra Leupold 2.5X8 scope sitting here gathering dust. I intend to install it on the 7-08 with Leupold dual dovetail bases and low rings. The 2.5X8 is a nice, small, scope. The optics are first rate. I really like the size on a small rifle like this.

The 2.5X8 Leupolds are tough and reliable. I own three and they have seen some hard use over the years. They offer pretty good magnification, are small and light, and have very good field of view.

R F

Gregory · « **Reply #15 on:** June 08, 2005, 03:59:40 PM »

Quote from: Randy Flowers

I was lucky in that I had an extra Leupold 2.5X8 scope sitting here gathering dust. I intend to install it on the 7-08 with Leupold dual dovetail bases and low rings. The 2.5X8 is a nice, small, scope. The optics are first rate. I really like the size on a small rifle like this.

The 2.5X8 Leupolds are tough and reliable. I own three and they have seen some hard use over the years. They offer pretty good magnification, are small and light, and have very good field of view.

R F

I agree. I took a 2.5-8X Leupold off of another rifle and mounted it on my 7mm-08 Savage 11FL. The scope is worth as much as the rifle, but it makes for a well balanced and very accurate package.

Ramrod · « **Reply #16 on:** June 08, 2005, 11:57:09 PM »

My vote goes to the Leupold compacts, also!

smoky · « **Reply #17 on:** June 09, 2005, 09:00:54 AM »

I have a Leupold Vari X III 3.5 x 10 x 40 on my Rem 7-08AI with a 20" bbl. It is mounted with low Leupold rings. Looks great on this rifle and shoots even better. I think that a compact is not necessary for your setup unless YOU want a compact scope, perhaps for some slight weight reduction. I think a standard 2x7, 3x9, or 3.5 x 10 in a VX-II or VX III would be a perfect choice.

Smoky

Dave in WV · « **Reply #18 on:** June 09, 2005, 01:46:34 PM »

"The most bang for the buck" IMHO is a Nikon Monarch 3x9. About $150 less than a 2.5x8 VX III and just and bright and clear to me and my son.

t3shooter · « **Reply #19 on:** June 09, 2005, 05:56:46 PM »

I have a Burris FFII Bal. Plex. on my T3 Lite Stainless in 7-08 and it hit's dead on the marks. So far it seems like a great scope. Clear optics (better than price suggests, but not a Zeiss), no shift in POI, and the stainless scope looks great on the rifle. Can't complain.

firstshot · « **Reply #20 on:** June 10, 2005, 04:07:15 AM »

Quote from: t3shooter

............ and the stainless scope looks great on the rifle. Can't complain.

soggybottomboys20

t3shooter makes a great point.....a stainless scope does look great on the Rem Mtn LSS. Of course, I'm just a little bit bias. Here's a pic of mine.

Leupold certainly does have a following here, which is to be expected. They have great name recognition, and a significant share of the market, not to mention a very high quality and proven product. But don't overlook the relative new comers to the market such as Burris, Nikon, etc. Compare them side by side to a simarilly priced Leupold (and by that I mean look through both) and you'll find Burris & Nikon holding their own very well.

firstshot
---------------------------------
Make your first shot count!

JD338 · « **Reply #21 on:** June 11, 2005, 10:10:11 AM »

soggy,

You should consider a Leupold VXIII 2.5x8. These scopes are smaller and lighter than the 3x9 scopes. They are very bright for swamp and black timber hunting and very rugged. I have one on my 338 RUM, 35 Whelen and 280 AI.
I have used these scopes to hunt Blk Bear over bait in cedar swamps(10 40 yds), deer hunting in swamps (10 40 yds) and cut corn fields (50 350 yds) and elk and Mule Deer in the mountains.

You bought a very nice rifle, put a quality scope on it and you will have many enjoyable seasons with a reliable hunting rig.

Regards,

JD338

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #22 on:** June 12, 2005, 06:15:36 PM »

soggy

First let me state that I have the following scopes on my rifles:
Leupold M8-4x33mm (.375Win and .30-30)
Leupold Vari-X III 4.5-14x40mm (.257 Roberts)
Leupold VX-II 2-7x33mm (.45-70)
Simmons Whitetail Expedition 6-18x44mm (.22-250)
Simmons Aetec 2.8-10x44mm (7mm Rem Mag)
Burris Fullfield-II 3-9x40mm Ballistic Plex (.300 Win Mag)

The Leupolds, while very nice, are expensive enough that all but one was purchased used. I really like the 4.5-14x on the .257 as it gets used a lot as a varmint gun and the 14x makes those prairie dogs easier to see. The 2-7x is fairly compact, just what I wanted for my Marlin .45-70. The M8s on my other Marlins are nice but I sure wish they were more than 4x when working up loads.

The Whitetail Expedition was a replacement for a Simmons 44 Mag varmint scope. Simmons replaced the scope for free but later I discovered the problem was a bad barrel, not the scope. I really liked that 44 Mag better, but thats another story.

Both my hunting buddy and I have Simmons 2.8-10x44 Aetecs on our 7mm Mags and were both very happy with them. I wouldnt recommend an AO on a big game scope but the illuminated reticle might be nice. Not sure you need it though, as the Aetecs are very bright and my experience is that if I cant make out the reticle Id better check my watch half hour past sundown and all that.

The Burris Fullfield-II Ballistic Plex is the latest addition and I really like it. During load development I was banging away at the 200-yard steel and decided to back up to 300 yards. I dropped a hash mark and smacked the steel, no holdover or guessing. Once I finish load development Ill check the hash marks on paper at 300, 400 and 500 yards before hunting this fall. They are definitely a plus in my mind.

If I had a new 7mm-08 deer rifle to scope, which one would I get? First choice would be the Burris, second choice would be the Aetec.