Stevens 200 (3006) scope selection

[JimD]

I am watching a local sale on riflescopes at "Dicks Sporting Goods"

I have a $50.00 gift certificate so thats why I am shopping there.

Truglo - $139.00
Bushnell Trophy - $118.00
Nikon Pro - $190.00

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Jim

[rickyp]

all three of them are lower quilaty scopes from your listed I would go with the Nikon first then the Bushnell .

[.308 Win.]

A friend of mine bought a TruGlo and was really disappointed with it.  I have a Bushnell Trophy and it's okay but I really would go with the Nikon first of the three, then Bushnell and stay away from the TruGlo model altogether.  One moderator on this site (different forum) says that Bushnell Banner is a great scope for the money.  I trust his judgment.  You can, too.

[LaOtto222]

Just to add to what .308 Win stated; the Trophy is a step above the Banner. The Legend scopes are next and then the 3200's

[jlgwiz]

Bought a Stevens 200 30-06 last summer.  Used  Burris xtreme bases and burris sig zee med rings to mount my Bushnell Trophy and I have been happy with it.  Strange but the cheap Monarch (brass) 150 gr ammo seems to work best for me. Tried Rem., Federal and Win (not premium) but the Monarch did the best of the 150 load.  Now that deer season is over I will try other loads.

            jlgiwz

[DavOh]

Take all the money you saved by buying the 200, and spend it on the glass.... the better the scope, the better off you'll be...

if I just couldnt wait to save up a little more $$ I'd go with the nikon prostaff... though I'd prefer a Burris Fullfield II or Leupold....

IMHO

[colocowboy76]

i recently purchased a Simmons whitetail classic from midway, it is excellent for the money.  I got it on sale for $99 it is 6.5x20. I took the Leupold 3x9 off my 243 and so far i am very happy with the Simmons, a great buy.

[LaOtto222]

I have 2 of the Simmons WTC I think they are a very good scope for the money, but they are a varmint scope and too high powered for that too. Unless you do a lot of shooting and do it from a good rest, most hunters and varmint shooters are better served with a lower powered scope. Even off a Bi-pod I have trouble shooting the higher powers and find myself turning down the power to 10 or 12X. If you can't see your PD with a 10X scope, you are probably shooting too far. I have shot tiny black birds at 250 yards with a Bushnell Banner 10X scope. PDs should not be a problem out to 500+ yards with 10X. On a hunting rifle a good 2X7 would be plenty. With cheaper scopes, Simmons WTC  and Bushnell Banner 6X24, the point of impact changes with the cranking of the power ring, not the parallax. If I sight in at 20X off of a bench then go to the field and turn down the power, I just changed my point of impact. So I sight in using the power I am going to use in the field. You would be surprised at how well you can shoot with the power turned down. Most deer hunters would be best served with a straight 4X. I am going to show you a target that I shot with a 223. This was with a Simmons WTC shot at 100 yards. I shot 3 three shot groups off of a solid rest, changing nothing but the power ring. Notice the impact shift and notice that the group shot at 12X was not much worse that the one shot at 20X. I did not shoot several targets and pick the best one. I just loaded and shot. This was the only one I shot. My Brother In Law borrowed this gun for some woodchuck pests in the back yard. He shot the first one then missed three, he  said that the gun did not shoot straight, so I was just checking to see if it was off. I had him using it at 6.5X because he was not an experienced shot.



BTW Since this a Savage forum; this was shot with a Stevens 200...a little modified, but still a Stevens

[Graybeard]

Truglo - $139.00
Bushnell Trophy - $118.00
Nikon Pro - $190.00

Any suggestions?

The Bushnell Trophy is an excellent scope for the money. From those on your list I'd go with it.

[rickyp]

I will have to agree the high power scopes are not all they are cracked up to be at least for hunting.

I do use variable scopes on most of my handguns and rifles and 90% of the time I have them set to about mid range in the 4 to 6 X or rifle and normally 4 on handguns.  I have found this gives me the best of field of view with the ability to pick a spot to shoot at.

Now when I am in a position where I need the higher X and from a solid rest I will crank up the X for a more precise shot placement.

[LaOtto222]

I did not mean to distract from the original posting. I thought I voted for the Bushnell, but after rereading I can see maybe some confusion. I am with Bill, get the Bushnell, for the money I think it is your best buy, not that the Nikon Pro is bad, it is $72 more and not $70 better IMO.

[smokey262]

I agree.  Of the choices listed the Bushnell Trophy is the best.  To my eyes the Nikon Pro-Staff is a poor scope at the prices they sell for.  It if was selling for $85 it would be about right

You may wish to also plan what bases and rings you will need.  The long action Savage is a tad on the long side, and you may need extended bases or rings depending on the scope you select. 

[colocowboy76]

if you decide on the nikon prostaff www.opticsplanet.com has the 3x9 on sale for 149.00 w freeshipping...  just sayin... or if you can step to 219 you can get a bushnell elite 3200 3-10  WELL woth the money  here is the link to it.... http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-elite-3-10x40-short-action-riflescope.html

[JimD]

My thanks for all the informationon this subject.

I appreciate all the thoughts.

Jim