Remington 7mm Mag

[jceppley]

I just recently purchased a Remington 7mm Mag. with camo finish and it came with a cheap Bushnell scope.  Everytime I shot it, the scope would move out of sight about 1/4 to 1/2".  I took it off and put it on my .22 Marlin, and bought a Leupold Rifleman 3x9x50mm for it.  IMO this should be a decent enough scope to put on my rifle to give me a true shot.  Any thoughts?  Thanks in advance to any comments!  Good luck in the 09 season all!

[james25889]

i love the 3x9x50 's i have two of them one on my 270 and the other one on my 308  good choice in my opinion

[Bart Solo]

Your Leupold Rifleman is a good scope. I wouldn't hesitate to put one on a hunting rifle. 

Now there are people who will argue that you should always buy a scope that costs more than the rifle. Who knows, they might be right. 

[jceppley]

Yeah, I've heard that before.  I know a guy who bought a 500 dollar gun and spent 1000 on the scope.  I spent 310 on mine and my rifle was 500.  Anyway, thanks for the thoughts!

[charles p]

I agree that a good scope is essential, even on a cheap rifle.  In such case, the scope will hold or increase in value and the rifle will probably decrease in value.  There are several exceptions of cheap rifles that have become valuable.  The old mod 70 is probably the best example.  Rem Mod 788 is another.  Old scopes that were quality scopes in their days have mostly retained their value.

I think a good scope is essential and a great value as an investment.

[Coyote Hunter]

My thoughts are the scope needs to be “good enough”.  What that means to me is a sight picture that is clear and sharp at the ranges at which I use the scope, at all magnification levels.  They should also hold their zero and if not precisely 1/4” or 1/2” or whatever per click, they should be consistent.   They should, of course, be nitrogen filled for fog-free performance. There are other features I look for as well, but those are the most important.

What that means in practice is that I have a bunch of Leupold (multiple Vari-X IIIs, Vari-X IIs, VX-II and multiple M8s) and Burris (Fullfield II with Ballistic Plex reticle) scopes.  My rifles are hunters and I consider the rifle to be far more rugged than any scope.  Therefore I spend more on the rifle and take a spare when hunting.  Most of my Leupold scopes were purchased used, for $100 (M8s, Vari-X II) to $350 (Vari-X IIIs) with the others falling somewhere in the middle .  The Burris scopes, all purchased new, run me $159 (3-9x) to $259 (4.5-14xAO).

Last November I went elk hunting with a Remington M700.  Coming down off the first mountain I fell twice, dinging both the stock and the scope, both purchased new.  I was really glad it wasn’t a $1200 Swarovski riding in the rings.  Wasn’t the first time I’ve taken a hard fall, and it likely won’t be the last…

Now a scope for a a range rifle/safe queen would be a different story…

[kudzu]

Coyote Hunter, sounds like you need ballet lessions

[corbanzo]

Yeah, those 710/770 packages only have like a $30 scope on there.  I have one, and it has actually been a really good scope.

[Coyote Hunter]

Yeah, those 710/770 packages only have like a $30 scope on there.  I have one, and it has actually been a really good scope.

For the firs 19 years of so that I big game hunted I had a Bushnell 309 Sportview on my 7mm Rem Mag.  I never much card for the scope but it was all I could afford in 1982 when I bought it. That scope proved to be indestructible and held a zero well (including through a bad fall from a mule where I landed on my rifle and busted a couple ribs).  It wasn't the greatest i low light conditions but it never cost me a shot, either.

These days when I buy a rifle with a cheapo scope, the scope comes off immediately.  But I don't see any need to replace them with budget busters either.  Most of my scopes have ben purchased used.  A $200 scope may not allow you to be competitive at 1000 yards but it is far more than most hunters will ever need.

[Coyote Hunter]

Coyote Hunter, sounds like you need ballet lessions

Don't know about dance lessons but fewer falls would be welcome.  Took a dive off a mule once (one reason I don't hunt from horses) and cracked a couple ribs, tried to continue hunting but called it quits after a day.  A couple years ago I had an elk quarter over one shoulder, my rifle over the other and a pack on my back when I slipped on ice and landed on the sharp edge of a wedge-shaped rock, cracking my pelvis. Fortunately the hunt was already over as it was all I could do to make it down to the vehicle.  Didn't do the rifle or scope any good in either fall, but they came through OK.  One was the Bushnell 3-9 mentioned in an earlier post, the other a Burris Fullfield II 3-9.

[Catfish]

For many years I have believed in 2 things about scopes. 1 st. You should alway buy the best you can afford and 2. The 3 x 9 variable is the best all around scope you can buy. You did good. Now aways carry it set on 3X. If the target is far enough out that you could use more power you`ll have time to adjust it up, but if you have a close fast shot you`ll most likely not find the target in the scope if your carring it on 9X.

[jceppley]

Thanks for the tips catfish.  My brother-in-law told me to keep it between 3 and 4 as well.  Peace

[Coyote Hunter]

Thanks for the tips catfish.  My brother-in-law told me to keep it between 3 and 4 as well.  Peace

Mine are kept at 4.5x.

[jro45]

I used to use Bushnell until I got tired of sending them back for repair. Now I use leapole & Burris scopes