My Wife does love me ! 7mm-08 Marlin XS7 under tree.

[GEWDOIT]

I got the Marlin and my son got a Mossberg ATR 270. For right now going to mount a free Tasco 3-9 on the 270 and a free Pentax 6-18 0n the 7mm-08(free is free and I'm broke after Christmas) We hunt whitetail in Ga. and would like expert advice on what ammo to use. I've always liked regular ole core-lokts and was gonna use the 150 softpoint in the 270 and the 140 pointed softpoints in the 7mm-08. Most of our shots are 50-150 with the rare 200+ shot if hunting over a field instead of the woods. Any expert recomendations would be appreciated.

[Fred McIntire]

No expert here but I liked the Nosler Ballistic Tips when I had my 7mm-08 Encore. I hand loaded and they gave 1 ragged hole groups.

[GEWDOIT]

If you are handloading you're more expert than me. I was looking more at factory ammo off the shelf stuff. But thanks for your response. My previous gun for hunting was a 1891 Gew 88 commision surplus gun my dad bought in the 1970s from a woolworths store for $25. I told my wife all my friends laughed at me cause my gun was 100+ years old and I needed a new one. I always used 170 core-lokts in it and never had a deer move more than 10 yds after being hit. I still love that old gun but I was passing up to many last 10 min of hunting deer cause I couldn't see the iron sights on it late in the evening.

[burntmuch]

I hand load for my 7mm-08 Hornady SSTs. But I would suspect the remington corlocts will be just fine for ya. Enjoy your present. Thats a heck of a Christmas present. You,re a lucky man

[Dave in WV]

Aww, CoreLokts won't work but I'm no expert. That's why I load them in my 7mm-08 and .243.
My second choice would be Hornady 139gr flat based bullets.

BTW, my wife loves me and I got a card.

[GEWDOIT]

Having trouble with the old hand-me-down Pentax 6-18x scope. It won't adjust to the right. The up-down adjust fine but I'm about 4-5 inches to the left at 100 yds and I can't get it to move over to the right. Plus I don't need that much magnification. Any suggestions on a good basic scope for this rifle ? Once again my shots here in S.E. Ga are 50 to 150 yds with the rare 250 yd shot. Price range under $150. Shot it's first deer Jan. 1, 130 lb doe at about 75 yds. Dropped in her tracks.

[dks7895]

At $150 budget, I would recommend either the Nikon Prostaff or one of the new Redfield Revolution scopes. 

[2ndtimer]

Having trouble with the old hand-me-down Pentax 6-18x scope. It won't adjust to the right. The up-down adjust fine but I'm about 4-5 inches to the left at 100 yds and I can't get it to move over to the right. Plus I don't need that much magnification. Any suggestions on a good basic scope for this rifle ? Once again my shots here in S.E. Ga are 50 to 150 yds with the rare 250 yd shot. Price range under $150. Shot it's first deer Jan. 1, 130 lb doe at about 75 yds. Dropped in her tracks.

If I needed scopes and had serious budget constraints, I would opt for a couple of these:
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&brand=IT&prodID=IT94615&prodTitle=Intensity%20Optics%203-10x44%20Rifle%20Scope%20Duplex%20Reticle%20Matte%20Finish
I have 2 of these Intensity scopes in the 6.5-20x44, and while they aren't Leupold VX-3's, they are fairly bright and clear and have repeatable click adjustments.  If you aren't comfortable ordering a scope online, I would probably opt for one of the new Redfield scopes or try to find a used Leupold or Burris Fullfield II somewhere.
Edit:  Natchez also has the Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40 scope on special for $99.95
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=NK6310

[GEWDOIT]

I noticed you used only Tasco and centerpoint scopes in your list of guns. Is there a reason why you didnt recomend either of these ? Also the Intensity scopes do look interesting and that price is sure tough to beat.

[dks7895]

It's quite simple...I didn't have a $150 budget.

Knock on wood...my Tasco and CenterPoint scopes have held up fine.  They hold zero and are clear enough for me. 

[scootrd]

If I needed scopes and had serious budget constraints, I would opt for a couple of these:
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&brand=IT&prodID=IT94615&prodTitle=Intensity%20Optics%203-10x44%20Rifle%20Scope%20Duplex%20Reticle%20Matte%20Finish
I have 2 of these Intensity scopes in the 6.5-20x44, and while they aren't Leupold VX-3's, they are fairly bright and clear and have repeatable click adjustments.  If you aren't comfortable ordering a scope online, I would probably opt for one of the new Redfield scopes or try to find a used Leupold or Burris Fullfield II somewhere.
Edit:  Natchez also has the Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40 scope on special for $99.95
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=NK6310

Hands down , this would be my 7mm-08 choice of scope for the budget conscious.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/burris-timberline-4-5-14x32mm-ballistic-plex-riflescope-201344.html

This is the Burris replacement for their short mag series.  Sharp optics, compact, excellent reticule . Perfect for low mount on a short action application 5" of eye relief, AO feature is surperb.  Alot of scope for the money

Here would be my runner up

http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-elite-3200-2-7x32mm-riflescope-w-rainguard-322732m.html

[HogFan]

When I had a 7mm-08 in a TC Encore, it too liked the 140 gr. Nosler BT's. As far as scopes go, you might try finding some closeout Busnell Elite's. I think Natchez may have them for $139 right now. I have three and really like them.

[GEWDOIT]

Scootrd, I like the 2-7 power on those to scopes for the ranges I shoot but I was wondering about the 32mm instead of a 40mm. A great deal of my available shots are in the very last 5 min. of legal hunting. Is there going to be any noticeable differnce in the 32mm and the 40mm in those last 5 min. The doe I shot the other day did not show up until 6:03, last legal shot for that day was 6:05.

[woodyed]

There is definitely going to be a difference between a 32mm and a 40mm objective lens at dusk. The 40mm will be brighter and show more detail as it has more light gathering power. This difference will also be very apparent in the twilight hours in the morning.

[GEWDOIT]

Thats what I was thinking and fogging up after the sun sets is my second biggest problem that drives me crazy. I hunted for years with iron sights and the only scopes I have experience with are my old Pentax 6-18, an old Tasco world class 3-9, and a Cabelas alaskan guide 3-9. They get very gray or foggy those last 10 min. Is that just an old and/or cheap scope problem or common in all scopes.

[woodyed]

I don't recall ever having a problem with fogging or hazyness at dusk. Whether your problem is because of the scopes you are using, I don't know. My rifles and encore pistols all have Nikon, Weaver, Sightron, or Burris scopes on them. Your best bet is to go to a local gun dealer/gun shop about the time it's getting dark and look through some of his scopes. I can heartily recommend Sightron SII 6x42 and Nikon Monarch scopes for rifles, particularly in dusk and twilight shooting situations. The Weaver 6x40 K6 scope is also good.

[Huffmanite]

gewdoit,   Scootrd's suggestion of the Intensity scope from Natchez for $50 is a good recommendation.   It is basically a Weaver 40/44 scope that sells for well over twice the price as the Intensity.    Intensity brand does not exist anymore, but their scopes are the Weaver 40/44 series.  Intensity and Weaver both owned by same company and Weaver handles warranty on Intensity.

[wareagleguy]

I have that very same rifle scoped with a Leupold Veri-x III.  I reload for it with 140 seirras and it is deadly accurate.  I know many folks try to find the best scope for a price but I promise you that if you save up and get a Leupold VX2 or better a VX3 and you will have a scope for life.  For the money it is as good as it gets.  You WILL add more hunting time in low light hours.