12 Best Scopes For .30-06 Rifles

Created in 1906 by Springfield Arms for the military, the venerable .30-06 is not the oldest still-serving military round on the planet today, but it is the most common for its generation. The “cartridge, ball, caliber .30, Model of 1906" is one of the most popular hunting cartridges in the United States today.

Walk into any good hardware or sporting goods store, and you will find a wide selection of .30-06 ammo. You can find single shots, levers, pumps, bolts and auto-loaders on the racks.

Pairing your rifle with a good optical system is critical. Here is a list of the top picks for a .30-06 rifle scope.

1. Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10X40mm

For the noble .30-06, the Leupold VX-3i is simply the best of the best. Ultra-clear view, a lifetime warranty that follows the scope, and a testing process that is, well, unorthodox at times, means you are getting a scope that will not let you down no matter the field conditions. This scope has a 1-inch main tube.

The lens is coated with a “twilight” covering that improves the night gathering ability in low lighting conditions. 

Be sure of when shooting hours end before you pull the trigger. Sometimes, that extra 5-10 minutes the Twilight coating gives you is the difference between success and going home empty handed again.

Reticle

The VX-3i comes with a choice of three reticles. Remember, in the hands of someone who can really shoot, the .30-06 can take game at 1,000 yards. Most shooters will never need to reach those longer-ranges. 

The majority of whitetails are taken under 100 yards and mule deer under 200 yards. For those shooters, the standard duplex reticle is ideal. Sight your scope in an inch to two inches high at 100 yards, and you are good to about 300 yards, putting the crosshairs in the center of the breadbasket.

For shooters who need longer shots or to allow for wind, the Wind-Plex has hash-marks on the windage line in the scope. Spend some time on the range to learn how wind affects your chosen bullet to understand how to use the Wind-Plex. 

Other shooters need more range and wind is less of an issue. The Boone & Crockett crosshairs are graduated for elevation, allowing you to reach out to 500 or more yards with a minimum holdover. Just set the lower bars for distance and gently touch the trigger.

Magnification

The field of view (FOV) ranges from 29.8 feet at 100 yards to 11 feet at maximum magnification. For the typical hunter, that is plenty of zoom. The scope does not have a ballistic turret, as found on tournament-grade and special purpose scopes. 

The internals offer 1/4 minute of angle (MOA) adjustments to let you dial-in at 100 yards and still be on target at 500. Elevation and windage have 65 MOA of total adjustment.

These comprise the internal erector system. As Leupold explains, the internal erector system is, “the part inside the scope that controls magnification and point-of-impact [that] moves around inside the main tube. With long range shooting, the bullet drops more the farther you shoot.”

Sealed

All real Leupolds (beware counterfeits from places like Wish) are sealed against water, dust and the elements. The VX-3i is purged and filled with an argon/krypton gas mix. The company says this is even better than nitrogen-filled scopes and “eliminates thermal shock”. 

Thermal shock is best described as going from the warm interior of a vehicle to sub-freezing temperatures outside. Some scopes simply cannot handle that kind of shock.

2. Athlon Optics Argos BTR 6-24X50mm

Let’s get tactical. The Athlon comes in a 30mm tube. Adjustments are 1/4 MOA. This scope has a red light reticle. The scope is factory-tested to withstand 1000Gs of recoil, time after time, putting it in the same category as the Leupold for endurance tests.

Being a first focal plane scope (FFP), the reticle will change in size as you zoom in to or out from your target. Some shooters like this, others do not. If you are not sure, talk to friends with both and try their scopes before dropping money on a first or second focal plane reticle scope (SFP). 

This scope allows the old .30-06 to achieve its maximum range and potential

Windage

The ballistic turrets allow you to center the scope for windage and elevation and return to zero with no problem.

Reticle

This scope is etched-glass. This is superior to wire because there is no wire to break. This type of eyepiece has a much higher resistance to shock damage than wire. The 30mm tube is purged and filled with argon, a superior gas to nitrogen for filling a scope.

The reticle is illuminated red. In dim and long range shooting conditions, this can help you gain a faster sight picture. It adjusts in 1/4 MOA clicks. It has 60 MOA of adjustment in elevation and windage. Given one of the reticles available for this scope, that is far more than enough. 

At maximum magnification, the BDC reticle hash-marks fill the scope view.

Sealed

The scope is waterproof and fog proof.

Parallax

Parallax adjustment is a side focus ring and ranges from 10 feet to infinity. There are times when parallax is going to matter and times when it does not. As with so many things in life, it is better to have and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Frankly, if you need to shoot something at less than 10 yards, just point the gun. Finding a decent sight picture through this scope at that distance is going to be extremely hard.

Magnification

At 100 yards, this rifle scope ranges from 16.7 feet to an amazing 4.5 feet. At 1,000 yards, that is a 45-foot FOV, comparable to many scopes at the minimum setting for 100 yards.

How does this scope work? Check out our complete  Athlon Midas TAC 6-24×50 review.

3. Trijicon AccuPower 3-9X40

With six models to choose from, the Trijicon AccuPower fits the bill for nearly every shooting situation. The one-inch tube is aircraft-grade aluminum. This is a SFP scope. It is waterproof to 10 feet.

Trijicon is better known for producing glowing iron sights for the handgun market. Its foray into glass optics is solid as the company stands behind its products.

Windage

The scope offers 60 MOA total elevation and windage, plenty of room for adjustment. Given the MIL-Square reticle (see below), further through-the-scope adjustments are easy to make once you learn the system. You can easily adjust both on the turrets.

Reticle

The eyepiece choices range from a mostly standard view to illuminated green or red with BDC hash-marks to a MIL-Square reticle designed by a former Marine sniper. The Mil-Square, with its additional hash-marks running down at an angle, may take a bit of getting used to. 

You can expect about 30 hours of illumination with the CR2032 lithium battery.

Sealed

The scope is nitrogen-purged and filled for superior fog resistance.

Parallax

Parallax adjustment is 10 yards to infinity. Again, got to wonder why this comes in so close. It does not harm the scope to have a parallax adjustment that close. It is just not needed.

Magnification

The FOV ranges from 35.5 feet. to 11.8 feet. at 100 yards. That works out to a bit more than 30 yards across at 100 yards on maximum magnification.

4. Vortex Optics Razor LH HD G4 BDC

Vortex says the Razor is “one scope to rule them all”. In truth, no single scope can beat every other scope on the market. However, the Vortex Razor does an excellent job of filling the needs for the shooter ranging from beginner to advanced. 

The rifle scope has 1/4 MOA adjustments and a Return to Zero capability on the elevation and windage turrets. The settings are actually in Milli Radians (MRAD), not minute of angle. Precision shooters say they prefer this graduation because it makes fine-tuning easier.

Windage

The scope delivers a whopping 79 MOA adjustment plane on elevation and windage. Again, this is measured in MRAD on the dials. The average shooter will never know the difference. The experienced shooter will have a preference between MRAD and MOA but can easily work with either. 

Turrets lock into place to prevent the shooter accidentally changing them.

Reticle

The G4i-BDC is highly adaptable to the shooter and platform. It is equally at home on the .30-06 as a rimfire or a smoke pole. It even works well on slug shotguns.

Sealed

This is a tactical scope on a single-piece aircraft-grade aluminum 30mm tube. Vortex steps up the game a bit more by adding an ultra-hard finish to the scope to resist scratching. It is filled with argon.

Parallax

The Parallax adjustment is 20 feet to infinity. Again, that’s a bit close given the nature of this scope, but it is not a drawback.

Magnification

The magnification is pretty much in the middle on this list of scopes. It delivers a FOV of 35.3-7.0 feet at 100 yards

5. Vortex Optics Viper HST 6-24X50

Since the old .30-06 is fully capable of crossing 10 football fields, some people want a scope that can match that capability. The Vortex Viper HST 6-24X50 delivers. With ballistic turrets for evelation and windage, you can dial in your shot with precision not available in non-tactical scopes. 

This rifle scope is on a 30mm tube. It comes with a lifetime warranty and is rated shockproof.

Once you get your scope, you can customize the turrets to your caliber, bullet weight and, more importantly, the bullet drop over distance and the wind resistance.

Reticle

The Vortex Viper comes with a choice of two reticles. 

The VMR-1 MOA has elevation and windage hash-marks that allow an experienced shooter to make immediately needed adjustments. In rapid-fire situations, the shooter can also make shot-to-shot adjustments without touching the scope.

The VMR-1 MRAD delivers one of the largest graduated reticles in the industry. In the hands of a real shooter, the elevation adjustment through the lens and reticle is enough to adjust for most shots without touching the turrets.

Sealed

The scope is made from a single piece of aircraft-grade aluminum. This allows Vortex to seal and purge the tube with argon, a gas that is superior to nitrogen for rifle scopes. Argon is a noble gas. 

Parallax

The Vortex Viper offers parallax adjustments from 50 yards to infinity. Given the nature of this scope, 50-yard shots should be uncommon.

Internals

Inside the scope, you have 65 MOA elevation and windage. Each turn of a turret is 12 MOA click adjustment.

Magnification

This high-magnification scopes offers 17.8 feet to 5.10 feet at 100 yards. That kind of magnification means a bigger animal, like a monster mule deer, will completely fill the scope at 100 yards on maximum magnification.

6. Vortex Optics Diamondback

A one-piece 1-inch tube of aircraft-grade aluminum is where the Vortex Diamondback starts. The scope does have adjustable turrets, but they are capped. This is not as efficient as practical scopes, but it will work. Still, if you need that in-field manual adjustment, you are better off with a tactical scope. 

The Diamondback comes with Vortex’s lifetime warranty. It has a one-inch tube.

For hunters and shooters interested in targets at 250 yards or less, this scope will deliver everything you want. It adjusts in 1/4 MOA clicks and each turn delivers 15 MOA. 

Overall, you get 60 MOA on elevation and windage through the scope. This is not as great as some tactical scopes, but it should get you on the X at 100 yards without any problem.

Reticle

Vortex bills this scope as a Dead-Hold BDC reticle. The graduations are in MOA. You do need to know your ammo’s performance to make through-the-scope adjustments to make your shot. Knowing how the wind affects down-range performance and bullet drop over distance is critical here. 

Spend some time burning powder and slinging lead on the range to learn what your setup will do under various conditions.

Sealed

The tube is sealed, purged and filled with argon gas. This is superior to nitrogen-filled scopes as the argon is more stable than nitrogen. Under rapid temperature changes, you are less likely to have problems compared to nitrogen

Second focal plane reticle

In this scope, the reticle is behind the magnification lens, meaning it is closer to your eye. In practical terms, it means the reticle size stays the same throughout the magnification range in the scope. Some shooters prefer this as it gives them a fixed reference point.

Magnification

At 100 yards at the lowest setting, you have 32.4-foot FOV. At maximum magnification, the FOV is 11.3 feet. That kind of stretch gets you to 500 yards on a big whitetail easily.

How does this scope work? Check out our complete Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40mm review.

7. Burris Fullfield II 3-9X40mm

Looking for a budget scope that still performs at levels expected from scopes considerably more expensive? The Burris Fullfield II 3-9X40mm is the one to consider. It comes in silver or black, something the others do not, and offers two reticle choices. This scope is a one-piece one-inch tube. 

Adjustment values are 1/4 MOA. It has a 50 click adjustment range in elevation and windage. This is not as broad as some rifles. If more adjustment is needed, look into a scope mount that allows rough windage changes. This scope is nitrogen-filled, which is enough for nearly all shooters outside the arctic ranges.

Reticle

The scope comes with a choice of reticles. It has the plain wide-to-narrow bar that is enough for the .30-06 to distances of 250 yards or so. Those needing to reach farther should choose the ballistic reticle. 

The ballistic eyepiece is pre-set to work with the most common calibers and bullet weights. You do need to bust some primers on the range to get a feel for how the hash-marks line up with your chosen rounds.

Sealed

Instead of the typical O-ring found on most scopes, the Burris Fullfield has quad seals at each end of the scope. This delivers superior sealing to keep out fog, dust and water.

Internals

The Fullfield uses steel-to-steel adjustments in the turrets for longer life. Aluminum is fine for some applications, but it wears out much faster than steel. If you plan to do a lot of sighting-in, windage or elevation changes, then you need steel.

Magnification

The FOV ruins from 12 to 33 feet at 100 yards, giving this an average FOV at minimum magnification and on the wider end when zoomed out.

If you are looking for some other options with same magnification, then must check out our guide on best 3-9x40mm scope. 

8. Simmons 3-9X50mm 8 Point Rifle Scope

For shooters who know their maximum shot is 250 yards and plan to do the majority of their shooting at under 100 yards, the Simmons 3-9X50mm 8 Point is a no-frills, basic scope that gets the job done without crushing your wallet at the same time. 

This scope will hold up fine on the .30-06, but is not suited for big-bore, dangerous game calibers. It is a one-inch tube.

Windage

It has 1/4 click adjustments and 60 MOA adjustment range for windage and elevation.

Reticle

The reticle is basic. Wide bars narrow as it reaches the center. No hash-marks or graduation lines. Any necessary adjustments for windage or elevation are strictly on the fly.

Sealed

The scope is sealed to be waterproof, fog-proof and dust-proof.

Parallax

The scope is not adjusted for parallax error. Some shooters report the sight plane gets a bit fuzzy past 100 yards. Others say they don’t experience this.

9. Leupold VX-3HD 3.5 – 10x 40mm Rifle Scope

Leupold rifle scope has a sterling reputation for superb optics, and if low-light, long-range hunting is your thing, then the Leupold Elite Optical System is ideal. 

All the optics come with a hard surface coating to ensure they're not easily scratched. The surfaces also have a defined wave-length coating to improve optimal light transmission, giving excellent color and clarity in all light conditions.

For those long-distance shots, a good field of view is essential, so you don't miss something that may affect your target. At 100 yards, you have a broad view of 29 feet at low magnification, ensuring you'll see everything around your mark. 

As you zero in on your chosen target and the magnification increases, the field of view reduces to 11 feet. This will still give you a clear picture of the surroundings.  

Hunters don't always get to choose ideal conditions so having a scope that can live with you in the wilderness is essential. The Leupold VX is fog-proof, dust-proof, and shock-proof, so using it when the environmental conditions deteriorate will not change its effectiveness.

Using the Custom Dial System, the turret adjustments are fully customizable. Setting the environmental conditions and ballistics information is straightforward, making target acquisition quick and easy. Once set, the turret can be locked, preventing you from accidentally changing the settings. 

This scope carries the famed Leupold Duplex reticle, featuring heavy lines that force your eye towards the center, where there are more refined lines merging into the cross-hairs. For this scope, leupold rifle scope has added a second focal plane reticle with tapered posts and a fine line crosshair ensuring deadly accurate aim every time. 

10. ATN X-Sight-4K, 3-14x Pro Edition Smart Day/Night Hunting Rifle Scope

Chasing down feral hogs at night needs an extraordinary scope that makes nighttime hunting safe and straightforward. Your 30 06 becomes a versatile weapon with an ATN X-Sight-4K scope making hunts in the hours of darkness almost as easy as daylight action.

Then there is the ATN X Sight 4K Pro, which works well in all light conditions. This feature, plus a digitally controlled sight system, makes the ATN X Sight 4K Pro an unbeatable package.

The scope has a 40mm objective lens containing an illuminated reticle making it simple to use in poor light conditions. The reticle has 5x magnification, and the markings are very easy to read. The crosshairs cover around 45% of the view, but you still have more than enough clarity to see your target.

The ATN X Sight 4K Pro has a digital imaging system which means the scope sees accurate images in full color during the day and uses advanced computerized image processing to enhance those images at night.  

The ATN X-Sight-4K has a Dual Core Processor that is recoil activated to start streaming 1080p HD video via wifi to a mobile device. If your mobile is not in your pocket, store the recording on the SD card tucked into the scope. 

11. Athlon Optics Talos 3-12×40 Second Focal Plane Riflescope

The Athlon Optics Talos 3 is designed for dusk and dawn, and you cannot go wrong with this package.

It comes with multi-coated lenses that give clear, crisp images in low light but eliminate glare at midday. The scope is nitrogen filled, so there'll be no fogging on the lenses irrespective of the weather conditions. 

The scope has a tough skin constructed of aircraft-grade aluminum making this a scope that won't collapse with rough handling. The body is a one-piece heat-treated tube giving it extra strength. A one-piece body is also better for water and dust-proofing the optics.  

This scope comes with a mechanical system specially designed to withstand the erector and control system shock on the recoil. The manufacturer claims it will withstand a 1,000 G recoil 1,000 times.

The buyer can choose three types of reticles with this scope: a Center X reticle, Mil-Dot, or BDC600.  

The Center X is the choice for shooters that want a clear field of view, with traditionally crossed hairs in the center. Mil-Dot reticles have crosshair reticles with four small dots arranged along each axis. These dots are arranged in such a way as to allow for the estimation of range, as each dot represents 3.6" at 100 yards. BDC600 reticles have an open circle aiming system with hash marks to assist with estimating range. The bullet drop compensation reticles are helpful for long-range hunters who need to calculate the drop of their bullets over a given distance. 

12. Monstrum G2 1-4x24 FFP Scope

The Monstrum G2 1-4x24 FFP scope is new from Monstrum Tactical. With its limited magnification, this FFP (First Focal Pane) scope is designed for close to medium ranges and delivers premium performance.

A sealed, nitrogen-charged 30mm scope tube, manufactured from aircraft grade 6061 aluminum and weighing in at just one pound, houses the optics. The G2 is perfect because it is resistant to dust, fogging, and water giving you a perfect view no matter the weather. 

Every scope must be firmly attached to your rifle. The G2 is firmly held in place via 30mm scope rings, which are included in the package. 

Additional bonuses from Monstrum are an anti-reflective sunshade, flip-up lens covers, and a CR2023 battery to provide power for the illuminated reticle.

The scope comes with a first focal plane range finder. The First Focal Plane Reticle refers to the position of the magnification lens and the reticle. The reticle is positioned in front of the magnification lens in these scopes. As the magnification grows, the reticle follows suit. 

This is ideal for hunters who use their scopes at the top end of the magnification range. But hunters who prefer low magnification may find the reticle small and challenging to use.

The scope has 1x to 4x magnification, and the reticle is black in good light conditions or illuminated in green or red for easy viewing in low light conditions.

The scope has an adjustable objective lens, allowing for sharp focus on the target and eliminating parallax. Hunters are often plagued with parallax as they find their aim moves when you move your eye position. This lens will help to eliminate this problem.

Buying Guide

Finding the best rifle scope to mount onto your .30-06 rifle needs careful consideration before shelling out your hard-earned money. The scope must be a good fit for what you intend to use it for and your rifle's characteristics.

Distance

This is a critical factor for you to consider. You must understand the limitations and capabilities of your rifle. The .30-06 has excellent ballistic characteristics, which accounts for its popularity as a hunting rifle, but it was never meant to be a rifle accurate at over 1,000 yards.

The .30-06 performs flawlessly in short to medium range, so hunts of around 200 to 300 yards will be successful. Look at scopes in this range unless you are an exceptional marksman.

Magnification

Considering the distances discussed above, looking for highly high magnification is unnecessary. A magnification of 4x to 9x should be sufficient to ensure an accurate shot.

Under 200 yards, your .30-06 will shoot flat, so a 1x magnification will be perfect if these are the distances within which you are hunting.

Remember that slight movement can throw the reticle off the target at high magnification. Long range shooting at high magnification should only be done with firm support for the rifle, so your arms or breathing causes no movement.

Optics

The clarity of the view is vital in the selection of scope. Avoid any scope that does not have glass lenses. Lenses should be multi-coated for durability and to ensure clean, crisp images. 

Reticle

The choice of FFP or SFP reticles is primarily a matter of choice. The First Focal Plane reticle will grow and shrink with magnification as the reticle is the same size relative to the target at all times. 

So which to choose? If you intend to use your scope in the top part of its magnification range most of the time, then go for the FFP reticle. If your scope is most often used in the lower end of the magnification range, you may find the reticle dot is tiny and difficult to see.

Illuminated reticles are required for nighttime use. Bear in mind the law regarding night hunts and check the regulations in your state.

Parallax

Parallax is when you get an inconsistency in your view when you look through your scope. The crosshairs appear to move across the target as you shift your eyes. This phenomenon means the reticle is not accurately reflecting where you're aiming.

For short distances, the accuracy of your aim is not affected, but beyond 200 yards, you must have the correct parallax adjustment to avoid aiming errors.

Weight

This is an obvious criterion for you to consider. Will you be walking long distances with your rifle? Do you use your rifle for target shooting? In either of these cases, you do not want to hold a couple of pounds up for long periods, so consider more lightweight scopes. 

The weight of the scope is not only attributed to the body's construction but also the optics housed inside. The more magnification you demand from your scope, the heavier the lenses will be, so again, be reasonable about the amount of magnification you are looking for.

Field of View

A wide FOV allows you to see more of what is around your target when it is initially acquired. A narrow FOV means you may miss important information about the surrounding area when viewing one target.

Mounts and Rings

The mount for your scope is essential as it provides the stability the scope needs to provide you with focus and accuracy. The rings must be sturdy, well constructed, and securely hold the scope.

Eye Relief 

To avoid eye injuries, take the time to ensure that the scope has adequate eye relief. This safe distance between your scope and your eye must be sufficient so that you do not get injured when your rifle recoils.

Windage and Elevation Adjustment

Seasoned shooters will know the value of the level, especially for long-distance shots. Being able to compensate for bullet drop according to your chosen ballistics is valuable.

Windage adjusts the reticle right or left and adjusts the horizontal path of the bullet. This is important when shooting in a crosswind,  

Having easy-to-use adjusting knobs that work with or without gloves is essential.

Brand

It is important to buy a brand with a reputation in the marketplace. Finding customer reviews of a particular scope in this day and age is effortless. If the brand has a reputation for producing high quality scopes, you will also find it will back its reputation with a good warranty.

Manufacture

Manufacturers of quality scopes use aircraft-grade aluminum, guaranteeing a rugged scope that will withstand being outdoors with you. It will cope with changing environmental conditions and be dust, water, and fog proof. 

Your scope will have to withstand the same heat, dust, cold, and rain you are dealing with to ensure it has a robust construction. 

Cost

This is a serious consideration for most shooters, but many manufacturers of good-quality scopes manage to market their products at affordable prices. Again what you will have to spend on a scope depends largely on where and what you intend to do with it. Be honest about where you intend to use the scope and buy according to your needs. 

FAQs

What power scope is best for a 30-06? 

The .30-06 performs flawlessly in short to medium ranges, so a shooting distance of around 200 to 300 yards will be successful. This means a magnification of 4x to 9x should be more than sufficient to ensure an accurate shot.

Under 200 yards, your .30-06 will shoot flat, so a 1x magnification will be perfect for your scope if these are the distances you are hunting.

What distance should I sight in my 30-06? 

Zero your rifle at 200 yards. With a 150-grain .30-06 cartridge, your bullet should remain within three inches (vertical) of the point of aim to 250 yards. At 100 yards, it will be 1.5" high, and at 300 yards, it will be approximately 7" low.

These variances will differ depending on the make and grain of your ballistics.

What is the best bullet weight for 30-06? 

Professional hunters say that the best weight for a .30-06 is not less than 176 grains and not more than 200 grains. A weight of 180 grains is considered ideal for most applications, from deer hunting to target shooting.

What's better, 270 or 30-06?

This argument boils down to a heavier round versus a round with a flatter trajectory and higher velocity. The decision depends on what you plan to hunt. 

The 270 produces a more negligible recoil and shoots flatter, so, in theory, it is suited to hunting open plains or smaller games. The .30-06 has higher energy and hits harder, so it is better suited to larger prey animals. 

There is a considerable performance overlap between the two rounds, so it will come down to personal preference when you have tried shooting with both rounds.

Conclusion

Buying a scope for your 30 06 should be an enjoyable process and be a tool to assist your accuracy on target. It can only be these things if you purchase it correctly to suit the rifle and the application where you’ll use it. 

Look for robust manufacturing scopes with high-quality optics and a reticle to suit your preferences. This scope will last a lifetime, survive what the weather and wilderness throw at you and improve your accuracy, ensuring clean kills or bulls eyes on targets.

Choosing the correct scope will ratchet up the pleasure you get from shooting, so take your time and consider all the options carefully.

What do you think of these .30-06 scopes? See one that strikes your fancy? Let me know in the comments! And if you are looking for a mid range scope then heck out our guide on scope magnification for 500 yards