Low Power Hunting Optics

[SteveRicky]

Just picked up a Henry 30-30 and decided to put a lower power optic on it. I purchased this rifle to hunt hard timber in SW Colorado for times when my Mountain Rifle has too much scope.

I have narrowed down to three optics, with my perceived pros and cons. I would appreciate any input. Thanks!!!


Steiner P4Xi 1-4x24mm P3TR ($600)

​

Pros:​

• Highly Regarded​
• Good Eye Relief​
• 1x Minimun Magnification​
• Least Expensive (of my choices)​

Cons:​

• 17.3 oz (2nd heaviest of my choices)​
• 4x Max Magnification (lowest of my choices)​
• 1/2MOA Turret Adjustment​
• Aging Optic​

EOTech VuduX 1-6x24mm ($625)

​

Pros:​

• 6x Magnification​
• Better Eye Relief​
• 1x Minimun Magnification​
• Reticle with Holdovers​

Cons:​

• 17.8 oz (2nd heaviest of my choices)​
• Budget Product Line (Derived from the Vudu Line)​
• EOTech Warranty Concerns​
• 1/2MOA Turret Adjustment​

Leupold VX-3HD 1.5-5x20 ($700)

​

Pros:​

• Lightest Option at 12.5oz​
• Longest Eye Relief​
• 5x Maximum Magnification​
• Leupold Warranty​

Cons:​

• 1.5x Minimun Magnification​
• Most Expensive​
• Lackluster Reticle​
• Smallest Objective Diameter​

 

[Koda_]

Pick the one with the widest Field Of View....

 

[SteveRicky]

Pick the one with the widest Field Of View....

I like your thinking, only problem is the EOTech VuduX 1-6x24mm and the Steiner P4Xi 1-4x24mm P3TR both have 110' FOV at 1x. Anything else between the two that you gravitate towards more?

 

[Koda_]

I like your thinking, only problem is the EOTech VuduX 1-6x24mm and the Steiner P4Xi 1-4x24mm P3TR both have 110' FOV at 1x. Anything else between the two that you gravitate towards more?

Probably the 6x, as the old 30-30 i know is good out to 200yds.
You might get lucky with one of those holdover marks too, but expect about 7inches holdover with a 100yd zero. Many 30-30 hunters zero at 150yds for a 200yd mpbr zero.

 

[sndmn11]

I've had the Steiner and I wasn't a fan.

 

[SteveRicky]

Probably the 6x, as the old 30-30 i know is good out to 200yds.
You might get lucky with one of those holdover marks too, but expect about 7inches holdover with a 100yd zero. Many 30-30 hunters zero at 150yds for a 200yd mpbr zero.

Thanks! EOTech has 2, 4, 6, and 8 MOA holdovers which I think would be ideal a cartridge that experiences a 7 inch hold over at 200.

 

[KenLee]

I am not a 30-30 fan and not a Vortex fan.
If I needed a low power (down to 1x) scope for a 30-30, I'd buy a Vortex Venom 1-6x24 for $300.
126 ft fov and illumination.
I fooled with the Venom one evening and liked it.

 

[SteveRicky]

I've had the Steiner and I wasn't a fan.

Anything in particular that you found off putting?

I am not a 30-30 fan and not a Vortex fan.
If I needed a low power (down to 1x) scope for a 30-30, I'd buy a Vortex Venom 1-6x24 for $300.
126 ft fov and illumination.
I fooled with the Venom one evening and liked it.

Appreciate your input but I ruled out Vortex for their reticle options. I have them on on many other guns but for a 30-30 its much too noisy of a reticle.

 

[Begle1]

What kind of ammo do you plan to use and how far of shots do you plan to take on what sort of target?

30-30 tends to run out of steam about where it starts dropping, but there's also a big range among cartridges. LeveRolution is almost a whole different beast than the rest. So if you want to be prepared for up to 300 yard shots, something with BDC stadia starts looking a lot more appealing than if you are limiting yourself to 100 yards with dusty old geezer cartridges.

Have you considered a red dot/ holo sight and magnifier combo? Can't beat field of view or (unmagnified) eyebox on that, and it could save some weight over your heavier options.

 

[SteveRicky]

What kind of ammo do you plan to use and how far of shots do you plan to take on what sort of target?

30-30 tends to run out of steam about where it starts dropping, but there's also a big range among cartridges. LeveRolution is almost a whole different beast than the rest. So if you want to be prepared for up to 300 yard shots, something with BDC stadia starts looking a lot more appealing than if you are limiting yourself to 100 yards with dusty old geezer cartridges.

Have you considered a red dot/ holo sight and magnifier combo? Can't beat field of view or (unmagnified) eyebox on that, and it could save some weight over your heavier options.

I will be using Buffalo Bore's 190gr Heavy 30-30 for shots under and up to 200 yards on Elk.

Thought a lot about red dot/holo but God has cursed me with a level of astigmatism to be envied by rave goers and lovers of lasers alike.

 

[Begle1]

Have you looked through holos? They're supposed to better than standard red dots.


That's like a 9" drop at 200 with a 100 yard zero? Seems doable with a duplex.

And so here ends any sort of coherent input I could offer.

 

[SteveRicky]

Have you looked through holos? They're supposed to better than standard red dots.


That's like a 9" drop at 200 with a 100 yard zero? Seems doable with a duplex.

And so here ends any sort of coherent input I could offer.

Yes, have an EOTech that I like but what has kept me from a holo/mag combo for this setup is the weight and cost. Weight would be at least 20oz and >$1000. Checks both my arms and I don't want to cash.

Much appreciated input Begle

 

[TxLite]

I’ve got the Steiner and like it a lot. It sits on an sbr and suits that purpose well. I can consistently make hits out to 500 with it and I think it would be fine on your 30-30. Chicken in pics is roughly 30 yards.

 

[VernAK]

I'm a huge fan of low powered scopes, but I don't have em on a 30-30. For my bear bait and moose rifles, I really prefer the Trijicon TR 24G.......1-4x post reticle with green triangle . IIRC, it weighs 14oz.

 

[sndmn11]

Anything in particular that you found off putting?

Appreciate your input but I ruled out Vortex for their reticle options. I have them on on many other guns but for a 30-30 its much too noisy of a reticle.

I could never seem to get it to focus regardless of playing with the diopter. It always seemed a little off and queasy like if you had your binoculars adjusted wrong is the only way I can think of expressing it. I played exchange-a-bunch with their LE product manager and never found an improvement.

The only other LPVO that I have used with regularity was a Trijicon Accupower 1-4x and that was fine.

 

[TaperPin]

That sounds like a fun gun.

The Leopold has something like 3.7”-5” of eye relief - that gets my vote. At 3x you have as large an exit pupil as can be used in any light conditions. Eotec has very short eye relief - that’s definitely a deal breaker for me.

I’ve had the 1.5-5 scope on a couple of rifles and a shooting buddy has the same on his 45-70 Marlin - he regularly has 5 shot groups of 1-1/2”. If that can’t connect with a deer sized target at 200 yards it’s not the scope or rifle’s fault.

The worst thing that will happen is you don’t like it and swap it out.

 

[TxxAgg]

this is the ticket:

Trijicon AccuPoint 1-4x24 30mm Std CH Green Dot TR24-C-200071

Trijicon AccuPoint 1-4x24 30mm Std CH Green Dot TR24-C-200071 | Only at EuroOptic.com!

www.eurooptic.com

 

[Davyalabama]

Look at an Optica 6 from Meostar.

 

[flathead#2]

I have 3 of the Leupold's on a 700/.243, a RAP/.308 and a 1894/.44.
I've killed the majority of my deer looking through one.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I could never seem to get it to focus regardless of playing with the diopter. It always seemed a little off and queasy like if you had your binoculars adjusted wrong is the only way I can think of expressing it.

I had the EXACT same experience with a Steiner Predator 2.5-10x42. My stomach would turn almost immediately upon looking through it, no matter what I did with the diopter.