Just what the title says. looking at the Pentax game seaker i think it is called. Anyways I would like something from 12x up to mid 20x power on the top end with atleast a 40mm obj but 44-50 is preferred. what other scopes would you all suggest? This will be used on a Tikka T3 lite 25-06 for my wife to use big game hunting here in the west. thanks!!
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Need new scope for 25-06 under $300. pentax? others?
- Thread starter Sako7STW
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bruce_ventura
Well-Known Member
It seems to me you will be over-scoping this rifle at 20X. What max range does your wife shoot? if it's 500 yds or less, I recommend you drop down to 10-12X on the high end. Even at 1,000 yds, I think that 14X is enough magnification, unless your wife has vision problems like astigmatism. Going to higher magnification will sacrifice field of view and increase glare (reduce contrast).
At 10X, a 40 mm objective is viable for big game. A 40 mm scope will be lighter and more affordable than 50 mm, and it will be bright enough if the glass is decent.
Pentax scopes have bad glare. In addition to Weaver, I would look at Burris Fullfield II or E1 scopes in that price range.
If she is a longer range shooter, then you should increase your budget and look at other brands. At 20X the Pentax will have poor contrast in critical lighting conditions, like morning and afternoon.
At 10X, a 40 mm objective is viable for big game. A 40 mm scope will be lighter and more affordable than 50 mm, and it will be bright enough if the glass is decent.
Pentax scopes have bad glare. In addition to Weaver, I would look at Burris Fullfield II or E1 scopes in that price range.
If she is a longer range shooter, then you should increase your budget and look at other brands. At 20X the Pentax will have poor contrast in critical lighting conditions, like morning and afternoon.
MajorSpittle
Well-Known Member
I just bought a Redfield Revolution 4-12 for my Tikka T3 Lite and couldn't be more happy.
Their RTA ( rapid target acquisition ) eyepiece is real nice for hunting. The eye relief and eyebox behind the reticle is so good that it makes the scope very versitile from all shooting positions and conditions while hunting. It is a light, quick handling, compact scope that compliments the Tikka Lite very well.
I would suggest going to a store and comparing a few scopes first hand. Make sure the store has one of the clip on scope stocks so you can mount each scope and really get a feel for the weight, eye relief, eyebox, and handling of each scope. After taking a glance across the store and throwing up the rifle stock with scope on it to see which one acquired the target easily and was easier to hold on target while turning my body to face the object there was no comparison between the $320 Nikon and $240 Redfield.
Anyway, it will also depend on your hunting style and area also. If I was still in Montana hunting Mules in the breaks I would have cared more about high power clarity and contrast for scoping out the deer in brown/yellow grass and sage at 300-800 yards.
You know what you need the scope to do so I wouldn't put much stock into what other people's opinions are, check the scopes out first hand and buy one that is made by a company known for build quality who stands behind the scope.
Their RTA ( rapid target acquisition ) eyepiece is real nice for hunting. The eye relief and eyebox behind the reticle is so good that it makes the scope very versitile from all shooting positions and conditions while hunting. It is a light, quick handling, compact scope that compliments the Tikka Lite very well.
I would suggest going to a store and comparing a few scopes first hand. Make sure the store has one of the clip on scope stocks so you can mount each scope and really get a feel for the weight, eye relief, eyebox, and handling of each scope. After taking a glance across the store and throwing up the rifle stock with scope on it to see which one acquired the target easily and was easier to hold on target while turning my body to face the object there was no comparison between the $320 Nikon and $240 Redfield.
Anyway, it will also depend on your hunting style and area also. If I was still in Montana hunting Mules in the breaks I would have cared more about high power clarity and contrast for scoping out the deer in brown/yellow grass and sage at 300-800 yards.
You know what you need the scope to do so I wouldn't put much stock into what other people's opinions are, check the scopes out first hand and buy one that is made by a company known for build quality who stands behind the scope.
Thanks for the suggestions. Actually picture window is very important. What is going to happen is this scope will end up possibly on my sons 7mmWSM as his Leu VX1 is a total ***. The eye relief is sub-par at the least and he fights it constantly to get a full picture. So more than likely after this season, I will move the new scope to his gun, my wife will get my Bausch&Lomb Elite 4000 4-16x50 and I sell the VX1 and use the funds towards me a new scope. Time is too short this season to get this all done as well as funds are tight tight right now. The VX1 used to be on my wifes gun and she hated it too. She hasnt hunted for a few years and when my son needed a scope I stole it off of hers. Now she draws a tag and we havent had the funds to buy a scope till now, limited as they are.
I typically like a scope with higher power than lower. To me it suits more purposes. Say you have a 6-24x scope. Head out hunting with it on 6x, which for out west to me is minimum and you are set for 75% of most hunting situations. If you need more, it is there. My wife likes to target shoot so she like the higher power to bring those targets in close. I like the sounds of the Redfield. I think they are owned by leu now which makes me nervous but I will look into them. I have looked at the Weaver GS and have always thought they were good for the dollar spent.
If I had the funds it would be a Zeiss Conquest hands down but this year and only 2 weeks till the hunt, it just isnt going to happen.
I typically like a scope with higher power than lower. To me it suits more purposes. Say you have a 6-24x scope. Head out hunting with it on 6x, which for out west to me is minimum and you are set for 75% of most hunting situations. If you need more, it is there. My wife likes to target shoot so she like the higher power to bring those targets in close. I like the sounds of the Redfield. I think they are owned by leu now which makes me nervous but I will look into them. I have looked at the Weaver GS and have always thought they were good for the dollar spent.
If I had the funds it would be a Zeiss Conquest hands down but this year and only 2 weeks till the hunt, it just isnt going to happen.
SidecarFlip
Well-Known Member
Tru-Glo. Cheap and serviceable. Much less than 300 bucks.
Sully2
Well-Known Member
I put a Nikon on my own 25-06AI rifle. Its a nice scope...price wasnt bad at all. Far superior to the Redfield I pu ton my 22-250 walking varminter...which this winter I will drag off and replace with a ..(??)
Id go Nikon before the Pentax...
Id go Nikon before the Pentax...
Sully2
Well-Known Member
showershocker4u
New Member
I put a vortex diamondback on my 25-06 weatherby. 4-12 40mm. I am extremly happy with both the picture and and how crisply it adjusts. up in canada we often have to shoot our whitetails at 300+ yards. this scope is perfect. It cost me 250 here and will be cheaper in your area
Sully2
Well-Known Member
If you think the lower priced Leupold are "poor"...dont even take the lid off the 4-12 Redfield cause you aint gonna like it one bit.
I havent like the one I have 1 iota since the day I got it mounted and this winter when rifle work slack off its gonna get swapped out for ..??..
I thought I was getting something when I bouglt a Redfield ( remembering many years back) and I didnt get jack squat!
MajorSpittle
Well-Known Member
Which Redfield did you get and what didn't you like about it? Your talking about something, just nobody knows what it is you are talking about.
Have you looked at the Bushnell Elites? Bushnell has a rebate going on right that kind of turns a good deal into a great deal. I'm super happy with my Elite 4200. My hunting partner swears by Nikon's and to be honest, I've never looked through a Nikon scope and not thought the optics were great.
The only other brand I have a lot of experience with is Simmons, which is hit-or-miss. The optics tend to be great for the price and the scopes tend to hold zero, but the adjustments aren't accurate or repeatable in my experience.
Good luck!
The only other brand I have a lot of experience with is Simmons, which is hit-or-miss. The optics tend to be great for the price and the scopes tend to hold zero, but the adjustments aren't accurate or repeatable in my experience.
Good luck!
