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The .30-30 Winchester cartridge is a popular choice for hunters and sports shooters because it has light recoil, making it easy and efficient to use. Most lever action guns use .30-30 and though the gun itself is relatively small, its shot is powerful enough to take down large game at a fair distance. To aim for your target, you want the best scope for your .30-30 rifles.
At A Glance: Our Top Picks For Best scope for 30-30
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All scopes for .30-30 aren’t the same—you have to consider what you’re using them for and on what you’re mounting them. You don’t want to mount a heavy, bulky scope to a lightweight rifle if it’s going to throw off your stance. You’ll have to consider if you’re using your rifle for quick shots or if you can move a little slower to focus on your target.
If you have a classic rifle, you don’t want to ruin the look by attaching an angular, techy scope to it. There are various scopes for .30-30 on the market that will fit your needs.
Scopes increase the distance of your shot. When you’re using a .30-30 rifle, you’re not shooting long-range, but a good scope can still level up your medium-range shots by 100 yards.
To increase your precision, you’ll want a scope that doesn’t weigh down your weapon while still providing the magnification you need. Since you won’t be shooting further than 250 yards, you won’t need a scope with more than 12x magnification. If you’re shooting in the 100-150 yard range, you can even be precise with 4-8x magnification.
There are certain features you want to look for when buying a scope for your new .30-30 hunting rifle.
Scopes have first and second focal planes, and which plane you need to use depends on the shooting you do most. Some scopes use the first focal plane, which means that the reticle will change based on the magnification. This means the reticle can get too small to be useful in certain settings.
When scopes use the second focal plane, the reticle stays the same even when you change the magnification levels. For a 30-30 rifle, you’ll want a scope that uses the second focal plane since you have a more limited shooting range.
You’ll want a scope that lets in enough light to help you aim, so you’ll want to pay attention to the objective lens diameter. The larger the diameter, the more light the scope will let in. A 50mm lens is optimal, but smaller diameters can still work in favorable conditions. The larger the diameter, the heavier the scope, which will factor into your choice.
You want a scope that is weatherproof, fog-proof, and waterproof, so you can go shooting in any condition. Find a scope made of sturdy material, like aluminum, so it won’t get damaged if you drop it. If a scope has a lifetime warranty, you know it’s been built to last.
Now that you know what to consider when looking for the best scope, you’ll learn the pros, cons, and bottom line of the five best scopes for your new .30-30 rifle.
The top pick of best scopes for the 30-30 is the Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Riflescope. It’s the most durable scope on the market, and customers have rated it as the best.
Recent buyers report that the eye protection from recoil is a major bonus with this scope. They say that it is durable and easy to mount to their rifles. The picture is bright and clear, and they haven’t lost zero even after firing more than 100 shots. The scope comes with the Vortex guarantee, so the company addresses any problems buyers have.
This sleek black scope is made from a single piece of anodized aluminum, making it durable and rust-resistant. It has a 32mm objective lens diameter and uses the second focal plane to focus up to 100 yards. The lenses are fully coated glass and even have an anti-reflective coating to keep your sight clear.
The lenses are sealed with O-rings and have been nitrogen-purged to prevent fogging. The scope has extensive eye relief to protect you from recoil. It also boasts a fast focus that will help you find your target quickly.
The Vortex Crossfire II Riflescope has 2-7x magnification, putting it right in the recommended range for 30-30. The Vortex Crossfire offers superior eye protection in terms of how well-coated the lenses are, as well as the extended eye box to protect your eyes from recoil. With an extended lifetime warranty, you can’t go wrong buying this scope.
The runner-up best scope for 30-30 is the Leupold VS-Freedom 1.5-4x20mm Riflescope. This sturdy scope is made of aircraft-grade aluminum to make it shockproof and weatherproof.
Recent buyers report that the Leupold VX-Freedom Riflescope is an excellent scope for beginner to intermediate shooters. Reviews praise the scope’s weight, saying it’s so light they don’t notice it weighing down their shot. They also say the view is clear and has a fast focus.
The Twilight Light Management System on this scope is a huge perk. It adds brightness and reduces glare, so you can still see well in low-light conditions. The lenses are scratch-resistant, making it a rugged scope to take into the wild.
The scope has the reticle on the second focal plane and has a 1-4x magnification. Though the objective lens diameter is only 20mm, it lets in plenty of light for that magnification. The scope’s small diameter is a benefit making this scope incredibly light.
This scope’s magnification maxes out at the lowest recommended magnification for a scope, but the 20mm objective lens diameter lets in enough light to maximize this distance. Combine that with the scope’s minimal weight and the Twilight Light Management system, and this is a quality scope for 30-30.
The best budget option of scopes for 30-30 is the Burris Fullfield II 3-9x40mm Riflescope. Though it doesn’t boast any special features, this is a sturdy standard scope.
The Burris Fullfield II Riflescope has high reviews across the board and, paired with an affordable price, makes this scope the best budget option. This scope’s durability can’t be beaten, with stories of falls and drops that end with the scope still being in great shape.
The 3-9x zoom on this scope plants it squarely in the ideal range of magnification. It’s a quality lightweight scope with waterproof, fog-proof, quad-seal lenses. It has a double-spring tension assembly to make it recoil-proof. Once you become accustomed to the one-piece focus and power ring, you’ll love the simplicity it gives you.
The Burris Fullfield Riflescope has high-grade optical glass that gives you crystal clear views, lets in plenty of light, and gives you a wide range of views. This scope has a long-range focus up to 500 yards and can be used on any 30-30.
The Burris Fullfield II Riflescope might be billed as “retro-cool” with its old-fashioned eyepiece and power ring in one, but reviews across the board rate this as a sturdy and budget-friendly choice.
An honorable mention for best scopes for 30-30 is the Primary Arms 1-8x24mm SFP Riflescope. This sleek, black matte scope is a great standard option with an additional feature of extensive light settings.
Recent buyers have been very satisfied with the Primary Arms SFP Riflescope. It’s easy to mount to your 30-30 and holds zero. The clear glass and illuminated reticle are the top features that elevate this scope above others.
The Primary Arms SFP Riflescope uses the second focal plane for the reticle so that you won’t lose the focus on a moving target. This scope surpasses the typical offering of 200 or 250 yards by focusing up to 300 yards.
The objective lens diameter is 24mm, with a 1-8x zoom. This gives you a clear, bright focus, but this scope also boasts 12 light settings. The light settings will extend your shooting time by giving you a better view in low-light conditions.
The high-quality coated glass is a major plus if you’re considering this scope. The illuminated reticle is a unique feature that has users raving. What you get for the price makes this scope worth the investment.
Another honorable mention for best scopes for 30-30 is the Bushnell AR Optics 1x25mm TRS-25 HiRise. This affordable, durable scope provides precision that can’t be beaten.
Reviewers agree that this is a great red dot scope for the money. The Bushnell reputation factored into their buying the product, and both beginners and experienced shooters alike think the value of this scope is worth the price.
The Bushnell AR Optics scope has a 25mm objective lens diameter with a 1x zoom. The O-ring seals on the lenses keep dust and dirt from getting into the lens. A wide field of view gives you better aim and precision.
Eleven brightness settings for the red dot allow you to keep shooting even in low-light situations, so you don’t have to worry about missing your shot. You have to use a screwdriver to change the windage and elevation settings, so you won’t have to worry about the recoil throwing off your focus.
This is the most affordable, high-quality scope that gives you all the standard features you need. It might look a little small on your 30-30 because it fits on a variety of weapons, but it packs a lot of power for its size.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, you want to pick a high-quality scope for your rifle. After narrowing it down to these five best scopes for .30-30, you’ll have to focus on the factors that matter most to you.
All of these scopes have excellent customer reviews, so you know you’re getting something good. Most reviewers mentioned that they’d used the scope for at least 100 shots, and many reviews say they’d shot more than 500 times with the scope holding up, so you know they’re built to last.
With all of these scopes being durable, dependable scopes, it might come down to price. It’s worth investing in a quality scope if you can spend it, but there are several budget-friendly options on the list that hold their own with the more expensive models.
While a 30-30 isn’t known for long-range shooting, the right scope can level-up your rifle. Even if you plan to shoot in medium-range, a good scope can improve your accuracy by magnifying your view and helping you line up your shot. This is what makes the Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Riflescope our top pick.
Even after learning about the best scopes for .30-30, you might still have questions. Here are some additional FAQs:
Since the Winchester 30-30 is a top eject rifle, you could try using a high rise mount for any scope on this list to allow the casings to eject. You could also try to mount a scope on the side, though this might throw off the rifle’s balance.
Joseph Fox writes on a variety of topics ranging from reloading ammunition to gun cleaning. He has been featured on various publications like thetruthaboutguns, Sofrep & many more. Joseph is also the founder of Gunloading, where he reviews different types of reloading & firearm products available on the market.
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