What's important in a scope for long range?

[old_iron]

Hi all. I've been shooting since I was quite young, but I don't have a lot of experience with long range guns and scopes.

The equipment
I'm getting a Savage Edge in 30-06. I'll probably be shooting US-made rounds, nothing fancy like hand-loaded.

The goal
I want to be able to shoot from 100 yards out to the useful range of the cartridge with reasonable accuracy (I know that's relative, I'm not sure even what that means to me specifically.) My budget (don't laugh please) is under $150.

My questions :-)
Between zoom amounts, mil-dots, range-finding reticles and all the brands out there I'm pretty lost on what I need. I see alot of low-price scopes around on CTD, Sportsmans guide, etc. I'm guessing that BSA, Barska and others get alot of their scopes from the same overseas factories so is brand all that important?

Mostly though, what's the 1 or 2 most important features/qualities in a scope for what I'll be doing? I'm guessing having a mil-dot reticle is important right? What zoom power do I need to leverage the range of the 30-06? 9, 20, 40?

Anything comments appreciated, please be gentle to a newcomer.

Thanks!
Luke

[Vacaville]

Stay away from the Sportsman's Guide optics. The brands you named are great examples of what not to buy. They will have parts come loose, will be fuzzy at higher magnification, and won't hold zero. Can't expect much from a 6 - 24X scope for $100.

For your price range you can sometimes find entry level quality scopes if you are willing to wait for the sales. Brands and models include Nikon Prostaff or Buckhorn, Bushnell Elite 3200, Burris Fullfield II, or Redfield. If you stay with a 3 - 9X scope (good zoom range for someone new to shooting with a scope) you will probably get decent quality for your dollar.

[old_iron]

Thanks for the recommendations. The Nikon ProStaff looks really nice. I like that it has a bullet drop reticle. With shooting longer ranges, that's pretty important, right? Wouldn't mil-dots on each axis be optimal to adjust for wind, etc?

Thanks

[Barbarossa]

For a .30-06 I'd go with something simple like a 3 to 9 (3x9) variable Bushnell.

It's good enough for 100-250 yards, and if you end up hunting with it the field of view (FOV).
You won't feel too bad if it gets a bit beat up.

[problemchild]

Do yourself a BIG favor and save your money and buy a better scope. The cheap scopes are garbage. Like seeing purple edges on everything? Like seeing haze? Like blurry targets? Like NON-repeatability? Buy a cheap chinese scope.

[r3dn3ck]

see above. I have a box full of low grade scopes. Put a few hundred bucks in your glass and you'll never hate yourself for it. I have a fondness for Leupold, Nikon and for those with unlimited money supplies, Swarovski and Zeiss. Zeiss is liquid awesome as far as optics go and they're priced accordingly.

[ubet]

The only optic I would really recomend for under $500 is a super sniper. One thing you could do, is get a set of national match sights (iron) and learn to shoot with them, while saving money for a GOOD scope. 30-06 is capable of getting to 1200+ yds accurately, dont underestimate that round.

[Air]

Bushnell Elite 3200 fixed 10 with Target Turrets. About 250 bucks new, cheaper used. It's a decent scope. Weaver also makes a fixed 10 power with Turrets for a similar price and they are fairly decent I here.

The Elite 3200 is the cheapest I would go.

[old_iron]

Thanks for the comments everyone. Seriously.

I'm definitely wanting to stay away from imports, though I know it's hard to do with my small budget.

Any thoughts on reticles and zoom? Particularly whether mil-dot or range-finding reticles are important, and if it's better to have a variable over a fixed zoom?

Thanks

[regular]

Do not buy a cheap scope if your looking to do long range shooting. I bought a cheapie for my 7mm, shot about 30 rounds dead on. Took it out hunting a few weeks later. Put it up on a nice buck, pulled the trigger, missed about a foot over its head. Threw that piece of **** away and bought a Leupold. Problem solved.

[ironhiide]

The new redfields are pretty decent hunting scopes too. They have a 3-9x, for about $150, decent glass and warranty through leupold.

[WDE91]

heres a couple things to take a look at

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recommended_riflescopes.htm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/scopes_price_class.htm

[old_iron]

heres a couple things to take a look at

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recommended_riflescopes.htm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/scopes_price_class.htm

Those are great links - thanks!

[Justintoxicated]

Primary Arms - no experience with their scope myself but I hear it is a good for the money. Only one year warranty though. No comparison to higher end scopes im sure but I hear the optics are pretty clean. By buddy shoots one on his 308 AR and it's holding up well.

http://primaryarms.com/product.sc?productId=915&categoryId=156

[diego-ted]

Can't expect much from a 6 - 24X scope for $100

I must disagree! I am no expert but this scope held zero on my Saga 308 just fine, is clear as day out past 500 yards. I can't say enough about it for $100 bucks so I went out and bought another for my bull 5.56.

http://swfa.com/Vortex-6-24x50-Crossfire-Rifle-Scope-P43585.aspx

Diego