Are you looking for the best scope for 30-06 elk hunting? If so, look no further. In our article today, we shed a light on the best scopes for 30-06 elk hunting available on the market.
In the field of hunting, the .30-06 is a popular cartridge that excels at long ranges. It continues to become a favorite for hunters looking to make the most from their hunting expeditions no matter the environment. Furthermore, the outstanding ballistic properties continue to make it valuable and useful for hunting a wide range of game including elks.
For best elk hunting performance with the .30-06, you should have a scope that is up to par. The right rifle and scope combination will get you on targets quickly, boost your shooting precision and make your hunting expedition competitive and rewarding.
What Makes a Great Scope for 30-06 Elk Hunting?
There are several things that make a great scope for 30-06 elk hunting and the main one is quality construction. With solid and quality make, the scope is able to weather all the rough handling hunting predisposes the scope to.
Furthermore, the scope should have reliable protection from dust, debris and elements of weather for uninterrupted performance season after season.
Lightweight construction is another facet that the best scope for 30-06 elk hunting should have. The less the weight, the more convenient the scope will be to carry from one point to the other.
It is also important for the scope to have clear optics and quality anti-reflective lens coatings to prevent loss of light through reflection and ramp up performance in the low light settings of dawn and dusk.
Best Scopes for 30-06 Elk Hunting
1)Leupold VX-3HD 3.5-10x40mm Rifle Scope
Leupold VX-3HD 3.5-10x40mm is by far the best scope for 30-06 elk hunting. It delivers the legendary Leupold performance in an incredibly tough, lightweight and compact package.
The selling point of this variable powered rifle scope is low light performance. It has an elite optical system that yields bright, clear and detail-rich images when it matters the most. On top of that, the lenses feature a DiamondCoat 2 lens coating that is responsible for ensuring high levels of light transmission.
In terms of construction, the rifle scope is built in a 30mm tube which provides sufficient room for adjustments. The body is built from 6061-T6 aircraft grade aluminum to withstand the test of time. Furthermore, the scope is waterproof, fog proof and shockproof for added protection.
Another highlight of this scope is generous eye relief which guarantees comfortable shooting with or without eye wear. The other essential features included are a ZeroStop system, zero lock dial and motion sensor technology.
Features
- Second focal plane reticle
- Waterproof, fog proof and shockproof
- 52 MOA adjustment range
- 5-10x total magnification
- Zero Stop system
- Motion sensor technology
- 30mm tube size
- DiamondCoat 2 lens coating
- 6061-T6 aircraft grade aluminum housing
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Generous eye relief
- Illuminated reticle
- Easy to use
- Rugged construction
2)Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x42mm Rifle Scope
Built with the avid hunter in mind, Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x42mm Rifle Scope is an excellent sighting gear for elk hunting. It has an intuitive design which makes it very easy to use even for the beginners.
The scope features a variable 4.5-14x magnification built in a second focal plane reticle. This reticle as a lower vertical crosshair with small ballistics lines for bullet drop compensation out to 500 yards.
Furthermore, it is built with durability in mind. The 1-inch single-piece tube is made from aircraft grade aluminum, a material that is durable yet lightweight. On top of the quality construction, the scope is protected from elements for all-weather use.
Optically, this rifle scope has Hi-Lume multi-coated lenses that work together with the large 42mm objective lens to enhance light transmission and ramp up performance in low light. Also included is a relocated adjustment system which is lighter and better sealed from elements.
Features
- 1-inch body tube
- Hi-Lume multi-coated lenses
- Second focal plane Ballistic Plex reticle
- 40 MOA windage and elevation adjustment range
- Robust aircraft grade aluminum housing
- Adjustable parallax
- 5-14x total magnification
- 1/4 MOA impact point correction
- Relocated adjustment system
Pros
- Sturdy and durable construction
- Lightweight
- Accurate
- Crisp clear optics
Cons
- Non illuminated
3)Trijicon AccuPoint TR-22 2.5-10x56mm Rifle Scope
Third in our list of the best scope for 30-06 elk hunting is Trijicon AccuPoint TR-22 2.5-10x56mm Rifle Scope. It is packed with a ton of high-quality features that you require to make the most out of every elk hunting expedition.
A highlight of this rifle scope is low light performance. It boasts a large 56mm objective lens that draws in large volumes of light even in low level light settings. On top of that, the scope employs high transmission optics which ramp up transmission of light collected.
With advanced fiber optic/tritium illumination, the scope enables confident aiming in any light. The crisp, precise windage and elevation adjusters require no tools for quick and easy adjustment. Besides, they are capped to ensure no accidental shift during use.
What’s more is the Trijicon AccuPoint TR-22 2.5-10x56mm Rifle Scope has a ruggedized design engineered to stand up to extreme conditions. It also boasts a waterproof, fog proof and shock proof design for use in all kinds of weather conditions.
Features
- 5-10x variable magnification
- Waterproof and fog proof
- 6061-T6 aluminum housing
- Repositionable magnification lever
- 30mm tube diameter
- Second focal plane reticle
- Oversized 56mm objective lens
- Fiber optic/tritium illumination
- Easy focus eyepiece
Pros
- Superb low light performance
- Excellent durability
- Battery free illumination
- Easy to use
Cons
- Short eye relief at maximum magnification power
4)Vortex Crossfire II AO 4-12x50mm Rifle Scope
Vortex Crossfire II AO 4-12x50mm is another premium quality rifle scope that excels in low light settings. It is ideal for tactical and hunting applications at close to long ranges in any lighting and weather condition.
The broad 4-12x magnification setting is useful even at the highest level. This is thanks to the large 50mm objective lens that collects more volumes of light. Furthermore, the optics are fully multi-coated to prevent glare and ensure excellent light transmission.
Not only is the optical performance of this rifle scope outstanding but also the build quality. It is built with a single piece of aircraft grade aluminum and finished with a hard anodized finish that is scratchproof and non-reflective. On top of that, the tube is completely waterproof, fog proof and dust proof for all-weather use.
For added convenience, the Vortex Crossfire II AO 4-12x50mm Rifle Scope features a fast focus eyepiece that makes target acquisition a speedy process with clear focusing adjustment. It also has a relatively lightweight construction and a long eye relief which makes it eyeglass-friendly.
Features
- 1-inch body tube
- SFP Dead-Hold BDC reticle
- Aircraft grade aluminum housing
- Hard anodized finish
- 4-12x total magnification
- Adjustable parallax
- Waterproof and fog proof
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- 50 MOA adjustment range
- Adjustable objective
Pros
- Lightweight construction
- Sufficient eye relief
- Crystal clear optics
- Excellent fit and finish
- Great field of view
5)Bushnell 4-12×40 Rifle Scope
When it comes to performance and value, it is hard to beat the Bushnell 4-12×40 Rifle Scope. this high-power variable rifle scope is great for medium to long range hunting where the .30-06 excels.
The optical performance of this rifle scope is stunning. It excels from dusk to dawn thanks to the 40mm objective lens that collects more light inside. Furthermore, it is premium multi-coated lenses responsible for ramping up light transfer in low level light settings.
With a weight of 15g only, the scope is ultra-light, portable and simple to shoot with. It mounts easily on a wide range of platforms for added convenience. Besides, it is equipped with a fast focus eyepiece for rapid target acquisition.
In terms of construction, the scope is crafted with the most durable materials to weather whatever abuse you throw at it. It is also fully waterproof to prevent moisture from entering the optics and filled with dry nitrogen which makes the interior lenses fog proof.
Features
- Multi-X second focal plane reticle
- Fast focus eyepiece
- One-piece main tube
- Fully waterproof and fog proof construction
- 1/4 MOA fingertip, resettable turrets
- 4-14x variable magnification
- 60 MOA adjustment range
Pros
- Bright clear optics
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
- Ease of use
- Durable
Cons
- Short eye relief
6)Athlon Optics Argos BTR Gen II 6-24x50mm APLR2 Rifle Scope
Another best scope for 30-06 elk hunting in our list is Argos BTR Gen II 6-24x50mm APLR2 Rifle Scope. If you are looking to take your hunting to the next high level, this rifle scope suits you.
It is crafted in a 30mm tube that guarantees unmatched quality and durability. The large tube design provides room for adjustments while being easy to mount on a variety of platforms. Furthermore, the scope is 100% waterproof, fog proof and shockproof for use even in the unforgiving weather conditions.
Optically, the scope features advanced fully multi-coated lenses that effectively reduce reflected light and increase light transmission. This guarantees bright, clear and color accurate image views across the entire 6-24x zoom range.
Moreover, this sighting tool features a first focal plane reticle that stays true in the whole zoom range and aids in range estimation. A precision zero stop system is also included to enable easy return to initial zero during use.
Features
- Broad 6-24x magnification range
- Advanced fully multi-coated lenses
- XPL lens coating
- Precision zero stop system
- 30mm body tube
- Waterproof and fog proof
- First focal plane reticle
- LED reticle illumination
- 25 MOA adjustment click value
Pros
- Ease of use
- Crisp turrets
- Solid and sturdy construction
Cons
- Picture quality is poor at highest zoom levels
- Narrow eye relief
7)Hawke Sport Optics Vantage 6-24x50mm AO Rifle Scope
Hawke Sport Optics Vantage 6-24x50mm is another premium quality rifle scope that excels at medium and long ranges. It has a wide 6-24x magnification range and a ton of other great features which make it an ideal choice for hunting.
This rifle scope is built ready for use in any environment. It is housed in a mono-tube chassis that is rigid enough to take in the beating. Furthermore, the tube is fully waterproof, fog proof and dust proof to outlast elements and offer reliable performance in all environments.
When it comes to the optical features, this rifle scope has 11-layer fully multi-coated lenses responsible for maximizing light transfer. Over and above that, it has an adjustable objective for parallax correction and image focusing.
Moreover, the Hawke Sport Optics Vantage 6-24x50mm Rifle scope has 1/4 MOA low profile fingertip turrets which are snag free. It also boasts a fast focus eye bell for easy reticle focusing and high torque zoom ring for simple magnification adjustment.
Features
- Adjustable objective
- 11-layer fully multi-coated lenses
- 60 MOA adjustment range
- Magnesium alloy housing
- LED reticle illumination
- Waterproof, fog proof and shockproof
- Second focal plane reticle
- 1-inch mono-piece body tube
- 6-24x magnification range
Pros
- Relatively lightweight
- Illuminated reticle
- Superior quality glass
- Versatile
- Solid construction
Cons
- Batter compartment
Also Read,
How to Choose the Best Scope for 30-06 Elk Hunting
Durability
Durability is an important part of every rifle scope. It is determined by the quality of construction and type of materials used to make it. For the best scope for 30-06 elk hunting, go for a model that is built with durable materials such as magnesium or aircraft quality aluminum alloy.
Such scopes are extremely hard-wearing yet lightweight. On top of the quality construction, ensure that you get a scope that is tested and verified to be fully waterproof, fog proof and shock proof.
Eye Relief
It is important to buy a scope with a decent amount of eye relief. Measured in inches, we recommend that you get a model whose eye relief is above 3.5 inches. It will be snug to use even with eye glasses and easy on the eyes during lengthy hunting sessions.
Glass Clarity
The next thing to consider is glass clarity. You will want a scope that provides bright, clear and edge-to-edge sharpness even in low light settings. Such scopes employ premium glass elements like ED and HD.
In addition to the glass clarity, take a look at the quality of lens coatings the scope employs and settle for a model that either has fully-coated or multi-coated lenses.
Reticle
When it comes to reticle selection, it is vital to get a scope that boasts an easy-to-use reticle system. Target acquisition is significantly fast and simple with a simple aiming point that stays crisp all through.
FAQs
- What is the best scope size for 30-06?
The best scope size for 30-06 depends on how far you will be shooting and your individual preference. Since this cartridge has an effective shooting range of around 1,000 yards, a variable powered scope with at least 12x magnification power will suffice.
- What is the 30-06 good for?
30-06 is a flat-shooting cartridge that excels at close and medium ranges. It is an excellent round for hunting a variety of game including deer, elk, black bear and moose.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article has given you some insight into the best scope for 30-06 elk hunting. with the right scope at hand, you will turn your hunting expeditions into a success and push this versatile round to its full potential. Whatever your hunting needs are, there is a scope out there for you.