Picking a scope

Me and my buddies all shoot Leupold scopes with AO's. We prefer the 40MM because the 50MM and up are riding too high off the barrel. They have not failed us, and we are happy. One guy has a couple of Swarovski scopes, and one has a Zeiss. They are no better on accuracy, but have distinctly nicer optics. If I had big dollars, I would get one. I have recently come across Sheperd Scopes, which seem to be real nice, and offer some intriguing features, such as one shot zeroing. I think it is a bit much to say one shot, but the concept is really interesting. ( I'm buying one to try.) Also, as you say a scope must be set up for ranging marks for a particular load. I understand that Sheperd, and some others, offer to customize your scope to a particular load. As for ranging, we have found that a laser rangefinder is useful in the folloing way: If you familiarize your self with the trajectory of your gun, then practice estimating, and confirming your range guesses with the laser, you will be able to quickly estimate range within reasonable shooting distances for your rifle. Again, most of us don't get the range finder out unless we have plenty of time, and the distance is really questionable, because we have practiced with it until we are 'shit hot' at ranging with our eyes.Capiche?

If you can only afford $300 I recommend you buy a Leupold M8 4x (if any of your shots are going to be within 100 yards) or 6x (if you will be hunting exclusively out in the open) and spend the change on better quality mounts, rings, and shims if needed. If the Tikka comes with its own rings (?) and/or you can set aside a little more cash the Leupold 6x 42mm MC4 is a very nice scope for the money though most folks wouldn't care to use it for close work. Skip the rangefinding extra crosswires, especially in cheap scopes. Good hunting!

I agree. I have had a Leupold M8 4x on my Sako Hunter .270 for ten years now. In that time the scope has been off the rifle once when I re-oiled the stock. Otherwise I have never had to adjust the zero (I use the same recipe for my reloads all the time) and the rifle has, to date, clocked up 37 one shot kills and probably 1500 rounds of practice and competition. With reasonable care a Leupold 4x will see you out.

In your price range the best value will be in the Weaver Grand Slam Series IMO. Lots will recommend Leupold scopes and I used to do that as well. But that is another story.

Needless to say either the 3-10 40mm fixed objective would fit your rifle nicely and would be well within your price range. Every rifle I own is dressed with a Grand Slam now and you will get years of service from the scope and not be disappointed.

To answer you rangefinding question, every scope can be used as a range finder if you know two pieces of information. The approximate size of the target and the dimensions of the scope reticle or cross hairs. A deer is generally 16-18' at the chest and an Elk around 24'

The interesting thing about the weavers is the distance from the cross hair to the top of the wide verticle post is 16' at 300 yards on 6x, 16' at 400 yards at 8x, or 16' at 200 yards on 4x. I hunt with mine set at 6x and range the animal quickly that way to get an approximate distance. If the animals chest is larger than it is closer than 300 yards. I hold dead on. If it is smaller I increase the magnification until it fits and take 1/2 the power setting times 100 yards. I don't like taking shots beyond 400 yards and the other interesting thing is that my rifle is 16' low at 400 yards. So to take a 400 yard shot I set the power at 8x, put the junction of the fine cross hair and the heavy cross hair on the animals vitals and have not been disappointed yet. The dimensions for the reticles is available on Weavers web site, but you can verify the dimensions at the range. 16' at 100 yards on 4x will cover wide post to wide post.

As for the mil dot reticles, too much math for me when I'm hunting. Those who are deeply familure with them and their load cool, but I don't have that kind of time.

Good luck.

At one time they were and may be still made for them buy Leopold.

I have found that high end optics excel at dusk or dawn.The Leupold/Nikon etc scopes are fine during times when visibility is excellent at 50 yards. Just one person's opinion. My boss however bought Swarovski binocs.I was stunned by the clarity and detail even during the day.License plates readable at 9/10's of a mile.