The Best Scope for 30-06 Rifles: Top 6 Picks & Buying Guide

You’ve got your pick of the 30-06 rifle. That’s great!

Now all you need to do is IMPROVE ITS FEATURES with the introduction of a RIFLE SCOPE.

I’m here to give you my curated list of top 6 picks for your next hunt or shooting at long-range targets.

Best Value

Leupold VX-3I 3.5-10×40

• Magnification: 3.5-10x
• Diameter: 40mm
• Eye Relief: 4 in

DISCONTINUED BY MANUFACTURER

Best Overall

Vortex Optics Diamondback HP 4-12×40

• Magnification: 4-16x
• Diameter: 42mm
• Eye Relief: 4 in

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Budget Pick

Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x42mm Ballistic Plex

• Magnification: 4.5-14x
• Diameter: 42mm
• Eye Relief: 3.1-3.8 in

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6 Best Scopes for 30-06 Rifles

1. Vortex Optics Diamondback HP 4-16×42

BEST OVERALL

BUYING OPTIONS:
» Best Price on OpticsPlanet «
» Check Price on Cabelas «

Features:

• Magnification range of 4-16x
• Low dispersion 40mm objective lens
• Easy reticle focusing

The Vortex Diamondback HP is one of the MOST powerful scopes for the 30-06 you can get today.

The HP in its name stands for “high performance,” which is a testament to its high-quality features.

Lens and Magnification

You’ll be guaranteed to squint and experience glares LESS!

Its extra-low dispersion glass works hand in hand with its multi-coated lens to maximize light transmission. 

As a result, I noticed a significant reduction in reflection, making my view much clearer!

The 4x is BETTER than most scopes in the market!

Not only do I get an overall CLEAR view of my hunt, but I also get to assess your field for as far as 1000 yards past.

The Diamondback HP also optimizes its resolution to a wide field of view thanks to its 40mm objective lens and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticle.

The BDC reticle is another name for what is essentially a duplex reticle that has markings to indicate windage on the bottom and side posts.

Fast Focus Eyepiece

This is a UNIQUE feature of the Vortex Optics Diamondback.

Why is that?

Focusing your reticle is made easier by giving you access DIRECTLY from your shooting position. No more extra head movements, finally!

This eyepiece feature ensures the shockproof, waterproof, and fog-proof properties of the rifle scope.

The ONLY drawback from all of these is the scope may be too BULKY.

However, I still find the tradeoffs to be positive, making this my BEST OVERALL PICK.

2. Leupold VX-3I 3.5-10×40

BEST VALUE

BUYING OPTIONS:
» DISCONTINUED BY MANUFACTURER «

Features:

• Magnification range of 3.5-10x
• Duplex Reticle
• Twilight Max coating

The Leupold VX scope offers the BEST VALUE given its heavier price tag.

Glass Clarity

The best thing about the Leupold VX-3i is it produces one of the BEST QUALITY IMAGES for your sight picture. 

Scopes of this quality would usually cost you TWICE as much.

This Leupold rifle scope also has a unique light management system. It uses its signature Twilight Max coating.

The coating helps the scope gather light easily, assuring you with GREAT VISIBILITY no matter the time of day.

My hunting sessions during low light conditions were a total breeze, thanks to this!

REMEMBER: The game is easier at dawn or dusk in favor of most preys’ circadian rhythms. The scope will be PERFECT for such hunts.

Duplex Reticle

I am glad that this quality scope uses the simple, easy-to-use Duplex reticle.

This feature allows for FASTER and MORE ACCURATE target acquisition because the crosshairs get finer towards the center.

I love this reticle because hunting big game is easier! It is also more ergonomic.

It’s these silent but powerful features that make the overall experience of using this scope for 30-06 worthwhile.

Eye Relief and Magnification

The Leupold VX-3i offers a sufficient amount of eye relief at around 4 inches, DEPENDING on the magnification you’re using.

You’ll notice this is sufficient even at the highest magnification. 

This makes the rifle scope ideal for long-range shooters, even if it’s mostly used at short ranges because of its overall build.

What’s GREAT about it is it leaves the choice up to you! 

In my experience, no matter the range I set my hunt out to be, I can always just adjust the Leupold VX-3i rifle scope however I want to.

Durability

The Leupold VX-3i is HIGHLY DURABLE.

The Leupold’s body is made of aircraft-grade aluminum giving it an overall superhuman build. 

To top it all off, Leupold also offers a lifetime warranty for its scopes.

Windage and Elevation Adjustments

The scope has ¼ MOA click adjustments on its turrets. You should be able to hear and feel it when you adjust these knobs!

Why is this an advantage in the field for the Leupold VX-3i?

• Improves your shooting intuition
• Reduces your movements to a minimum
• Quick, easy, and highly precise zeroing experience

3. Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x42mm Ballistic Plex

BEST BUDGET PICK

BUYING OPTIONS:
» Best Price on OpticsPlanet «
» Check Price on Brownells «
» Check Price on Amazon «

Features:

• First focal plane reticle
• No-slip grip
• High-grade optical glass

This is a HIGHLY competitive scope for its price range.

You can get a classic rifle scope with all the necessary features and more, all for almost HALF THE PRICE of the other options on this list!

Reticle

The most lauded feature of the Plex is its reticle which is located on the first local plane.

This allows the reticle to adjust to the different magnification settings: it grows BIGGER the more you ZOOM IN and SMALLER as you ZOOM OUT.

The scope also features LOWER VERTICAL CROSSHAIR, which is meant to compensate for any bullet drop from 100 to 500 yards.

This is a HUGE upgrade in the field compared to others with the same price and a testament to it being my best budget scope pick!

These unique changes make it easier for me to work on my TARGET ACCURACY and PRECISION.

You might also be surprised because of Burris Fullfield’s simplistic design, there are quite a handful of calibers the Ballistic Plex reticle could work with.

Build

The Plex sports the classic one-piece main tube and eyepiece look. This scope is the latest model from Burris Fullfield.

This upgrade gives you better sealing for security, a lighter weight, and easier adjustments for convenience. 

The special seals address potential leakage in the eyepiece instead of the usual O-ring sealed design in other scopes.

The adjustable eyepiece has a NO-LOCK mechanism, making life a lot easier because a simple turn of my eyepiece automatically adjusts the reticle magnification.

Moreover, it also has an incorporated NO-SLIP GRIP that overall just improves your shooting experience tenfold.

Glass and Lens

Every glass surface on this rifle scope is layered with Hi-Lume multi-coatings, ensuring the best performance for the scope’s 4.5-14x lens magnification.

How does the 42mm objective lens help?

• Helps enhance scope light transmission and parallax adjustment
• Nitrogen-filled to prevent the fogging of the glass and lenses
• Wide field of view
• Better eye relief
• Multi-coated lens

The Plex offers all of these features at an AFFORDABLE price.

4. Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32

BEST SIT-DOWN AND TARGET PICK

BUYING OPTIONS:
» Best Price on OpticsPlanet «
» Check Price on Cabelas «
» Check Price on Brownells «
» Check Price on Amazon «

Features:

• Magnification range of 2-7x
• Multi-coated lenses
• Aircraft-grade aluminum

Compared to the other options, the Crossfire II is the best for shooting sessions where you do NOT expect to do a lot of moving and hunting.

The Crossfire II 2-7×32 is a reliable scope you could go for and be assured that you have a quality device to use in the hunt.

Lens & Reticle

First off, the lenses on the Crossfire II rifle scope are fully multi-coated, NOT inclusive of an illuminated reticle, and use the dead-hold BDC reticle.

Most claim that the effects of which are most apparent when DEER HUNTING from a distance come sunset onwards. 

I realized that this really helps make the ranging of my target more INTUITIVE.

Eye Relief & Eye Box

Eye relief on this scope is between 3.9 and 4.7 inches.

This wide range gives the Crossfire II FLEXIBILITY when it comes to other accessories you might want to add to your device.

This is what makes the eyebox comfortable enough for me to rest on and move my head from.

You’ll find this important when you use the scope at its HIGHEST magnification.

The quality generated sight picture and experience at its 7x magnification level can EASILY rival those at higher price points.

You can definitely count on the Crossfire II for better target accuracy and precision!

It doesn’t matter that it comes at a lower magnification range of scopes than my other picks on this list.

Durability

The Crossfire II makes it into my best scope for the 30-60 list also because of its aircraft-grade aluminum finish. 

It’s a single-piece construction that is strong, durable, and surprisingly light!

Thanks to its single-piece construction, there are NO unnecessary moving parts that would allow dirt or moisture to seep through.

Additionally, the scope is also O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged to ensure its waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof properties.

Elevation & Windage Knobs

The knobs on this scope are EASILY adjustable!

This Vortex Optics scope uses 1/4 MOA precision finger clicks that accommodate finger turnings.

The clicking sounds that accompany each turn are nice and audible!

5. Leupold VX-2 4-12x40mm Rifle Scope

BUYING OPTIONS:
» DISCONTINUED BY MANUFACTURER «

Features:

• Magnification range of 4-12x
• 1/4 MOA finger click adjustments
• Fast-focus eyepiece
• Weatherproofing properties

Here is another rifle scope from Leupold; they are one of the best rifle scope manufacturers for a reason!

The Leupold VX-2 is an especially powerful scope that may be too advanced for a beginner shooter.

Magnification and Eye Relief

The scope’s magnification range of 4-12x RIVALS powerful products from other brands.

Its provided eye relief of around 4 inches is also enough to safely protect your face from high recoil 30-06 calibers.

These made hunting in BOTH short and long-range ideal and a worthwhile experience for me!

In addition to these eye features, the lenses of the Leupold VX-2 are also coated to ensure exceptional image quality, brightness, and clarity.

Coupled with its THREADED fast-focus eyepiece for target precision, this rifle scope definitely meets the demands of serious hunters and shooters.

Build

The VX-2 is built to be durable with its waterproof and fog-proof properties.

It’s specially made to withstand extreme weather conditions, given its compact yet durable build, giving the VX-2 a reliable reputation among hunters.

However, it may take beginners a while to adjust to this rifle scope because of the sophistication of its adjustment knobs and other features.

6. Athlon Optics Argos BTR Riflescope 6-24x50mm

BUYING OPTIONS:
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Features:

• Magnification range of 6-24x
• Reticle etching
• Aircraft-grade aluminum

The Athlon Optics Argos BTR is a great alternative if you want to experience the classic feel of a rifle scope. 

Its features are all of quality and well within the usual price range of the best scopes for 30-06.

Lens and Magnification

The lenses are fully multicoated.

Rest assured, its light management system has been optimized to provide you with good color contrast!

The 6-24x magnification helps establish a great sight picture!

However, it’s the wide field of view the lens provides that makes the Athlon an even more excellent scope.

Reticle Etching

Athlon Optics designed the Argos scope with the reticle etched onto the glass to prevent UNNECESSARY shaking during recoils.

I sometimes get shaky while shooting, and this etched reticle stayed on target!

It’s also made with aircraft-grade aluminum to provide structural properties such as shock-proofing and waterproofing.

The Argos scope also has its reticle located on the first focal plane, which is convenient in guiding you to fixate on your target better.

Don’t worry because the hash marks, fortunately, do not change and will still be the same relative to your target.

Lastly, the first focal plane reticle is ideal for low light conditions because of its illuminated reticle.

Windage and Elevation Adjustments

The Argos scope has windage and elevation adjustment turrets that can easily be adjusted intuitively to eliminate parallax.

Again, this makes the scope ideal for long-range hunting, as you wouldn’t have to make unnecessary movements to get ahold of your target!

What Are the Basics of a 30-06 Rifle?

The 30-06 is still one of the most popular sporting cartridges in the world because of its versatility and convenience.

It has accurate targeting and moderate recoil, making it the perfect choice for beginner shooters who want to try out for small, medium, or big game targets.

As this is mostly used when sporting, you’ll also find this often used while deer hunting.

Sounds convincing enough for you to pick up a 30-06?

A scope helps further improve the quality, accuracy, precision, and user experience of using your rifle. The 30-06 is NO exception to the help of your rifle scopes.

So if anything: you should definitely pick up a 30-06 and an appropriate rifle scope, amateur shooter or not.

What Should I Look for in a 30-06 Rifle Scope?

There are a lot of factors you should consider when choosing rifle scopes in general!

You’ll soon find out that the best scope for 30-06 isn’t the one with the best quality features. Rather, the best is the one most suited for your needs.

Here are three features that you should check out according to what type of hunt you plan to use your rifle on:

Magnification Range

The magnification of your scope should depend on how vast your hunting field is for varying ranges:

• Smaller fields would ideally only need lower-powered magnifying scopes.
• Higher magnification ranges are thus more appropriate for use in larger fields and for long-range shots.

This is a general rule of thumb for what magnification you should configure your 30-06 rifle at:

• Close Range (< 200 yards): 1-4x magnification power range
• Medium Range (200-400 yards): 4-9x magnification power range
• Long Range (400 yards and above): 9x and higher magnification power range

Clarity

Clarity is important because a good field of view requires good light transmission for a crisp and focused image of your target.

The clarity of your scope depends on these features:

• The quality of the glass
• The size of the objective lens
• The 1/4 MOA clicking of the adjustment knobs

The best scopes for 30-06 rifles are those that utilize low-dispersion glass for better color saturation and resolution.

The lenses should also be big enough to accommodate a good light management system. The larger the lens, the better equipped your rifle for long-range shooting.

The knobs are also important to help give you a better picture of your sight. Don’t hesitate to use them as much as you can!

Just make sure that you can still hear the clicking sounds to signify that the knobs are being properly rotated.

Reticle

Depending on what you need for your hunt, your reticle should always be of quality and suited to your needs.

You can also choose a first focal plane or a second focal plane reticle, depending on your needs.

Here’s a general list of reticle features that optics manufacturers design theirs around:

• Suitable for deer hunting
• Good bullet drop compensation
• Low-light environment shooting
• Well-illuminated reticle

You could always head out to the shooting range to ensure you are equipped with the best scope before immersing yourself in the field.

Just remember these added features shouldn’t add unnecessary weight to your hunting rifle.

Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time shooting with a 30-06, fret not! Here are some commonly asked questions to help you gain more insight.

What is the Best Bullet Weight for 30-06?

I recommend a bullet weight of 180 grains.

This weight is good for any kind of shooting application, from deer hunting to target practice.

Most people will say that greater than 176 but less than 200 is ideal.

What’s Better, 270 or 30-06?

It depends.

The 270 is good for a flatter trajectory, meaning it would be ideal to use this round on flat grounds or for hunting small prey.

Meanwhile, a 30-06 is heavier and can take down bigger prey.

At the end of the day, it would depend on what kind of shooting you want to do.

What Power Scope is Best for a 30-06?

A 4x-9x magnification power is a great baseline for a 30-06.

This magnification is enough for medium-range shooting (around 200-300 yards), which is what the 30-06 excels at.

For anything less than 200 yards, a 1x magnification should be enough.

My Top Picks

The best scope for 30-06 rifles is always those best suited to your needs.

Rounding up this review, I once again recommend my best picks among my curated list of the best scopes in the market right now.

Vortex Optics Diamondback HP 4-12×40 – Best Overall

The Diamondback HP is high performance as high performance can go. It’s just an overall great product!

Its durability and build do not hinder your motion and field of view as you move from one target to another, making it the perfect choice for serious shooters and hunters.

Its reputation in this market all the more justifies why I recommend this to be the best overall scope this 2021.

Don’t worry if you’re just a beginner too! It’s intuitive and easy enough to use despite being designed with professionals in mind.

Trust me when I say that all the features you’re looking for in a scope right now are in the Diamondback already: optical clarity, inherent brightness, zero hold, and intuition.

This is my pick among all the other best scopes for you!

Leupold VX-3I 3.5-10×40 – Best Value

The Leupold VX-3I is my best scope for its value this 2023.

The VX-3I may be on the more expensive side of high-quality scopes, but the result is a scope of your money’s worth.

It offers the HIGHEST quality materials to ensure you get the best hunting experience with it.

The VX-3I especially offers one of the best experiences when it comes to zeroing your 30-06 rifle, which makes it ideal for big game hunting.

Burris Fullfield II 4.5 – 14x42mm Ballistic Plex – Best Budget Pick

My best budget pick of the year is from Burris Fullfield!

The Fullfield II Ballistic Plex offers the most sought feature in the 30-06 scope.

Its reticle is located on the first local plane, meaning the reticle is able to adjust to the different magnification settings the rifle allows!

You’d be surprised by the demand for these first focal plane reticles. I won’t lie to you because they’re right for demanding so.

You can get a quality-grade scope at the LOWEST price possible and still get your desired value — that’s the Ballistic Plex for you!

Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32 – Best Sit-Down and Target

I also just couldn’t resist not recommending you another Vortex Optics rifle scope!

The Crossfire II is my best sit-down and target pick because it is perfect for shooting sessions where you do not expect to do a lot of moving and hunting.

An assessment of its features could easily tell you it uses all of the best materials and offers you the best quality for scopes boasting the same price tag.

Yet, the Crossfire II simply offers unparalleled eye relief and clarity for your 30-06.

FINAL TIP: If you’re interested in the best of the best, you can take a look at my guide on the best overall riflescopes under 500 dollars for more options.