The Best 30-06 Scope: Our Top 5 Scopes for 30-06 Rifles

The 30-06 rifle cartridge is almost legendary as it’s been used for generations for hunting almost all the game in North America including whitetail deer, elk, moose and almost anything else that walks and breathes.

So when you’re looking for a new scope for your 30-06, you’ve got a lot to think about to send this cartridge down range accurately towards your target. You’ve got optical clarity of the scope, durability and construction (since you’ll be taking it into the woods), and also the ability of your 30-06 scope to hold zero.

Our experts thought about all of those things as they reviewed some of the best scopes for 30-06 on the market below.

Leupold VX-2 4-12x40mm Rifle Scope for 30-06

Most 30-06 owners will venture toward a 3-9x scope, but some want a little more power out of their optic. The range fits the cartridge well, and as adaptable as the cartridge is for hunting or target shooting, this scope will push that adaptability to the max.

The 40mm aperture and multi-coated optics will deliver a super clear picture, even in the dark at lower magnifications. During the day, you can push this scope from Leupold to 12x for the most demanding of long-range shooting applications. This scope will keep you on target, performing well for any task you might ask of your 30-06. The only real downside is the price, but for a scope of this quality, it’s hard to go wrong.

BESTEK 6-24x50mm AOEG Rifle Scope

If you are looking for a budget solution for your 30-06, Bestek hits the mark. The huge 50mm aperture is the perfect size for a clear picture at 6x magnification, even without fully multi-coated optics. The scope is built well enough, and will hold zero just fine on your deer rifle.

The magnification might prove a little high for some people. If you won’t be taking shots over 100 yards, you might consider going with a lower power solution. For what it is, this isn’t a bad scope, but don’t expect a perfect picture.

At the highest end of the magnification range you will notice substantial dimming of your picture, and possibly a little graininess. Deformation near the edge of the field of view will become annoyingly noticeable. But in reality, how often are you going to push it past 15x?

For under $50 on Amazon right now, you’re getting a lot for your money with this 30-06 scope.

Nikon Buckmasters II 3-9×40 BDC Rifle Scope

This scope presents a fairly standard offering for a 30-06 at a good price. A quality Nikon scope with its heavy clicks will hold up to recoil, even on lightweight rifles. 3-9x is a pretty standard magnification range that will suit many hunters and target shooters well, and 40mm is more than enough aperture for the usual applications. The anti-reflection coatings allow up to 92% light transmission. Not the best but far better than cheaper coatings.

If you are looking for a best buy, or a lot of quality for the money you spend, the Buckmasters is a solid offering in that category. The BDC reticule is also tuned for standard drop at nominal velocities, making hold-over a snap.

Nikon ProStaff 4-12 x 40 Black Matte Riflescope (BDC)

Another offering from Nikon with a bit more reach, up to 12x magnification. The fully multi-coated optical system provides up to 98% light transmission, and at a price that is still on a decent budget. The aperture could be a bit larger for a brighter image at higher magnifications, but it serves this scope well over most of the power range.

Solid clicks may be a pain when sighting in, but you don’t need to worry about your sight picture drifting away after use. It also features Nikon’s BDC reticule system, which will keep you on target over a long range without counting mil-dots or fiddling with a ballistic calculator.

Nikon makes some great rifle scopes for the money and this is definitely one of them. In fact, one of their scopes has made it into several of our articles including this one, and several others on Gun Laser Guide.

Bushnell Trophy XLT Multi-X Reticle Riflescope Bone Collector Edition

Bushnell’s answer to scoping your 30-06 is the Bone Collector. The multi-coated optics aren’t quite as good as comparable Nikon scopes, quoting 91% throughput, but it’s plenty for a bright, clear picture. This scope is rugged, and ready for hunting. Just sight it in and you are good to go.

I think the principal reason for going with this scope over others in the price range would be the Multi-X reticle system that comes standard. If you prefer a simple reticule without a bunch of fancy additions and notches, then this is the scope for you. The paint job might look modern, but the functionality is from a tried and tested design.

For this price, Bushnell made one heck of a rifle scope for your 30-06.