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Best Rifle Scopes
for the 30-06 Springfield

By Patrick Long |

Burris optical rifle scope

The Springfield .30-06 is an incredibly versatile cartridge popular with hunters and shooters. It was first introduced to the United States Military in 1906, which is where it gets part of its name. The 30 represents the caliber of the cartridge. This cartridge performed so well that it held the spot at the US military's standard rifle and machine gun round for about 50 years. 100 years after it was created, hunters and recreational shooters are still getting good use out of the cartridge.

The 30-06 cartridge can be used for many purposes, so you want to make sure you invest in a scope that best suits what you intend to use it for. Whether you use the .30-06 for hunting medium to large game, or you’re interested in target shooting, a scope with the right magnification will help you get the most out of your rifle.

Ballistics & Recommended Range for the 30-06 Springfield

The 30-06 Springfield is not made for shooting extremely long distances by today's standards. A usual bullet weight is between 125 and 180 grains, and you can expect this round to go between 3200 and 2700 feet per second. Like most rifle rounds, the 30-06 is a flat shooter out to around 200 yards. Although when you stretch it out to 300 yards, you can get between 3 and 8 inches of drop depending on your load. If you go out to 400 yards, that range grows to around 30 inches or more.

So it is safe to assume that if you want to shoot over 300 yards, you would pick a different cartridge. Although to reach out to that distance you would need about 9x magnification. A fairly standard hunting variable scope magnification range is 3-9x, and that would be perfect for the 30-06. You can see as far as you would ideally ever shoot, and still have a low enough magnification for close range shots.

Common Uses For The 30-06 Springfield

Nowadays, the most common use for the 30-06 is going to be hunting. It is no longer used in our military. You could certainly have some fun with it on the range, if you have a tough shoulder, but this isn’t the cartridge a long range shooter would choose.

For hunting anything up to 300 yards, you need at least 9x scope magnification, and that will also work well over 100 yards. Although if you regularly shoot closer range shots under 100 yards, you will want something with a magnification of around 1 to 4x. To keep you covered on all fronts, a variable scope between 1 and 9x would be ideal. If you want to see a bit more detail at longer ranges, consider going up to 12x.

Recoil & Recommended Eye Relief for the 30-06 Springfield

The 30-06 Springfield doesn’t have the lightest recoil in the world. You can expect it to send around 20 foot pounds of force back at you. On the Sportsmans Recoil Table, this cartridge gets a score between 3.16 and 3.46 out of 10 depending on the load. If you want to compare that to some other cartridges you are more familiar with, check out the Sportsmans Recoil Table.

To put up with that recoil, you will want at least 3 inches of eye relief. You also want a securely mounted scope so the recoil doesn’t move your scope over time.

Most Affordable Scope: Burris Fullfield II 3-9x 40mm

Burris Fullfield II 3-9x 40mm Rifle Scope
Burris Fullfield II 3-9x 40mm Rifle Scope
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If you want to get away with paying as little as possible for a scope, but still getting a good optic, the Burris Fullfield II is what you need for your 30-06. This scope has a 3 to 9x magnification range, so it is perfect for shooting out to 300 yards, and everything leading up to it. With the 40mm Objective lens, you will also get a clear sight picture and the quality glass is also fully multi-coated.

You get the standard second focal plane MOA reticle with this scope, which you are likely used to. For the standard 30-06 rifle, the magnification of this scope is more than enough for any situation you might run into. Plus, if you end up breaking this scope, it is covered under the no questions asked Burris Forever Warranty.

Key Features

  • 3-9x Magnification
  • 40mm Objective Lens
  • Fully Multi-Coated Lenses
  • MOA System
  • Second Focal Plane

Best Scope For Hunting: Bushnell Nitro 3-12x44mm

Bushnell Nitro 3-12x44mm Rifle Scope - Multi-X
Bushnell Nitro 3-12x44mm Rifle Scope - Multi-X
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If your 30-06 is built for hunting, then you will want an optic that can outperform your cartridge. In this case, the Bushnell Nitro will reach out past 400 yards, and will never be the limiting factor on your hunt. You get a 3 to 12x magnification range with this scope, and a 44mm objective lens that makes a fairly bright sight picture. The lenses are also fully multi-coated and ready to be put to the test.

The scope itself is also IPX7 waterproof, so you don’t need to worry about getting water in your scope on the hunt. You will get a second focal plane MOA reticle that is easy to use and good looking. All and all, this is a solid scope that any shooter that wants to get the most out of his 30-06 should consider.

Key Features

  • 3-12x Magnification
  • 44mm Objective Lens
  • Fully Multi-Coated Lenses
  • MOA System
  • Second Focal Plane

Best Scope For Under 300 Yards: Vortex Diamondback 3-9x 40mm

Vortex Diamondback 3-9x 40mm Rifle Scope
Vortex Diamondback 3-9x 40mm Rifle Scope
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If you want a 3 to 9x scope that is a bit nicer for your 30-06, you should look at the Vortex Diamondback. Vortex is known for making great optics, and that's what you get with the Diamondback. For starters, this scope is waterproof, shock proof, and fog proof, so if you can break it in the field, you deserve an award.

Its 3 to 9x magnification is paired with a 40mm Objective lens that transmits plenty of light through the Diamondbacks high quality fully multi-coated lenses. You have multiple reticle options for this scope, but they are all second focal plane MOA reticles.

For less than $300, you can’t get much of a better scope for a 30-06. Over 170 customers have said the same thing about this scope on Sportsmans.com!

Key Features

  • 3-9x Magnification
  • 40mm Objective Lens
  • Fully Multi-Coated Lenses
  • MOA System
  • Second Focal Plane