I don't understand optics at all

[jhunter]

I know this isn't exactly what your asking but the point is the same. I made the same mistake a lot of people do and as soon as I sunk a bunch of money into my first AR I went out and bought a $40 .556 rated red dot. The FIRST time I took it to the range I got less than a magazine through the dot and it started flickering on and off with every trigger pull. It made me realize how important quality sights & dots are. Vortex, Leopold, Nikon are all good brands and for your purposes will excel. Best of luck on the upcoming season with your son!

 

[GeauxLSU]

I am in the process of getting into hunting with my son. It's hard because I have never done it and none of my friends are hunters, so I am learning from the ground up. I just picked up a rifle for him (Howa short bolt action in 7.62x39) and I am going to need a scope. I have no idea what to buy.

I guess I need a scope base, rings, and the scope itself, right?

Are bases pretty much interchangeable? If not, what should I look for in order to ensure that I order the right kind?

I think i understand rings well enough. I think.

As for the scope itself, they range from 10 bucks to several thousand. I would like to keep the total cost of the setup at less than half the price of the gun. Is that feasible? I was doing a little research and it seems a UTG Bug Buster was decently priced and got good reviews, but I honestly have no idea if it works for me or not.

These threads always bring smiles.... (at the responses).
OP, you said you wanted to spend about half the price of the rifle (though that always seems to get ignored... the OP's request). Since you bought a respectable rifle, the $250+/- you've budgeted for a scope can get you a very acceptable scope for deer hunting in Georgia. As mentioned, you aren't going to be taking 400 yard shots in sub zero weather. While the vast majority of my glass is Leupold, I've also had good results with Sightron, Burris, and higher end Bushnell in the 'modest' price range scopes. As mentioned, get a fixed, or 3-9 at the most (in a variable) and happy hunting!

Happy shopping. http://www.opticsplanet.com/riflesc...,sightron&_iv_price_min=200&_iv_price_max=275

This is probably the most common hunting scope in America... for a reason. http://www.opticsplanet.com/leupold-vari-x-ii-3-9x40mm-rifle-scope.html

 

[theDregs]

Also don't get sucked into MOA vs. MIL, First focal plane, second focal plane and all that. All you need is a good piece of glass with a little magnification. If you try and understand all that long range shooting jargon you will go bananas. Just make it as simple as possible make sure you sight your scope in with the ammo you will be hunting with. There can be a big difference in how your rifles reacts to certain ammo. Do not hunt with Tula ammo. Get a good quality American made ammo. Try and stay away from that overseas bull crap. I guess it's all right for the range because it cheap.
One thing I want to add is when you go to the range to get better at shooting why on earth would you use a crap ammo to shoot with. You will not get tight groups with it. Yes it will punch hole in paper but i can do that with a slingshot. I have never been able to figure that one out. People will go by 50 dollars of Tula ammo which is probably 200 rounds and just sit there and pull the trigger. Then when you go down and look at the target it looks like you shot it with a load of double 00 buckshot. Now how in the world do you expect to get better with all that non sense going on????????

Hell, half the reason I bought a gun in 7.62x39 was the availability of cheap ammo, (the other half was that it seemed on the lower end of the recoil spectrum for an acceptable hunting round for my son). I have never been exposed to rifles before, but my son and I love the range. I am not a rich man, but I can afford to shoot all day with Tula. I'm sure it isn't the best, but I am a firm believer in practice makes perfect, and I can practice a lot with Tula. That being said, I did buy 200 rounds of South African brass ammo today in case I go to a range were they don't allow steel ammo. I am not sure I would trust it for hunting yet, though.

 

[timbgtm]

Hell, half the reason I bought a gun in 7.62x39 was the availability of cheap ammo, (the other half was that it seemed on the lower end of the recoil spectrum for an acceptable hunting round for my son). I have never been exposed to rifles before, but my son and I love the range. I am not a rich man, but I can afford to shoot all day with Tula. I'm sure it isn't the best, but I am a firm believer in practice makes perfect, and I can practice a lot with Tula. That being said, I did buy 200 rounds of South African brass ammo today in case I go to a range were they don't allow steel ammo. I am not sure I would trust it for hunting yet, though.

Make sure you get the correct ammo for hunting. Expanding bullets, no full metal jackets,

 

[ReservoirDawg10]

Hell, half the reason I bought a gun in 7.62x39 was the availability of cheap ammo, (the other half was that it seemed on the lower end of the recoil spectrum for an acceptable hunting round for my son). I have never been exposed to rifles before, but my son and I love the range. I am not a rich man, but I can afford to shoot all day with Tula. I'm sure it isn't the best, but I am a firm believer in practice makes perfect, and I can practice a lot with Tula. That being said, I did buy 200 rounds of South African brass ammo today in case I go to a range were they don't allow steel ammo. I am not sure I would trust it for hunting yet, though.

I've taken a number of deer with x39. It's more than adequate for where I typically hunt. Happy shooting and hunting!

 

[mfoster]

The best mounts,rings,and scope you can afford your gun no matter what cost will not out perform optics.

 

[Darkdiesel]

Hell, half the reason I bought a gun in 7.62x39 was the availability of cheap ammo, (the other half was that it seemed on the lower end of the recoil spectrum for an acceptable hunting round for my son). I have never been exposed to rifles before, but my son and I love the range. I am not a rich man, but I can afford to shoot all day with Tula. I'm sure it isn't the best, but I am a firm believer in practice makes perfect, and I can practice a lot with Tula. That being said, I did buy 200 rounds of South African brass ammo today in case I go to a range were they don't allow steel ammo. I am not sure I would trust it for hunting yet, though.

I bought the same gun in 6.5 grendel for the same reason...i don't mind my kids shooting cheap ammo till they get bored with it. I'm getting 3in groups with tula.

I like cheap ammo for trigger time. If they show real interest then I'll teach them to reload.... once they put all the work into loading they won't be so trigger happy

 

[theDregs]

I bought the same gun in 6.5 grendel for the same reason...i don't mind my kids shooting cheap ammo till they get bored with it. I'm getting 3in groups with tula.

I like cheap ammo for trigger time. If they show real interest then I'll teach them to reload.... once they put all the work into loading they won't be so trigger happy

I didn't realize 6.5 grendel was so cheap. I might have gotten that instead. Good to keep in mind for my next rifle!

 

[greg vess]

I reload and the difference from shelf ammo and hand loads is drastic. I can punch .400 holes out of my 308 with Federal Gold Medal Match Sierra open tip match but that stuff is 37 bucks for 20 shells. It's damn good ammo. When I go to the range my objective is to keep every shot within a 1 inch circle. My 6.8 builds and my 308 build are tack drivers. I am building an 18 inch SPR 5.56 now. It's going to be a shooter too. I'm just too anal for my own good. I refuse to shoot steel case ammo out of something I have put my heart and soul in. Now I have some brass PMC but that's my SHTF ammo. That and a ton of American Eagle bulk ammo. That will do the trick in a crisis scenario but when I go to the range I go to get better. To each his own. If I just feel like shooting a bunch I switch to the old 22 or 22 mag.
OH! Just for the spend 3 times the price of the rifle rule. I built my AR10 308 ( 1,800 bucks in parts alone) and had very little money to put into a scope and was dying to shoot it. I bought a Bushnell AR Optics 308 scope for 225 bucks. The first time I took it out and zero it in. I shot 3 shot groups in the four corners of the target. They measured .375 MOA. I like the scope much it's still on there.

 

[REDX]

I ended up getting a Nikon Prostaff from my FFL. I like to throw business their way because they never charge FFL fees and they recommended one of the same scopes you guys did. I payed more than I would have online, but that's fine. Thanks guys!

Edited for phone postin' grammar

Smart Choice, Glad you listened. Most people try to sell you on the latest and greatest, I try to tell you what's best for what YOU need at Your cost point.