Trying to decide on caliber.

[slowr1der]

Has not been my experience with them, though my experience was somewhat limited (and it was with VX-I series scopes, not the Rifleman, but per my understanding the construction is the same)...I just couldn't put up with that glass.

Yeah the glass in the ones I had wasn't good at all either. The main thing I didn't like was the problems I had with durability though. I've heard of several others having the same issues. Yet I've also heard of a few people online claiming theirs work.

The Burris Fullfield II I use now blows the VX-I's away clarity wise and it's in the same price range. Actually slightly cheaper.

The Rifleman line is a step below the VX-I line, so I'm afraid to see how bad they might be.

 

[benzy2]

First, I think your rifle is a good pick. The sub-$500 market has become very competitive in the last few years. Most rifles in this range shoot well. You won't get the bells and whistles of more expensive rifles but you often get one that shoots at or under 1" groups at 100 yards.

As for the caliber. That is a tough call. The problem I have is that .308 and .30-06 ammo is everywhere. Surplus ammo is still available, if drying up a bit. Match ammo is also available as well as quite a few hunting loads. It really covers you for all the situations you could think of. That said, I think there are better rounds for the casual deer hunter who spends most of the time at the range. Many have already been listed. Basically, something with a 6.5mm or 7mm bullet. If you get into reloading there are many great match bullets in the 6.5mm and 7mm range. You also drop recoil a bit. While the .308 and .30-06 aren't monsters, they aren't a .22lr, especially out of a lightweight hunting rifle. For a shooter that is new to centerfire you could see recoil caused issues pop up with your shooting form. May not, but it is a consideration. The problem now becomes that you are stuck shooting hunting ammo in factory loaded form. Not quite the ideal paper punching load from an absolute accuracy and cost point of view. I think you need to weigh each of these and pick from there.

As for the scope:

WRT the optics choice, you would be hard pressed to find something better than a Sightron S-II 3-9x42mm for about the same price as the Leupold Rifleman. Others that perform well, have good glass, and fit your budget (+/- $50.00 of the Rifleman) include: Vortex Viper, Bushnell Elite 4200, and Nikon Monarch.

I just wanted to repeat this. The rifleman is a scope I wouldn't pay for and probably wouldn't use if it were given to me. That sounds bad, but for similar money there are scopes far nicer out there. All of those listed in this quote are great scopes, far better than the rifleman. I'm not up to date on where the Vortex fits but the Elite 4200 and the Monarch are on the same general tier as the Leupold VX-III line optically. You pay a premium for a Leupold and their bottom tier stuff just isn't up to snuff anymore. While the warranty is great, I would rather a better scope for the same money. I know Vortex has a great warranty as well.

 

[Dr T]

I would go with the 308. It tends to give higher velocities up to 165 gr bullets than the 30-06, there are a lot of bullets available for handloading, and a 150 gr. 308 does not kick that much more than a 130 gr 270.

I personally do not consider 223 adequate for small West Texas whitetails (and even more inadequate for the bigger deer in the Southeast and Northeast). It is not that a 223 cannot kill a deer, it is that most of the bullets for 22 caliber rifles are intended for varmints and will not give adequate penetration for a body shot. Thus, the kills are likely to be less humane.

 

[DIM]

It is not that a 223 cannot kill a deer, it is that most of the bullets for 22 caliber rifles are intended for varmints and will not give adequate penetration for a body shot. Thus, the kills are likely to be less humane.

That holds true when using varmint bullets which are 40 - 64 gr, but if you try 69 - 80 gr bullets your perspective on 223 might change. For instance 70 gr Barnes Triple-Shock X Bullets is not intended to shoot varmints or 80 gr Hornady A-Max...

 

[unit91]

The .308 has a great selection of ammo in any gun shop or online and you can buy surplus ammo at pennies on the dollar for plinking/practice.

Agreed. There's a lot to be said for shooting wildly popular rounds (.308, .270, .30-06), especially if you travel to hunt.

 

[brianr23]

.270 win. I have a tikka t3 lite stainless with a zeiss conquest 3-9x40. Best money I have invested in a rifle/scope combo. Total cost under $1K