Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots looking for opinions on scopes for ruger #1

hi all,
i have a .25-06 that i just got out of layaway and want to scope it. i'm curious what looks/feels "right" on a #1AH from lipseys. i am leaning towards one of 2 brands:
1. leupold vx3 3.5-10 x 40.
2. leupold vx3 4.5 - 14 x 40 AO.
3. leupold vx2 4-12 x 40 AO.
4. Nikon monarch 3 3-12x42 side focus.

what do you all think?
thanks,
kstockfo

oh and what do you think about burris signature rings (with the neoprene insert)?
thanks,
kstockfo

I think the Leupold 3.5-10x40 would fit it to a "T". The 1-AH is a trim rifle and I wouldn't want to burden it with too much scope and 10x should be plenty. The Burris rings certainly are functional but rather unsightly to my eyes.

My choice would be:

3. Leupold vx2 4-12 x 40 AO.

With that flat-shooting .25/06... you can "reach-out-and-touch" a good many things including varmints, antelope, deer and targets 400 yards away if you have the skill. The AO will come in handy if you shoot at various ranges on the rifle range.

My only caveat is... does the scope look too big for the rifle?


Strength & Honor....

Ron T.

The AH model is a beauty, and the .25-06 will reach out a ways. I am always careful not to put to big of a scope on a short handy rifle.
The B model with a 26" medium weight barrel seems to support a larger scope without looking goofy.
I would give some thought as to what you will be using the rifle/scope combo for.
If you are not planning on taking shots beyond a certain distance, then you could use that distance to keep your scope to a minimum. Don't need 16x if you are going to use the rifle in the woods where a 100 yard shot may be maximum.
Ruger No.1's in A's (22" light sporters), RSI (International 20" bbl.)AH's with 22" or 24" light weight barrels. AB's with a 22" lightweight barrel all need smaller scopes to keep the rifle from looking like a scope with a rifle hanging underneath.

Just my opinion.

Of the scopes listed, leupold vx3 3.5-10 x 40, gets my vote.

Mitch

After thinking about it, I guess I should have given some more details. My primary purpose will be whitetails between 50-250 yards, so my practice would consist of shooting at various ranges (I'm aware of 1 300 yard range that I've shot at). Keep the opinions coming, especially on the rings. I've used the Burris Signature rings, but if there is a better way to do things, I'm willing to try something new if the end result is better. I think this will be a lifetime rifle.
Thanks,
kstockfo

+1 For the Leupold VX3 3.3X 10X40

+1 on small and light to match the lines of the rifle. Just be sure to get something with enough tube length so you don't end up with extension rings, which are uber oogly.

While I have shot lots of deer at 500 yards with a Leupold 2x7 left on 2X, I like to sight in the rifle on full scope power.


This deer was moving at 400 yards and I took it with a 1.75x6 Leupold Vari-xiii on 6X and still kept the crosshairs on it while I fired the Ruger #1 like a machine gun.

I have shot ~ 20 deer and the highest power scope was a 3.5x10 VX3 on 10X shooting a bedded down buck at 477 yards. That was just like shooting a paper target.

IMHO, the Leupold 2.5-8 would be perfect size and weight for that rifle without breaking the bank. I've run them on two #1Bs and one currently sits on my old S26M and to me they balance perfectly. I run them in low rings. the 3.5-10 and 3-9 are great, but the Ah has a shorter and thinner barrel than the B. I would think the balance and wieght would be thrown off a little - for me anyway. And...it wouldn't look as cool. That's important too .

Just to give you some perspective, below is the 2.5-8 on 26" standard-contour barrels.

I really like Burris Signature rings with the neoprene inserts, but I doubt you'll find them to fit Rugers, pretty sure they haven't made them in years.

I'd bet that the Leupolds will work better for you than that Nikon (too little eye relief). 2-7 or 1.5-5 Leupold work best if you want a variable, fixed 4x or 6x is better IMHO, but I'm funny that way.

Take a look at the Burris FF II 3x9 Ballistic plex[or 2x7]. Light scope, very clear and fits your rifle to a tee.

I had a 1B in .25-06 in the past with a vari x-ii 4-12 on it.
I thought it looked appropriate and balanced well.

Now I have a 1 AH in .25-06 like you are asking about.
I have a vx3 2.5-8 on it. I wouldn't want anything bigger on it.

jmho

Dave

I would love to have a 2.5-8 Leupold on my AH, but I do not think my stiff neck will allow it, even with extension rings. That scope just looks like a match for the rifle.

I'm not as young as I once was, but it am tempted to put a 3X M8 on mine. I can get the scope back far enough and I have not had trouble killing stuff with 3 and 4 power scopes. The question is, can I still see things with it? I have a Burris 3-9 FFII. I don't think I can give up the extra eye relief to use it. Perhaps a 1.5-5 is the answer.

Jack

I have a Leupold VX-II 1-4X on my 1-S in 9.3x74R now and it's going to stay.

I know it's not what you're looking at, but you might want to consider the 6X36 Leupold on that .25-06. For the ranges you're shooting at, a good 6X will be fine-and not overwhelm the trim 1AH. Eye relief is also perfect, which is not always the case with the No 1 and many scopes.
Bob

I'd go with a VX-3 3.5-10x40, myself, partially because you can get them in gloss finish to match the rifle. And with Ruger offset rings, you can get them adjusted pretty well. This is my .270 Liberty:

2x is plenty for deer at 500 yards.
The problem is windage and elevation, not magnification.
That deer kill zone is bigger than a 2moa bullseye at that range.

14x is better for rodents at 300 yards.


40x is not enough for targets at 500 yards, if there was no wind.

I have been reading up in the optics section that folks are complaining about too much eye relief in the VX-2 4-12AO; maybe we should look at them for the AH. They are near the size of the 3.5-10, and some are claiming 4.5 to 5 inches at low and almost four at high. Leupold advertises 4.9 & 3.7. Almost as much on the 3-9.

I do not see gloss and reticle choices are limited.

Jack

I have a fixed power 6X Leupold on my 7/57 and have had a time getting one to fit so that the eye relief is good. Even mounted as far back as it will go with Ruger rings, the scope is still a tiny bit farther forward than I would like. I tried several other scopes before I found this one that works.

I have both regular low and medium extension rings. A non-AO 3.5-10 is the best fit I have without going scope shopping. That is with the extensions, and that is not appealing.

Were I sure the rifle would be a keeper, I would cut the stock an inch or so and not worry with it.

Jack