New Scope for Dad's old deer rifle

H82Miss

H82Miss

Member
My dad passed away 5 and a half years ago and his old deer rife has sat in my gun safe since the day I brought it home in April 2018. After admiring an old Remington 760 .270 Win on a recent deer hunting trip to Montana with some friends, I got to thinking that it would be cool to hunt Mule Deer with dad's old rifle. He never got the chance at "the big one" so I thought maybe I could try to shoot one with his rifle in his honor.
I got the old rifle out of the safe and gave it a good once over. It's in pretty good shape, a few scratches on the stock and a small spot on the barrel where the bluing has rubbed off, but the bore is nice and clean and the action is smooth. It's old but it hasn't been shot much. I would bet it hasn't had more than 100 rounds through it. The rifle itself is a Ruger M77 .270 Win circa 1980. I shouldered the rifle and looked through the scope to find the reticle off center with a large black spot obscuring the FOV. The scope is a Bushnell Sportview "3x-9x,32".
So, I want to put a new scope on the rifle. What should it be? Should I look for a vintage scope similar to what was on it? Or just put a lower end Leupold 3-9x40 on it? I don't think I need a scope with a fancy reticle and don't plan on dialing. I'm not stuck on Leupold either, I'd be willing to try something else. Probably thinking something under $500, idk.
What do you think?
 
Don't think you'd be disappointed with any of the Burris scopes from the 3-9x40 on up for a hunting rifle. I've used several of the 3x9' but prefer the 4.5-14x42 for predator hunting; never let me down. You can pay more, and get better glass if you wish but these are great hunting scopes for the price point.
 
The Burris FF scopes are reasonably priced and effective. Just about any of the the name brands, Leupold, Burris, Athlon, Vortex will work fine. Look at them all and pick the one with the features you like, reticle, weight, length(be sure it will fit your action length) and adjustments.
 
I have Burris and Leupold. The FF scopes from Burris are an awesome scope for the money. The Leupold is a better scope but it's also 2x the money. The Burris is a better deal. If it were me buying for a rifle that most likely won't get used much I would get a Fullfield II
 
Depends on what you are wanting to do with the rifle. My dads m77 7mm rem mag, red pad tang safety barrel gave up the ghost. I had similar options. Keep it as a wall hanger, keep it stock looking (pencil barrel, gloss 3x9 leupold), or make it more useful.
I decided to go Christensen cf barrel chambered In the same 7mm rm, installed a weigatinny 20 moa rail and topped it with a Burris xrt ii 5-25 scope.
 
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The Burris FF is a good option that won't break the bank for a usable scope on a rifle that you aren't betting the farm on a trophy once-in-a-lifetime type hunt. Good on ya for getting your dad's rifle back into the field. I use my dad's rifle every year at some point and it brings back great memories.
 
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What was likely the last mule deer I'll ever take with a rifle was using my Dad's pre '64 M70 in .270. It had an '80s vintage Leupold M8 4x on it that Dad had replaced the original Lyman All American 4x with. That I should have just left. Instead I put an old Leupold 4.5x14 on it for this hunt. Every time I look at the picture of Dad's rifle with that buck, I wish I'd have left the old M8 4x on it. As it played out, I shot him through the neck, offhand, at 70 yards (head down munching acorns). The old scope would have actually been better suited.

I still have the Lyman that was originally on that rifle. Dad moved it to his Win. 72A. Complete with off center cross hair. It's still shoots lights out.

20161022_Elk%20Ridge_Deer%20Hunt-27W.jpg


- DAA
 
Only issue I've had with Burris scopes(fulfield and a tac30) are VERY stiff magnification ring tension, cold weather hunts are to the point of not being adjustable.
 
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