What are your guys opionions of the 30mm scopes? Are there enough advantages to these scopes to be priced higher than equal power 1" tubes? What are the major setbacks of these scopes.

Thanks
FNMAUSER

Only two things I can think of - bulkier tube and the need for 30mm rings.

Don't own any of the larger tubed scopes, but read that they provide more field of view and are brighter than the 1" tube.

Can remember the 7/8" tubed scopes back in the late '50's - early 60's. The 1" tubes provided much more brightness by comparison.

What are your guys opionions of the 30mm scopes? Are there enough advantages to these scopes to be priced higher than equal power 1" tubes? What are the major setbacks of these scopes.

Thanks
FNMAUSER


The down side is a larger size scope and heavier wieght. The advantages are brighter and more MOA of verticle and horzontal adjustments.This comparison assumes that we are compairing top quality 1" to top quality 30mm. If you do not need or want the added MOA of adjustments then they may not be worthy of your consideration. I have scopes of both 1" and 30mm in size and use the 30mm on my long range rifles for the increased amount of adjustment

FN,
You and I have discussed this topic a little in the past, though it was more toward Euro vs. American scopes, so you pretty well know what I think are advantages and disadvantages of each.

However, one other advantage to the 30mm tubes is, at least most of the time, these scopes have a little longer tube (between the objective and ocular bells) than the 1" scopes. Most have around 5 3/4 - 6", making it easy to put on rifles with magnum length actions without using offset rings or bases and still have a little room to play with for correct eye relief.

Given that, when searching for a scope to put on my 300 H&H, I did go with Bushnell's Elite 4200 (1" tube) as it too has about 6" between the bells.

FN,
You and I have discussed this topic a little in the past, though it was more toward Euro vs. American scopes, so you pretty well know what I think are advantages and disadvantages of each.

However, one other advantage to the 30mm tubes is, at least most of the time, these scopes have a little longer tube (between the objective and ocular bells) than the 1" scopes. Most have around 5 3/4 - 6", making it easy to put on rifles with magnum length actions without using offset rings or bases and still have a little room to play with for correct eye relief.

Given that, when searching for a scope to put on my 300 H&H, I did go with Bushnell's Elite 4200 (1" tube) as it too has about 6" between the bells.

That is a good point Alyeska one other way is to use a picatinie rail base as there are numerous ring mounting positions.The down side is that they are not made for every style of action only winchester and remington unless you have a blank contoured for a different action

Are the 30 mm American scopes built as heavy as the European models.

The Leupold scopes w/ the 30mm tube are not nearly as heavy as the European models ... however, I am not a hunter that carries his rifle thru rough terrain.... so rifle weight is not that big an issue to me.

For what it's worth, I've owned a few 1" and 30mm scopes and here's my take:

1. 30mm tube scopes are more "rugged" ... it's simply harder to harm that tube than a 1"

2. if your 30mm tubed scope uses a 'standard' erector setup, then you will have a LOT more room for windage and elelvation adjustment

3. 30mm tube are NOT brighter than 1" tubes ... this is a myth, mostly started when the Euro 30mm scopes were compared to the American 1" scopes ... Thing is, at that time, the Euro scopes had superior optics, so they were brighter no matter what.

4. 30mm tubes typically have more room/length, making mounting easier

5. depending on the specifics of how you hunt/shoot, the added weight (if any) of the 30mm tubed scope might be a good thing, making it easier to steady the rifle

Personally, I prefer a 30mm tubed scope on rifles that have integral dovetails for ring mounts ... this is because if the rings/dovetails are not perfectly aligned with your bore, you have plenty of room to adjust for your zero/center... and you still have plenty of room for field adjustments if you so desire.

It's a shame that scopes w/ 30mm tubes are inherently more expensive, but they do offer 'more' than their equivolent 1" counterparts ... it really comes down to what you want/need ... not which is "better"