Burris FullField E1 2-7x 35MM

A RIFLEMAN’S OPTICS

- Patrick Meitin

It’s a question posed frequently among deer hunters, particularly whitetail fanatics from back East: “What’s a good scope to put on my levergun?” Despite Remington’s laser-like Ultra Magnums, Hornady’s whizbang PRC rounds and Noslers double-digit proprietary cartridges – and the 6.5 Creedmoor, of course – many serious deer hunters still place complete trust in a .30-30 Winchester, .35 Remington or .45-70 lever-action rifle.

This is easily explained. While long-range shooting has become the latest firearms fad, most deer hunters – North America’s whitetail warriors – still collect their annual venison at less than 80 yards. An argument could be made that most whitetails are taken at less than 50 yards, considering the prevalence of treestands. Such shots naturally result from the very nature of the whitetail’s habitat. The levergun’s continued popularity also hinges on its handy nature and ability to deliver quick follow-up shots on running deer addressed during classic drives or chaotic opening weekends. Leverguns also hold an unmistakable mystic borne in the Wild West.

However, while many traditionally-inclined deer hunters get along swimmingly with iron sights and Woolrich wool, far more hunters today choose scopes and GoreTex togs. When I was young, for instance, putting a scope on a .22 rifle was considered an abomination. Today, it’s unusual to find a .22 without one. Modern hunters, as a demographic, are getting older. Their eyes simply are not what they used to be – and youngsters, the ones who actually hunt nowadays, know nothing else.