Scope options for a Ruger

I am thinking of buying a new scope for my Ruger 6.5 Creedmoor rifle. It’s quite heavy so I was going to put a 1in scope on to save weight. Will this be better than a 30mm tube scope or will I lose light-gathering abilities?

It is true that a 1in body scope may be lighter than a 30mm tube scope, but it really depends on the quality and manufacturer of the scope. Some scopes are built like Tiger tanks and even 1in models can be heavy and bulky. I suspect you need a compact scope made from aluminium, not steel.

Kahles, Swarovski, Meopta, Zeiss and Nightforce all make excellent compact scopes, some with 1in or 30mm tubes, but the main thing is that the build quality, reliability and lens quality are up to scratch. You can have a 2in tube scope, but if the lens quality is suspect it will be pointless.

One-inch scopes are also handy as they mount closely to the rifle’s action. You can use low mounts to secure them and people like that because it gives a better viewing when the rifle is mounted in the shoulder.

With regard to light-gathering qualities, again it depends on the lens quality and coatings. I have used 1in tubes that outperform 30mm tubes because the lenses are superior. You could also look for a used one.

Note that a 30mm scope has extra travel in the adjustment for elevation and windage turrets, which is often why you see them on larger magnification long-range scopes where maximum elevation adjustments are crucial. BP

Meopta scopes in 1in and 30mm are good value and perform very well