Just wondering how many of you have a scope on your handguns for hunting? If so what kind. Thanks Rockerdog

I use scopes on my Contender barrels, but not on my revolvers. I have a Simmons and a Leupold and they both work fine.

I use a Burris 2x scope on my Ruger 454 for hunting.


Bill C.

Leupolds, all 5 of them. The eyes aren't what the use to be and the little 2x EER Leupold makes all the difference in the world.

HAve tried them on revolvers...and found I didn't care for them in that use (a personal thing). Tried them on semi-auto .22's, adn found I prefer the red dot electronic sights better...faster and more than accurate enough for the ranges .22LR handugns should be used. Like them and use them on single shots.

No doubt about it, can make smaller groups at longer ranges with scoped handguns...can (with good optics) sort the antlers from the branches better...but I reserve them for the already less portable handguns.

Hi Rockerdog,

I don't have any scopes on my revolvers - - - but since both Burris and Leupold are mentioned in this post I will offer this information: A burris 2.75 power "Scout" scope on my 45/70 has just been sent back to Burris for the third time - - the "O" ring in the eye piece end pops out from the recoil after 3 to 5 rounds being fired.

A leupold 2 power "Scout" scope on my .444 has never had a problem and even today I returned from the range after firing 40 rounds of 290 grain BTB's at 2,211 to 2,219 fps.

I will admit that I think the Burris is brighter and the "Heavy-Plex" reticule enables faster attainability, but I will give that up for a scope that stays together.

I have a .454 Casull Ruger Super Redhawk at Magnaport being 'tricked up' and am giving seriouse thought to putting a Leupold EER on it.

Fletch

Rockerdog,

I've got two Ruger Blackhawks. Because on my age and declining eyes, I'm in the process of putting a ghost ring on one of them. This one has a 4 5/8 inch barrel, and I usually carry "just in case". Having experimented with scopes and handguns, I will probably put a scope on the second Blackhawk. Without better sights on them, these fine handguns will become useless to me. Leupold is my first choice in scopes regardless of firearms configuration.

Lobo in West Virginia

My eye sight up close isn't very good any more, so I'm having trouble seeing handgun sights, especially in dim light conditions like in wooded areas. Because of this, I'm starting to put scopes on many of my guns, including handguns.

I have a Dan Wesson 744 .44 mag with a Bushnell Elite 3200 2-6x32 that I use for deer hunting here in Ohio. I also have a Smith & Wesson 500 mag that I had a Burris 1.5-4x Posi-Lock scope on. I wanted to use the 500 for bear hunting in Pennsylvania last year, but the Burris didn't have enough eye relief for me to use it very well, because of my arm length (35" sleeve). I just replaced the Burris with a Leupold M8 2x20mm fixed power scope, which I think will work better. I put the Burris on a Browning Buck Mark 5.5 Target .22 where it should work fine.

From my experience, I'd say the Leupold and Burris scopes have the best optical quality, but the Bushnell has the longest eye relief. Since I just got the Leupold on the 500 and haven't had the chance to take it out yet, I'll have to give you a report on it later, but I think it will work OK. My dealer also handles Nikon, but they didn't reccommend it for the 500 because of the stout recoil.

I also learned sometime I didn't know before when I was looking for a different scope for my S&W 500. Since I'm far sighted, I have to really adjust the focus for the reticle before I can see it clearly. Unlike with rifle scopes, adjustments to the eyepiece in handgun scopes also affects the eye relief as well as the reticle focus. This is another reason, in addition to being tall with long arms, that I have a problem with the eye relief on handgun scopes.

i have a taurus raging bull .44 mag, and i put a nikon monarch 2x scope on it, and i love it. accuracy has improved as well.

Hi Rockerdog,

I don't have any scopes on my revolvers - - - but since both Burris and Leupold are mentioned in this post I will offer this information: A burris 2.75 power "Scout" scope on my 45/70 has just been sent back to Burris for the third time - - the "O" ring in the eye piece end pops out from the recoil after 3 to 5 rounds being fired.

A leupold 2 power "Scout" scope on my .444 has never had a problem and even today I returned from the range after firing 40 rounds of 290 grain BTB's at 2,211 to 2,219 fps.

I will admit that I think the Burris is brighter and the "Heavy-Plex" reticule enables faster attainability, but I will give that up for a scope that stays together.

I have a .454 Casull Ruger Super Redhawk at Magnaport being 'tricked up' and am giving seriouse thought to putting a Leupold EER on it.

Fletch


Fletch,

I've got the Leupold 2.5x Scout Scope on my 1895G. I really like it. I sent it back to Leupold and had the Heavy Duplex reticle installed (I think $55.00 & one week turn-around time). Now it's great!

Hi Rockerdog,

I don't have any scopes on my revolvers - - - but since both Burris and Leupold are mentioned in this post I will offer this information: A burris 2.75 power "Scout" scope on my 45/70 has just been sent back to Burris for the third time - - the "O" ring in the eye piece end pops out from the recoil after 3 to 5 rounds being fired.

A leupold 2 power "Scout" scope on my .444 has never had a problem and even today I returned from the range after firing 40 rounds of 290 grain BTB's at 2,211 to 2,219 fps.

I will admit that I think the Burris is brighter and the "Heavy-Plex" reticule enables faster attainability, but I will give that up for a scope that stays together.

I have a .454 Casull Ruger Super Redhawk at Magnaport being 'tricked up' and am giving seriouse thought to putting a Leupold EER on it.

Fletch


You know, every now and then we will unfortunatly get a lemon. I got a lemon Bushnell elite 3200. Lots of people really like those scopes, and the gun rags have nothing but good things to say about the elite series of scopes from Bushnell. However Mine starting shifting POI within the first 100rds from a BLR .308. I think the important thing to consider when looking for a scope is warranty and customer service. Optical quality is of course very important also, but when you buy a scope you should already know what optical quality you should get from the scope. The customer serice is an unkown unless you've delt witht the manufacturer before. I sent my Elite 3200 back to Bushnell and within 3 1/2 weeks I had a check in my mailbox for exactly how much my scope cost me, tax and all. The people on the phone were great, and the company made sure I was satisfied with what I got back from them. Did I buy another Bushnell, well no. I ended up putting a Leupold 2.5x8x36 on the BLR. Would I buy another Bushnell again, probably so. I think I just got a lemon and wouldn't worry about the Elite series of scopes from Bushnell, Mainly because if I ever had anymore problems I know the company will stand behind their product. I'm sorry you've had problems with your Burris Scout scope. I have one that I bought used off Ebay. I don't know what it was mounted on before, but I slapped it ontop of my 444 Marlin and was really pleased with it. My father had a Burris Signature scope on a .280 A Bolt that was a great a scope and he kicked himself after he sold the gun and scope. Burris products have a good lifetime warranty, and their optics are great quality for the price. I hate you've had problems with your scout scope, but its good to know that they will continue fixing it for you. Hopefully they will get it right this time.


Back to the original post, I would suggest buying a scope that has a good reputation, but most importantly a Lifetime warranty, this will save you a lot if you ever run into problems with your scope. A rifle or hangun can only be as good as the optics you choose to put on it. If this is a gun you will be hunting with you really owe it to yourself to put the best scope you can afford on it. Money spent on optics is money well spent in my book. If I were going to put a scope on my .44 ruger SBH It would probably be a Leupold or Burris. Try to compare a few different scopes side by side before you make a choice. Ask the guy behind the counter if there is a dark place in the gunstore you can go to compare the two scopes. I've found that a heavier plex style reticle really helps in low light conditions as well. Just as a side note Leupold will put their heavy duplex reticle on any of their scopes for 60 dollars. Hope this wasn't to long for ya, and hope it helps some. Just my .02, take it for what its worth.
:D

Sightron 1x on my revolver; I like it. Can't say yet whether I'd say it does that much for me versus iron sights, but it certainly does help me see when my hands are shaking and need a brace ).

S

I have a Nikon 2x on 44 Redhawk 6" and a Red Dot on a SBH 7.5". I have switched them and still can't decide which I favour. At the bench the red dot shoots tighter with both, off hand the Nikon is quicker for target acquisition. With tri focals its how you hold your head not your mouth.
Jim

I have a Leupold 2.5-8 on my Encore. Can't complain with the scope. Can complain about my shaky hands.

Rockerdog,
From my own experience, I thought that a scoped handgun would really help me out but it has been a double edged sword. I have a 2x Leupold on a Ruger Super Redhawk .44 mag with a 9.5" barrel. I use this gun mostly for stand hunting now where shots may be taken out to 100 yards. I missed a big 10 pt a couple of years back with this gun that snuck down a dry creek behind my stand at first light and was just about to go into the woods. It takes me a second to get my sight picture with this scope and that second was all it took for the buck to make it into the woods. I am sure I could have gotten off a good sighted shot with iron sights and that has happened more than once with this gun when I used it as a walking around gun. I use an open sighted Blackhawk for my walking around gun and use my scoped gun for stand hunting now. The Leupold is a great scope but for me, it is best used as described above. Best of luck in whatever you choose.

Whether the gun gets a scope or not depends on the usage. The two Super Redhawks, a Ruger 480 and .44 magnum, both are hunting guns and have scopes, Both are 9.5 in barrels. The two Vaquero .45 LCs are 5.5" barrels and do not have scopes, they are used for hunting and for CAS. The GP-100 had a scope that I removed and reinstalled the iron sites, it is a house gun. The two Kimber 45 ACPs do not have scopes, nor do the Taurus PT-111, 9mm, since they are carry guns nor the Single Six 22LR/22magnum, a fun gun. The scopes are 2 Simmons 4x32 and a Sightron 2x25. I use the .480 and 44 magmun for deer, bear and hogs.