Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk 7.5" 44 MAG - Need Scope Suggestions!

[teddy12b]

Hey Everyone,
          I have a Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk 7.5" 44 MAG.  I took it to the range yesterday and I wasn't exactly shooting too well with it to say the least.  I'm curious if anyone else has one like this and has a scope on it.

          I've never scoped a handgun because they just don't look right to me when they have a scope on them, but if it really helps I'm willing to try it. 

          If I were to put a scope on it does anyone have any recommendations?  Try to keep the scope as inexpensive as possible if you do because it's not going to get used a whole lot or be abused.

Thanks everyone!

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

I scoped a Redhawk with a 4x Burris---its now riding atop a 22/45 bull barrel.

I went with the 4x because I thought I would need that power---was thinking like a rifleman---the 4x is too much scope--it just bounces around and is very hard to keep steady--plus not good for close up shots--which is pretty much what a pistol is good for---close up that is.

If I scope another handgun---it will be with a 2x or less.

The Burris scope is nice enough---I think I paid $169 for it 5-6 years ago.

[teddy12b]

Did the scope significantly impove your accuracy?  I know scopes are supposed to be better but at "pistol ranges" it doesn't seem like one would be all that much of a help.

[mikedb]

I shot my friends SRH with a 2x Leupold and with my handloads the two rounds were about 1-1.5 inches apart at 50 yds.  My own with a red dot I managed to put all 3 in the same ragged hole at 25.  I think they improve the accuracy. 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Anything is better than open sights with my aging eyes.

The biggest problem I have with the LER scope is I have to keep my arms fully extended to make the scope usable---plus all the shaking.

Red dots are much more user friendly as there is no eye relief per se---but maybe a hair not as accurate as a true optical sight.

[teddy12b]

Anyone have a prefered red dot type of sight for this kind of a revolver?

[ihuntbucks]

I have a SBH Hunter .44 mag w/ a Simmons Pro Hunter 4 x 32.Works well,but is heavy.....Rick

[dcewolf]

I have a SBH Hunter .44 mag w/ a Simmons Pro Hunter 4 x 32.Works well,but is heavy.....Rick

I have the same Simmons Pro Hunter on my SRH.  I would agree it's heavy, but at least for me the added weight seems to help with recoil.  I would also have to agree that for me it helps improve accuracy.

[Coyote Hunter]

Mine has a 2x M8 Leupold.  Picked it up used for $100.  Works great.

[James B]

I have a SBH Bisley Hunter with a @X Nikon scope. I am very happy with this scope. Of all the ones I looked at this one had the least critical eye relief by far.

[Pinkerton]

I have the exact same setup as James B and like it. The optics help define the target and my accuracy is better with the scope then without.

[teddy12b]

Well, I took my SBH to the range yesterday.  I just can't seem to shoot that for anything.  I warmed up for my ruger Mark III 22LR and then I went to the 44.  I was shooting Hornady 240gr JHP over H110 and Titegroup.  Neither one impressed me.  By no means am I trying to say it's all the gun either, but I just think I should be able to hit a pop can sized group at 25 yards and that's just not the case.  I've thought about doing a trigger job on it because that's about the only complaint I've heard people say about the Rugers, but I don't know if that would even be enough to help.

Maybe I just need to get off my rear and get the GP100 like I've been thinking about.

[Chuck White]

Maybe try some light loads in cast!

A 240 grain cast SWC, pushed by 7 grains of Unique is a nice mild load!
I use it for practice and general shooting/plinking, but as it gets closer to hunting season, I change over to the same bullet with a gascheck and 25 grains of WW-296 powder!

[teddy12b]

I like to train with what I'll be hunting with.  If I start using a lighter load I won't be able to adjust back to the full flavor load.  I wish I could do that but I know I'd develop some bad habits that way.  That's why I bought the Mark III 22, for the lighter practice rounds and I still can't hardly hit much with that.  Maybe I just had a bad day of shooting, we'll see the next time I get out to shoot.

[webrehm]

I think the burris 1.5-4 is a great choice.  In my opinion, 4x is the top limit for a handgun and there is no need to go lower than 1.5x in a scope.  A bigger factor with this scope is that it has a long eye relief and it can sit on the revolver such that it is 1-2 inches closer to your eye than most other scopes.  it has to do with the geometry of the scope. Note the distance from the windage and elevation adjustments to the end of the scope nearest you.  Compare this scope at arms length to others and you will see what I mean, especially at 4x power. When you compare two scopes side by side, line up there windage adjustment knobs, not the back end of the scope.  At 4x power you lose a lot of eye relief in a EER scope, thus the eye relief aspects of this scope really come into play.

[dave375hh]

I had a Bushnell 2-6X32 on my SBH Hunter but swapped it for a Millet reddot. The millet's been there for 8 years now and I love it. I shoot much better with the reddot than with a scope. I believe the reddots are faster to line up than even the irons. Unless your shooting past 100-125 yds. the reddot is all I've ever needed. I shot groundhogs at 100yds just as easy as with the scope.