Pistol Scope Opinions

[Al G19]

I'm pretty new to handgun hunting, and I'm looking for a contender scope. At least a 4X, as I don't see too well. I'll be needing one for a .223, and a 30-30

I also want pretty good eye relief, as I have arms like a monkey.
Any ideas?
Are the simmons scopes any good?

Burris and bushnell elite 3200? I've also only saw a couple of Nikons.

I am used to dealing with riflescopes, but these pistols are new to me.

Oh, the other big thing is I do't want to spen a ton of money on it. $200.00 or less would be nice, but I suppose I could go up to 300, if it would be worth it.

Sorry for the lame posting, but you guys have really helped me out before, and I could really use some help on figuring out these scopes.

Plus are the Duo-Mounts any good, or should I just get a weaver rail, and regular rings?

Thanks,
AL :-)

[Redhawk1]

I am a Leupold man myself. The Leupold 4X would be good, but with that said. I think the Bushnell handgun scopes are very good also. I have had them on some hard recoiling guns and not one problem. The 2-6X32 is good for close up shooting at low power and if you want longer shots, crank it up to 6.  

[buckeye509]

I've a Weaver 2x, Bausch Lomb 3200 2x, several Nikon 2x, couple Nikon 2.8x8, Burris 2x, 5x, and 7x.
I have no complaints about any of them. I do think the Burris has darker crosshairs and give them the edge in optical clarity, though not by much.

[sk330lc]

The Leupold FxII 4X- 28 Are awsome ...  Thats what I bought for my Encore 12" 44Mag .Have put about 600 Rounds through It and Have Not had any problems..  The eye relief Is great 12-24" & Clear as they get .. The only drawback is the $299 Price tag...      I went with the Weaver style Mount and not an ounce of trouble,with it either...     The Bushnell 3200 Elite scope Are suppose to be great also..
Hope this helps...

[2xiraqvet]

I just picked up a Thompson Center 2.5-7X handgun scope from MidwayUSA (.com) for $210 on sale. It's now about $218 but still a decent choice in my view. I put it on my 16" .223 and I have a T/C 2.5X on a 14" 30-30 barrel.

[xphunter]

I would look for a used 2-7 Burris in that price range.

[Possum]

I have two Simmons 2-6, a Burris 10X, 2-7x, and a 3-12X.  I have had a B & L Elite3200 and a Weaver 2-8x.  Out of them all I like the Burris 2-7X the best.  I hunt with mine and it seems the best for that for me.  The B & L 3200 was nice, too and I probably should not have gotten rid of that one.  The Simmons are okay in my book for smaller calibers - at least that is my opinion, but they are not in the same class as  the Burris, Leupold, and B & L.  Again, just my opinion.

[jhalcott]

I have over a dozen handgun scopes from Tasco to Leupold. The Simmons is the hardest to find the target in. Any movement and the scope goes BLACK! The burris and nikon's are pretty good and quite clear.
  The Leupolds are the best in my opinion. Either the 4x or variable are great. I find the 2x seems to make the target SMALLER? It rests in the safe! If you're going after small critters,get a variable. If you want to shoot deer, then a 4x is about all you will need. If you get a variable, keep it on the lowest setting while moving around. Once you see an animal you can increase the power IF YOU HAVE TIME TO.Burris is about the best compromise between cost and quality.Simmons,Weaver and some others are all made by Meade Optics.(do a google search)So should have the same ratings.

[poncaguy]

I have a Burris 3X on my 14" 223 Contender and a Burris 2X on my Encore 15" 7MM-08. I've had the 3x on my 357Max and 45-70 barrels too, held up fine. More than 2X or 3X is too hard to hold steady for me.

[jhalcott]

What Ponca said is true! Trying to shoot off hand with a scoped handgun is tough,with a high powerscope(7x) it is almost impossible. I used to hope for a tree ,fence post or big rock to rest the gun on.Now I use a tall bipod that's light enough to carry with me.

[MePlat]

Would some of you seasoned handgunners explain how a scope on 7 power is less steady than one on 2 power?
You guys know that isn't true.  It just looks like your holding less steady.  The higher magnification just makes it look like one is moving more.
The power of the scope has nothing to do with the person holding the gun.  The the shooter determines the ability to hold.
Lets stop passing these old wives tales and confusing people who don't know any better.

[northener]

Not trying to change the subject but what would be wrong with a red dot for hunting, lets say 150yds max.

[Keith L]

MePlat, you are splitting hairs.  The shake is the same, but it is far more apparent in a more powerful scope.  Doesn't matter whether it is a rifle or a pistol.  A 7 power scope in my hands needs a rest to do well.

Northerner, many red dots have a large enough dot so it would cover to much of a deer at 150 yards for me to feel good about.  I have one on a .22 pistol that I like quite well for 25 yards or less.  

Thats how it works for me. Your mileage may vary

[scienceguy]

I prefer the Bushnell Elite series if I choose to use a scope, but don't overlook the Eotech/Bushnell series of holographic sights.  Don't confuse these with red dot sights or cheaper knock-offs.  I wouldn't use a holographic sight on prairie dogs at 300 yards, but for deer or smaller targets under 150 yards you will not find a faster sight to get on target.  My Eotech has a .65 minute of angle dot  (that subtends less than one inch at 100 yards) inside a circle. The brightness level is adjustable, and has non-critical eye relief useful from any shooting position.  Anyone who shoots my Encore handgun so equipped is amazed at the accuracy and speed of getting on target.  You have to see/shoot it to understand what I am talking about.  My Eotech mounts solidly on a Maxima Weaver-style base and slides easily into my holster (15 inch barrel).  Just my two cents worth.........

[MePlat]

There is nothing wrong with a red dot sight.  The only problems I see with them I have never seen any of them cheap or expensive that has the light gathering capabilities that a scope has.  Also when the intended target is in the shadows such as in the woods the dot tends to wash out the intended target at times.  If one can interpret the dot in relation to the target he can still place the shot.  Or one can turn down the intensity if one has the time.
You will always here the horror stories of someones buddy that has a cousin that has friend at work that has a nephew that has a cousin that had the battery go out while hunting but that is rare.

[Keith L]

The only problems I see with them I have never seen any of them cheap or expensive that has the light gathering capabilities that a scope has.

While I haven't seen all of them I agree that I haven't seen any that are as good as a scope in the woods.  They may be OK in the middle of the day, but at dawn and dusk when you need them to work I see less that I would like, even with the dot turned down.

[scienceguy]

Keith,

Take an Eotech holosight outside at dusk and check it out.  Do you have a dealer nearby?  They are far better than any red dot sight.  Batteries dying out?  My Eotech flashes a warning of low battery a full hour before they go dead.  It takes me less than 20 seconds to change them.  I love my scopes, but that Eotech is something else.  By the way, there is still no Black Mag 3 available anywhere in the St. Louis area.  I have found your opinions very interesting about the stuff.  Wsih someone would start selling it around here.

[xphunter]

FWIW--One thing about the Holosight is low light issues as Meplat mentioned.  I had one mounted on a revolver hunting deer and I did not like it in low light situations.  I would choose a scope any day over the Holosight.  It just didn't get moved off the revolver, it was promptly sold.  I liked it fine in daylight, but not for hunting in low light.
My 2 cents

[scienceguy]

xphunter,

I never had the problem you described.  When the light begins to fail, I just decrease the brightness setting on my Eotech.  I still have an easily seen aiming point that made getting an accurate shot off in low light a piece of cake.  Years ago I made the decision that if I couldn't postively identify a deer in low light with the unaided eye, or with my binoculars, I wasn't going to shoot. I was never going to make the mistake of using a scoped firearm to check out dark objects moving through the brush.  I may lose a few minutes of light to my scoped guns using my Eotech, but I am willing to make that trade off for the other benefits the Eotech holosight provides.  I would suggest again that any potential buyer compare both in low light.  Properly adjusted for brightness, a process that only takes a second to do, the Eotech does just fine in low light.

[xphunter]

I'm glad my problem may be limited to a few.  
The orginal poster mentioned eyes needing some help and at least 4x.
For the cartridges mentioned I would still choose the used 2-7 Burris for hunting.  When the ranges are further the higher magnification is a plus in my book and when it is closer you can always have it turned down to begin with so you are not trying to fiddle with the scope when you should be shooting your prey.  ALthough my personal preference in mag. is higher I have seen some sharp groups @ 7x.

Scienceguy,
Curious question:  Do you wear glasses?   I do.  Could that have been part of my glare issue?

[scienceguy]

xphunter,

I never needed glasses of any type until two years ago.  Dang, the years creep up on you!  Luckily my vision problem only involves close up reading in low light with small print.  I can see a stop sign a mile away though.  My wife says I also suffer selective blindness,- not being able to notice if the house needs cleaning or the garage is overflowing.  The Eotech holosight I've been singing the praises of just makes aiming easier for me when hunting deer.  I only have it mounted on my main deer rig, using scopes for the long range stuff or for small targets.  My main deer getter these days is an Encore 30 B*e*l*l*m, 15 inch OTT barrel.  I also have a 357 maximum barrel in the works that I hope to try soon.  My 30 he-who-must-not-be-mentioned-here shoots a 130 Hornady SSP bullet at 2200 fps.  It is the only legal pistol round here in Illinois besides the straight walled cases like 44 magnum and so on. Take care!

[Gregory]

xphunter,

 It is the only legal pistol round here in Illinois besides the straight walled cases like 44 magnum and so on. Take care!

The 300 Whisper is legal here too.

As far as scopes go I've owned Leupolds both in 2X and 4X, Burris 2-7X,
And Nikon 2X.

I prefer the Nikon (own 3) to the Leupold in 2X, it's brighter and a large FOV.
The Leupold 4X is a fine scope.
Had one of my Burris scopes fail after ten rounds on a 44 Mag. Won't buy another.