Scoping a Handi 25-06

[rezz]

I'm getting another barrel in 25-06 for my Handi and need help deciding on a scope for it. The primary use will be deer hunting with occasional target shooting. I want the ability to take long shots and think I prefer the mil dot reticle. I am trying to decide between a fixed Bushnell Elite 3200 Scope 10x 40mm Mil-Dot and a Mueller Sport Dot 10-16 x 50mm. The Mueller is not mil dot and I'm thinking that I don't really want a big scope for carrying around deer hunting.

I guess the question is: If I get the 10x fixed Bushnell how well would it work at closer ranges such as would occur in stand or blind hunting. Will the 10x allow a decent enough view at closer ranges?

[poncaguy]

For fixed power, I would go with a 6X.........plenty for deer.........

[quickdtoo]

At close range on a deer, all you're gonna see it a lot of fur cuz it's gonna fill the entire field of view, that would not be advisable, and on a quick shot, you'll be lucky to find the animal quickly in the small FOV. The Mueller Tac II is a mildot scope and would work great, I have 2 of these, they're an excellent scope in the VXIII Leupold class, but at $300, they're almost twice the cost of the Elite 3200. A less expensive alternative would be the Bushnell Trophy mildot.

Tim

http://muelleroptics.com/products/MTAC31044.html

http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=3319

[mt3030]

....with occasional target shooting.....
....Will the 10x allow a decent enough view at closer ranges?....

From tree stand hunting to target shooting, you are really going from one extreme to another.

My Ultra 25-06 has been my "go to" rifle for antelope and mule deer for years. And for antelope I find 12x or even 14x (bi-pod or truck hood) very useful. So I settled on a 4.5x14 Leupold.

But from a tree stand, where my shots are from 30 to 100 yards, a 10x would not work for me. If I use glass, it is from 2x to 7x, either fixed or variable.

[cheatermk3]

There are 2 of the Bushy 3200 10x mildot scopes, NIB, for sale over to RFC on the classifieds, at what may be a very good price---I don't know what they go for.

www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166002

[quickdtoo]

Those Eltes are here too, he's asking a bit too much for em IMO, considering Bushnell's warranty is only good to the original registered purchaser.

Tim

http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=3252

[cheatermk3]

Well, I guess a person could PM him with an offer--if they are NIB the warranty cards should come with too.

For use in a tree stand there should be enough time to place the shot well even if the sight picture through the glass is a fuzzy patch of hair.  Personally, 10x is more glass than I would use for deer since I would have more glass than skill, if ya know what I mean...if I'd be needing 10x for the shot on a deer it's farther than I should be shooting.  Now I'll make a liar out of myself, and confess that my 25-06 ultra is scoped with a 6-20x40 variable.  It's long enough that i can mount it using medium height QD rings.

I'm using this scope on all my scoped handis; I'm almost done putting ultra rails on every handi that will be shot with telescopic sights(except my handi 45-70 which has an ancient 4x Leopold in low rings--man I do lie a lot don't I).

[Mac11700]

The Mueller Tac11's in the same class as a VX-3...? I normally would have a hard time believing that one...but I'll have to take your word on it...I haven't got a chance to look thru one and compare them side by side...Do they have Leupold's non-critical eye relief...? This is one of the features I find most desirable with their scopes..and matters a great deal to me when hunting in the mid-west.....where it can go from below freezing...to 50-60 degrees in the same day during deer season..I know Mueller makes some good scopes..but I didn't realize the Tac 11's were that much better optics...over the Tac 1's...You learn something new everyday...

Mac

[quickdtoo]

Mac, there is no Tac I, the other tactical scopes are the 4-16x50 with the illuminated mildot reticle and 8.5-25x44, made in PRC, the TACII is made in Japan. True, they don't have the eye relief of the Luepold, but I made a sxs comparison to a VX-III, the glass quality is there, and on a light kicker, the eye relief is a moot point, I have one of mine on my .280 Imp, the other on the .270 I bought from you!!

Tim

http://muelleroptics.com/downloads/docs/reviews/TacII.pdf

[Mac11700]

My 4-16x50 was what I was referring to as a Tac1 Tim...and eye relief is not a moot point to many here ...especially when one can go from a heavy down filled coats to shirt sleeves...all in the same day...With a Leupold...you can do that...because you can see just as well from 6" as you can from 3" with heavy clothing on...Also.....most other scopes black out from the sides...the Leupy's give you a heck of a-lot more range before doing that..Then when you look thru the rear they have a very fine black ring I see around the lens...Most others are larger and take up a-lot of field of view doing the same thing...I certainly don't doubt their clarity..and if its better than it's predecessor's...then it is surely a great scope... and for $300 it's a excellant buy...

Mac

[quickdtoo]

The TacII doesn't have that ring, it's a super nice scope, and with 3.4" min eye relief, it's right there with the standard of the industry in eye relief for premium scopes of it's quality for about $100 less than a Ziess Conquest or Elite 4200. 

Tim

[Mac11700]

That's neat...I just might have to try one out...Thanks

Mac

[rezz]

Thanks for all the replies.
After having tried a Bushnell Banner 6-24X40 on my 22-250 I don't think I am going for any more high power stuff. I'm having a hard time seeing at different ranges for some reason. Eye relief seems to change at times and I end up having to adjust a lot when changing from close to longer range. This results in a lot of aggravation but I do like the mag at 200-300 yards. Don't know if its just me or the scope since I have never used anything over about 3-9mag.

The replies have pretty much convinced me to pass on the fixed 10x.

Will take another look at the Muellers but may end up getting the budget Bushnell Trophy. Anyone tried that? Might even have to forego the mildots. The Muellers look and sound good but the price is pretty steep for my tastes. I was almost convinced to get one of their Extreme 3-10x44s but it doesn't have mildots. Still, it sounds good for my use because I ride an ATV and bumping along might be rough on some scopes. Have had good luck with a Thompson Hawken Hunter in 3-9X40 on my muzzleloader. But with longer range capabilities of the Handi a little more mag would be nice. Gonna have to thing about it a little longer looks like.

[quickdtoo]

Read this article on parallax, it's very informative and may help you getting most out of your optics.

http://www.snipercountry.com/Articles/Parallax.asp

I have several of the Trophy scopes, a couple 3-9x(non-mildot) and a couple low power variables, they're excellent glass for the money, maybe one of the best out there, made in the Philippines.

Tim