Author Topic: Type of Scope for Hunting (Read 1649 times)

Krooz · « **on:** October 17, 2008, 02:26:19 AM »

At present I have a Leupold-Gilmore Red Dot on my Raging Bull 44mag. I like the sight a lot except that there's no magnification. I've hunted with it a few times and did harvest a deer with it, but, I've also been able to see a deer with my binocs but be unable to find it in the sight because of the lack of light gathering.

Toying with the idea idea of selling the LG and and getting a conventional handgun scope.

So, I'm seeking advice on this idea as well as scope recommendations. I normally look to keep any shots within 75 yds.

Thanks

Krooz

(still a great website by the way, hadn't been here in quite sometime but glad to see it's still going strong)

tonyinky · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2008, 02:50:12 AM »

I think the Bushnell Trophy 2-6X is the best scope for the money. Clear optics and will hold up to 44 mag full power loads. You can use it at 2X for close hunting or 6X from the bench for accuracy testing. And can be found for less than $175.

Swampman · « **Reply #2 on:** October 17, 2008, 02:54:43 AM »

There is only one good handgun scope, and that's the Leupold 2X.

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** October 17, 2008, 11:08:52 AM »

Swamp you REALLY GOTTA get out in the world more and open up your eyes, ears and mind.

The Leupold 2X is a good enough scope but it's FAR from the best. It suffers from two problems that make it less than ideal much of the time. It has a 20mm objective and when lighting conditions get poor you lose the ability to see both cross hair and game. It has really only about 1.7X magnification not the full 2X the name implies. That's really not much and when trying to pick out game with it in heavy cover to see the one opening you might slip a bullet thru it fails miserably at the task. Its main advantage is that 21' FOV at 100 yards. That's the widest any handgun scope offers and I do like a wide FOV when hunting game that is likely to appear in close.

Still for most handgun use the Burris 2-7 which offers the same 21' FOV at 100 yards at 2X and up to 7X at longer ranges is superior in all regards in my opintion. The some times spotty quality of them is their main draw back along with their weight.

The Bushnell Elite 3200 or Trophy 2-6 are great scopes and are bright and clear and you'll see game and cross hair with them during all legal hours. The only draw back to them to me is the small FOV. In spite of that I tend to use them more than any other scope on handguns.

If you can live with 2X magnification the Bushnell 2X with it's 28mm objective is superior to the Leupold in all regards.

S.B. · « **Reply #4 on:** October 17, 2008, 11:47:52 AM »

Graybeard, I thought FOV correlated with power? The less the power the wider the FOV. If that's the cases, half of your statement is true, the Burris at 2 power may very well be 21' but, I would think quite a bit less at 7 power.
Krooz, If most of my shots at deer were at 75yards, yes I would opt for a conventional scope of (probably) variable power.

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** October 17, 2008, 12:40:58 PM »

That is correct which is why I said at 2x it has the same FOV. At 7X it has a LOT less. BUT that correlation really applies properly only to a given instrument and the magnification it is set on. It's entirely possible for one scope to have a wider FOV at a higher magnification than that of another scope with lower magnification. It's all in how the internals are arranged.

warrior1 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 17, 2008, 01:20:18 PM »

i got to follow greybeard on this one about burris and bushnelli've got two with burris handgun scopes and both do an exremely good job,
additionally i got a gp 6" with a trophy 2x6 that is a joy to look thru.
the 2x trophy is a good one to look thru but it has to be sent back to
bushnell. dan

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #7 on:** October 17, 2008, 03:22:02 PM »

For revolvers, I prefer the Leupold 2X or 4X, depending upon the terrain to be hunted. In the heavily wooded East, the 2X (really 1.7X) works best for me , but I'm in more open terrain, I prefer the 4X (really 3.5X). These 2 Leupolds are more compact than the variables, and are super tough.
The Bushnell Elite 3200 is a good scope, but a bit large for my personal taste on a revolver. I do have 8 of them in service on various single shots, and have been pleased with them.. I also have Burris 2-7X's and 3-12X's on single shots, but once again, they're way too big and heavy to suit me for revolvers.

jhalcott · « **Reply #8 on:** October 17, 2008, 03:43:20 PM »

I don't like the way 2x scopes make the target look SMALLER to me. On a revolver a 1x4 OR a straight 4x work better.
http://www.swfa.com/pc-4541-194-burris-15-4x26-handgun-scope.aspx
this should take you to a site that has a picture of one.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 18, 2008, 03:06:35 AM »

Krooz,my suggestion is, stay with the red-dot. If you can shot it well at 75 yards. The reason I say that is, a red-dot will get you on target quicker than a scope. Shooting off hand with a red-dot is a lot easier than shooting off hand with a scope. The light gathering abilities of the scope has no advantage in low light conditions, with handgun scopes.

The scope has an advantage if you have a rest, and good light. In low light conditions the reticle is hard to see on dark colored animals. I have had to pass on a few animals because, I could not see my reticle in the low light, had I had a red-dot the shot would of been made.

If you decide to go with a scope get one with a big objective. It will help some, but a handgun scope does not gather much light as some think they will. Either a Leupold 2.5X8 or a Bushnell 2X6.

I currently own 4 handguns that wear Ultra-dot red-dots and 1 that wears a Eotech holo sight. They work great in low light conditions.

I also have 5 handguns with handgun scopes, a 2 X Leupold, a 4 X Burris, a Bushnell trophy 2X6, a Bushnell Elite 2X6 and a Leupold 2.5X8.

I use my gun and scope/red-dot combination to the conditions I will be in. If I am sitting on an open field and I get the most of the light, I go with a scoped handgun, If I am in the woods where the light fades quickly, I take a handgun with a red-dot. If I am going a spot and stalk, a red-dot or open sight handgun is what I go with.

With open sighted handgun, low light will get you out of the woods faster than if you had a red-dot.

Good luck in your choice.

xphunter · « **Reply #10 on:** October 18, 2008, 07:59:48 PM »

i like some of the other scopes mentioned for your handgun.
A new scope (to me anyway) has been a Pride/Fowler LER 1.25 -4x. It has their rapid reticle. this one is set-up for the 500 S&w and the 454 casull. I am using a FA 454 Casull. I have practiced out to 200 yards on paper with it and shot a couple of does today (Mulie & a antelope) with this set-up. I would have used the bushnell elite 2-6, but I wrecked it a day before the hunt. Usually the Bushnell elite handles the FA's pretty good. i am waiting for it to get fixed or replaced. I think there are several good options out there.
http://www.rapidreticle.com/500sw.htm

Graybeard · « **Reply #11 on:** October 19, 2008, 01:02:29 AM »

Mention of the 1.25-4 reminds me of a scope I forgot to mention that over the years has been one of my favorites. It's long since discontinued and likely hard to locate however. The old made in Japan Tasco World Class 1.25-4 was one of the better scopes ever made for handguns. If you see one in decent shape grab it up.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 19, 2008, 02:48:03 AM »

Quote from: xphunter on October 18, 2008, 07:59:48 PM

i like some of the other scopes mentioned for your handgun.
A new scope (to me anyway) has been a Pride/Fowler LER 1.25 -4x. It has their rapid reticle. this one is set-up for the 500 S&w and the 454 casull. I am using a FA 454 Casull. I have practiced out to 200 yards on paper with it and shot a couple of does today (Mulie & a antelope) with this set-up. I would have used the bushnell elite 2-6, but I wrecked it a day before the hunt. Usually the Bushnell elite handles the FA's pretty good. i am waiting for it to get fixed or replaced. I think there are several good options out there.
http://www.rapidreticle.com/500sw.htm

I hope my Bushnell elite 2-6 holds up. I put it on my new 375 H&H handgun barrel. Yep you heard it right, a 375 H&H pistol.
I sent it to Gary Reeder and had him cut down a 375 H&H Barrel and add a muzzle brake. Now I need to get to the range.

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #13 on:** October 19, 2008, 12:48:07 PM »

Quote

I hope my Bushnell elite 2-6 holds up. I put it on my new 375 H&H handgun barrel. Yep you heard it right, a 375 H&H pistol.
I sent it to Gary Reeder and had him cut down a 375 H&H Barrel and add a muzzle brake. Now I need to get to the range.

LOL I guess I can safely assume you're satisfied with that bbl

I'm very intrested in more responses because I'm asking myself these same questions with regards to my new BFR in 30-30

I'm delighted to see the variable X bushnells so highly spoken of as these were lookin quite promising for what I would like to use this revolver for, target shooting, possibly some silhouette, plain plinkin and of course some deer hunting. All of which will be done at ranges up to and quite likely exceeding 100yds.

xphunter · « **Reply #14 on:** October 19, 2008, 01:07:07 PM »

redhawk,
The 2-6 elite should hold up fine. It is the variable that Bob Baker recommends for the FA's.
i am getting things together for a LR project shooting a revolver (FA model 83 454 Casull) and will have 4 scopes to use-all variables.
No telling how many full patch 454 rounds that 2-6 had through it before I got it.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 19, 2008, 02:37:47 PM »

Went out today shooting the 375 H&H with the Bushnell elite 2-6. I was very happy with the accuracy of the barrel, and how well the scope held up. I put 50 rounds down range. At 50 yards I had a 1 inch group, or should I say a 1 inch hole in the target with 10 shots. Recoil with the Reeder brake was very manageable with full rifle loads from the 375 H&H.

What a blast...

coop2564 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 20, 2008, 09:18:30 AM »

Weaver 2x get my vote, had the best eye relief of any I check.

Graybeard · « **Reply #17 on:** October 20, 2008, 11:02:13 AM »

Quote from: coop2564 on October 20, 2008, 09:18:30 AM

Weaver 2x get my vote, had the best eye relief of any I check.

Best is an elusive concept. I question its existence in most matters. What do you mean by best and how do you measure that? Longest, shortest or just the one that seems to best fit your particular arm length? To me the latter is the proper measure of best in this matter. Now on rifle scopes I tend to go with longer is better but not always so in handgun scopes.

poncaguy · « **Reply #18 on:** October 20, 2008, 03:27:49 PM »

I just put a Burris 2X on my new 7-30 Waters barrel on my TC Contender. Nice and clear, was easy to sight in today at 100 yards.

jhalcott · « **Reply #19 on:** October 20, 2008, 05:04:19 PM »

Ponca guy, NOW take the gun and target to a brushy area and see how well you you can see the aiming point on the target. It doesn't take a lot of brush to hide a deer's heart/lung area. MY problem is that 2x SEEMS to make the deer LOOK smaller than my naked eye sees it! I have a 2x Leupold on my 44SBH. I only use the SBH in open areas and where less than 100 yard shots are presented. The rest of my scope are 4x or variables that include 4x. I do have a straight 7x on a 14".223 for small critters!

poncaguy · « **Reply #20 on:** October 21, 2008, 02:33:24 AM »

Most of my shots here in Oklahoma are in the open, took a deer 3 years age at 90+ yards when the scope was on my 7-08 Encore barrel. When in my tree stand, most shots are less than 50 yards and in fairly open food plots. I know my Burris Fullfield II's on my hunting rifles seem really good late in the evening..........

Krooz · « **Reply #21 on:** October 24, 2008, 12:56:37 PM »

Darn if this isn't turning into a tough call $:-\$ . I'm about ready to keep the Raging Bull as is (it is a nice setup) and go get another rig with a conventional scope on it... that Bushnell Trophy 2x6 is looking pretty good right now, as is the Burris 1.5x4. Unfortunately I can't afford another gun/scope, so it's basically keep as is or get what I can out of the LG and put it towards the Bushnell or Burris.

I really like the quickness of the dot but could use light gathering characteristics. If I setup as if bow hunting the dot is great, sitting over corn on my rifle stands a scope would help (In SC you can hunt 1 hour past sunset so it's DARK when I leave the stand).

Decisions-decisions. Thanks for all of the input!!

Krooz