Pistol scopes?????

[olydraft]

Can someone tell me, is there some kinda special scope for a pistol??? how do these guys you see on TV look through a scoped pistol with their arms fully extended. I slipped a scope on my contender and I can`t get a focus if it`s more than 4 to 5  inches from my eye. I`m sure not gonna pull the trigger when it`s that close. I already have 1 scope beauty mark between the eyes, I`m not going for a matched set. If my arms are fully extended I just have a little hole not much bigger than the cross hairs, maybe a little over 3/8 of an inch round.  Thanks, Gary

[southernutah]

There are plenty of of pistol scopes with extended eye relief. I use Thompson Center and Weaver. You should be able to find information in an other topic in this forum or try here   http://specialtypistols.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/frm/f/4046077864  or   http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/deptsearch3x.asp?dept=%4F%50%54%49%43%53&dept2=%53%43%4F%50%45%53&dept3=%50%49%53%54%4F%4C        there are some for sale in optics once in a while

[Grumulkin]

They're called EER (Extended Eye Relief), handgun or pistol scopes.  I've used:

1.  Leupold; my favorite and the warranty even covers ones you've bought used.

2.  Thompson/Center; not bad and good warranty.

3.  Bushnell; fine when they work.  Warranty not too good.

If you're shooting a light recoiling handgun, any of the above will do.  If you're shooting a heavy hitter like a 454 Casull or greater, I'd recommend a Leupold in a very good base/ring setup.

[Keith L]

You are going to want to look through a few before spending money on one.  Go to a larger gun store and they have things that look like pistols and scopes can be mounted on.  you will see that each scope has different fields of view, brightness, clarity, crosshair types etc.  I have one scope that I got from fleaBay that is great except I can't quite stretch my arms enough to get the full focus.  It does have some adjustment but not enough.  I need longer arms I guess.  So look through some and pick the one you like.  I have mostly Burris and a few TC.  

[Hopalong7]

      Upon first use a pistol scope can be a little intimidating....don't be discouraged and don't give up.  It takes a little getting used to.  I would reccomend starting with a low power, fixed power scope, say 2X or maybe 4X.  I like Burris and Leupold but don't get hung up on brand most all better know scope builders have a decent pistol scope.  Not only do you have to get the right eye relief, eye and scope alignment will also be critical.  In time it will come naturally.  The inexperienced often have the thought that putting a scope on a good shootin' handgun turns it into a rifle....that ain't happening....it's still a handgun!  Good luck and keep us updated on progress.
Walt

[Dezynco]

You need to look at handgun scopes which have a very long eye relief.  I use Nikon, Leupold, Burris, plus I have a couple of old Redfield's that work great too.

[olydraft]

Thanks Guys, At least now I know what to look for. I figured there was somthin I was missing. I`ll find a proper scope one of these days. Thanks again, Gary

[shot1]

Don't overlook the Weaver pistol scopes. I have three of the 2.5-8X28 Weavers and they are great. Two of them have held up perfect for the past 5 years and I just got another one. I have used many makes from Leupold on down and I can see no real difference between the Leupold and the Weaver except $$$.

[Keith L]

Not only do you have to get the right eye relief, eye and scope alignment will also be critical.  In time it will come naturally. 
Walt

Walt is right.  I used to sit on the front porch with an unloaded gun and practice sighting on cars as they went by on the road.  One day (when I wasn't practicing that way) a policeman came over to tell me I had scared someone.  I moved to the back...

It becomes natural fairly soon so keep on trying and you will get it.

[jpred1]

I 2nd the weaver scopes, pretty darn good, also I wouldnt suggest any fixed power. I took the recomendation on one and got rid of it. Just didnt do it for me, now I have the leupold 2-8 in 32mm, one the other hunting barrel sits a weaver 2-8 x 28, the 32 gathers more light at dawn/dusk. I like the ability to zoom in even though the  eye relief changes a bit .

[hunterspistol]

  I used to sit on the front porch with an unloaded gun and practice sighting on cars as they went by on the road.  One day (when I wasn't practicing that way) a policeman came over to tell me I had scared someone.     

 Why does that sound like something I'd do? 

[Keith L]

  I used to sit on the front porch with an unloaded gun and practice sighting on cars as they went by on the road.  One day (when I wasn't practicing that way) a policeman came over to tell me I had scared someone.     

 Why does that sound like something I'd do? 

It made sense to me: I could pick up a moving target after a while.  It concerned the cop quite a bit however.

[Richard P]

  Scoping a handgun can add a lot to its usefulness. When you are shooting at small targets you'll appreciate being able to place the shot with greater precision.  As noted, adding the scope wont make it more accurate. It will allow you to remove a lot of the shooter error with the result being more hits. 
  It allows you to conduct more ammo testing and determine better loads because you can now see at 50 and 100 yds.  You should take care in making your selection as it can turn into an economics lesson having bought a tool unsuited to the job.
  For the $ involved you might look at the Bushnell Trophy 2--6x 28mm.  From Mid-South they are 170$ new but can be found at times used. I have had to send one back. It was repaired at a small cost.  I've also returned Leupolds.  They were repaired at no cost other than shipping and Ins. Shop and try a lot.  Going cheap on a scope is not recommended.  Good used scopes, especially Leupolds, are great buys.  rp

[David D.]

Walt is right.  I used to sit on the front porch with an unloaded gun and practice sighting on cars as they went by on the road.  One day (when I wasn't practicing that way) a policeman came over to tell me I had scared someone.  I moved to the back...

It becomes natural fairly soon so keep on trying and you will get it.

Pointing a gun at people even if unloaded he should have taken you to jail!!!! But you do say you pointed it at the cars, but then i the car is moving I'm sure someone was driving it. I was taught at a very young age you didn't point a gun at anything you didn't intend to shoot!

[EdK]

Wow!

Hey, I'm not perfect - there is some stuff I did in my younger years that wasn't too smart. I don't even speak of it openly for fear some youger/inexperienced ones might give it a go. I would hope our moderator would think similarly.

[Keith L]

Sigh.

I was aiming at the front wheel as practice to be able to obtain a moving target.  I didn't think of it as aiming at people.  Of course you are right not to aim at people.

[bobg]

   I had Bushnells 2-6 on 4 of my Contender barrels. 1 T/C on a 17 Remington and a Weaver on my 22 barrel. Of the 3 i liked the Bushnell Trophy the best.
                  bobg

[David D.]

Sigh.

I was aiming at the front wheel as practice to be able to obtain a moving target.  I didn't think of it as aiming at people.  Of course you are right not to aim at people.

Were there not people in the moving car, were you not aiming in their general direction? And wouldn't that be unlawful?  Do you truly believe that is an exceptional practice. Neck of the woods I live in that would probably get you shot!!!!!

[Keith L]

I do not think it is acceptable and do not do it any longer.  I don't recommend any one else try it.  Like I said in my post I moved to the back and aimed at birds etc.

[flipajig]

I have 4 different pistol scopes
2.5x8 Weaver,2x6 Bushnell,2x7 Burris and a 4x Simmons
The Weaver sits on a 7-30 waters barrel
Bushnell on a 30-30 barrel
The BUrris on a 22 LR barrel
and the Simmons on a 44mag barrel
so far ive had no problems with any of them some of my hand loads are Prity  warm
none of them has lost there point of aim the worst one for eye relief is the Burris
at the higher x
im in the market for one more now for a super 14 in 223 and im looking at
Bushnell or Weaver.

[olydraft]

 I ended up with a BSA RD30 red dot (11 illumination settings) the guy at the lgs said it should hold up just fine and if anything went bad BSA would just replace it because there are no service center around to fix them. It has a lifetime warranty... gonna give it a try this week end..

[Ladobe]

 

[1jonmon]

Sigh.

I was aiming at the front wheel as practice to be able to obtain a moving target.  I didn't think of it as aiming at people.  Of course you are right not to aim at people.

Were there not people in the moving car, were you not aiming in their general direction? And wouldn't that be unlawful?  Do you truly believe that is an exceptional practice. Neck of the woods I live in that would probably get you shot!!!!!

I find it ironic that he was just being honest about doing something stupid in his younger years, and yet it's o.k. to say that he might get shot for that kind of behavior.  Let's lighten up a bit.  He admitted he wasn't proud of the action...

[hunterspistol]

     Sorry, Keith, didn't mean to start something.  Anybody not shot a stop sign? That's not necessarily legal either, folks still do it.  If we don't make mistakes, we aren't human.
       Any good redneck can tell you that shooting from a moving vehicle is dangerous, and downright fun (how many times have you seen that?).
      Hold my beer and watch this (or that?)!

   No reason to get all bent over the little stuff.
   Ron