.45-70 pack gun optics

[Sierra Sherpa]

Unless my old eyes miraculously reverse their downward slide I'm gonna eventually need to put a scope on my .45-70 pack gun.  I don't need alot of magnification since I'm not taking 300 yard Hail Mary shots with the ol' slugger.  A 1-4X would probably serve just fine.  It's a gun that I carry on backcountry preseason scouting and hiking trips to remote areas. 
 
If the scope is compact, with enough eye relief to mount ahead of the hammer and low on the receiver, all the better. Could you fine folks give me some recommendations and pics of your set-ups?  I've heard some of you are using shotgun and even air rifle (what's up with that?) scopes.  Will they hold up to .45-70 recoil?  I'd like to spend less than $200, $150 would be even nicer.  Thanks.

[quickdtoo]

See 45-70 scope in the FAQs sticky.

Tim

[Sierra Sherpa]

Thanks Tim, I'll take a look.

[spikehorn]

I had a 44 mag and a 45-70 with Simmons pro diamond shot gun scopes in low ring mounted ahead of the hammer. This won't work with the master series pro diamonds. The 45-70 had a weaver #82 base that I cut new slots in. the 44 mag had a standard H&R scope rail. I'm at work at the moment and not sure if I have any pics of them. I will look when I get home. if I do have some pics I will post them.

[quickdtoo]

There are pics of forward mounted shotgun scopes in one the Scout Mount threads in the FAQs.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,109692.msg1098328481.html#msg1098328481

[cwlongshot]

Good evening,
 My hunting 45/70 wears a USED Leupold VXII 2x7 SHOTGUN scope. I had bought a new Leupold 1x4 shotgun scope for it, but moved it to my 12 USH and installed the 2x7. (My favorite scope variable power scope)
 
 I like the shotgun scopes on this and like calibers for a couple reasons. First they have a bold cross hair that is very fast to pick up. The parallax setting is 75 yards so closer subjects are crisp, clear and accurate. I like USED cause it keeps costs down. Buying Leupold gets you a lifetime warranty on the SCOPE! So aside form visual defects that scope will remain as good as the day it left the factory no matter what its done or where its been.

 Used, lower end Leupold's are available for exactly the prices you are looking to spend. People may (WILL) argue costs but only an inexperienced person will argue the quality of a Leupold, its warranty or its optics. Buy the best quality optics you can afford. You will NEVER regret the $$ spent.
 
Good luck,
 CW

[manatee1947]

+1 on the Simmons . I use those Master series- Pro Diamond 4X fixed power. They are very clear and focus well, sharp image. They are no Leupold, but then they run about $60. The eye relief is excellent, about 4". They are pretty durable also. At that price, one can afford to give them a try, thats how I wound up with them.

[Sierra Sherpa]

Thanks for the tips guys.  I'm not a big scout scope fan, but I did like the pics of the shotgun scopes on that link.  I think that's the way I'm going.  Appreciate the help.   

[gcrank1]

Red Dot?
I have tried one, it worked remarkably well, but 'too techie' for my tastes. Yet if function over form works for you.........

[Winter Hawk]

I put a 2 1/2 X pistol scope on a .30-06 handi a number of years ago.  I believe I used Burris mounts for Remington 700, had to D&T the barrel to mount the scope out ahead of the rear sight (which I had factory installed).  Then foolishly I sold it.  But the L-O-N-G eye relief was nice, and I could still carry it at the balance and wrap my hand around it.  The scope was low enough that it didn't need a monte carlo style stock to look through it.

-Kees-

[Sierra Sherpa]

BTW, Quickdtoo, I know it's an old thread but have you any idea what brands those 2 shotgun scopes are?  I couldn't tell for sure even when enlarging them.

[Couger]

..... I like the shotgun scopes on this and like calibers for a couple reasons. First they have a bold cross hair that is very fast to pick up. The parallax setting is 75 yards so closer subjects are crisp, clear and accurate. I like USED cause it keeps costs down. Buying Leupold gets you a lifetime warranty on the SCOPE! So aside form visual defects that scope will remain as good as the day it left the factory no matter what its done or where its been.

 Used, lower end Leupold's are available for exactly the prices you are looking to spend. People may (WILL) argue costs but only an inexperienced person will argue the quality of a Leupold, its warranty or its optics. Buy the best quality optics you can afford. You will NEVER regret the $$ spent.  Good luck,  CW 

I might take CW's suggestions meself when I equip my 26" .45/70 barrel with an optic.
 
I like the looks of Leupold shotgun scopes - inside and outside, but have never used one!  Leupold is my preferred scope, and the heavy plex-posts with their quick acquisition sound mighty appealing.  What you outlined SS, a fixed 2 1/2X or 4X VX-1 or VX-2 soulds like it could work as well,  unless you have your heart set on a variable.  I don't recall if Leupold makes a shotgun scope as "small" as 2 1/2X or 4X, too,  but ots something I'll be checking out.
 
But do a directed search on Gunbroker.com or eBay for the [used or new] scope-model you choose, using the 'search' function each site has to message you when a scope in the model you desire shows up.

[quickdtoo]

BTW, Quickdtoo, I know it's an old thread but have you any idea what brands those 2 shotgun scopes are?  I couldn't tell for sure even when enlarging them.

The top one is a Tasco, other is a Simmons 8 Point, both are 2½x20.

Tim

[swifty22]

Mine is an old steel 2.5X Weaver ahead of the hammer, works great!-Muddy

[swifty22]

Mine is an old 2.5W Weaver ahead of the hammer, works great!-Muddy

[45-70.gov]

this is a low mounted red-dot
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&sugexp=pfwc&cp=6&gs_id=v&xhr=t&q=trs-25&qe=dHJzLTI1&qesig=yfdkTf-c-vVqnQd30SOr6g&pkc=AFgZ2tlGfR33_GnmGHw64Tkx-oM9FeJ-h1YOPj09DqHBX1I8nuPFxhwCFgdrtHQBM2VqcFH8romk4fauW1adP_bYzSkaeRLt-w&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1024&bih=677&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=4192221918830484341&sa=X&ei=m5SCTqrmDsW2tgf-vPXkAQ&sqi=2&ved=0CEUQ8wIwAQ



just put one on girlfriends  44mag handi
got another on a 16 inch marlin in  45-70


yes the dot covers the black part of the target
just center the dot on the paper
and the bullet hits the center of the black


very fast sight......works great in poor light too