Nikon Prostaff for a handi

[dchuck]

Hey guys, new member here.  I was directed here from a member at 24hr campfire.  I am looking to scope my .204 handi rifle.  I am thinking Nikon pro staff fits in my budget and I've heard good things about it.  Has anybody tried this combination?  Is it a good fit?  What size rings do you need to get over the hammer?


Thanks,
Chuck.

[thumper113]

Chuck,

Welcome!  Someone with more experience on it will be along shortly to advise.

I personally love the Nikons and have them on most of my rifles.  I think the glass on a couple of them are even better than my VX-I's.

I personally run high rings on mine because I like the clearance.  You could probably get by with mediums, but as I said soon some with a lot more experience than I will way in soon.

Enjoy but I do have to warn you.  They are addicting and tend to multiply!

[HWB13]

I have high and extra high on all but a few, my ultra slug guns. That is because of the low power, non-vary scopes on them.  It does take some getting used to with the high check weld, but almost all of my non handis have see though mounts as well.  If you check the FAQ's there are some thought on shorting the hammer.  I use standard duty rings on my milder calibers, HD 6 and 8 screw models on my heavy kickers.  Have fun with the 204, i don't have one but it's on my list.  As for the glass I only have one Nikon, and never had a problem with it. As Thumper said be careful they do multiply. 

[Ranger99]

sorry no experience with the nikons.
leupolds and weaver k4's with
high rings here. no probs. with
the hammer clearance so far.

[Ol BW]

I do not have a Nikon but the ones I have seen seem to have small diameter power adjustment rings.  I have an old Redfield Pardner 3-9x40 and a new Redfield Revolution 3-9x40 and both fit good on my Handi Rifles with Medium height Weaver steel rings.  Good and snug with enough clearance for the hammer.
Here is a pic of my 30-06 with the Revolution:


BW

[hoytcanon]

Medium rings should work fine with the OEM scope rail... I prefer to mount my scopes to get the sightline as close to the bore as possible... If you are predator hunting with that .204 and a yote rushes in on you, you don't want to have to think about "hold under" at 5 yards. I can recommend the Dura Sight Z2 QD Medium rings, they are probably the best buy in rings out there and are incredibly solid... I have dozens of Handi's wearing them.

[dchuck]

Thanks for the great replies,  exactly the information I was looking for.  I will look into the dura sight rings.  I like the idea of keeping the scope as low as I can while acheiving clearance. 
Chuck

[quickdtoo]

I've got some medium aluminum Durasight rings on one of my Optima Elite barrels, their medium(.520") is equal to a high or extra high in most other brands, my favorites are Burris steel rings, either the medium Signature Zee(.270"), medium(.255") or low Zee(.130"), a bit more money, but excellent rings. Depending on when the Nikon was made, low or medium will work fine with minimal hammer modification(just remove the tip above the spur extension, but those made in the last few years, have a bigger power ring that is contoured to the ocular bell like the Omega with no space between for hammer clearance which will require higher rings or more hammer modification.

Tim

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/291721/durasight-z-2-alloy-1-rings-weaver-style-matte-medium

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/416175/burris-1-signature-zee-weaver-style-rings-matte-medium

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/424556/burris-1-zee-weaver-style-rings-matte-medium

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/701259/burris-1-zee-weaver-style-rings-matte-low

[petemi]

I'm pretty sure I'm the one who sent you here.  There are a lot of guys here using the Prostaff.  I'd rephrase the subject line to read "Nikon Prostaff for a Handi" and get their attention.  I use the Burris Zees on all my Handis now.  They're not all that expensive and well worth the money.

Pete

[bigvarmnt]

What Tim said, the older Pros and Monarch UCCs were Handi friendly. The new ones have too big a power ring and ocular bell. I've been going to try one to see if the relief would allow for hammer clearance but doubt it. It would prolly move it forward into the hammer. I need/like the focus adjustment on the end and they pretty much have ruined the combination I need/want on all scopes. I guess most people need the BIG knobs for gloves. The new Bushnells look like what I need   Gotta see one in person to know. Good Luck and Welcome.

[dchuck]

Ok, the Burris Zees look like the way to go.  Question is, medium or high.  The prostaff will be new, but I'm not stuck on it, if there's a better combination in this price range, for the handi rifle I'd love to hear it.  Thanks again for all the replies and info.
 
Chuck
 
 

[petemi]

Chuck, welcome and stick around.  We'll turn you into a Handiholic.....guaranteed.  Next you'll want a .357, a .30-30 and a .45-70.  Don't ask how I know.  The folks here are a friendly helpful crowd.  I think you'll be comfortable with us.  Our moderator, Tim (quickdtoo) is a Handi wizard as are many of the other regulars..

I use a lot of Bushnell Banners.  Mostly 3-9x40s and 4x32s with the Burris rings.  They work fine for my old eyes, and don't break the bank.  I have yet to shoot one apart.  The medium rings work for everything through the 40mms.

Good luck,

Pete

[gr8ful]

I use weaver rings, and only the high and extra highs clear without modification to the hammer.

[HWB13]

 A comment made by Hoyt about worrying about hold under on a rushing yote.  I broke out my Trajectory calculator.   Now I have had more than a little experience with accuracy when it comes to high power rifles.  I do believe that the scope and bore line should be as physically close as possible for the most accurate rifle.  That being said I ran 204 Ruger using 40 gr V-Max bullets traveling 3900 FPS with a bore to scope height of 2 in, zeroed at 200 yards.  That is much higher than any of the extra high mounts I have mounted on any rifle.  The 204 will print 1.2 in low at 25 yards.  I would conclude that the ability to achieve a stable and repeatable check weld is the most important.  I have a firsthand account from a colleague in the US Marshal’s Special Ops Sniper Division.  On one occasion shooting from a concealed position the scope cleared the wall but the barrel didn’t, two rounds were fired before he realized the issue.  So yes scope height matters, but a 1.2 in drop at 25 yards is within the size of the a target area of a yotes head or heart will not make a lot of difference. 
 

[glockmeister]

Chuck, welcome to GBO! Great bunch of folks here and we will do our best to turn you into Handi-holic, just ask me how I know. Enjoy yourself here and keep us in the loop on the Handi and how it shoots. Take care, John.

[petemi]

  On one occasion shooting from a concealed position the scope cleared the wall but the barrel didn’t, two rounds were fired before he realized the issue. 

I know how that happens.  Over the years, I blew up two chronys and had enough good parts left to make a third.  I punched a hole through the top edge of my pickup's bedside and took out the bottom of a window frame    I've gotten a little more careful in my old age.

Pete

[YRUpunting?]

  On one occasion shooting from a concealed position the scope cleared the wall but the barrel didn’t, two rounds were fired before he realized the issue. 

I know how that happens.  Over the years, I blew up two chronys and had enough good parts left to make a third.  I punched a hole through the top edge of my pickup's bedside and took out the bottom of a window frame    I've gotten a little more careful in my old age.

Pete

Sorry Pete, I laughed out loud when I read that.   

[dchuck]

thanks for the warm welcome all.  I think I've got enough info to make a decision.  I will report back when I'm up and running.
 
Chuck

[quickdtoo]

The most Handi friendly scopes are either fixed power or variables with small power rings/ocular bells, the larger the rear parts, the higher the rings need to be to clear the hammer, of course minimal hammer modification(hammer mods in the FAQs) can easily be made to make a big difference, enough to go from high to medium rings. Leupold scopes are prolly the most Handi friendly with their small rear parts, but there are some that are just as good that don't cost as much.

Tim

[Joe S.]

All but one of my scoped Handi's have worn prostaffs.

My new to me 444 wears a Nikon Monarch UCC in 1.5-4.5x20 i got on clearance at a store up in north MS. Bought the last three they had with Nikoplex reticle.

Love that scope but i love prostaffs too

Just the pics i have left:
35Rem w/ 3-9x40 and tall rings (seitched out to mediums after this pic was taken)


Daughter's Topper 30-30 w/ 2-7x32 and i think medium rings


My new 444 with Monarch and medium Burris Zee rings (soon to be cut to 16.5" i think)

[Darryle]

2-7x33mm Nikon Prostaff in Ironsighter rings on an Ironsighter base. I think the rings are high, I will look at the box when I get home and report back. They are correct, the new style of Prostaff has a larger ocular bell.

Sent from my tesla coil

[bigvarmnt]

Darryle, Thanks for posting that. It doesn't look very high even with the 33mm.
Did you modify the hammer at all? I wanted one of those with the dot and adj obj for my 22 Handi. Looks by your pic, I could live with that


The 33 probably does look a little high with the covers off but I think the rimfire one I was looking at is 40mm.

[Darryle]

I didn't modify the hammer at all. I will get that ring height shortly.

Those are medium DuraSight rings

Sent from my Tesla coil

[quickdtoo]

I didn't modify the hammer at all. I will get that ring height shortly.

Those are medium DuraSight rings

Sent from my Tesla coil

Ring height is top of scope rail to bottom of the scope tube. 

Tim

[Darryle]

Ring height is top of scope rail to bottom of the scope tube. 

Tim

According to Durasight they are .520"

Sent from my tesla coil

[dave29]

I have  several Nikons on my Handi's in the 2-7x32 and 3-9x40 range. I always use Burris Zee rings in MEDIUM. I always mount my scopes as low to the barrel as possible without cutting the hammer.

I have a couple Bushnells in high rings and I can't stand the height.