Help Design A Scope For Turkey Hunting

[Mueller Optics]

For those of you that prefer to use a scope for Turkey Hunting, here's your chance to help design a new scope   :shock:
 
We are looking for input for designing a new Scope specifically for turkey Hunters.
 
What would be the perfect scope? Give complete details such as reticle design (illuminated?), Magnification? Variable power?, straight power?, objective size?, eye-relief, F.O.V., 1/2" click adjustments?, finger turrets?
 
Has the perfect scope for Turkey Hunting already been designed by another company?
 
Dont be shy and please be realistic!
CB

[TScottW99]

Good question.  Right now I'm still using fiber optic sights but I have been scope shopping for my turkey gun.  Looking around and trying differn't scopes I have found that I really like the holographic units.  I especially like the Eotech unit.  http://www.riflescopes.com/store/departments.asp?dept=14   I don't want magnafication in a turkey scope and I'm not big on the red dots.  Using the Eotech on a couple of AR's and small arms has really helped in my decission.  I'm able to keep both eyes open (which I have a problem with on optics) and still keep my peripheral vision.


Of course this is just me, guess we will have to wait for me to get it to see if it's my "perfect" turkey scope  :wink:

[freddogs]

I'm not useing a scope now but I think no power or 2x would be plenty. Compact size and camo would be nice. A circle (o) reticle inside a crosshair is a suggestion. Must stay in adjustment and rugged.

[Mueller Optics]

I'm working on a new reticle design and would like to hear some opinions. The new reticle would accomodate both the Turkey hunter and the slug gun hunter so he or she could change barrels depending on the season and use this scope which offers a circle for turkey hunting yet also offers a illuminated fine cross hair for slug hunting.
Here's the link to the reticle:
http://www.reddotscopes.com/images/turkeyreticle.jpg

Let me know what you think?
MO

[Hound_Dog55]

I like that reticle.

[Dragon31]

I like the idea of scopes on a turkey shotgun and have used Red dots and Leupold 2X in the past.  I was not totally thrilled with either.

This is what I'm looking far.

1.  Wide field of view with good light collecting capacity.
2.  Lot and lots of eye relief.  Turkey loads in any gun really produce Heavy recoil, and your seldom in a position to take full advantage of the available eye relief. (I hate getting cracked between the eyes, it hurts)
3.  Durablility, heavy recoil shakes even the best scopes apart.
4.  Weight, A Remington 12 ga Super mags with out ammo weigh in at 8+ lbs.  Add scope, Ammo, sling, mounts and rings and you have over 10 lbs easy.  This would be about the same for other shotguns also.
5.  Low profile with no edges to get caught on weeds, camo netting etc.

You make me one and I'll field test it this year in IN and KY.

[Mueller Optics]

I dont think I can get one done in time for the spring season but it may be in time for the fall hunt. So far I'm working on a eye-relief of about 4" and a field of view no less than 50ft @ 100yds. The turrets will be low profile with 1/2MOA clicks. Because the reticle will be illuminated it will be hard to make it an ultra light but I agree it should be as light as possible without sacrificing strength and reliability.
MO

[Dragon31]

I always forget something:

I like about 2 maybe 2.5 X magnification and the German style cross hairs seem to work really well for me.  The German I'm writing about is the one with the top of the verticle the same as the crossing point of the reticle.

[varmit_master]

Hi i had a scope on 2 of 3 of my turkey guns i MISS a BIG TOM went home and pulled it all the fist gun then the other one the next day i had a
Nikon Monanarch  matte 1.5x4.5x20mm with the turkey pro rel. on my Benelli 12ga  21 inch barrel

Simmons PRO D  2x32mm matte fin. on my Rem SP 10ga 23 inch barrel
a scope on a turkey gun isnt for me i sold that Nikon scope on ebay that night and will never go back isnt for me VM

[Tcallbuilder]

As shotgunning turkeys (for the most part) is not a long range propisition
i would be in faver of -0- magnification
good light gatering (for dusk and dawn)
unlimited eye relief (for scout type mounts)
short compact in size
needs to hold zero under extreme recoil!!!!
super wide field of view.....should be like looking through a ring with a ret. in the middle
come in black (mate) and camo finish.

TCB

[varmint101]

That's a neat looking recticle.  Seems like it would be a great duel purpose scope.  What about something of a triangle recticle that would somehow go from top of head to the bottom of the neck into the top part of the feathers at 40 yards.  Maybe it's stupid maybe it's not, but it might help judge distance better.

Matt

[Mueller Optics]

Actually that would almost be like the Simmons Pro Diamond reticle and I dont want to copy or infrindge on any trademarks or patents. Here's another reticle I was working on that I personally like better. www.muelleroptics.com/turkeyreticle.jpg
The dot would be a 1/2moa which again could serve as a dual purpose for a shot barrel for Turkey Hunting (circle) or a slug barrel for deer Hunting (illuminated dot). There are alot ot states such as the whole lower half of Michigan that only allow the use of Shotguns or Muzzleloaders during the firearm deer season and if you use the same gun for Turkey and Deer Hunting, why not have a scope for both..  I would agree with a 0 magnification if the scope were designed for Shot only but my intent was to make it a dual prupose and with the range of todays slugs and muzzleloaders I think some magnification would be benificial.

MO

[varmint101]

lol the triangle was so not to infringe on their diamond.  The shotgun thing is the same here in Indiana also.  Unless you use a pistol for deer like I do.

Matt

[Mueller Optics]

Because the current design is taking so long I decided to work on another that could be used on a Shotgun and/or Pistol. It has unlimited eye-rlief and comes in a 1x30. You will be able to adjust the dot to 4 different sizes, 3 min, 5min, 8 min or 10 min. There will also be 11 settings for brightness of the dot itself. Debuty suggested changing the dot color to green, what do you think? any other suggestions?
The scope will come with a polorized filter, 30mm rings and a tool for adjuting windage and elivation.
Here's a photo:
http://www.muelleroptics.com/1x30.jpg


MO

[scruffy]

I want a green dot, but not for turkey hunting, for coyote hunting at night by moon light, very early and late evening.  The green dot is much easier on the eyes.  For a turkey scope I'd like to have both green and reddot (like I've read bushnell is in the process of designing).  Use the green dot in very low light conditions, and the reddot for daytime use.

I'd also rather have an illuminated recticle with very fine cross airs and a 1"moa dot in the center than an electronic "reddot".  Then during daylight hours or if the battery goes dead I still have a reticle dot to shoot with.  But turn the dial one way and a green dot, turn the other reddot, or something like that.  I'd like a 1x20mm that fits in 1" rings and also a bigger option to fit in 30mm rings depending on what rig I'm putting it on.  I like the smaller tube on my varmint rifle and a larger tube on my pistols.

But I think the major complaint of people getting a reddot is the battery, turning it on and off, adjusting it as the day goes on, etc.  If you change to an illuminated recticle even the worse case scenerio of dead battery or switch failure, etc you will still have a working scope with the black recticle and a dead turkey, deer, etc.  I'd think this would be a great selling point.

Oh, and I'd like 1x for my compact applications or needing unlimited eye relief, and then a 1x-5x and 2x-10x would be nice as well (or 1-4, 2-7, 3-9 if you like the older more traditional variables).

later,
scruffy

[Steelhead]

I like the one with the red dot in the center.


As far as power, I would like a fixed power scope (makes range judging easier if it is always the same power). I do think a 0x to no more then a 2x would do the trick.

FAR MORE IMPORTANT is the eye relief and eye placement. You can get in some very funny positions and I don't want a scope that has a very critical eye placement. I would also prefer about 5 inches of eye relief.

Could care less about finish as long as it isn't GLOSS.

Thanks, and I have been hunting turkey for 16 years, and after this season I have decided to try a scope next year. Keep me posted![/url]

[Busta]

For those of you that prefer to use a scope for Turkey Hunting, here's your chance to help design a new scope   :shock:
 
We are looking for input for designing a new Scope specifically for turkey Hunters.
 
What would be the perfect scope? Give complete details such as reticle design (illuminated?), Magnification? Variable power?, straight power?, objective size?, eye-relief, F.O.V., 1/2" click adjustments?, finger turrets?
 
Has the perfect scope for Turkey Hunting already been designed by another company?
 
Dont be shy and please be realistic!
CB

Man, you guys are a breath of fresh air, and made here in Michigan too! I watched a piece on Michigan Out of Doors this past weekend on your scopes, looks like you guys have done your homework and are designing some great scopes.

I have been hunting turkeys since 1994 and every one that I have shot (13 as of yesterday) have been with a scope. The Simmons Pro-Diamond in 2X32 has been a very durable scope and anything along those lines should do well for you. I also have a Tasco Bantam 2.5X32, but is not in the same league as the Simmons.

Reticle should have a diamond, circle, square or octagon to keep your shot pattern on the head and neck. I would prefer a fixed 2X for turkeys and a fixed 4X deer that would allow you to use the reticle as a range finder. A mature gobblers head and neck is approximately 6 inches from the wattles to the top of the head. If you made your circle in a fixed 2X to cover say 6 inches at 20 yards from the wattles to the top of the head, it could effectively be used as a range finder with 1/2 a circle at 40 yds, 3/4 of a circle at 30 yds. The deer reticle could be adjusted accordingly.

Fixed 2X, 5" of eye relief, 32mm objective and a range finding reticle.

The Simmons Pro- Diamond in 2X is the closest to a perfect turkey scope IMHO. I know it can definitely be improved on though.

If you are looking for any product testers, I would be happy to put one through the paces for you and give you honest feedback. I shoot Conventional shotguns, Muzzleloading shotguns, Muzzleloading rifles and quite a few Slug Guns. Good luck in your quest to be one of the Premier Scope Manufacturers, looks like you have a great future.

Here is the one I shot yesterday, and I am looking to replace that crappy Tasco Bantam I have mounted on the 12ga Muzzleloader. He was 23 pounds, 10 inch beard, 1 inch spurs.

[Mueller Optics]

Well we took everyones feedback and not only from this forum but from many on the internet and the recent outdoor shows we attended. Although it will require some time, we hope to have the first samples complete by fall.

Thanks to all who participated in helping design our first variable shotgun scope, we hope to get them on the market as soon as we review and test the completed samples. I will post all the features these new scopes will have as soon as the designs are complete.

Mueller Optics

[MLRowland]

I have shot two turkeys with a 2x7 Leupold scope.It had a heavy duplex rectile.I have Mossy Oak camoed Pentax Turkey scope with a circle rectile.If you could combine the 5" eye releif of the Leupold and the circle rectile of the Penatx and give a choose of camo patterns you would have winner.I would make it in a 0x,1x4,and2x7 powered versions.And no red dot in that cross hair please.You do not need any red dot or red cross hair for me.Here is a pic of the black Remington 870 SPS with the leupold and a pic of my Remington 11-87 SPS with the Penatax.As you can see the Pentax is set back fother than the Leupold due to the 3.5" eye releif.