Like most new things we try, a scope on a pistol takes some getting used to. But once you get used to them there's nothing better. Just takes practice... and that's the fun of it. You'll find you can shoot like never before. And it's really a boon in the deep, dark woods. Try a good 2X scope for a while and you'll wonder how you ever hit anything before. When I first started using scopes on Contenders I thought I'd never get it to work. Now I can't hardly do without them. As far as shooting up close, my last handgun deer (with .44 mag & 2X Leupold) was a 30 ft. shot. Can't get much closer than that. And yet I can shoot [some calibers] out to 200 yds. I can shoot in near-dark conditions, too. I do little hunting without a scope anymore.