What variable scopes are you guys using on your TC?

[northkid]

Looking for a scope for a .12" .223, .243 15", 22-250 15". Looking for a variable, I a new to the TC world so just checking what you folks are using.

Thanks
northkid

[Grumulkin]

For those cartridges a lot of handgun scopes should hold up OK.  My choices would be one of the Thompson/Center Recoil Proof handgun scopes or a Leupold 2.5-8X handgun scope.

[wmurrell]

3 2-7 Burris on 22K hornet, 222 and 256 win
3 3-9 Burris on 30-30 AI, 375 JDJ and 444 marlin
Guess you could say I like Burris

[Davemuzz]

I own both the Leupold 2.5-8X EER handgun scope and a Simmons Prohunter 2-6X EER handgun scope. I believe when I bought the Leupold it was in the $400 range and I paid $110 for the Simmons (which now goes for around $150 regular price.....but better when you find 'em on sale).

I've had the Simmons on my Smith 44 magnum and have pounded it for 3 years with full boat mag loads and it hasn't flinched. The Simmons is also clear-er to look thru than the Leupold.

So.....even coming from a Leupold guy, for a handgun, save your money and buy a Simmons Prohunter. At the range use the 6X and for hunting use the 2X.

That's all you will need.

Dave

[Crashnrondo]

I use and like both the Bushnell Trophy 2x6 and the Weaver 2.5x8, the Weaver is a very nice scope IMHO

Thanks,
Ron

[hoosierdome]

I have a Nikon on my 15” .223, I really like that scope.

[northkid]

Thank all of you for your ideas. I will start looking around and pricing them. I see a lot of you guys like the Leupold scope mounts.

When you sight them in do you use the standard bore sighter or the laser one?
I have sighted in many rifles , is a handgun done the same way with the shorter barrel?

Thanks for all of your help.

[Ladobe]

One scope for all three barrels, or one scope model that will be put on each of three barrels?   I only do the latter - don't like sharing scopes between barrels.

Have had and tried about all of them over the years.   I'm partial to the Burris scopes on most of my handguns (both specific target and variable models), but do like the Tasco Pro Class 30mm (long discontinued) for the handcannons.

What I'd do with current Burris models... (had to add that because most of my Burris are discontinued target and variable models with feartures I prefer over those on the newer models).

12" 223... Burris 3-12 Ballistic Plex.
15" 22-250... Burris 3-12 Ballistic Plex
15" 243... if for big game only, Burris 2-7 Plex; if for LR preds Burris 3-12 Ballistic Plex

YMMV

[Grumulkin]

Thank all of you for your ideas. I will start looking around and pricing them. I see a lot of you guys like the Leupold scope mounts.

When you sight them in do you use the standard bore sighter or the laser one?  I have sighted in many rifles , is a handgun done the same way with the shorter barrel?

I, for one, don't like Leuopld scope mounts though they're probably fine for the low recoil application you would be using them for.  For handguns with low recoil, I like a Weaver style base and Burris Zee Rings that won't mark the scope.  For handguns with heavier recoil, I use SSK Industries T'SOB 4 ring mounts.

Use a bore sighter?  You must be into high tech stuff.  At 50 yards, I look down the barrel and see if the crosshairs of the scope point at the same place the center of the barrel is points; that's enough to get me on paper and I fine adjust from there.  Alternatively, you can get too close to the target to miss (say 10 or 20 yards), see where the bullet hits relative to where you are aiming, make a BIG adjustment if needed and move back and shoot again at a longer range.

[Keith L]

A few years ago I was mounting lots of scopes for folks, and a gunsmith friend recommend the Leupold magnetic boresighter.  I had a hard time believing that it would work, but it does.  I have never had one fail to put the gun on paper at 50 yards (and if the gun was capable 100 yards), but a good crown is needed both for the sighter and for the gun to work well.  And the magnet sticks to stainless barrels as well as carbon steel.  If you are doing a lot of scope mounting it is a great time saver.  If not so many then looking down the bore works well also.

[Davemuzz]

Not an answer to your bore sight question, but I did buy one of those Midway scope mount Level-Level-Level (I think it's a Caldwell...which is just a sub-company of Midway) scope mount tools. They are simply 2 bubble levels mounted in a magnetic piece that allows one to be attached to the firearm and the other to the scope.

They make quick work of mounting the scope with level crosshairs. No guessing.

Now, as for bore sighting with a T\C, or any gun that i can look through the bore, I simply pick a spot at about 100 yards while looking through the center of the bore, then I adjust the crosshairs to be on that same spot. This has always got me on paper at 100 yards, and then it's just a matter of half a dozen shots or so to get it to bullseye.

Dave

[Dezynco]

I really love my Nikon Monarch 2.5x8.  It has the quick focus ring on the eyepiece so that you can dial it in or out for high/low power.  Most scopes that can go up to a higher power tend to shorten the eye relief on high power.  The Nikon lets you adjust for that problem.  I banged away with an Encore 308 pistol with some pretty stiff loads, no problems at all.

Other than that, I'm a big fan of Leupold's fixed power scopes.  I really like my FX 4power scope.

I've also read somewhere that Vortex makes a fantastic scope at a very good price, but they only make a 2x - I prefer a 4x, or a variable.

[securitysix]

I've been happy with the 2.5-7x Simmons that rides on my 14" .223 Remington barrel.

[Ken ONeill]

The Leupold 2 1/2- 8X, Bushnell 3200 2-6X and Burris 2-7X will all work well, depending upon the price range you want to stay in. The Burris 3-12X will also work well, but is best suited up to about 10X and can be a bit difficult to use for newer shooters.

[skarke]

I have a lot of Burris scopes, and I like them.  However, the Bushnells are becoming my favorite.  The Burris scopes are tough as nails, but a little heavy, and the eye relief at high power shortens to about a foot on the 9+ power versions.

The bushnells don't change eye relief, and their basic pistol scope for about $160 is a bargain.  I just wish that they would come out with a finer crosshair and an 8 or 9 power for varmint/BR.

[MnMike]

On my .223 I use a Bushnell 9X long eye relief rifle scope. This gives me a much wider field of view than a pistol scope. You acquire the target with your eye up close, then move your head back a bit for the shot. I wouldn't try it for anything much more than a .223.

mike

[gahunter29]

I chose Burris because they offer the widest range of handgun scopes ,  and that makes me feel like they put a lot of effort in providing the most options.
I do have 2 Burris scopes on my deer hunting rifles and they are great,too.
I have a 3-12 AO on my .22-250 and love it.

Brent

[csharps]

4x Leupold on my 16 inch 450 Nitro Hand Cannon, 2x Leupold on my 16 inch 460 Weatherby Hand Cannon, 2-7x Burris on my 16 inch  458 Winchester  Hand Cannon,
Charlie aka Dr Loudenboomer

[hunterspistol]

  I don't own all that many pistol scopes so, I'll leave that question to the others.
 I use Weaver high mount rings and use them up to 40mm rifle scopes.  I get the steel topped ring set up and use a scope lapping tool to smooth them up(wheeler engineering). This makes them mount down solid. For Contender, a 92A base and 49042 matte black ring set in Weavers is my standard, you can pick my pistols up by the scope, no worries

[das bear]

14" 30 Alaskan  Burris 3-9 AO LER
10" 357 max     B&L 4x
15"- 257 Rob AI, 308 AI, 35Whelen AI Burris 2-7 LER