Hey'
I going into handgun hunting for the first time.I would like to know,which scopes you guys prefer.Please lets not get into a pissin contest over this.Don't tell me which is the best,Just tell me why you prefer it.Thanks in advance for your help.
1geejay
www.shooting-hunting.com

Different scopes for different guns & purposes. What kind of gun are you putting it on?

This article might help tooScoping Your Hunting Handgun

Hey'
it's going on an Encore,15" barrel.
1geejay
www.shooting-hunting.com

I'm not sure what caliber you are shooting, but I have had a Leupold M8 2.5 X 8 EER on my Ruger Super Redhawk in .44 Mag for 10 years now. It has sustained over 1000 rounds of heavy magnum handloads and has never flinched. If you are shooting a rifle caliber you probably want a higher powered scope. My vote is for Leupold.

[ 11-14-2002, 03:45: Message edited by: Shark Bait ]

Personally, I wouldn't even consider anything but the 3x12 Burris with the AO. If it's a real hard kicker get the posi-lock feature too.

I have a Weaver 2.5-8x in a Redfield 3 ring and base setup on my 15" .308 Encore..works great.
Dave

Real simple, I own two Leupold 2.5 X 8 EER scopes and wish I had two more.

R F

I guess it depends on what you want or prefer.

On straight wall cartridges i like the Leupold or Burris 2x or 3x scopes. They have enough magnification for shooting out to 150-200 yards on big game. I have used them for varmints but it does become difficult over 100 yards......

On rifle calibers i like the Burris varibles. I have been using a 1.5x-4x, 2x-7x, 2.5x-7x and recently purchased a 3x-12x. The only reason that i did not list the Leupold here as i have never owned on...yet. I am sure that it will measure up!

One word of caution-- I have a 7-08 Encore 15" and shoot with a 2-7 AO Burris. Great scope but I am 6'3" tall with long arms. EVERY pistol scope out there has a decreasing eye relief with increasing power. I have held most of them and I can not begin to fully extend my arms with any of them after 4 power or so. If low light or a long shot is not an issue I would go with the 1.5x 5 Burris or equivalent. Read the specificaitons, the Burris has the most generous eye releif and it still not enough for a tall guy.

Any Leupold will do. After A/Bing different scopes I just like the optic clarity better. Slim

All I can say is I won't be using a simmons in the future. Maybe on a pellet gun, but not anything with any recoil.

I shoot an Encore 15" 308 Win and have a Leupold 2.5 X 8 Mounted on it and it works great. I use the 8X for long shots and 2.5 for hunting the brush country here in NE Oklahoma. I have however been thinking of a Holo-sight as I think you would be able to get on target quicker and would make a moving shot allot easier.

[ 11-15-2002, 20:23: Message edited by: Handloader ]

If you are shooting a short range caliber that is used out to 150 yards, a 2x Leupold is all you'll ever need. I have this scope on .44 mag Redhawk, .454 FA, .45-70 Contender, and .50 Alaskan Encore. On the .309 JDJ Contender, which is capable of shots to 300 yards, I have a Leupold 2.5-8x. I tried a Burris PL 1.5-4 in a 4 ring SOB on the .454. Fifteen shots later the scope was in pieces and Burris bitched about fixing it. That was my first, only, and last experience with Burris. Before I got the .309 JDJ, the 2.5-8 Leupold set on the .45-70 Contender for several years and hundreds of rounds, so that is one variable that I know will take it.
The reason I like the 2x fixed for short range guns is quite simple. The 2x scope with it's long eye relief has a relatively small FOV, and in a 4x the FOV is cut down even more. I've shot a lot of deer with the 2x scopes, all under 50 yards, and some as close as 15 feet, then you really appreciate the larger FOV. Shooting targets out to 150 yards with the 2x scope has never been a problem so I feel there is much more to lose with the 4x than there is to gain. The only complaint I have with the Leupold Variable is that it is quite large, and on a smaller handgun the scope is kind of overpowering. I mounted it on the Redhawk once and I felt it was terribly over-sized. It fits just fine on the Contender .45-70 but was way more scope than needed for a round that has a limit of 150 yards with my loads. The few years it set on the .45-0 I never turned it up past the 2.5x setting. This scope IMO is much better suited on the .309 JDJ.

I have 14 Contender barrels 13 of which are scoped I have on those barrels 4 T/C scopes, 5 Leupold, 2 Burris, and 2 Nikon with a Leupold in the box waiting to be mounted on the one barrel that hasn't been scoped as yet. I also have 4 scoped revolvers all have Leupolds. Of the 19 scoped handguns only two have 2 ring mounting all the others have three or four ring mounting. Both of the two ring systems are the solid unit from T/C. All of the others are Red Field S.M.P. bases modified to a 6 screw mount or various "Weaver" type bases modified to 6 screw mounting. The bases are glued to the barrel at the time of mounting and the rings are treated with clear caulking compound when the scope is placed. All this to get a rock solid mounting system no matter the recoil. I choose the scopes because they are very clear, click settings are crisp and repeatable, they look where they are pointed (parallex) and they hold up to the pounding I put them through. Since I have been following the advice, of some of the custom "smiths" I have delt with, on scope mounting I haven't had any problems with scopes moving, blowing up, coming apart, losing focus, etc.

Hey'
You have all been very helpfull.I am going to give you a little more info,at this time.The caliber is going to be 6mmBR.I am going to use Talley rings and bases.Four screw system.I use Talley bases on my rifles,and am quite pleased with them.Very high quaility.I think the Leupolds and the Trophy bushnell's,are in the running.The input has been a big help in selection.

Hey'
I want to thank you all for your input.I have selected The Bushnell Trophy 2x6.I also have a Leupold/Gilmore Red Dot,that I have had for a few years.I will try both.Thanks again for the help
1geejay
www.shooting-hunting.com

I personally like a small varriable. This is a 1.5X5 on my Dan Wesson and I like being able to use 5X at farther distances when I can use a rest. If using it at closer distances without a rest, the 1.5 is great.

I currently use a Leupold 2.5 X 8 on my 15" 308 Win Barrel Encore and I'm very please with it's performance. I would also like to try one of the Burris 3 X 12 with Posi-lock I have read quite a bit about them lately and if they are half a good as what has been written about them by guy's on various forums and what Burris claims they may be the best thing since sliced bread.

I purchased a Bushnell Trophy 2 x 6 that works very well for deer hunting, and target shooting.
The scope is very clear and captures a lot of light during low light levels.
It's adjustments are precise and the scope's appearance is top shelf stuff.

Bushnell offers two other models above this that have a few advantages of my $150.00 unit.
The tube construction on the Elite I beleive is titanium, and the lenses are improved with a coating for glare and rain.

My 2� worth.