I have been trying to decide on a new scope for my 7.5" Ruger Super Redhawk in 454 Casull.

The scope will be used mostly for testing loads at the range and for 50 to 250 yards plinking and target shooting.

I don't want to spend more than I have to so have decided to look at a fixed power scope especially the Leupold FX 11 4X scope.

Has anyone used this scope? How does it compare to other scopes on the market for reliability, eye relief, field of view, magnification (would it be to much/to little) etc........

Thanks for any info,

I ran a 4X Leupold on my .454 SRH when I had it. The scope worked well for load development and hunting. I no longer have the SRH, but still have the scope; Leupold worked better than the SRH.

How was the eye relief and field of view?

A fixed 2 power seems more useful to me on a hunting handgun. It is very tough to hold a 4x scope steady when the adrenaline starts flowing. Also the lower power scope offers a better field of view, but more importantly for hunting, the eye position is not so critical on a lower powered scope. Picking up the reticle for a quick shot is much easier on a 2x versus 4x scope. If you stationary hunt with a solid rest, the 4x is fine, but for field position use while moving, the 2x is better for the average hunter.

Go with a 2-7 variable, you will be much happier. I used a 2.5-7 simmons gold medal (sadly discontinued) on my 480 SRH for load work, and it was vastly superior to the 2 and 4 leupolds I tried. The 2 x has a great field of view for hunting, but not enough magnification for long range work. The 4 X gives up alot of field of view, but still isn't quite enough for longer ranges. The variable is the best of both worlds.

There are good variables out there for the same price as the leupy 4X.

Paul H,
How many rounds has that Simmons held up to on the .480? Just curious...
I have a Freedom Arms .454 (unported) 7-1/2"bbl and I have a 2x Leupold on it... Many years hunting/target shooting with it.. No problems yet... I find it fairly easy to stay on paper with it at 200 yards (fyi, the load I shoot has @ 11 MOA drop from a 100y zero to 200 yards; 250g linotype lead alloy solids w/gaschecks)...
IMHO, MBartel has the right idea about a "hunting scope".. 4X is too tough to hold on target for anything less then "ideal/bench" conditions... By the time you get your game zeroed on a 4X, it will likely be gone...
Variable may be the answer for you but get a good one, as you know how the .454 kicks!
How long have you had the Ruger in .454? Is it holding up well? My first handgun ever was a Super Redhawk in .44mag, same barrel length as yours. I have noticed that it has losened up a bit over the years (14-15 years?)...

Stop...Stop... You guys are making me feel "superhuman". Seriously, I spent a great deal of time on the front porch practicing acquiring a sight picture with the scope, much the same as my friends who shoot IPSC practice. After a few thousand times, it gets easy.

Also, I found the field of view and eye relief were adequate.

While I generally think Simmons scopes aren't very good, the gold medal handgun was made especially tough to handle the big stuff, and that it does. I had that scope on all my contender barrels, and then on the 480 and put at least 1000 full power loads through the 480 while scoped. I know folks who have used the simmons on 375 JDJ and 45-70 contenders and it holds up just fine.

I've subsequently sold the scope because to me, handgun hunting is about iron sights and closer ranges.

I've had my SRH for about 1 1/2 years now and have fired about 750 loads of 300gr @ 1600fps, 330gr @ 1650fps, 360gr @ 1520fps and 395gr @ 1420fps. I have also shot at least 1100 45 Colt light cowboy action to +P loads through it as well.

The gun is still like new hardly broken in and seems to be exceptionally accurate with most loads. I had problems during my load developement time when I reached the upper levels of pressure and had the cases start to stick in the chamber. I have worked all of this out and am extremely happy for the amount of money that I had too put out for the gun. I can't afford a F/A or BFR and actually prefer a double action.

The one problem that I am really not happy with is when I mounted a 1X Burris scope to the gun and shot an extremely powerful load the scope rings where they mount to the gun deformed the top strap of the gun.

I've got ~4000 rounds through my 480 SRH, about 1/2 full power 400's @ 1200, or 460's @ 1050, and the majority of the rest plinker loads of 310's @ 1000 fps. During load workup I had a few loads that took some effort to extract, like 460's @ 1150 fps Actually the one thing I like about the Hornady brass in the 480 is it gets slightly sticky at max levels, so I know where I'm at when working up loads, and simply don't use anything that is the least bit sticky.

I don't think a stout load will cause the scope rings to ding the top strap, rather being overzelous when cranking down the mounting screws.

quote:

I don't think a stout load will cause the scope rings to ding the top strap, rather being overzelous when cranking down the mounting screws.

Wow and here I thought that I was getting weaker in my old age. Sorry but your wrong with that assumption.

Actually I usually shoot my 454 SRH without a scope on it. I have removed and reinstalled it repeatedly. I always follow the same procedure when I tighten the stock Ruger rings with my little Leatherman Wave multi tool. I know exactly when the the problem happened. It was with 2 heavy 300gr loads. I had very hard extraction after those 2 shots where fired and when I removed the scope right after that the dings and lifting of the top strap were there.

Have you ever shot a 454 Casull? The recoil that is generated is so much more (like 1 1/2 times more) than a 480 which is about the same as a top loaded 44mag.

I have a Simmons 2X on my SRH .454 100's of full power 300gr loads and probably 1000 full power 250gr loads and 1000's of target loads. No problems other then the scope slid back in the rings once from the recoil. tightened them up and have had no problems since

Yes, I've shot many 454's, 475's and 500's. While the 480 factory loads are on par with a 44, handloaded the 480 get's up towards 454 levels, 310's 1500+, 335's 1400", 400's 1300+

Sorry but your wrong again your loads are not really that close to 454 Casull loads more like top loaded 45 Colts thus only really comparable to that kind of recoil.

The velocities that I am getting with my 7.5" SRH in 454 Casull are 300gr jacketed @ 1650fps, 330gr cast @ 1670fps, 360gr cast @1520fps and last but not least 395gr cast @ 1420fps.

The 2 300gr XTP/Mag loads that caused the problem for me where chrono'ed later doing 1725fps in the 7.5" barrel.

Due to the 454 being a smaller diameter and loaded to far higher pressures the 480 even in it's hottest loading in a SRH just doesn't compare when it come to recoil or power.

Actually Moki, you appear to be tipping your powder can a bit heavily. Most loads offered by FA for their 300 grain bullets are between the 1500-1650 fps range. Therefore, 1500+ in a particular revolver puts it in the .454 class. Just because some people overload a .45 Colt does not make it standard. Custom five-shot revovlers may safely be loaded to .454 levels, but I loading a six-shot Ruger to these levels is a dangerous activity.

Recoil is more subjective; depending on shooter ability, attitude and physical strength. Firearms I do not believe recoil heavily may be too much for another shooter. If I understand your line of thinking, my .454 will out recoil my .475 Linebaugh due to the smaller diameter and higher operating pressures. Don't believe so.

I agree and I disagree with your comments.

The Ruger SRH due to the metal used in the construction of their cylinders has a problem which has frustrated a lot of people that wanted to be able to fire F/A 454 loads. The metal of the cylinder when higher pressures are reached (55,000 to 60,000PSI) will expand allowing the bullet case to expand and after the shot the cylinder metal returns to normal causing the brass case to become trapped in the chambers of the cylinder. This is not due to excessive pressure but to the metal of the cylinder.

Due to this expansion of the cylinder it is very easy to when reloading stay below dangerous pressure levels.
In other words when the brass during load developement becomes the slightest bit sticky in extraction you have reached the top levels of what you should load for the SRH due to extraction problems not to high of pressure. Back off 1/2 grain in your load and thats it if you are happy with the accuracy of the load.

Yes the 1725fps loads where totally excessive and where pulled apart immediately after only 3 being fired in the gun. The problem was not to much powder but to tight of a crimp.

I wasn't talking about a 475 having more or less recoil I was only comparing to the 480 Ruger.

Well guys I'm off tomorrow morning for another 2 1/2 weeks hunting for moose/grizzly/black bear/mountain goat/whitetail/mule deer plus some more prospecting so thanks for the discussion and I check back when I return home........

Moki,

We are in total agreement regarding your assessment of the SRH. Good luck and be careful on your trip.

Thanks
Cam

I used a 2x Leupold on my Freedom Arms .454 and I think you will like it better than a 4x. I believe either one will stand up to the use however.

I have a Leupold 2x on my 44 cal SRH. It is the ideal scope for hunting, but I wish I had a 4x for sighting in and plinking. The answer might be a 1-4 variable. Burris makes one, though to me it looks a little funny (with that front objective. I with Leupold would come out with a 1-4 pistol scope.