My J.P. Sauer Drilling 12 X 12 X .222 Remington will arrive soon. I plan to have a scope mounted (claw mounts). Recommendations for a European scope(model and variable range)?
I plan to use if hunting varmints- fox, coyotes,crows, woodchucks, and if it shoots shotgun slugs accurately whitetail deer. My state only allows shotgun slugs for deer hunting other than muzzleloading rifles and some pistol calibers.
Thanks!
Jim

I have a 6x42 Zeiss on my combo - works a treat. You could though make a good case for a1.5-6x42 or a 3-9x36 Swarovski -the latter can be mounted nice and low.

Jim

I do a lot of hunting with a scoped Drilling.

Since your Drilling has a 222 barrel I would want a variable scope with at least 6x and maybe even up to 10X.

I think the Swarovski 1.7 to 10 with an illuminated reticle would be hard to beat.

I like to have a variable with a fairly low power on a drilling as I have killed a lot of birds and other small game with the shotgun barrels of a drilling with the scope attached on low power. Many a skillet full...

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Jim

I do a lot of hunting with a scoped Drilling.

Since your Drilling has a 222 barrel I would want a variable scope with at least 6x and maybe even up to 10X.

I think the Swarovski 1.7 to 10 with an illuminated reticle would be hard to beat.

I like to have a variable with a fairly low power on a drilling as I have killed a lot of birds and other small game with the shotgun barrels of a drilling with the scope attached on low power. Many a skillet full...

Yup agree with this, but with the one caveat that the illuminated version of that scope with the switch on the eyepiece looks horrible and totally disfigures a fine firearm. Why they couldn't have put the switch in a third turret is beyond me. Oh and there is the little matter of the £1,880 price tag as well.

What I also have for mine is a straight tube nickel Marburg 1-4x20 scope that one day i will get around to fitting to my combo.

Given our crowded little island if there is any chance I will take a shot at flying game, the rifle is unloaded. I have no issue taking the claw mounted scope off. I have shot 5 shot groups at 60yds that can be covered with a £1 coin with scope removed and replaced between shots. I have also shot clays with the 6 power scope attached and a surprising level of success- you look through / around the scope . Key is to start with a low gun, watch the clay and shoot as soon as butt hits the shoulder and rely on instincts. That's how I was taught to shoot a shotgun English style. It all goes horribly wrong when you start trying to actually aim and place the cross hairs just in front of the clay.

And if you wanted to shoot big game with a rifle rather than slugs get yourself an einstecklauf in 7x65r / 9.3x74r etc.

quote:

Originally posted by Heym SR20:
And if you wanted to shoot big game with a rifle rather than slugs get yourself an einstecklauf in 7x65r / 9.3x74r etc.

Sauers aren't strong enough for any heavier than 22 Hornet! It's what you give up for their being lighter than other drillings.

I would guess tat most shots taken with the rifled barrel are not that long. I would probably put a 1.5-6x42 on most drillings. With medium calibers, if most hunting is done in from a stand in mixed cover, I would prefer a 1.1-4x 20/24. Its all you need out to 150 yds.

I hunt small game with a 20 gauge drilling over 22 Savage Hi Power (5.6x52R). The two coyote I have shot were taken over open sites under 75 yards. Feral cats, when not dispatched by the dogs, were shot under 50 yards. I would guess that such small game drillings take a lot of small predators at short range.

I'll echo what you said about a 1.5-6 being a good choice for about any drilling. I had a wonderful Geyger-Berlin set in 16/9,3X74R with a 1.2-4 S&B and a second set of barrels in 20ga/243 with a 1.5-6 S&B. I never felt I needed more...ever. Circumstances forced me to sell the set to a guy who knows what he got and appreciates it.

Like others, I like a 1,5-6. I have a Nickel in that range for my Krieghoff 16/16/7x57R, to replace the 6x Hensoldt it originally had.

I found a 1,5-6x ideal over the past several years on the BBF I had. It suits perfectly on the bottom magnification for running or flying game (even clays), and 6x is plenty to reach out across a longer distance when the opportunity is there, so it took no time to decide on the same for my drilling.

A friend has the Swarovski Z6i on his BBF, and it is nice, but bulky.

It will be a 1.5 X 6. Now to decide on the reticle?
Thanks to all who responded.
Jim

Reticle is probably a matter of personal preference. My own preference is for something bold, simple and not cluttered with stadia or various rings or obstructing the target (like a post does). I think a duplex or a German Nr 4 works very well:



I've never really felt the need for illuminated reticles either, even in shooting in twilight or at night.

I think of the German #4 Reticle as a reticle for standing game, which for your 222 may be just the ticket. The Zeiss 60 or the German #2 would be better for moving game from a stand in cover...where a medium caliber drilling is often used.

quote:

Originally posted by dan_oz:
Reticle is probably a matter of personal preference. My own preference is for something bold, simple and not cluttered with stadia or various rings or obstructing the target (like a post does). I think a duplex or a German Nr 4 works very well:



I've never really felt the need for illuminated reticles either, even in shooting in twilight or at night.

A Great Choice for about any hunting scope, IMO!