Howdy.

Apologies for the rapid-fire newby posting, but holy cow this forum is a freaking treasure trove of info. Cripes, I wish I'd have found this a while back.

Anyhoo, after lusting after a T/C Contender since the age of 12, I finally bought one with my 2005 Sporting Toy Budget. I got a used one with a .223 and .357 Rem Max barrels. And believe me, that blew the WHOLE budget, just ask the Chief Financial Officer and she'll tell you.

So, now I'm thinking of a scope for the .223 barrel. It had a 4x Simmons which I moved over to the Max barrel for deer.

Now what? From shooting the .223 with only a 4x I'm thinking I need more magnification if I'm going to be able to score on the SD pasture poodles. Any reason not to go with something like a 3x12?

I'm on a pretty tight budget (just ask. . .) so I'll probably have to keep it under $350. Any thoughts on Burris? Other brands or ideas that I'm missing?

Advice greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

Grouse

Actually, scopes usually come in 3-9X or 4-12X. Either should work for the ranges involved with .223 shooting but if I had my choice, I'd go for the 4-12X.

As for brand, I have a strong preference for Leupold. There is a lifetime warrenty even on their used gold ring scopes which, I've heard they stand behind. I also am more confident in their ability to stand up to recoil and general knocks without changing their zero.

I have a number of Leupold scopes (let's see, about about 7 of them) none of which I've paid more than a little over $200 for (usually on eBay).

Interesting,Grum. I've been looking at Burris and all their scopes are 3x12. Not that it matters I suppose.

I'm with you on Leupold, but I'm thinking the price could be an issue if I have to buy new.

Grouse

I'm pretty partial toward the 3X-12X Burris, as can be seen in the picture. I have one more of them that is mounted on my .222Rem Contender, and a 2X-7X Burris on my Encore. Did I mention that I like Burris?

Nashcat

I started with Leupold on my first contender. Since I have gone to Burris and Weaver. Both of these perform as well as the Leupold and the eye relief, to me is more shooting friendly.

Plus, the cost of the Burris is close to $100 cheaper and the Weaver 2.5x8 is close to $300 cheaper than the Leupold 2.5x8.

I found I can get a lot more scopes that have performed well, for me, for the money.

I've got these scopes on everything from 22 hornet to 375JDJ with no problems over the past 20 years of shooting with them.

I've got Burris, Leupold and Nikon on single shots and rifles (the one Weaver I had quit...on a pellet gun!) I'd go with a 3-9 Burris AO. Best image clarity for the buck.

Spring piston air guns tend to be about the most brutal on scopes, so it might not be a fair comparison.

I'd also say that perhaps one of the bigger culprits on handguns destroying scopes are flimsy mounts.

I can't see having anyting less than a 2-7 on flat shooting single shot pistol, and would certainly consider the 3-12. A .223 isn't that brutal so I'd expect most of the scope offerings to work well.

For varminting at small targets the Burris 3-12 LER would be my hands down choice IF you want to use a handgun scope.
IF you choose to use a rifle scope (albeit short eye relief) your options are higher.
Note: there is some danger involved in using a rifle scope on a specialty handgun.

To my knowledge there has never been a LER 4-12 handgun scope.

If you decide to try a rifle scope, I would suggest the Burris compacts. I have one on my .223 and works very well. The eye relief is from 3.75-5 inches. Mine is 4-14 or 16 I can't remember which they make it in. It is the same overal dimensions as their 3-12 LER scope. You can get it as I did in Ballistic plex reticle too.

Paul
I'm hip to 'springers' being tough on scopes. This was a Weaver scope specifically made for a pellet gun; and it wasn't cheap by their standards.

I'd shoot the highest BC bullet i could for twist rate, and get a rifle scope of at least 4.5-14X with some sort of tgt. turret, and shoot some waaayyy out thar.

Grouse,

I have an extra 10X Burris AO pistol scope if you are interested. $155 shipped in the lower 48.