I just started working up loads for a new 16 1/4" .221 fireball barrel from BB for my contender. I originally set it up with a 4x pistol scope as the gun is setup right now with a pistol grip. It was very obvious to me that after the first few shots that this barrel was capable of far greater accuracy than my eyes and a 4x pistol scope can see. I could get reasonable groups 1"- 1 1/2" but they seem to be no tighter than what I could see anyway. I know there are some guys who have set up rifle scopes on their handguns to optomize accuracy and this gun can serve as either a rifle or handgun based on stock configuration. Just curious if anyone has done it and how well it works............I have yet to find a pistol scope that works well for me at the distance this gun will accurately shoot.
What I am curious of is how difficult it is to shoot and if you ever get whacked. As near as I can tell the gun doesn't recoil much but I never have shot it with my face 3- 3.5" from the scope.

I have several Contender barrels set up as scoped carbines, all with rifle-style scopes.

I can't see any way to use the same scope for both rifle and handgun use, due to eye relief, since the handgun scope will be nearly impossible to see through at 3 to 3.5", as will the rifle scope at 20".

I have been unable to get sufficient eye relief with T/C Duo-Ring mounts on a carbine using a rifle scope. I do use the D-R for mounting the "handgun" scopes. I use Leupold bases and offset rings when setting it up as a carbine, which moves the scope a little farther forward than the Duo-ring.

One of the barrels is a 21" Hornet, and recoil is nill. Another is a 16.5" .445 SuperMag and that one does jump a little with full power ammo. Shooting the Hornet is fine, but you really have to watch the .445.

I have a .221 barrel myself, but it's 10" and I have the Leupold 2.5-8x EER on it.

You could always shoot it as a pistol with a rifle scope on it. Held up to your eye. To me that defeats the whole purpose of having a handgun. You might as well just use it as a carbine.

I guess in theory, you should be able to shoot it as well with either scope... but in practice that doesn't always happen. You'd be surprised just how well you can shoot with even a 4x pistol scope when you work on it.

If it were mine, I'd cheat. Put on a stock and a big rifle scope for working up the loads on it. Once I'd found what it's capable pf doing, I'd put back on the pistol grip and pistol scope and master it that way.

I think the only way you could use it "right" with one optic in both modes would be with a dot sight. But then accuracy would suffer on both ends and defeat the purpose there as well.

skb2706,
I have used both a 6-24 B&L and a 6.5-20 Leupold on both a rear grip 260 Rem. and a Center-grip XP-100 in 284 Win. When it comes to this type of usage (Bigger kickers) the Leupold is the hands down winner, since it has alonger eye-relief than any scope out there. If your primary use in the handgun format will be bench work then it should be fine. It takes time to get use to shooting a rifle scope on a handgun. I have put about a 100 full-power rounds through the 284 and about 20-30 rounds through the 206 Rem. Have you used a 3-12 Burris LER on your 221 Fireball yet?
Ernie

Back when I was a kid with my XP-100 .221, there was no such thing as pistol scopes. I put a Weaver V12 on it and it worked great. Let's face it, there is no way in the world you will get scope eye from the .221. As a varmint rig, it took a world of pasture poodles and worked great until someone decided they needed my posessions more than I did. Man, that was over 25 years ago and I'm still pissed about it.

You can certainly use a rifle scope on your .221 and as you've already been told I seriously doubt that you will get hit from it...assuming you don't stick your eye RIGHT up to the ocular bell. A bit of common sense and prudence is always necessary, but this can also be done easily with a .223 and as XPHunter pointed out even bigger guns (then again you won't find me sticking my face up to a pistol with a rifle scope when it is chambered for a .260).

Also, a handgun is still a handgun even if it sports a rifle scope. Then again, that conversation seems to have been covered (and I won't say what it was covered with!) so I will stop right here before attracting any of those annoying flies.

[ 09-12-2003, 23:19: Message edited by: B_Koes ]

Thanks all for your responses......

xph -haven't tried a burris 3-12x LER scope but that is about magnification I like for the intended purpose. We have the Crossroads gun show here this weekend.......I can take a look then.
With a rifle scope I think more than anything it would take some getting use to ...to get over the awkward feel of crowding up on the pistol that way. Maybe its just me.

The IHMSA and NRA Hunter Pistol shooters use Rifle scope all the time on the shooting line.
If you are not familar with the Taco Hold the front hand can hold the scope and the gun pivots as much as it does recoil. I would not try this with my big uns but I shoot hot 22 Hornets in a 10" and it jumps as much as the 221 in the 16" which is to say not very much.

I do use the 3X12 Burris on my 308Bellm and it is a great pistol scope.
Now on that 444 Marlin rechamber I want it WAY out there.

Just my $.02

KENTN