Ideas for a handgun scope

Tater · 07-14-2009, 08:39 AM

I am about to purchase a Ruger SBH .44 Mag, 7.5" bbl. primarily for hunting; I'm anticipating most all shots to be somewhere in the 50-75 yard range with maybe an occasional at 100 yards. i don't think i'd attempt a shot beyond 100 yards due to my skill level.

I'm considering scoping it but i'm having trouble making a decision. here are what I THINK my choices are:

Burris 2x20 Handgun Scope, about $220
Leupold 2x20 Handgun Scope, about $350

Burris 1.5-4x26 Handgun Scope, about $290
Leupold 2.5-8x32 Handgun Scope, about $550 (!)

I don't have a big gun store around here so looking through these will not be possible before i get one.

Burris and Leupold both have great reputations for a quality product but if Burris are lacking in terms of clarity, etc., i'd rather pay the extra money. In the variable magnification ones above, the Burris 1.5-4x makes more sense than the 2.5-8 Leupold.

Having said all that, does anyone have any opinions on the above scopes? Is there perhaps another brand i'm overlooking?

Iowegan · 07-15-2009, 08:40 AM

Tater, I think you are on the right path. Cheap handgun scopes typically don't hold up to punishing recoil, they may not hold zero well, and the optics may not be as sharp. Both Burris and Leupold make fine scopes ... either would be a good choice.

As for magnification ... higher magnification becomes more of an enemy than a friend. The higher the magnification, the more narrow the field of view will be. High X scopes make it very difficult to find Bambi in the cross hairs even though you can see him just fine with the naked eye. The "wiggle factor" also works against you with higher magnification. From a bench rest, magnification helps suck the target closer but when shooting "off hand", you'll find anything over 2X gets very difficult to hold still enough for a good shot. Additionally, higher magnification makes the scope very difficult to get your eye aligned when your gun is at arms length. You want to get a "full sight picture" where the edges of the scope are not a black. This can be very difficult with scopes over 2X.

Most handgun hunters learn quickly that a scope is very useful for precision aiming but pretty useless for magnification. The best scopes for hunting are 1.5x to 2x fixed power ... nothing higher. Yes, a variable X scope that will dial down to the optimum magnification will work but again you lose some important features and spend a lot more money. Variable scopes have more lens elements that restrict light transfer and have mechanical moving parts that may not deal with recoil as well as fixed power scopes.

My suggestion .... buy a 1.5x or 2x fixed power in either Burris or Leupold.

BCB · 07-15-2009, 10:33 AM

Tater,

I have a Burris 2x-7x on a SRH in 44 Magnum. I have shot many, many 429650’s (315± grains) at velocities of 1350 fps from this SRH. The ‘scope holds zero and I can honestly hit a 5.5”x11” steel pendulum at 150 yards the vast majority of the time with a very good bench rest. The high power allows this type of shooting…

I do use the 2x when hunting. I can find a deer in it quite rapidly and if the deer is standing, the higher powers come in handy. I have only taken 2 deer with it. But I have shot a dozen of so groundhogs with it and the higher power is the only way to go. Must have a good rest though…

Nothing but variables on all of my ‘scoped handguns. And I try to purchase good optics…

Good-luck…BCB

GP100man · 09-02-2009, 07:53 PM

Tater i have a Burris 1.5-4x on my Redhawk , it`s 20yrs old still works & clear !!
hardly take it off of 1.5x though in the woods.
I`d buy another if i need to.

Tater · 11-03-2009, 04:34 AM

Thanks all for your great input. I've settled on the Leupold 2x20. Found one at a decent price (subjective, but...). I did consider a 1.5-? because i like the lower magnification, but don't want the extra pieces and parts in a variable power.

Aqualung · 11-03-2009, 07:25 AM

I'm late in the game, but I think you made a good choice.

I have a Weaver 2x - 8x on my Blackhawk (same rig as you have) and, for all practicality, don't take it off the 2x setting. Iowegan summed up my advice exactly.

My vote would have been for the fixed Burris or Leupold. Spend the extra money you'd spend on a variable for a higher quality fixed.

Here's my SBH:

Aqualung

Hairtrigger · 11-03-2009, 11:20 AM

Thompson Center has a 2.5-7X scope that will hold up to the recoil from a SRH in 454.
The price is moderate as well

Xringshooter · 11-03-2009, 11:31 AM

Darn, I wasn't quick enough. However, if you haven't bought one yet, I have a Thompson Center handgun scope (1.5X-4X, long eye relief) that I had on my 7-30 Waters TC for sale. I'll give you a good price if interested (PM me and I can give you more info).

Johngoboom · 11-03-2009, 12:56 PM

Xringshooter...PM sent.

BrimsonJoe · 11-22-2009, 10:05 AM

have a couple of 2X Leupold it's the way togo IMO

Teddybear · 11-22-2009, 11:14 AM

Tater, I have a 2x28 Weaver Classic handgun scope on my 10 1/2" Super Blackhawk. It has plenty of eye relief. As stated in previous replys, I use it for an aiming device only, and not for the magnification. In my hunting area, 50 yards would be a long shot.

07-14-2009, 08:39 AM	#1
Tater Joined: Apr 2009 From: Florida Posts: 353	Ideas for a handgun scope I am about to purchase a Ruger SBH .44 Mag, 7.5" bbl. primarily for hunting; I'm anticipating most all shots to be somewhere in the 50-75 yard range with maybe an occasional at 100 yards. i don't think i'd attempt a shot beyond 100 yards due to my skill level. I'm considering scoping it but i'm having trouble making a decision. here are what I THINK my choices are: Burris 2x20 Handgun Scope, about $220 Leupold 2x20 Handgun Scope, about $350 Burris 1.5-4x26 Handgun Scope, about $290 Leupold 2.5-8x32 Handgun Scope, about $550 (!) I don't have a big gun store around here so looking through these will not be possible before i get one. Burris and Leupold both have great reputations for a quality product but if Burris are lacking in terms of clarity, etc., i'd rather pay the extra money. In the variable magnification ones above, the Burris 1.5-4x makes more sense than the 2.5-8 Leupold. Having said all that, does anyone have any opinions on the above scopes? Is there perhaps another brand i'm overlooking?

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07-15-2009, 08:40 AM	#2
Iowegan Retired Gunsmith Joined: Aug 2006 From: Blair, NE Posts: 4,501	Tater, I think you are on the right path. Cheap handgun scopes typically don't hold up to punishing recoil, they may not hold zero well, and the optics may not be as sharp. Both Burris and Leupold make fine scopes ... either would be a good choice. As for magnification ... higher magnification becomes more of an enemy than a friend. The higher the magnification, the more narrow the field of view will be. High X scopes make it very difficult to find Bambi in the cross hairs even though you can see him just fine with the naked eye. The "wiggle factor" also works against you with higher magnification. From a bench rest, magnification helps suck the target closer but when shooting "off hand", you'll find anything over 2X gets very difficult to hold still enough for a good shot. Additionally, higher magnification makes the scope very difficult to get your eye aligned when your gun is at arms length. You want to get a "full sight picture" where the edges of the scope are not a black. This can be very difficult with scopes over 2X. Most handgun hunters learn quickly that a scope is very useful for precision aiming but pretty useless for magnification. The best scopes for hunting are 1.5x to 2x fixed power ... nothing higher. Yes, a variable X scope that will dial down to the optimum magnification will work but again you lose some important features and spend a lot more money. Variable scopes have more lens elements that restrict light transfer and have mechanical moving parts that may not deal with recoil as well as fixed power scopes. My suggestion .... buy a 1.5x or 2x fixed power in either Burris or Leupold.

07-15-2009, 10:33 AM	#3
BCB Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 64	Tater, I have a Burris 2x-7x on a SRH in 44 Magnum. I have shot many, many 429650’s (315± grains) at velocities of 1350 fps from this SRH. The ‘scope holds zero and I can honestly hit a 5.5”x11” steel pendulum at 150 yards the vast majority of the time with a very good bench rest. The high power allows this type of shooting… I do use the 2x when hunting. I can find a deer in it quite rapidly and if the deer is standing, the higher powers come in handy. I have only taken 2 deer with it. But I have shot a dozen of so groundhogs with it and the higher power is the only way to go. Must have a good rest though… Nothing but variables on all of my ‘scoped handguns. And I try to purchase good optics… Good-luck…BCB

09-02-2009, 07:53 PM	#4
GP100man Joined: Sep 2009 From: Tabor City NC. Posts: 255	Tater i have a Burris 1.5-4x on my Redhawk , it`s 20yrs old still works & clear !! hardly take it off of 1.5x though in the woods. I`d buy another if i need to.

11-03-2009, 04:34 AM	#5
Tater Joined: Apr 2009 From: Florida Posts: 353	Thanks all for your great input. I've settled on the Leupold 2x20. Found one at a decent price (subjective, but...). I did consider a 1.5-? because i like the lower magnification, but don't want the extra pieces and parts in a variable power.

11-03-2009, 07:25 AM	#6
Aqualung Joined: Aug 2009 From: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 83	I'm late in the game, but I think you made a good choice. I have a Weaver 2x - 8x on my Blackhawk (same rig as you have) and, for all practicality, don't take it off the 2x setting. Iowegan summed up my advice exactly. My vote would have been for the fixed Burris or Leupold. Spend the extra money you'd spend on a variable for a higher quality fixed. Here's my SBH: Aqualung

11-03-2009, 11:20 AM	#7
Hairtrigger Joined: Oct 2007 From: , Ohio, . Posts: 471	Thompson Center has a 2.5-7X scope that will hold up to the recoil from a SRH in 454. The price is moderate as well

11-03-2009, 11:31 AM	#8
Xringshooter Joined: Sep 2008 From: State College, PA Posts: 175	Darn, I wasn't quick enough. However, if you haven't bought one yet, I have a Thompson Center handgun scope (1.5X-4X, long eye relief) that I had on my 7-30 Waters TC for sale. I'll give you a good price if interested (PM me and I can give you more info).

11-03-2009, 12:56 PM	#9
Johngoboom Joined: Sep 2007 From: Hastings, MI, USA. Posts: 1,211	Xringshooter...PM sent.

11-22-2009, 10:05 AM	#10
BrimsonJoe Joined: Jan 2009 From: Duluth Mn Posts: 406	have a couple of 2X Leupold it's the way togo IMO

11-22-2009, 11:14 AM	#11
Teddybear Joined: Aug 2008 From: Peoples Republik of Illinois Posts: 112	Tater, I have a 2x28 Weaver Classic handgun scope on my 10 1/2" Super Blackhawk. It has plenty of eye relief. As stated in previous replys, I use it for an aiming device only, and not for the magnification. In my hunting area, 50 yards would be a long shot.