Handgun scope

BoogieMan · March 12, 2013, 02:54 PM

I am waiting for permits to pick my 8" 460XVR. In the mean time I have been buying accessories and ammo to feed it. I plan to scope it so that I can take advantage of its flat shooting. At least out to 150 yds.
I have been surfing after the Leopold, Burris, Nikon, Bushnell and Weaver. Weaver is the lowest price point and Leopold the highest. I have herd great reviews on both of them as well as Bushnell. S&W only recommends Leo & Bush for the XVR. Anyone have any good or bad experience with any of them on a heavy recoil HG? Should I look at fixed 4x and Variable 2-7x? I have never shot a HG with a scope. I do have a red dot on my 22/45 and I can say that my own shake is very evident when shooting free hand at 25yds, I expect to shoot distance with the XVR from sum form of a rest, might only be leaning against a tree, might be able to rest barrel on a branch depending on the hunt.

Capt Rick Hiott · March 12, 2013, 06:30 PM

I shoot a 454 casull with a 8" barrel. I used a BSA scope for a couple years before it went south. Ive killed hogs out to 80 yards so far, and can hit a base ball at 100 yards with a good rest.

I have been waiting on the new Nikon Force XR 2.5-8x28 Matte BDC for about two months now. I went with the Nikon because of the long eye relief.

I have two other Nikon scopes (ProStaff and BuckMaster)on my 45-70 and my 30-06. No problems at all with them.

http://www.nikonsportoptics.com/en/N...Matte-BDC.html

BoogieMan · March 12, 2013, 06:41 PM

Capt- The price is right for a variable. I have shot several Nikons and liked them but never seen one of the Nik handgun scopes. Nice shooting also. A baseball at 100 is a fair shot with a rifle.
Nikon is almost 2" shorter than leopold VX, it is a little heavier, .6oz.. Field of view is considerable less

Inspector3711 · March 13, 2013, 05:51 AM

Good luck with Weaver on my 460XVR Performance Center so far. I went with the variable power model.

btmj · March 13, 2013, 12:19 PM

I have a weaver 2X pistol scope on my Ruger Super Redhawk. I like the fact it is light weight and doesn't add too many ounces to the gun.

McShooty · March 13, 2013, 02:55 PM

I have had a Leupold 2X fixed for a long time. Have used it on a Model 29 and also on a Ruger Bisley Black Hawk in.45 Colt. With the latter the scope helped me shoot 3.5" grps at 100 yards using heavy loads of H110 behind a 255 gr bullet. The scope has held up well.

Capt Rick Hiott · March 13, 2013, 04:01 PM

I think the extra weight of the heavy scope helps with the recoil.......

The ported barrel is nice too......

BoogieMan · March 13, 2013, 07:08 PM

I am sure the scope helps with recoil, but they also become a projectile all to often with the big mags. You could park a truck on these things and they will still jump. For the money I may give the weaver a shot. If it doesnt hold up I will send it back to weaver and try the next one up. What is the opinion on fixed 4x -vs- variable? Am I more likely to thrash a variable? Does the extra power make it more dificult to put on target because of the shake?

gbran · March 14, 2013, 10:43 PM

Burris 2x on my .454

Gmony.308 · March 16, 2013, 09:52 PM

I have a Nikon monarch 2.8X8 on my Encore. Excellent eye relief, bright optics, solid construction, and no issues after several hundred .308 rounds.

Capt Rick Hiott · March 17, 2013, 08:19 AM

,,,,,,,,,"Does the extra power make it more dificult to put on target because of the shake?"

What kind of shake are you talking about?

bluetopper · March 17, 2013, 09:28 AM

Get as much zoom power as you can if the money is similar.

Burris scopes are stout and last a lifetime.

Captains1911 · March 18, 2013, 09:34 PM

I use a Burris 2x on my 454 SRH. Any more power on a handgun scope is undesirable IMO.

TeamTurpin · March 18, 2013, 10:08 PM

I had to hunt around for a long time, but eventually tracked down a 1.5 X 4 Burris for my Contender. Love it.

bedlamite · March 19, 2013, 06:48 AM

I've got a Burris 2x on my Redhawk, my dad has a Weaver 2-7 on his super Redhawk., and a friend has a Leupold 4x on his super. If I was to get another it would be the Leupold FX-II 2x20. Off sandbags more power is nice, but once you step away from the bench the wider FOV is worth it.

onlybrowning · March 19, 2013, 06:58 AM

Be aware that the higher the power, the smaller the field of view. I only like variables on Encore or Contender setups using rifle calibers. The 1.5-4 Burris is long, but is a great compromise for a variable. Personally, I use Leupold 2X or a good red dot on revolvers.

newfrontier45 · March 19, 2013, 10:09 AM

Burris or Leupold for anything .44Mag and bigger.

damienph · March 19, 2013, 11:55 AM

For any of the heavier recoiling calibers, I prefer Leupold. This is an older 2x M8 in a JD Jones SSK Industries TSOB mount and rings on my Super Blackhawk.

I have other brand handgun scopes, including Swift, Simmons (Japanese), and Bushnell but would not put any of them on a 460 and expect them to last. Leupold or Burris, maybe a Nikon, but only a Monarch model. The recoil of your 460 is going to be hard on any scope.

If you go with a Bushnell I would recommend an Elite, the Trophy is a decent scope but I wouldn't put it on anything with more recoil than a 44 magnum.

BoogieMan · March 19, 2013, 01:39 PM

I have fought back and forth with the choices. I was planning on going with the 4x Weaver. But now I am going to opt for the Burris variable. It has a huge field of view. It is a little heavy, but lets face it im not going to one hand this cannon and pull off 100+yds. If the Burris breaks down I ll send it back for repair and mount the returned scope to a 357 or 44.

BigD_in_FL · March 19, 2013, 10:00 PM

My XP-100 in 7mm BR wore a 4X Redfield in TSOB set up - handled the recoil well

treeprof · March 19, 2013, 11:16 PM

I have a 1.5-4x Burris with posi-lock on my .44 SRH. My dad has a Bushnell on his 454 SRH. After using mine, he now wishes he had a Burris. You'll not regret yours. I'd opt for the posi-lock on a 460, but that's me.

TMD · March 20, 2013, 06:48 AM

Don't go with the Nikon on your .460 mag. I broke two of them on mine. Yes Nikon replaced them both times and swore that their scopes would withstand the recoil but they dont. I switched to a Burris and never had another problem.

Capt Rick Hiott · March 25, 2013, 06:19 AM

The "new" Nikon Force XR 2.5-8x28 Matte BDC is not even on the market yet..............

I was told by Nikon that they have made a lot of improvements on this one.

Gdawgs · March 25, 2013, 05:48 PM

Don't be afraid to look at used ones. You can pick up the 2X Leupolds like those in the above pictures for around $150. Keep in mind that both Burris and Leupold have lifetime guarantees on thier scopes, even if you are not the original owner, and you don't need any paperwork. If it breaks, send it in, and they will either fix it or give you a new one.

I'm not sure about the warranties on the other brands you are looking at.

Stevie-Ray · March 25, 2013, 06:54 PM

2X Burris on my Redhawk for nearly 25 years now. My 4X Leupold on my Contender may have gone TU on me during last range session. Next trip will tell the tale. But that Burris has been perfect, even with 300 gr loads. I would consider Burris for strength.

March 12, 2013, 02:54 PM	#1
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	Handgun scope I am waiting for permits to pick my 8" 460XVR. In the mean time I have been buying accessories and ammo to feed it. I plan to scope it so that I can take advantage of its flat shooting. At least out to 150 yds. I have been surfing after the Leopold, Burris, Nikon, Bushnell and Weaver. Weaver is the lowest price point and Leopold the highest. I have herd great reviews on both of them as well as Bushnell. S&W only recommends Leo & Bush for the XVR. Anyone have any good or bad experience with any of them on a heavy recoil HG? Should I look at fixed 4x and Variable 2-7x? I have never shot a HG with a scope. I do have a red dot on my 22/45 and I can say that my own shake is very evident when shooting free hand at 25yds, I expect to shoot distance with the XVR from sum form of a rest, might only be leaning against a tree, might be able to rest barrel on a branch depending on the hunt. __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

March 12, 2013, 06:30 PM	#2
Capt Rick Hiott Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 376	I shoot a 454 casull with a 8" barrel. I used a BSA scope for a couple years before it went south. Ive killed hogs out to 80 yards so far, and can hit a base ball at 100 yards with a good rest. I have been waiting on the new Nikon Force XR 2.5-8x28 Matte BDC for about two months now. I went with the Nikon because of the long eye relief. I have two other Nikon scopes (ProStaff and BuckMaster)on my 45-70 and my 30-06. No problems at all with them. http://www.nikonsportoptics.com/en/N...Matte-BDC.html __________________ Capt Rick Hiott Charleston,SC

March 12, 2013, 06:41 PM	#3
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	Capt- The price is right for a variable. I have shot several Nikons and liked them but never seen one of the Nik handgun scopes. Nice shooting also. A baseball at 100 is a fair shot with a rifle. Nikon is almost 2" shorter than leopold VX, it is a little heavier, .6oz.. Field of view is considerable less __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown Last edited by BoogieMan; March 12, 2013 at 06:54 PM.

March 13, 2013, 05:51 AM	#4
Inspector3711 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2008 Location: Puget Sound Washington Posts: 1,553	Good luck with Weaver on my 460XVR Performance Center so far. I went with the variable power model. __________________ "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." The Dalai Llama (5/15/01, The Seattle Times) "That rifle on the wall of the labourer's cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." George Orwell

March 13, 2013, 04:01 PM	#7
Capt Rick Hiott Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 376	I think the extra weight of the heavy scope helps with the recoil....... The ported barrel is nice too...... __________________ Capt Rick Hiott Charleston,SC

March 13, 2013, 12:19 PM	#5
btmj Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2011 Location: Near St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 864	I have a weaver 2X pistol scope on my Ruger Super Redhawk. I like the fact it is light weight and doesn't add too many ounces to the gun.

March 13, 2013, 02:55 PM	#6
McShooty Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2012 Location: Northern Missouri Posts: 480	I have had a Leupold 2X fixed for a long time. Have used it on a Model 29 and also on a Ruger Bisley Black Hawk in.45 Colt. With the latter the scope helped me shoot 3.5" grps at 100 yards using heavy loads of H110 behind a 255 gr bullet. The scope has held up well.

March 13, 2013, 07:08 PM	#8
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	I am sure the scope helps with recoil, but they also become a projectile all to often with the big mags. You could park a truck on these things and they will still jump. For the money I may give the weaver a shot. If it doesnt hold up I will send it back to weaver and try the next one up. What is the opinion on fixed 4x -vs- variable? Am I more likely to thrash a variable? Does the extra power make it more dificult to put on target because of the shake? __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

March 14, 2013, 10:43 PM	#9
gbran Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Location: Middle California Posts: 364	Burris 2x on my .454

March 16, 2013, 09:52 PM	#10
Gmony.308 Member Join Date: March 6, 2013 Posts: 47	I have a Nikon monarch 2.8X8 on my Encore. Excellent eye relief, bright optics, solid construction, and no issues after several hundred .308 rounds.

March 17, 2013, 08:19 AM	#11
Capt Rick Hiott Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 376	,,,,,,,,,"Does the extra power make it more dificult to put on target because of the shake?" What kind of shake are you talking about? __________________ Capt Rick Hiott Charleston,SC

March 17, 2013, 09:28 AM	#12
bluetopper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2005 Location: Northeast TX Posts: 1,197	Get as much zoom power as you can if the money is similar. Burris scopes are stout and last a lifetime.

March 18, 2013, 09:34 PM	#13
Captains1911 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2009 Location: West of the Blue Ridge, VA Posts: 684	I use a Burris 2x on my 454 SRH. Any more power on a handgun scope is undesirable IMO.

March 18, 2013, 10:08 PM	#14
TeamTurpin Member Join Date: November 28, 2012 Location: Guthrie, OK Posts: 31	I had to hunt around for a long time, but eventually tracked down a 1.5 X 4 Burris for my Contender. Love it. __________________ umop apisdn wI

March 19, 2013, 06:48 AM	#15
bedlamite Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2000 Location: WI Posts: 1,395	I've got a Burris 2x on my Redhawk, my dad has a Weaver 2-7 on his super Redhawk., and a friend has a Leupold 4x on his super. If I was to get another it would be the Leupold FX-II 2x20. Off sandbags more power is nice, but once you step away from the bench the wider FOV is worth it. __________________ A plan is just a list of things that doesn't happen.

March 19, 2013, 06:58 AM	#16
onlybrowning Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2005 Location: Saratoga Springs, NY Posts: 275	Handgun scope Be aware that the higher the power, the smaller the field of view. I only like variables on Encore or Contender setups using rifle calibers. The 1.5-4 Burris is long, but is a great compromise for a variable. Personally, I use Leupold 2X or a good red dot on revolvers.

March 19, 2013, 10:09 AM	#17
newfrontier45 Junior member Join Date: February 23, 2012 Posts: 921	Burris or Leupold for anything .44Mag and bigger.

March 19, 2013, 11:55 AM	#18
damienph Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2011 Location: Kansas Posts: 319	Pistol Scope For any of the heavier recoiling calibers, I prefer Leupold. This is an older 2x M8 in a JD Jones SSK Industries TSOB mount and rings on my Super Blackhawk. I have other brand handgun scopes, including Swift, Simmons (Japanese), and Bushnell but would not put any of them on a 460 and expect them to last. Leupold or Burris, maybe a Nikon, but only a Monarch model. The recoil of your 460 is going to be hard on any scope. If you go with a Bushnell I would recommend an Elite, the Trophy is a decent scope but I wouldn't put it on anything with more recoil than a 44 magnum. Last edited by damienph; March 19, 2013 at 12:05 PM.

March 19, 2013, 01:39 PM	#19
BoogieMan Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2012 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,217	I have fought back and forth with the choices. I was planning on going with the 4x Weaver. But now I am going to opt for the Burris variable. It has a huge field of view. It is a little heavy, but lets face it im not going to one hand this cannon and pull off 100+yds. If the Burris breaks down I ll send it back for repair and mount the returned scope to a 357 or 44. __________________ Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown

March 19, 2013, 10:00 PM	#20
BigD_in_FL Junior member Join Date: December 20, 2012 Location: The "Gunshine State" Posts: 1,981	My XP-100 in 7mm BR wore a 4X Redfield in TSOB set up - handled the recoil well

March 19, 2013, 11:16 PM	#21
treeprof Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2000 Posts: 587	I have a 1.5-4x Burris with posi-lock on my .44 SRH. My dad has a Bushnell on his 454 SRH. After using mine, he now wishes he had a Burris. You'll not regret yours. I'd opt for the posi-lock on a 460, but that's me.

March 20, 2013, 06:48 AM	#22
TMD Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2011 Posts: 1,293	Don't go with the Nikon on your .460 mag. I broke two of them on mine. Yes Nikon replaced them both times and swore that their scopes would withstand the recoil but they dont. I switched to a Burris and never had another problem.

March 25, 2013, 06:19 AM	#23
Capt Rick Hiott Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 376	The "new" Nikon Force XR 2.5-8x28 Matte BDC is not even on the market yet.............. I was told by Nikon that they have made a lot of improvements on this one. __________________ Capt Rick Hiott Charleston,SC

March 25, 2013, 05:48 PM	#24
Gdawgs Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2009 Location: MN Posts: 656	Don't be afraid to look at used ones. You can pick up the 2X Leupolds like those in the above pictures for around $150. Keep in mind that both Burris and Leupold have lifetime guarantees on thier scopes, even if you are not the original owner, and you don't need any paperwork. If it breaks, send it in, and they will either fix it or give you a new one. I'm not sure about the warranties on the other brands you are looking at.

March 25, 2013, 06:54 PM	#25
Stevie-Ray Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: The shores of Lake Huron Posts: 4,783	2X Burris on my Redhawk for nearly 25 years now. My 4X Leupold on my Contender may have gone TU on me during last range session. Next trip will tell the tale. But that Burris has been perfect, even with 300 gr loads. I would consider Burris for strength. __________________ Stevie-Ray Join the NRA/ILA I am the weapon; my gun is a tool. It's regrettable that with some people those descriptors are reversed.