Please Help: Shotgun scope

Blacktail_Slayer · January 20, 2012, 02:21 AM

I have a new 12GA mossberg slug gun. I am horrible with iron sights but I love my scopes. I can get on target at 3 or 4 power a lot quicker than iron sights.
I am on a very tight budget and have found quite a few deals.
I need help, especially if anyone has first hand experience with any scopes that I can find for under $100 and at least 4 inch eye relief.
The models I am looking at are
-Simmons ProSport 4X32 Shotgun/Muzzelloader scope
-TruGlo 4X32 Shotgun scope
-Bushnell Cantilever Shotgun scope
-Cabela's EXT Shotgun Scope
-Or, suggestions??????

I like the idea of the 6" eye relief on the Bushnell and the reviews are decent but at the moment, the price is on the high end of my possibilities.
I also have a $25 cabelas gift card, so if I find one on there I can use the card towards it.
After sighting in, chances are that this gun will be out of the case only a few times a year, including a few shots throughout the year to maintain zero.
I hunt close to home so its not going on any long rough truck rides either.
I know many posts have been done on this topic but I cant seem to find them and was hoping to hear some experience with these scopes.
I also know you get what you pay for with optics, and I would have all Leupolds if I could afford it, have one, I would marry it if I could, haha.
But school, next to no work, and getting married in the next year limits my funds.

zippy13 · January 20, 2012, 09:18 AM

Before you select a scope, consider what type of mount you're going to use and the resulting eye relief and stability.

jrothWA · January 20, 2012, 09:52 AM

recommend a 1.5 - 4X varialbe or single power , either 1.5 or 2.5.

This is due to the limited range of lead slugs and modtly the type of hunting, brushy wooded for hunting.

If more open land and range then higher, but no greater that 6X

Have you considered a receiver sight? Look at Williams gunsite website for the "5D" series. Might help.

Good luck.

Blacktail_Slayer · January 20, 2012, 12:14 PM

Thank you for your advice.
It is not a cantilever barrel. I am going to try and put a picture on here.
I have shot similar shotguns that belong to a couple buddies, one has a 5.5 inch eye relief and the other has 4 inch eye relief and that works fine, but I need to add weight to mine, after 15 shots trying to get the iron sights on, I had a fat lip, brused shoulder and the slide came back once and took some skin off my hand, I guess thats what I get for doing it prone instead of finding a bench haha.
The scope I have on it in the picture is one I have laying around, tried it once, WAY too little relief on it. 3 inches max

upstate81 · January 20, 2012, 06:16 PM

Well why is it slid all the way back in the rings?

redstategunnut · January 20, 2012, 06:51 PM

This is a joke, right?

Blacktail_Slayer · January 20, 2012, 07:24 PM

Why are you asking if its a joke?

The scope is positioned how it is because that is where I needed it to be.
I started by establishing where my head lines up on the stock in a quick, natural, comfortable fashon. Then mounted the scope to fit where it needed to be in order to gain a clear sight through the scope.
Note, that picture is for display purposes only, after I took it, I had got new rings, cause if you notice, the rear one is broken where it attatches to the rail.

Please, I am looking for opinions and experiences on any scopes that match the criteria I said in the original post.

redstategunnut · January 20, 2012, 08:02 PM

Ok, it's not a joke. Sorry.

I have no information relevant to this inquiry.

Good luck, carry on.

johnwilliamson062 · January 20, 2012, 08:15 PM

I am not sure but I think you are doing a few things, well maybe not wrong, but not how I was taught.
As far as the scope, I have a cabelas shotgun scope and it is a great scope for a shotgun or a ML. Very clear glass and I have used it a few seasons without problems.

If you are having problems controlling the gun now I recommend you not scope it. "Scope eye" is no fun, and can cause permanent eye damage.

shortwave · January 20, 2012, 08:26 PM

Blacktail,

I don't have any experience with the scopes you've listed. Sorry I can't give any info. on them but I have some experience with Nikon scopes and for me they're hard to beat for the money. Nikon offers a shotgun scope(specific) that a friend of mine swears by.

What kind of mounts are you looking at? The best scope in the world can give you trouble with inferior mounts.

Also, agree with johnwilliamson.
Respectfully, if that shotgun beat you up like that in 15 shots, you need some changes to your technique's and scoping your shotgun won't add enough weight to compensate for other issue's.

johnwilliamson062 · January 20, 2012, 09:30 PM

Cabelas Scope
That is the current Cabelas scope and I actually wouldn't buy it. Once I shoot all my Hornady slugs, which will probablly take a couple years, I won't be buying more. In 20 ga maybe, but they are a bit much for me in 12 ga. They have a 300 FPS advantage over the winchester and federal sabboted slugs my friends shoot, but there isn't any reason for it as none of the shotgun I have used em in have proven accurate to go out past 125(at an extreme). I wouldn't buy a scope designed around shooting them a $25 gift card it would be very cheap though and I might be able to figure out the other ranges or just ignore them.

Cary · January 21, 2012, 10:54 AM

Blacktail Slayer,

I purchased one of the Bushnell shotgun scopes several years ago and have been pleased with it. I didn't install it on a shotgun but on a 357 mag lever gun. It has the eye relief I wanted (6") and the magnification is plenty for this gun. Here is the one I purchased and Cabela's has it for $99. Take a look at it.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shoot...0#productChart
Cary

January 20, 2012, 02:21 AM	#1
Blacktail_Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2006 Posts: 224	Please Help: Shotgun scope I have a new 12GA mossberg slug gun. I am horrible with iron sights but I love my scopes. I can get on target at 3 or 4 power a lot quicker than iron sights. I am on a very tight budget and have found quite a few deals. I need help, especially if anyone has first hand experience with any scopes that I can find for under $100 and at least 4 inch eye relief. The models I am looking at are -Simmons ProSport 4X32 Shotgun/Muzzelloader scope -TruGlo 4X32 Shotgun scope -Bushnell Cantilever Shotgun scope -Cabela's EXT Shotgun Scope -Or, suggestions?????? I like the idea of the 6" eye relief on the Bushnell and the reviews are decent but at the moment, the price is on the high end of my possibilities. I also have a $25 cabelas gift card, so if I find one on there I can use the card towards it. After sighting in, chances are that this gun will be out of the case only a few times a year, including a few shots throughout the year to maintain zero. I hunt close to home so its not going on any long rough truck rides either. I know many posts have been done on this topic but I cant seem to find them and was hoping to hear some experience with these scopes. I also know you get what you pay for with optics, and I would have all Leupolds if I could afford it, have one, I would marry it if I could, haha. But school, next to no work, and getting married in the next year limits my funds.

January 20, 2012, 09:52 AM	#3
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	Having used shotguns since 1979, recommend a 1.5 - 4X varialbe or single power , either 1.5 or 2.5. This is due to the limited range of lead slugs and modtly the type of hunting, brushy wooded for hunting. If more open land and range then higher, but no greater that 6X Have you considered a receiver sight? Look at Williams gunsite website for the "5D" series. Might help. Good luck.

January 20, 2012, 08:26 PM	#10
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 5,970	Blacktail, I don't have any experience with the scopes you've listed. Sorry I can't give any info. on them but I have some experience with Nikon scopes and for me they're hard to beat for the money. Nikon offers a shotgun scope(specific) that a friend of mine swears by. What kind of mounts are you looking at? The best scope in the world can give you trouble with inferior mounts. Also, agree with johnwilliamson. Respectfully, if that shotgun beat you up like that in 15 shots, you need some changes to your technique's and scoping your shotgun won't add enough weight to compensate for other issue's. Last edited by shortwave; January 20, 2012 at 08:34 PM.

January 21, 2012, 10:54 AM	#12
Cary Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 131	Blacktail Slayer, I purchased one of the Bushnell shotgun scopes several years ago and have been pleased with it. I didn't install it on a shotgun but on a 357 mag lever gun. It has the eye relief I wanted (6") and the magnification is plenty for this gun. Here is the one I purchased and Cabela's has it for $99. Take a look at it. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shoot...0#productChart Cary __________________ Shooters. We are a community. United we stand divided we fall.

January 20, 2012, 09:18 AM	#2
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Before you select a scope, consider what type of mount you're going to use and the resulting eye relief and stability.

January 20, 2012, 06:16 PM	#5
upstate81 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2011 Location: NY Posts: 801	Well why is it slid all the way back in the rings?

January 20, 2012, 06:51 PM	#6
redstategunnut Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2009 Location: see name Posts: 405	This is a joke, right?

January 20, 2012, 07:24 PM	#7
Blacktail_Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2006 Posts: 224	Why are you asking if its a joke? The scope is positioned how it is because that is where I needed it to be. I started by establishing where my head lines up on the stock in a quick, natural, comfortable fashon. Then mounted the scope to fit where it needed to be in order to gain a clear sight through the scope. Note, that picture is for display purposes only, after I took it, I had got new rings, cause if you notice, the rear one is broken where it attatches to the rail. Please, I am looking for opinions and experiences on any scopes that match the criteria I said in the original post.

January 20, 2012, 08:02 PM	#8
redstategunnut Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2009 Location: see name Posts: 405	Ok, it's not a joke. Sorry. I have no information relevant to this inquiry. Good luck, carry on.

January 20, 2012, 08:15 PM	#9
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,995	I am not sure but I think you are doing a few things, well maybe not wrong, but not how I was taught. As far as the scope, I have a cabelas shotgun scope and it is a great scope for a shotgun or a ML. Very clear glass and I have used it a few seasons without problems. If you are having problems controlling the gun now I recommend you not scope it. "Scope eye" is no fun, and can cause permanent eye damage.

January 20, 2012, 09:30 PM	#11
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,995	Cabelas Scope That is the current Cabelas scope and I actually wouldn't buy it. Once I shoot all my Hornady slugs, which will probablly take a couple years, I won't be buying more. In 20 ga maybe, but they are a bit much for me in 12 ga. They have a 300 FPS advantage over the winchester and federal sabboted slugs my friends shoot, but there isn't any reason for it as none of the shotgun I have used em in have proven accurate to go out past 125(at an extreme). I wouldn't buy a scope designed around shooting them a $25 gift card it would be very cheap though and I might be able to figure out the other ranges or just ignore them.