Need Advice (Read: Experience) with Compact 4X Scope

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35 Whelen

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Looking for anyones experiences with compact 4X scopes. I'm wanting to mount one on my Mini mostly for testing handloads, but it could see occassional use hunting.
I have an old cheap store brand 4X on the rifle and really it works fine, but it sort of overwhelms the rifle.

Thanks!

EDIT: Not looking to spend an exorbitant amount on the scope.
 
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Best 4x fixed I ever had: http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/leu...m-tube-matte-wide-duplex-reticle-p-80866.html This was mounted on a Marlin 30-30 then a Marlin Golden 39A. It's got a hundred hi-powered rifle rounds on it and thousands of 22's. Aside from some cosmetic nicks, no issues in 20+ years of ownership and use.

The cross hairs are finer than on something like this: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/72...le-with-carry-handle-and-flat-top-mount-matte

The Leupold costs almost 10 times what the UTG does, and you've said you have a scope that 'works'. Mini's are more suited to mounting a scope LIKE the Leupold rather than one designed for a flat top AR or carry handle. Thing is I have thousands of rounds of 5.56mm through a UTG scope like this with no issues.

So satisfied that I might be willing to suggest another scope by UTG: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/28...act-rifle-scope-4x-32mm-mil-dot-reticle-matte
 
I definitely like the price of the Leapers, and it gets good reviews, but I'm leery of $25 scopes. Burris used to make a Mini 4X and it'd be ideal if I could find one.

35W
 
Ive been tossing out plugs for the Nikon .223 1-4x20...its a little on the pricey side at 250ish (i think from midway), and its got target knobs that were fine with standard ruger wrings, but in low leupolds get hit by shells on occasion. I still really like this scope, the BDC is entertaining, and actually works pretty good, my Mini keeps all its rounds inside the circles so it makes calling shots very easy.
Another lower end scope ive used and liked is the weaver 1-4 or 1-3? cant remember, it was on a friends gun. It worked as advertized and is small and light. Burris has a 1-4x24 i think, Ive never used one but there are some guys here that like them for their pig guns. Havent really seen too many others, most guns with scopes ware 3-9s atleast....seen one mini in an ati stock wearing a 4-16x50 a while back, didnt seem to kick much....
 
Check out the older steel tube Weaver scopes. The K4 can be found pretty cheap on GB or EB. They are bullet proof. I have one on a 1947 marlin 336 and a No4 Enfield, great clarity and tracking.
 
I'm going to second madcratebuilder's recommendation.

An El Paso Weaver scope is going to be built old school, and will probably outlast you.
 
I have a few old Weavers (2 1/2x, 4X & 6X) and love them, but like I said in the OP, I'm looking for a compact scope. Something shorter and lighter.

35W
 
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This older photo shows my TASCO 4X compact scope. It was built in Japan during mid-1980's. Optics are quite good. But the field of view is narrow. I replaced it with a Simmons 2X - 8X scope for wider latitude of options including larger field of view at 4X.

The TASCO compact 4X is currently mounted to my Mossberg slug gun. The vicious recoil has not affected its zero at all. Older TASCO scopes are keepers!

TR

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