Intermediate Relief Scopes

Status
Not open for further replies.

high country

Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2007
Messages
481
Location
St. Louis, MO
I am looking for a scope for my .30-30 H&R Handi rifle. I use it as a takedown, and currently have a nice old Bushnell Buckhorn fixed 4x. The problem is that where the scope needs to be, the scope hangs off the back of the barrel assembly about 3 inches. The takedown case that I use (skinner) would fit much better if the scope were out over the barrel completely.

I want to stay with the factory rail, so a "scout" scope would be too much eye relief I think. I need an eye relief of 6-7" for it to be where it needs to be. 5" would be the absolute minimum. I would like a fixed 4x, or 2-7x. The bushnell is close, with about 4" of relief. I have it about an inch back from where I would like it, and I have to crane a bit to get close enough to get a good sight picture.

Any suggestions anyone has of some scopes I should take a look at would be greatly appreciated.
 
Last edited:
take a look at the Burris timberline 4.5-14x32. It's got way more power than you need, but about 5 inches of eye relief. It's actually so long I had to take it off my 527 and stick it WAY forward on my bar.

there's some cheap 2-7x32s that sport about 8-10 useable ever relief, but nothing else in the 5-8 range that I can think of.
 
Thanks for the suggestions Loonwulf. I had forgotten about the timberline, although it is definitely more power than I need, it is still pretty compact. Might be a little more than I want to spend (the scope will be worth as much as the rifle...) but if it is the right scope I am not against that.

I might have to do a little playing with scope mounts to see if I could sneak the scope forward enough to make room for 8" of relief to use one of the many scout scope offerings that are out there like the vortex crossfire.

This definitely seems like a bit of a no-man's land between longer relief standard scopes, and scout scopes. Thanks again.
 
I think I might have found a decent option using the very helpful optics planet filtered search - Bushnell banner 3-9x40 has 6" eye relief.

I don't have any experience with the banner scopes, but feel like it would probably be decent because I would likely never use it above 6-7x. The price is nice, so unless they are junk, I will probably give it a try.
 
Simmons made a shotgun scope with a diamond reticle. The came in fixed 2x and 4x. I think they were 5-6” relief.

My dad has one on an ultra slug hunter and the eye relief is enough that it doesn’t even get to the hammer so he doesn’t need an extension to pull it. Sounds like what your looking for on your nearly identical handy rifle.

These scopes aren’t made anymore but there are plenty enough on the used market. eBay and Gunbroker. Never more than $50.
 
I think I might have found a decent option using the very helpful optics planet filtered search - Bushnell banner 3-9x40 has 6" eye relief.

I don't have any experience with the banner scopes, but feel like it would probably be decent because I would likely never use it above 6-7x. The price is nice, so unless they are junk, I will probably give it a try.
I've used quite a few banners, from the older Japan, and Korean, to the Chinese offers. IME the older ones were good solid set it and forget it scopes. The new ones are pretty good, functional scope. As long as they arnt busted out of the box.
I'd be surprised if that banner really DOES offer a 6" eye relief, unless there's a lot of swing in thru the power range, but I THINK it's probably worth a shot.
 
I'd be surprised if that banner really DOES offer a 6" eye relief, unless there's a lot of swing in thru the power range, but I THINK it's probably worth a shot.

Yeah, that is my concern too. The reviews run the gamut in terms of that, with most praising the additional eye relief, and others saying that is isn't any different than the standard rifle scope eye relief. If it were in the 6" neighborhood at about 4x, that would be fine. The only time I would expect to go above that would be from a bench doing load development, and my head is a bit further forward in that position. Wish I could find one to take a look at (but again, at that price, probably worth just trying, no harm in having a spare 3-9x scope on the shelf).

The VX2 looks to hit the eye relief just about right. A little on the pricier side than I was thinking, but I might have to keep my eyes out for one of those to take a look at. I would tend towards a little more magnification in a variable, but worth considering. Thanks for that suggestion.
 
I forget the difference in model numbers, but there was a Banner 3-9x EER Model with that middle ground eye relief. Not a scout, not quite, but also not really a conventional rifle scope eye relief either.

Banners have long been the only “cheap scope” I have found trustworthy. Not the blister pack models for $30 at Wally World, but the standard Banners. I still have a few. They aren’t the best scope you’ll ever look through, but the image quality is on par with optics twice or thrice their price. And Bushnell stands behind their products - if you do happen to get a problem child, they’ll make it right, quickly.
 
I have a 2-7x26 timberline, and it is in no way intermediate eye relief.
My Leupold fxii 2.5x has an intermediate eye relief. And it's small. I have it mounted on a marlin 1894 and it's eye relief is long enough it mounts forward of the hammer
 
I have a 2-7x26 timberline, and it is in no way intermediate eye relief.
My Leupold fxii 2.5x has an intermediate eye relief. And it's small. I have it mounted on a marlin 1894 and it's eye relief is long enough it mounts forward of the hammer
Your right its from 5 down to 3.75 at max power on my 4.5-14, the fxii 2.5-20 offers 5, and the 2.5x28 scout is 9ish.
The Ive got my timberline set for a good view at 14x so its a little farther back than it could be, but on my gun its still right at the back of the receiver.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top