Recommendation on scout scope or pistol scope

[JonB]

Hi all,

I have a Yugo 24/47 that i have a hard time shooting with the open iron sights. It shoots way high and left - better at 50yrds than at 100 yrds.

I am going to put an S&K scope mount on it. Its the kind that replace the rear sight so you don't have any permanent mods to the gun. But I now need to research what kind of scope I should get to go with it. I don't plan to hunt anything with it, looking at 50-200 yrd ranges, surplus ammo mostly. I can't see distance targets well (another reason for the scope) and would like something in the 4x to 6x (or higher?) range for fixed power or 3x-9x or 4x-12x for variable.

I have read elsewhere that in a pistol scope, the fixed power might be better for the large recoil of th 8mm? Not sure if that is true or not.

Can anyone recommend a scout-type or pistol scope that they have used in a similar set up? I don't mind spending a little on it - like a Burris, Bushnell, Nikon or something similar in a 200$ range.

Anything else I should look out for like eye relief distance, etc?

 

[nobody_special]

If I may chime in...

I'm in a similar situation. My eyes suffer from pretty severe astigmatism -- mostly corrected by glasses, but not entirely. I can't even see a 2" bullseye at 50 yards, I just aim at the paper and pray the holes are near the target.

I have an M1A Scout/Squad, and an M39 Mosin-Nagant on the way, which will get either a Darell's or an S&K rear-sight scout mount. So both my rifles will accept a scout scope. But I would prefer more magnification than the 2.3x or 2.5x that you get with the Leupold and Burris scout scopes.

At the moment, I'm looking at a Burris 2-7x32 pistol scope (e.g. here) and a Nikon 2.5-8x28. The minimum eye relief on these (11-12 inches) is a bit higher than the scout scopes. I'm not sure how well they'll work.

Of course, there's always the el-cheapo NcStar option...

Does anyone have experience using these pistol scopes as rifle scout scopes? Suggestions? Other ideas?

 

[ArmedBear]

Note that a Leupold IER Scope, the one designed for the Ruger Frontier, is only $260 at Cabela's. I've had the pleasure of looking through one, and it's really nice. I'd think twice about paying as much or more for a scope that isn't really meant for the purpose. Just get the Leupold.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=leupold&noImage=0

 

[BADUNAME13]

$200... Spend the $250 for the 2.5 Leupold.

I have one on a M1A Scout rifle... LOVE that thing!

 

[HorseSoldier]

Another vote for the Leupold 2.5x Scout Scope. It's only a bit above your $200 price limit and I think they're hard to beat for the role you're looking at. I have one on my Swedish Mauser (also on an S&K mount) and have had really good results with it.

 

[cwmcgu2]

I have the Leupold on an M44... it's sweet.

 

[nobody_special]

I have the Leupold on an M44... it's sweet.

I'm sure it is... it looks like a nice scope. However, it's still only 2.3x magnification. Both JonB and I are looking for a scout-mountable scope with more power, perhaps ~6x.

My local rifle range has berms out to around 1000 yards or so. A 2.3x scope would help me at 100 or 200 yards, but beyond that I'd still have a lot of trouble seeing a target.

 

[geekWithA.45]

The Burris Scout Scope's solid. 2 notches down in price from the Leupold, but only 1 notch down in quality.

The reason there aren't too many variable power scout scopes is because the eye relief changes as you dial the power up or down.

 

[JonB]

I've heard good things about Burris - looking at Fullfield II for my AR.

I'll do some more digging today and see what I can find. 6x would be ideal for fixed power. In scout configurations, the low power seems to be prevalent due to the field of view you can achieve with long eye relief. Example, more magnification lessens the field of view. I am guessing that's the reason behind most scout models are 2.75x or under - in a hunting application a very small field of view with high power magnification may not be desirable.

But since I won't be hunting with my old mauser, I'll still be looking for a 4x to 6x power scope.

 

[ArmedBear]

I'll vouch for my Fullfield II. It's a 3-9x40mm on a bolt-action hunting rifle.

I didn't know Burris made a scout scope. I thought they just made pistol scopes that people adapted.

A Burris is a very durable scope.

That said, isn't an IER scope of any power sub-optimal for 1000 yard shooting?

 

[surfinUSA]

I've got a Burris 2.75 scout scope on my M48. Its a great scope that was easy to zero and holds is zero well. It was well worth the $219 it cost me as it makes life alot easier than using the iron sights on this gun.

If I get another surplus rifle I'll be getting another Burris scout scope. Sure the scope costs $75 more than the rifle its on, but its an accurate rifle that I use for hunting Florida pigs with and this scope makes it a real pleasure to use both at the range or in the field.

 

[nobody_special]

The reason there aren't too many variable power scout scopes is because the eye relief changes as you dial the power up or down.

True in general, but take (for example) the Burris pistol scope I linked to above. The range of acceptable eye relief is 11-21" at low power, and 10-14" at high power. The Burris scout scope eye relief is 8.5-14". If the scope were mounted with between ~ 11.5" to 12.5" of eye relief, I'd expect it to work fine at any magnification.

One possible disadvantage I see with the Burris pistol scope is that the range of adjustment is smaller. I guess this may not be so important if you use a ballistic or mil-dot type reticle instead of adjusting the scope for elevation.

in a hunting application a very small field of view with high power magnification may not be desirable.

That's certainly true... the trick is to use both eyes at the same time, and that's certainly easier to do with a lower power scope... though it can be done with more than 2.5x magnification.