scope for a 44 mag?

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hossdaniels

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have been looking at scopes for handguns lately and have found that they are either more than i want(2.5-8x32) or not enough(2x20). why not a 1.5x4x32 (just seems like a perfect scope to me). i would like some opinions on makes a good handgun scope and why. oh, its for hunting out to 100-120 yds.
 
I had a leupold fixed 2X20 on a 629. Too small a field of view. Couldn't find animals in it. Almost no light gathering benefit. Let a deer get by me and almost had a hog get away just because I couldn't find them in the scope. Went to a red dot for that piece, but will one day get another scope I think. I have a Burris 2X7X32 on a contender super 14 35 Rem. It seems about perfect. I like the high end power for zeroing. It gathers enough light and is relatively easy to find targets with. Would love to put one on my 44. Probably will at some point. The red dot's nice, but I like the benefits of magnification you get with a scope. I think the burris mentioned above is the best available pistol scope out there, although I'm sure some disagree.
 
I, too, found the 2x insufficient. But of the several variable power scopes I have, I find that almost none of them are ever moved from their primary setting. I had a T/C Encore with a Burris 2-7X on it, and it stayed on 4X except when sighting in (then I cranked it up to 7X). So personally, I'm leaning away from variables on handguns. So my SRH sports a fixed 4X Leupold.

Edit: By the way, the Burris 2-7X32 is a great scope! Best variable I ever had on a handgun. I'm sure the 1.5-4X32 is every bit as good. My point was that I've tended toward fixed power handgun scopes. I'd be just as happy with a Burris as with the Leupold.
 
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I am an unabashed fan of Burris scopes. I like the fact that they are rugged and stand up to abuse.

I would make sure that whatever scope you plan to use it can take the beating of heavy hunting loads.

I have a 1.5-4x Burris on my 45-70 TC Contender. It works well and has a nice field of view. This may be something to consider.
 
Burris and luepold are the only 2 that have a reputation for really standing up to heavy handgun recoil around my neck of the woods.
 
ok, been checking on the burris 1.5-4 do i need the "posi lock" for a 44?
or is that just for 500's and such? seems like a $250 scope should hold up to recoil with needin a $50 upgrade.
 
Hossdaniels: HIGHLY reccomend that option.

Handgun recoil is rougher on scopes than rifle recoil as a general rule.

Also: Use loctite on your mounting screws once you get it set.
 
thanks for the replies. Will a 1.5-4x scope be similar to a red dot as far as target aquisition goes, or will it take some getting used to, or is it just harder? I have an ultradot red dot on my gp100 and i like it alot, but the longer shots with a 44 make me think that the magnification will be needed.
 
It's a subjective question. IMO, the red dot provideds much faster acquisition that any magnified traditional handgun scope. At distance? I still find the red dot preferable to traditional crosshairs because of shake. In low light conditions the dot is picked up quickly and easily too. But many prefer a tradition crossair scope.
 
I much prefer a red dot sight on a .44 handgun to a scope.

The longest shot I've taken with my Holosight-topped Model 29 was "just" 60 yards . . . but it was at the THIRD deer I dropped within seconds in a clearcut . . . and by then it was running full speed! When I hit it, the deer dropped instantly to the ground and NEVER even twitched.

Yep, with the Holosight I could swing it with confidence and I dropped the huge doe instantly with a 60 yard broadside shot. You can't do this with a scope.

Actually, I've TWICE dropped three deer within scant seconds before. The other time was in a thick bottom. Three shots, three downed deer.

ANOTHER STORY . . .

Two years ago an eight point buck surprised me, as I surprised him, when it nearly snuck past me. It snorted and bolted in the planted pines. Again, swinging the holosight, I touched off a perfect heart shot on the deer as it raced in front of me at 35 yards. Another one shot kill on a running deer through cover.

Again, I couldn't take a shot like that through a scope, I'd never find the deer!

This year I've decided to do all my hunting with this handgun. I'd have no qualms about taking a 100 yards shot with this set up, with the CORRECT CONDITIONS (clear field of fire, stationary deer and a stable rest), for I know how the bullet drops at that distance.

1994490IMG1599b.JPG


This holosight is a 1st generation one, and it has been on this revolver for about a decade. The clicks are as repeatable as an nice Leupold scope and it has NEVER failed to hold zero!



T.
 
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