T/C Contender in .223: LER/EER scope, or standard scope?

[MatthewVanitas]

My impression is that it's standard to use a LER/EER scope when shooting the T/C Contender in pistol mode.

However, I've heard that some people use standard scopes when firing low-power T/Cs, and just snuggle right up to the scope.

Anyone have any input on this matter? Despite having divested of a large T/C collection back in January, I'm looking to get a 14" .223 T/C now. Just trying to decide whether to go 2X LER, 4X LER, 2-7X LER, or to get a standard scope of some sort.

I don't anticipate firing this offhand at all, just off a bench or a field rest/bipod. Thanks,

-MV

 

[rbernie]

Snuggling up to a pistol Contender with a 3" eye relief scope sounds like a good way to get a bunch of glass-and-alloy embedded into your forehead.

 

[Gordon]

Yup if I was dwn to one no reload for barrel it would be a 14" .223- with a Burris 2-7 LER . The odd position required for no shoulder stock short eye relief scopes is fruity IMHO. BTW I like 2x scopes on big hunting calibers, 4x on 7mm or 30s and you only need the 6x on small distant rodents,

 

[MCgunner]

I gotta get that thing arms length to hit with. I HAVE to have a LER scope, no question, no other option. I don't know who shoots with a weird enough hold to use a rifle scope eye relief and can hit anything. Not me, certainly.

I've got 2x fixed LER scopes on my .30-30 and my .22LR barrels and they work great!

 

[MatthewVanitas]

I have had a buddy lose a chunk of nose cozying up to a .308 XP-100 (the day of the Marine Birthday Ball, no less), but that's a different beast.

I've fired a .300 Whisper Contender, with a standard-relief (SF? short relief?) scope on one of those elevated scope mounts. I don't know the word to describe it or google it, but it's the base where the scope is about 18" above the barrel.

You tuck the pistol tight into your body with your wrists resting on your ribcage, standing perpindicular to the target. The pistol is nice and snug, and the scope is right up next to your eye. It's made to get into the "supported position" loophole of some shooting discipline.

Okay, I'm hearing strong support for LER here. Nobody shoots off the bench w/ a standard scope? I could have sworn I know folks who do that.

-MV

 

[hoghunting]

When I shot in the Hunter's Pistol competitions, we were required to use straight wall cases. There were many people using the Contenders with the 3-9 and 4-16 rifle scopes and shot very well. I was never comfortable shooting like that and used the Burris 3-9 LER pistol scopes. If you have a rifle scope lying around, give it a try. It was easier for me to use the pistol scope.

 

[HSMITH]

I have found that my very best shooting with my Contender is done with a VERY soft grip on the gun. I could hold a peeled banana with the same grip and not mark it. The gun jumps pretty good with this soft of a grip, but the darn thing hits what I am shooting at. This is the only way I have found that I can eliminate vertical stringing of the shots, and using this method I have shot plenty of sub MOA groups at 200 yards with the 223 barrel.

Using a rifle scope would net me a sore and bleeding head the way I shoot the Contenders.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I use a 5x Burris pistol scope on my 14 inch barrel .223 TC.

I don't think I want to try a rifle scope.

 

[db_tanker]

What your talking 'bout is called the "Taco hold" and it actually requires an oddball scope mount if your shooting competition.

you want a decent EER/LER scope then look to Weaver...I have a few of their products and must say there isn't anything bad I can say about them.

Burris currently has the highest mag, however, when it comes to LER scopes, since your going to be aiming to reduce the unwanted varmint population...you will, of course, pay just a bit extra.

D

 

[MCgunner]

Weaver makes absolutely the best quality scopes for the dollar that I have tried. They're awesome. I don't have a Weaver pistol scope, but when the time comes.....

have found that my very best shooting with my Contender is done with a VERY soft grip on the gun. I could hold a peeled banana with the same grip and not mark it. The gun jumps pretty good with this soft of a grip, but the darn thing hits what I am shooting at. This is the only way I have found that I can eliminate vertical stringing of the shots, and using this method I have shot plenty of sub MOA groups at 200 yards with the 223 barrel.

HSMITH

My .30-30 is a 12" "hunter" barrel, incorporates a compensator machined into the front of the barrel. This drastically reduces recoil while not being all that loud if you aren't shooting out of a box blind. I have found if I grip the thing like I do shooting weaver or isosceles with my defensive guns, I shoot about 3" lower than if I use the light grip you describe. I have my gun sighted in for the lighter grip pressure because I have found the same thing, if I grip it lightly, it doesn't string vertically as bad. I think it's because you have a more constant grip pressure (light) on the gun that way.

Previous to reading your post, I had thought it maybe was an anomaly of the compensated barrel. That thing recoils about like a K frame with +P 38s, IOW, not much recoil. It is very pleasant to shoot. I'd thought maybe the light recoil might make the gun a bit more sensitive to grip pressure, but maybe not? Do you have the compensator? Do you find you hit higher with light grip pressure than you do with a strong Weaver type grip pressure? Curious to understand the phenomenon and if it effects any barrel or just the compensated barrels.

 

[Okiecruffler]

I've shot my 223 barrel with a rifle scope and got a dent in my eyebrow to show for it. And that was with my reduced blue dot loads. There is a way to use a rifle scope without getting bonked, some of the guys shooting out past 500yrds are doing it. You snuggle up nice and normal, get the target in the crosshairs, then back off until the FOV becomes just a pinpoint with the crosshairs centered. Takes some practice no doubt.
Bushnell makes an intermediate 3-9X scope with a 6 inch relief that I'd like to try.

 

[jmorris]

A 223 contender doesn't kick very hard, but your idea sound like a way to get the "scope dope" scar.

 

[Michael Courtney]

You'll be fine with the normal rifle scope, as long as it's a Leupold or something with 3-4" of eye relief. I do this all the time with a 22LR contender with 16" barrel that I switch back and forth from pistol to rifle mode. I can even hold the thing much steadier standing up in close than I ever could out at the long eye relief distances.

The .223 doesn't recoil much and shouldn't be a problem. Don't try it with a .308 though.

Michael Courtney

 

[Okiecruffler]

I've got a rifle scope on my 22 pistol. I can promise you there is a significant difference in recoil between the 22LR and the 223. But hey, you'll never know until you try.

 

[Self Inflicted]

I have a 14" T/C .223 with a 4X Burris LER attached. Its OK if you are firing from a rest or sand bag, however I have found it less than user friendly in a hunting situation. If I were to do it over, I would spend similar money on a Red Dot type optical sight with the smallest dot available. It would be nice if it were available in 2X +, wishful thinking. In my opinion, the recoil is nothing but I don't suggest you put your eye unnecessarily close to the scope. It's late I hope I am making sense?

 

[Okiecruffler]

You might want to try a 2X scope. NcStar makes a cheap one that will last long enough for you to get a feel for how they work for you. I've used a couple of 2X's on my walking barrels from 357 to 444 and their pretty quick to get a bead on anything up close. Then for the best of both worlds, there's always the 2-7X's and 3-9X's. They'll run you more coin, but it's nice to be prepared for whatever

 

[HSMITH]

MC, the 223 barrel I have is a 10" bull, no comp. It jumps strong and hard, but not far if that makes any sense. The recoil is very intense, but extremely short in duration and distance travelled. It is also extremely loud.

Yes, my gun hits quite a bit higher with a light grip, but at least it hits there every time. I was seeing up to 8" of vertical stringing at 200 yards with what I thought were minor changes in grip pressure. With very light pressure the groups were more or less round, and on POA once I dialed the scope down a little.