Variable low-power scope with 5"-6" of eye relief?

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The benchmark is around 4". There are some models for scout guns that offer extreme eye relief similar to a pistol scope. What's the application?
 
Ruger #1 in 30-06.

The most common approach to scoping the #1 seems to be to use a huge honking scope with a really long body that lets you scoot the scope rearward enough to work on this action. Sadly, I tend to prefer smaller and lower-magnification scopes, snugged as close as I can get it to the action/barrel.....

I currently have a Leupold 2.5x FXII scout scope on it, and it actually works pretty well. As mounted, the ocular lens sits about 8" from my eye as I shoulder the rifle offhand - the Leupold handles this eye relief distance well. For a scope of the same approximate body shape/size, I can probably scoot the scope almost 2" further to the rear.

I would prefer a 1.5-6x variable if I can find one, just to have a bit more reach in case I need it. I have tried several pistol scopes (Weaver and Nikon), and so far they all demand at least 10"-12" of eye relief and do not work.
 
How about one with around 12" of eye relief, that ALSO still works fine in the 4-6" range, and everywhere in between? Will that work? :)

Nikon Omega and Slugmaster, 1.65-5x36. The Omega 3-9x40 also meets your criteria at least on eye relief.

http://www.google.com/search?q=niko...ox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7DVXA

http://www.keenzo.com/showproduct.asp?M=NIKON_8441&ID=3944675

I don't care what the official specs say - this scope (the 1.65-5x36 one) has at least 12-13" EASILY when on the lowest setting (1.65x), and 6" easily on the highest setting of 5x. Doesn't mean you HAVE to be that far back - they work that far back OR much closer. I have two of them (so far), and they are the shiz-nizzle.

The Slugmaster in this config appears to be the same scope, but with a shorter parallax-free setting. If I was a betting man, I'd bet the Omega would be set at either 75 or 100, and the Slugmaster at either 50 or 75.
 
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Good feedback - thanks. How close can you get to the ocular at 1.65x before the FOV starts to get occluded?
 
Let me check that and get back with you - I think it's around 5" but I'll check...


Let me mention that ONE of the two rifles I have this scope mounted on is a "scout-ish" type rifle with an Ashley Outdoors forward mount. It's an Ishapore 2A cut to look like a jungle carbine. So it's actually being used as a scout forward-mounted scope, and works. Now mind you, there is NOT enough eye relief on 5 power for this setup; but who cares.... it works from 1.65x on up to around 2.5x, or maybe 3 power with your head forward on the buttstock, which is all I wanted anyway for that rifle - Still an advantage being variable over say the Leupold M8 or similar fixed 2.5 or 2.75. But I mention this just to demonstrate the insane eye relief. So imagine what the ER is like on a "mid-traditional" setup as you describe. Is it an AR15 or similar? These are great for those, so that you can grab the charging handle with no problems. Before I traded my 20" AR, it wore a 3-9x40 Omega with the rear of the ocular bell an inch or so forward of the charging handle, and it worked even on 9 power! The 1.65-5x36 has even more ER on the lower settings than the 3-9x40mm.
 
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I typed a longish reply but it got lost in transit.

Suffice it to say that that link says that the Omega has a 100-yard parallax free setting, so it's good to go for any long range rifle such as the one you describe.
 
ok, rbernie, looks like, as you're coming forward on 1.65 power, the black edges don't start to creep in from the sides until right about 4" of ER; *maybe* 4.25". So you've got roughly 4-12" or more of ER on this setting.

On 5 power, doesn't start to black out on the front end until 3.5" or closer. So you've got roughly 3.5-5.5" of ER on this setting. Not nearly as much going backward, so I misspoke when I said 6" easily. It's 5" EASILY, and closer to 5.25 or 5.5". You can still USE it farther back than that, but you'll just have the center view with black edges.

Good luck and report back!
 
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