What's your favorite pistol scope?

Pretty self explanatory, what's your favorite pistol scope option? Magnified or otherwise what do you think offers the best bang for your buck? Their aren't nearly the large number of options out there that there are for rifle scopes, and I haven't found any super high end pistol scopes from the likes of Swarovski, Schmidt and Bender, nightforce ect... But what has been your experiences? What's clear, holds up to massive recoil, holds zero between range and hunting trips and the click values for adjusting move the reticle the correct amount?

My personal favorite so far is the Leupold VX3 2.5x-8x but also like the Burris 2x-7x. The Burris got exchanged once because of some debris ended up on the inside of the glass from the recoil of my 460 S&W mag, but it has performed flawlessly on my 44 mag Redhawk ever since. I tried the fixed power Cabelas scope (dad gave me for christmas a few years back) but it didn't hold up to the recoil of the 460 S&W, and so the Leupold VX3 wound up being the one swapped back and forth from my 460 to my Encore Barrels.

 

Always used Burris,

 

The only pistol scope I have is a Leupold M8 4X on my 7-30 Waters Contender. Paid $200, it's in great shape and does everything I need.

 

I prefer red dots to scopes as I prefer to get as close as possible as that is the essence of handgun hunting - for me. That said, I do use scopes and the ones I most often use are the fixed 2x Leupold and the fixed 2x Burris - the Burris has much better clarity.

 

Fixed 2-power models are what I rock. Leupold and Burris. I find the Burris easier to pick up and probably gets the nod more so than the Leupold.

 

I have the 2-7 burris and the cheaper cabelas 2-7. Both have performed great, but I prefer rifle scopes on my contender pistol for the stance I shoot with offhand. Benched it doesnt matter.

 

I first tried a 4X on this Super Red Hawk and didn't like it. Then put this Weaver 2X on it and never looked at another. I also like the way it looks.

 

Ttrl

 

I only have one scoped hunting revolver. I use a Leupold FX-II 4x on my Bisley Blackhawk Hunter. It is too much magnification for me. I wish I had gotten a 2x. Along the same lines, I personally would have little use for a variable on a handgun, as I really don't want much power. I have used red dots on several competition guns and found them to be wonderful. Were I starting over with handgun hunting I would strongly consider one in lieu of a scope - although I sure do like the additional weight of a good scope during recoil!

 

You like that Weaver 2x? From time to time I think about getting one to try out. With the costs of Burris and Leupold new models, it might be money well spent.

 

Anchorite, Yes it fits my needs and wants. I am pretty sure the model is 849424 for MSRP of $272.95. I bought it several years ago probably from Midway. They don't list it anymore so I am not sure about availability.

 

It is hard to find hard to find handgun optics anymore, unless you scour auction sites. I had no idea handgun precision fell so out of favor.

 

Just a personnel preference but I have not warmed up up to optics on handguns. I've fiddle with a few low power scopes on T/C Contenders.

I have one 1911 that I've in stalled a red dot sight on and it shoots well. But, it is not convenient.



Just my personnel preference and I respect any one's else's desire to have optics on the handguns.

 

I had one of those mounted on my BFR in .454 when I went to South Africa a couple of years ago and used it on one hunt before replacing it with an Ultradot 30. I too think the fixed 2x is better option.

 

I can see how this specific set up might be clunky, but personally a 2.5x scope on a classic M1911A1 is a set up I've wanted to try for a long time. I think the ideal mount would be made to replace one of the grip panels and extend up the side of the slide with integrated rings as opposed to a rail mount to keep it trim. I believe this kind of thing used to be made but I've had trouble locating pictures let alone one for sale.

 

I hunt in a state and county where spikes to 6 pointers are protected. That means I have to confirm four points on one side and additional magnification is helpful. Most of the time, I have it on 2.5-3x. Magnification of 4x is my unsupported limit for keeping the crosshairs on target for hunting and they bounce quite a bit. However, when sighting in from a bench, the extra magnification is helpful.

https://www.leupold.com/scopes/handgun-scopes/vx-3-handgun-2-5-8x32mm

A red dot is great for a fun gun or hunting where game identification is not as stringent. When I'm trying to reduce movement while confirming a point count at dusk during deer season..... the Leupold variable handgun scope is great.

 

I have one pard that has an Ultradot on his 44. I’m not convinced they can hold up to a steady diet of textbook 44 loads, it I guess time will tell. I still like glass better. YMMV.

 

Ive used them on revolvers that kick a truckload harder than even the heaviest.44 Mag loads and they have no trouble digesting them. IMHO, there are no tougher optics available and I have done my best over the years to break them.

 

LOL! You’ve just got to get closer!

 

This is why I use a 357 magnum on deer. Getting closer (under 40yds) makes it more of a challenge but is far more rewarding in the end.

 

Spot and stalk archery tactics can help get you closer for a well placed shot.

 

Haha - no kidding! Between hunting bedding locations where the deer are - you know - rolling hills of tall grass, cedar tree forests, and dense woodlands - I'll take any advantage that I can get with the constraint of four points on one side. I'm not knocking stalk hunting, it's just not very effective where I hunt. In thick bedding areas, they can see out much better than you can see in and I want them to return to bedding there. If I stalk hunt that, all that I'm going to do is put my scent all over that bedding area and most likely push them onto my neighbor's property. For me, keeping them comfortable and waiting for them to come out (ie - playing the longer game) pays off since I know where they are, I'm there waiting, it doesn't take large body movements like raising and lowering binoculars (although I do carry them hunting) to identify a target, and most importantly, I don't down a 6 pointer on accident with a miscount. Caliber has little bearing with the need to identify 6 from an 8 (or even a 7!) I get that the variable Leupold is not for everyone, but that is how I use it and consider it a great tool, especially in tandem with a Contender/Encore or other dedicated hunting handgun.

 

Have 2 Burris’s , a 2 power on the Witness and 2-7 on the Bisley . Probably wouldn’t buy the 2-7 again . As you turn up the magnification the eye relief gets shorter . The 2 power the sight picture comes up so fast . The variable does also if it’s on 2 power and haven’t had any problems with it , but the revolver is so heavy it has no recoil . I would buy the fixed 2 power Burris again and again .

 

Not to thread jack but does anyone have a Leopold vx-3? Anyone want to chime in on if its worth the money?

 

Refer to my opening post, yes I already have the vx3. I like it a lot, but it is expensive and i opened the thread to see if other scopes hold up and what other peoples experiences are. I have 3 handgun scopes and a lot more handguns that I want to scope and not have to switch back and forth. My vx3 holds up to the recoil of my 460 and everything else I have put it on(I have it mounted in QD rings). I have no doubts about its durability. And the glass is quite good. $650 good? Well I haven't decided that yet, but have had it for 3 years and have absolutely no complaints.