Handi Sights

[GrampaMike]

Fixed vs Zooms

I know they have come a long way with scope tech.  But when I was a young boy (guarding the front of the cave at night, and keeping the dinosaurs out of the garden during the day), fixed power was the way to go.  I still like the fixed powers today over the zooms, just like in my camera lenses.  Just seems to me that the fixed are a little sharper, or is that just my bias?  Which are everyone’s favorites on our Handi’s?  And are the zooms better, equal, or less than the fixed versions?

Another idea (OH NOOO…).

Maybe we can come up with a list of the best (our votes, the Handi owners) scopes/sights for each Handi rifle configuration.  The best (our opinion) of scopes/sights that match each use (type of hunting or shooting).

Mike

[ohiobenito]

I have a set of XS sights on a ruger 10/22 that I love and have been hoping to see them for a handi rifle.  I think the ghost ring would be very nice on my 45/70.  so my vote is for open sights on lever cartriges

[rio grande]

My vote for scopes....Fixed 2.5 or 4 power. Preferably post reticle.
Much less to go wrong with a fixed power scope.
Also, it's always ready, not set at 9 when you need a 3, etc.
If I could find a nice old straight stock 30-30 (or .357!) H&R , top it with a compact 2.5 - perfect!

[GrampaMike]

0.172   17 HMR                22 Heavy
0.204   204 Ruger   22 Bull
0.204   204 Ruger   24 Fluted Bull
0.222   22 LR                20
0.222   22 WMR                20
0.222   22 WMR                22 Bull
0.224   22 Hornet   22
0.224   22-250 Remington   22
0.224   22-250 Remington   24 Bull
0.224   22-250 Remington   24 Fluted Bull
0.224   223 Remington   20
0.224   223 Remington   22
0.224   223 Remington   22 Bull
0.224   223 Remington   24 Bull
0.224   223 Remington   24 Fluted Bull
0.243   243 Winchester   20
0.243   243 Winchester   22      
0.243   243 Winchester   22 Bull      
0.243   243 Winchester   24 Bull      
0.243   243 Winchester   24 Fluted Bull      
0.257   25-06 Remington   26      
0.277   270 Winchester   22      
0.277   270 Winchester   22 SS      
0.284   280 Remington   26      
0.284   7mm-08 Remington   22      
0.308   30-06 Springfield   22      
0.308   30-06 Springfield   22 SS      
0.308   30-30 Winchester   22   XS Ghost Ring Sights (ohiobenito)   2.5x Fixed (rio grande)
0.308   308 Winchester   22      
0.308   308 Winchester   22 Bull      
0.357   357 Magnum   22   XS Ghost Ring Sights (ohiobenito)   2.5x Fixed (rio grande)
0.429   44 Magnum   22   XS Ghost Ring Sights (ohiobenito)   
0.429   444 Marlin   22   XS Ghost Ring Sights (ohiobenito)
0.451   45 Colt                20   XS Ghost Ring Sights (ohiobenito)
0.458   45-70 Government   22   XS Ghost Ring Sights (ohiobenito)
0.458   45-70 Government   32   
0.458   45-70 Government   24 SS   
0.500   500 S&W Magnum   22   

rio grande, like your idea about the straight stocked 30-30, how about the 45 Colt BC stock set?

Mike

[LaOtto222]

Are you opening a can of worms - there are about as many opinions on scopes as there are members   My personal take is dollar for dollar the fixed scopes are better quality. You can get a very good fixed scope for say $200. IMHO it takes at least $300 to get a variable with the same quality/ruggedness. More if you start getting into 18X or higher on the top end, but I think you can get just as good of glass in the good quality variables. I own and shoot both fixed and variables, again IMHO I think a lot of guys use scopes of way too much powder. I do have some higher powder scopes, but I use them when I am going to have a very steady hold, not in a hunting situation. I really like fixed 2.5X and 4X for free hand shooting. To me when i get above that, I am just kidding myself, I just can not hold it still enough to hit any thing. Once I get beyond needing 4X scope, I am not going to hit it anyway.  When it comes to cheap scopes - I would put my trust in a fixed scope over a variable any day of the week. I can not believe you get much of a scope that costs $100 and has every gadget you can think of and goes up to 24X. I would put my trust in a fixed powder scope that cost half of that first. Remember that is just my opinion. It would not surprise me that there are others out there with a greatly differing opinion. That is what keeps all the scope makers in business. Good Shooting and Good Luck

[fish280]

2.5-4x fixed - or irons - for deer.

4x fixed scopes for little critters.

[cwlongshot]

  Handi's need or work best with smaller eyepieces and objectives. Because its hammer necessities higher mounting. N need to further exlemptfy this with the larger odjective or eye piece. Not to mention, most people will not pay more for a scope that the rifle cost them. SO, if you mount your scope properly. Read that as LO to the barrel and as close to the center of the bore as possible. This rules out a number of very good scopes. Scopes because of cost and quality, you might name first as good contenders for mounting on a Handi. Of coarse I am speaking of Bushnell, specifically there Trophy line.

 Personally, my first scope choice, (As many of you know) is Leupold. More specifically the 2X7X32 VXII or VariX II either are my favorites. These cab be mounted with LO Leupold PRW or WARN rings on factory or Weaver bases.

 As far as fixed or variable scopes. I prefer the lo-power variable as it is far more versatile and today's scopes are very durable. That's is still the biggest advantage of fixed power scopes. They are tougher, (Less to them) Transfer more lite (Less glass inside) and generally are lighter in weight (again, less parts means less weight).

 I am not one who is afraid to pay more for a scope than for my firearms. After all, as long as the gun hits what I aim at what difference dose its cost make. The scope on the other hand, IS your sites, skimp here and you are effecting you ability to hit your mark. Like one very smart member here once said, "I cannot afford NOT to go with Leupold."

IMHO, Leupold scopes are the best choice.

CW

[briannmilewis]

I am a skin flint when it comes to shooting. Bought my Hornet cheap, put a raised cheek piece on it for $8 rather than buy a new stock. The stock is compact, so I put a Walmart Limbsaver ($20) on it to increase LOP, rather than buy a new stock. (I know I could have a new stock for a little more, but then my youngest could not shoot it.) I put a Walmart $70 CenterPoint 4-16x40 on it, I figured the Hornet has very little recoil so I doubt it will be shaken to death over time. It has variable zoom, parallax correction 10yds to infinity, military reticle, target turrets (I will never go back to adjusting a scope using a coin or screwdriver), red and green illuminated reticle, came with medium rings too. Have put 1,000 rounds thru it and only needed tightening after about 50 rounds or so and has not moved since. FWIW

[J. J. Magnum]

My personal preferences in scopes tend to low power settings (2.5 or 3x fixed or 1.5-5x variable).  Absent those, peep sights such as are found on the Buffalo Classic (as illustrated on my Mini-BC below):



I also have an XS Ghost Ring back up sight on my Survivor 45/410 (bottom handi in the photo below) which I like very much:



Gander Mountain had a red dot (2.5x) sight on sale for @$30 last week.  I purchased one but I have yet to sight it in on my Survivor 308.  I'm still toying with the idea of switching it over to my Survivor 45/410 (cheaper to sight in right now...).