scopes

[boyd]

for the past two years i have hunted with my 629 smith 44 using a pro point  scope. i have a problem getting a good bead on the deer when they are more than 40 yards out. the dot takes up to much of the deers body. I want to put a magnified scope on my gun for around $300. my two questions are? what scope has everyone had the most success with. and should i get a fixed or variable power scope  :grin:

[Gregory]

Boyd
I wouldn't put anything larger than 2X on a 44 Mag.  I expect most people would recommend a Leupold, they are fine scopes and would be a very good choice, but I've replaced my Leupold 2X with a Nikon 2X, it's brighter and has a larger field of view.

[BCB]

boyd,

I would recommend a variable in the 2x-7x range.  I have two of them on different handguns, one a SRH (44 Magnum), and the other a Contender.  They are both Burris.  Yesterday, I purchased a 3x-12x Burris and put it on a Contender in 7-30 Waters caliber.  Total, I have 7 Burris 'scopes--they have been good for me.

Back to the 44 Magnum...The 2x-7x varible is a good choice, in that, the 44 Magnum is good for use to 75+ yards on deer with the right load.  A deer gets looking pretty darn small using 2x or even 4x at those distances.  You can use the high powers for longer shots and the low powers for thick cover, close shots.  Good-luck...BCB

[Dragon31]

Boyd:
I favor fixed power scopes from Leupold and Weaver.  I stay away from Burris (Have had nothing but trouble with the 1 1/2 to 4X and their service dept is terrible).  I should say that I usually hunt only deer with my center fire guns and squirrels with the .22.  You can see what I mean from the following:
1.  7-30 waters, 14 inch barrel, Leupold 4X.
2.  30 30, 14 inch barrel, Leupoldd 4X.
3.  357 Max, 14 inch barrel, Leupold 4X.
4.  44 Mag, 10 inch barrel, Leupold 2X.
5.  357 Mag, 10 inch barrel, Leupold 2X.
6.  44 Mag, Ruger SBK Hunter, Leupold. 2X
7.  44 Mag, SRH 9 1/2 inch barrel, Weaver 4X.
8.  44 Mag, Taurus 44, Weaver 4X.
9.  45 Long Colt, Ruger Blackhawk, 7 1/2 inch barrel, 2X Leupold.
10. .22 cal, Ruger MK II, Slabside, 2X Weaver.

I'm now in my 60's over many years of hunting I learned to pick my shots and admit that my eyes are less that they once where.  Three year ago I did tag a buck with the .357 Max at over 150 yard and I didn't feel that I need more scope (just a better rest), after all these years you would think I wouldn't get so excited that I can see my heart beat in the scope, more power only magnifies my excitement.

[BCB]

Dragon31,

I have read that Burris has service problems from several other posters on other boards.  I have also read the opposite opinions.  That Burris 2x-7x 'scope that I have on my SRH 44 Magnum was returned to Burris several years ago.  I DROPPED THE HANDGUN ON MY CONCRETE SIDEWALK AND COMPLETELY WRECKED THE EYEPIECE!!!  The 'scope was actually bent!!!  Well, I returned it for an estimate to repair, and I got a new, or possibly repaired (I think the tube and eyepiece were replaced) 'scope...FREE OF CHARGE!!  That to me does not indicate bad service.  Maybe that was then and now is now.  Don't know but as I indicated, I just purchased a 3x-12x Burris handgun 'scope yesterday and it is a clear view at 300 yards.  That Waters will rattle my 5.5"x11" steel pendulem most every time at that range from my bench.  A pleasure to shot and hear the clang of the steel.  Regardless, good-luck purchasing a 'scope for that Smith...BCB

[jhalcott]

Boyd,I have trouble with 2x scopes.They make a deer seem SMALLER than larger. I use 1.5x4x or fixed 4x on my hunting revolvers. The hunting T/C's get 2x7 0r 2.5x8 scopes.I have tried most of the scopes available and find you can get a lemon even with Leupold. Get the best you can afford. I would try as many different scopes as I could before buying one .Your friends might let you look thru theirs and share their thoughts about scopes.
   As I said, a good 4x is all you should need.A running deer is to hard to hit even if you are using iron sights.This is only my opinion.  jh :wink:

[bagger321]

I have a variable on my 7mm-08 Encore and a fixed 4x on my Smiths,and a fixed 2x on my Taurus.
The fixed low power does the trick really as I shoot short distances.The wider field of view helps.I usually keep the Redfield 2.5-7x that rides on my Encore,set on four.

BT

[Dragon31]

BCB
My experience with Burris is as follows.  Probably about 15 years ago I purchased a 1.5 x 4 variable from Burris.  The scope sat on a Ruger MK II for about 10 years, and was shot very little, then I moved it to a Contender 44 Mag, 10 inch barrel, about 5 shots later you could not see through the scope nor would it adjust in any way.  It was not really a problem with me at this point since a 10 inch .44 mag in a Contender with heavy loads can recoil in a right smart fashion, I just figured that the scope was not up to the recoil.  I sent it in to Burris expalin what had happened, asked them if they thought the scope could handle the increased recoil and if the scope could be repaired. I got back their yellow carbon receipt saying that they had received it and would repair and return it to me when done.  I pretty much forgot about it for six months.  After about six months I E-mailed Burris, used the receipt number and inquired about the date they thought my scope might be repaired and returned to me.  With in two days I had an E-mail that said the scope was being repaired at this vary moment and that it would be return to me as soon as it was done.  Got the scope back about 90 days later.  Still I'm not up set (read that I have other guns and scopes).  I received no reply as to the question if the scope could take heavy recoil on not, so I put it on a 10 inch .357 mag contender barrel.  Shot maybe 10 times sighting it in and could not see through the scope (it looked like grease washed up on the inside of the scope lens).  Sent it back to Burris, asked the question if this scope could with stand any center fire recoil at all and explained the current problem.  They sent me the yellow receipt saying they received the scope and would repair and return it as soon as possible.  About 4 months later the scope was returned to me.  It now sits in a old shoe box with other cheap scopes.  That shoe box represent about a $1000 worth of "learning experiences" for me.  I've thought about using the Burris as a boat anchor but It's probably not water proof either.

[Questor]

I have one fixed-power scope, a 2x Leupold on my 44 magnum revolver. It's compact, light, and fits the gun just right. Although my other handguns have variable scopes, the 2x Leupold is just perfect for the 44.  It is a good value for the money, all things considered.

[BCB]

Dragon31,

It sure does sound as though you did indeed have a bad experience with Burris.  Companies simply can not let this kind of thing happen.  As I have often said...One bad experience expressed on the Internet completely cancels a dozen good experiences!

It sure can be discouraging, in that, a person gets close to a grand in a Contender or some other quality handgun with an expensive 'scope on it.  That is just too much money not to have that unit perform to high standards.  But then I guess we have all had our nightmares with the shooting industy.  Mine was many years ago with a Thompson/Center single shot rifle.  They no longer make them.  I had a 22-250 and there was NOTHING that could be done to get it to shoot less than 1.5" at 100 yards...PERIOD.  After much letter writing and phone calls, I finally got my money back.  That particular model (TCR 87 I think that was the model) is no longer made.  And so it goes...BCB

[Combat Commander]

Leupold or Burris in 2X

[boyd]

thanks for all of your help. i went ahead and purchased a leopold 4x scope for what i thought was a good price. It should be here soon. when i site it in should i site it for 75 or 100 yards. or are both of those wrong. I hunt some pretty open woods from a climber stand.

[TScottO]

I have a 2x loopy on a 629. I sighted mine in at 50 yards. After zero at 50 I then shot several 25 yard groups, 75 yard groups and 100 yard groups to get a good feel for the difference.

The majority of my hunting is at woods ranges so 50 yards suits me just fine.

Scott

[ssmith_1187]

Boyd,

If you have the opportunity, lap the scope rings before you "permanently" mount the scope to the gun.  The sight in process will go easier and you will be surprised as to how accurate it will be "right out of the box".

If you have questions.......please let me know.

Steve

[Zeus]

You did good.  Hard to go wrong with a Leupold.  I'm one of the ones that has had tons of trouble with Burris.  But all of my Leupolds always work.  I have a 4x on my 454 during hunting season and it works very well.  I usually set my 44 mags about 2" high at 50 yards.  Same goes for my 454.  GS

[boyd]

thanks again for the info. what do you mean by lapping the scope rings. i like the idea of being close right out of the box.

[ssmith_1187]

A lapping tool (bar) is typically a piece of hardened tool steel that has been machined to very exacting tolerances.  In my case it was 1 inch in diameter, the same as the OD of the scope tube.

What you do it you take the scope rings completely apart.  Put some BLUE (removable) Loc-Tite on the screws (after ALL grease has been removed from them) that holds the bottom half of the scope rings to the gun and mount (LOOSELY) only the bottom half of the scope rings to the gun.

Take your lapping bar and place it in the scope rings.  Remember they are loose, so they should move a little bit.  This will align the front and rear rings, with the lapping bar.  After the two rings are aligned, tighten the screws that hold them to the gun.

Now you are ready to lap the bottom rings.  It helps if you have a friend (your arms will get tired) as well as having a supply of small sand bags to help cradle the gun.

Place some lapping compound, which should have been supplied with your lapping bar, onto the bottom half of each scope ring that are now mounted to the gun.  Once you have the lapping compound in place, take the lapping bar and starting working it front to back and side to side within the scope rings (be careful to maintain even pressure and avoid having the lapping bar rock in the rings, that will cause rounding of the rings).  

Lapping compound is about 600 grit and what you are doing it “sanding” the bottom half of the scope rings, removing any high spots.  It might take a while (20 minutes to do my stainless steel ones) and you will have to periodically clean the lapping bar and rings to remove the build up of metal shavings (and reapply the lapping compound)) but you will know by looking at the rings when you are done.  The rings will be a smooth as glass and when you draw your finger nail over then, there shouldn’t be any catching.  You need only get about ¾ of the way up the side of the bottom rings.

Once you are done lapping the bottom rings (and have cleaned them), you are now ready the mount the scope.  Again, degrease all scope ring screws and apply the blue Loc-Tite to them just before you screw the rings together.  I followed a criss-cross pattern when mating the two rings together to ensure even pressure over the scope tube.  Before you give them a finally tightening vertically/horizontally align your reticle and adjust your eye relief.  Once you have everything where you want it give everything a final tightening and let the Loc-Tite cure for 24 hours before you shoot the gun.

I hope this makes sense.

Let me know if you need anything else.

Steve

P.S. You can buy a lapping bar at Brownell’s (www.brownells.com) for about 45-50 bucks, I think.