Author Topic: Scopes for handis (Read 1852 times)

Kiwi Hunter · « **on:** February 25, 2011, 11:59:55 AM »

Giday folks , I been sittin around home recovering for a leg operation

.and been lookin hard at putting new glass on top of my .243 handi as you do $:-\$ . Now in the past I have had problems with eye relief because of the lenght of side adjustment between the rings which won't allow enought travell backwards to get the best position without having to lean forward . Also I've had problems around the hammerspur / scope eye objective clearance . I Ive kinda got it down to a new Redfied Revolution 2 - 7 x 33 with Accu-Range reticle, but am open to other sugestions in case this scope will be a problem like I have encounted as above ,I do prefer the use med height rings . Rather that high ones .Your thoughts would be appeciated.

zoner · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2011, 12:05:55 PM »

my favorite scope on a handi is the 2.5x20mm Simmons 8 point shotgun scope. Sits in low rings in front of the hammer,no hammer extension needed.

Kiwi Hunter · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2011, 12:24:49 PM »

Zoner is that scope mounted on a shotgun /pistol round handi like .44mag for close contact brush hunting only ? I kinda want a foot in both camps ,close contact say 20-30 yards stuff & cause its a .243 able to take long shots out to 150-250 yards.Cheers

petemi · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2011, 12:44:40 PM »

I think a scout mount might work for you. Put it out on the barrel with lots of eye relief. I built one that way a while back and then got into red-dots, and now I'm back to glass. My Scout Scope is in the locker and may just go on the next Handi.

Pete

cjrjck · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2011, 12:50:05 PM »

Typically, if you have the scope mounted as far to the rear as you can get it and the eye relief is insufficient, you can get a scope with longer eye relief or shorten the stock. Have you considered a youth stock?

Kiwi Hunter · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2011, 12:57:04 PM »

Quote from: petemi on February 25, 2011, 12:44:40 PM

I think a scout mount might work for you. Put it out on the barrel with lots of eye relief. I built one that way a while back and then got into red-dots, and now I'm back to glass. My Scout Scope is in the locker and may just go on the next Handi.

Pete

Pete that sounds interesting ,is there anywhere in the stickies or faqs that has a pic of that set up? My eyes are getting tired now I've become a classic model so I do like a bit of magnification at times especially in low light.
Kev

petemi · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2011, 01:09:24 PM »

Kev, I'm sure Tim has one or two he can show you. I had a pic of one, but I can't find it. I took mine off because it was a small objective lens, and was poor for me to see through in early or late shooting.

Pete

Kiwi Hunter · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2011, 01:11:47 PM »

Quote from: cjrjck on February 25, 2011, 12:50:05 PM

Typically, if you have the scope mounted as far to the rear as you can get it and the eye relief is insufficient, you can get a scope with longer eye relief or shorten the stock. Have you considered a youth stock?

Yes, that is how I overcame the second to last scope I had on this handi. However when I upspecked this last time , I had to pop a spacer back on between the stock & the rubber recoil no problems thro . Just interesting to hear other folks ideas. Also I do no live in the US and getting aftermarket goodies can be quite hard so just have to make do at times . The internet gunshops and forums such as here are a fantastic help to me .
Kev

Kiwi Hunter · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2011, 01:17:46 PM »

Pete , Thanx for that! I will wait for Quick the handi Guru to lend some guidance.

Cheers Kev

petemi · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2011, 02:10:27 PM »

Kev, I take it you're from south of Aussie Country. In my younger days I wanted to migrate there. My youngest kid has been there compliments of the U.S. Navy. He says it is superb country and equally superb people. He said the same about Tasmania.

If i can live long enough, one of these days I'd like to get over there and meet some of my Z-lander and Aussie brothers.

Pete

ze

Kiwi Hunter · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2011, 03:01:34 PM »

Kev, I take it you're from south of Aussie Country.Pete, you are correct! 2 smaller islands to the west of aussie & you would be most welcome. We have a year round hunting season here no bag or tag limits as all the animals we hunt ,have been introduced and are unfortunately classed by our govt as pests on public lands . I live in the north island of new zealand and manly hunt red deer ,although I also do chase sika (jap) deer during the winter . We are a lot better off that our aussie brothers who gun ownership is a very different story altogether . No Pumps ,semi autos, semi milsurp etc. We on the other hand can acquire licences to own all classes of firearms except full auto milsurp. We can also hunt with suppressed firearms. The Trout & saltwater fishing over here can outstanding . The Roar as we call it or Rut to you fellas will be coming up it 6weeks time and ,I am hoping to have recovered well enough to get away this year . I broke (smashed) my left lower leg the year before so missed out last year. Due to the nature of the country we use all manner of machines to access our hunting blocks . ie jetboat ,helicopter & fixwing aircraft, 4wheeldrive ,quadbike or the good old boot leather express ,so getting there can be an adventure in its self.
Kev

geezer56 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 26, 2011, 02:12:43 AM »

Just a thought here, but your problem may not be stock length or scope focal length. You can use scope rings with an offset. Tasco, Weaver (and I am sure others too) make them, in either sets of 2 with offsets, or one straight and one offset. I have a set of Weavers on my 280 Rem. Handi rifle. I received a Sightron scope as a gift, this was the gun I wanted to use it on, and that is the only way it would work for me. This won't always fix your scope/hammer fit issues, but it is another tool you can use.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #12 on:** February 26, 2011, 05:47:13 AM »

Quote from: Kiwi Hunter on February 25, 2011, 01:17:46 PM

Pete , Thanx for that! I will wait for Quick the handi Guru to lend some guidance.
Cheers Kev

See the Scout Mount links in the FAQs, several pics.

Tim

Sourdough · « **Reply #13 on:** February 26, 2011, 08:06:02 AM »

When I need to move a scope forward or backwards I use Weaver Off Set rings. I currently am installing a set of Lupold off set rings on my son's rifle. The scope he chose does not slide far enough forward with standard rings.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #14 on:** February 26, 2011, 12:41:32 PM »

I like Leupold...

Yea, I have a few of them... 2x7 is my favorite.

Here is a scout mounted Red Dot I used for a while..

Kiwi Hunter · « **Reply #15 on:** February 26, 2011, 09:17:29 PM »

Woooooooooooow thats a few Ideas CW! love to see other peoples set ups! Man I'd need to do an extension to the house if I had that many Shootin Irons! Veeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry niccccccccccccce. Thanks Tim, I checked out the scout mounts in the faqs and decided it wasn't for me. I am gunna go for a 2-7 power , and this time I want an American manufactured scope to go with an American rifle. I will google around ,and have a look at the weaver offset rings just to be curious as Ive hav'nt heard of those before.
Thanx Kev

jon f · « **Reply #16 on:** February 26, 2011, 09:27:37 PM »

Hi Kiwi Hunter,
We can have pump action rifles. It gets alittle difficult when it comes to owning pump action shotguns and any semi auto's.
Regards Jon

rdlange · « **Reply #17 on:** February 27, 2011, 05:30:56 AM »

OK, scopes and rings.... My experience. I have Leupy rings on a couple. Strong but heavy and longer than others. I have switched to Millet angle Loc, which are narrower so I get a slight bit more scope adjustment; also cheaper and easier for me to get around here. No way with vertical split rings anymore because I can't lap them. Planning on getting EGW rail and 'try' to find some good alloy rings, maybe Millet again.

I've also trimmed the overhang off my rails.

Long, big scopes I don't like on guns, except for long range guns, like 243 or 25-06, etc. They're not 'Handi'. Also like fixed power mostly. Easy to get used to. So I'm finding 4x32 compact scopes for most. Like old Burris. Have VX-III 1.5-5x20 on a Marlin 35. Way nice, but it cost more than the gun. Anyway JMHO.

tjf76 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 27, 2011, 05:49:52 AM »

Quote

I've also trimmed the overhang off my rails.

Got any pics of this?

rdlange · « **Reply #19 on:** February 27, 2011, 01:36:45 PM »

No pic, but... My 4x32 Simmons Prodiamond uses rings in the first and third slot from the rear of the factory rail. I sawed off the extra rail in front of that because it looked tacky to have all that unnecessary metal still on there. Still has room for the 3 screws. Tried black shoe dye on the front alum, but will probably have to rustoleum paint it. Just doesn't look balanced to me with the extra protruding.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #20 on:** February 27, 2011, 01:56:53 PM »

Numrich sells a short base, there's a pic and link in the FAQs.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,26264.msg525466.html#msg525466

revbc · « **Reply #21 on:** February 27, 2011, 04:34:31 PM »

Quote from: rdlange on February 27, 2011, 05:30:56 AM

Long, big scopes I don't like on guns, except for long range guns, like 243 or 25-06, etc. They're not 'Handi'. Also like fixed power mostly. Easy to get used to. So I'm finding 4x32 compact scopes for most. Like old Burris. Have VX-III 1.5-5x20 on a Marlin 35. Way nice, but it cost more than the gun. Anyway JMHO.

Just a note. Natchez shooters has the weaver 4x32 shotgun scope back on sale for $99, it retails for $245, has parallax set at 100yds, great optics, and better than 4" of eye relief. Trim scope that mounts low on a handi. Love mine on the 45/70.

watkibe · « **Reply #22 on:** February 27, 2011, 06:19:08 PM »

Scoping my handi barrels was tough. The problem is always getting good eye relief while clearing the hammer spur. I use the factory bases. High rings are mandatory so far, for me at least. I found a 3 X 9 Bushnell Sportsman that would just (I mean you could just glimpse daylight!) clear the hammer spur while still in the right spot to see through. It was being discontinued and was on sale, so I bought 3 all together. I like the Weaver system as far as bases go, but I hate the "claw" rings with screws on only one side. I have a hell of a time getting the reticle square with that type. The ones with 2 allen head screws on each side do the trick for me.

TonyS · « **Reply #23 on:** February 28, 2011, 07:37:38 AM »

Kiwi Hunter,

I mounted a Redfield 2 x7 on my Ultra Varmint .223 Handi and just love it. I think the optical quality of the new Redfields are much superior to Leupold. And I have a Leupold on my primary rifle for deer hunting. I think they put better glass on the Redfields to rebuild the brand and for me its working. I used the lowest Leupold rings and bases and it worked for me.

I bought the Accu Range reticle and have been very happy with the combination of the very accurate Handi and the superior glass of the Redfield. When I sighted the Handi in at 200 yards I then aimed at iron targets at 400 yards and heard the 'ding' on every round I fired.

I hope this helps and you get better soon.

tjf76 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 28, 2011, 09:13:56 AM »

Quote from: rdlange on February 27, 2011, 01:36:45 PM

No pic, but... My 4x32 Simmons Prodiamond uses rings in the first and third slot from the rear of the factory rail. I sawed off the extra rail in front of that because it looked tacky to have all that unnecessary metal still on there. Still has room for the 3 screws. Tried black shoe dye on the front alum, but will probably have to rustoleum paint it. Just doesn't look balanced to me with the extra protruding.

thanks for the info

Swampman · « **Reply #25 on:** February 28, 2011, 09:26:35 AM »

Nothing beats the Nikon Prostaff for the Handi Rifle. Ebay is the cheapest place to get a scope.

Don't put a $50.00 saddle on a $10.00 horse.....ie...Leupold.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #26 on:** February 28, 2011, 10:54:49 AM »

Quote from: Swampman on February 28, 2011, 09:26:35 AM

Nothing beats the Nikon Prostaff for the Handi Rifle. Ebay is the cheapest place to get a scope.

Don't put a $50.00 saddle on a $10.00 horse.....ie...Leupold.

YUP, Buying the best you can afford is never a good idea...

Geesh Swampy.

CW

Kiwi Hunter · « **Reply #27 on:** February 28, 2011, 12:20:38 PM »

TonyS , I have looked hard and long at what to re scope my handi with ,& I just keep coming back to the 2-7 Redfield with the Accu Range reticule . The scopes profile & eye objective is not to bulky which helps when using lower profile rings to get clearance between the hammer and scope. Thanks for your input about glass quality and function as its always great to hear other peoples experiences before you spend you money! There price pointing is fair & because its backed by Leupold you know its dependable. They're guarantee is the market standard by which all the others gauge themselves. Thanks I will buy with confidence now.
PS My leg is recovering very well thank you!
Kev aka Kiwi Hunter

Swampman · « **Reply #28 on:** February 28, 2011, 12:22:09 PM »

After the reports I've read I wouldn't buy a new Redfield but if that's what you want go for it.

carbineman · « **Reply #29 on:** February 28, 2011, 12:33:56 PM »

Dittos, The 2-7x33mm Redfield Revolution. I have one with plex and one with accurange. The other I would suggest are the 1-4x20mm or 1.5-5x20mm Leupolds. I have four of these.