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308 Handgun Scope |
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meatmachineman
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/17/2012 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5 |
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Posted: August/17/2012 at 20:09 |
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I've heard there isn't much you guys can't help me with regarding optics, so here I am. I am about to acquire a Savage Striker 510 chambered in 308win. It currently has a Trashco red dot on it. I am looking for some recommendations for a scope. I am willing to go up to a VX-3 if I can find one used at a reasonable price.... otherwise I'm looking more in the Bushnell Elite neighborhood. Also, any info on the Nikon Force XR would be appreciated. I would like to go with a variable, but I have concerns about recoil destroying the scope. As far as use, it will be a paper puncher and potential critter getter. Thanks in advance!
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jonoMT
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: November/13/2008 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 4853 |
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If he doesn't reply to this thread try PMing Ernie Bishop. He's had a lot of experience and success with .308 handguns.
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Reaction time is a factor...
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stickbow46
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/07/2009 Location: Benton, Pa Status: Offline Points: 4678 |
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+1 with EB he,s the man with the hand guns.
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Pearls of Wisdom are Heard not Spoken
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meatmachineman
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/17/2012 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5 |
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Thank you for the direction. I'll get a PM off to him in short order.
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DCAMM94
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: April/19/2008 Location: Fort Worth Status: Offline Points: 3491 |
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+1 on Ernie. He's the specialty handgun guru. I shoot a 7mm-08 encore, and I have a 2-7x burris with posi-lock. It holds zero well, does fine (so far in 5 years) with the recoil, and has allowed me to take game out to 250yds. Ernie has a few handgun scopes, but he also shoots a LOT of normal rifle scopes on his rigs, provided they have ample eye relief. Do a search of some of his posts, and you'll see what I mean. I have the predecessor of the Nikon Force XR, it's a 2.5-8x Monarch handgun. The glass is ok, but there is some tunneling with that scope. It's held up to a couple dozen rounds through my .376 Steyr (see my avatar for barrel and scope), but not enough to comment on durability. Good luck.
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Although personally I am quite content with existing explosives, I feel we must not stand in the path of improvement. -Winston Churchill
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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DCAMM94
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: April/19/2008 Location: Fort Worth Status: Offline Points: 3491 |
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+1. I just picked up a 4x28 Leupold FX-II handgun scope and the glass is definitely better than my Burris, but not by a ton. Keep in mind that my Burris is an older model, and I have recently heard RUMORS (not confirmed by me) that their quality has slipped somewhat. With my burris, I feel confident at 7x out to 250 or so with a rock solid rest and during daylight. I'm still not sure what I'll put on the Steyr long-term. It kicks like a mule, as you could imagine, even with the integral brake. Here's a better pic: I may end up swapping the nikon monarch to my 41 Rem Mag SBH Hunter and just put the Leupy 4x on my Steyr and call it good. Let us know what you decide. EDIT: I have heard good things about the Bushnell Elites. The best of which being constant eye relief throughout the mag range. I haven't confirmed it because I got a great deal on my Leupy, but it will probably be my next handgun purchase. Don't overlook the Weavers either. For a pure handgun scope, I've heard they're decent. Deck |
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Although personally I am quite content with existing explosives, I feel we must not stand in the path of improvement. -Winston Churchill
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Ernie Bishop
Optics Professional Joined: January/26/2010 Location: Gillette, WY Status: Offline Points: 765 |
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MM has PM'd me and we are visiting.
Thank you for the kind words guys! I don't use LER's much anymore, but used them for years previous to that. Back then the 3-12 Burris LER with target turrets and Ballistic Plex reticle was my go to optic. The Bushnell Elite variable LER has a good reputation, and if the ranges were short to mid-range I would likely go with the Burris 2-7 LER with BP reticle for hunting (It has the best FOV of all variable in that magnification range if I remember right). If primarily target then, the 3-12. Leupold LER variable is a good one for sure. Better glass then the Burris. The VX-3 2.5-8x32mm is probably the best piece of glass for a LER. If you added target turrets to it you would add the flexibility for shooting distance much easier. http://www.leupold.com/hunting-shooting/scopes/handgun-scopes/vx-3-handgun-2-5-8x32mm/ It is all going to come down to what MM wants and what his pocketbook can handle. All of my LR rifle scopes I use are NOT modified in their eye relief. In other words, they are standard rifle scopes. All of my specialty handguns that use rifle scopes have good muzzle brakes on them! The only scope that can be modified to become a LER scope is the old Leupold Varii X III fixed power 24 and or 36. Wally Siebert would modify those two scopes. He is the only one that does this to my knowledge. Eye relief is very critical and it is only a target scope, not suitable for use in hunting. The 24x ends up being around a 16x, and the 36x ends up being a 20x after the conversion is done. I have one of the 36x conversions, but hardly ever use it anymore. In rifle scopes I mainly use VX-3's, Mark 4's, Sightron S-III's, NightForce NXS's. Used a couple of S&B's too, but don't own one. The rifle scopes I have mentioned are ones that have longer eye relief compared to other rifle scopes. I look for high magnification rifle scopes that have the best eye relief. |
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Ernie
"If you think you are perfect, just try walking on water." |
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DCAMM94
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: April/19/2008 Location: Fort Worth Status: Offline Points: 3491 |
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Thanks Ernie. I appreciate you giving your thoughts on rifle optics that will "work" with specialty handguns. I.e., ones that have longer eye relief. That will narrow my search for optics for additional rigs. I'm thinking I want to go to a more robust platform. What action do you prefer? 700, MK V, Savage? Other? Don't mean to hijack, but I'm curious. Thanks.
Deck |
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Although personally I am quite content with existing explosives, I feel we must not stand in the path of improvement. -Winston Churchill
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Ernie Bishop
Optics Professional Joined: January/26/2010 Location: Gillette, WY Status: Offline Points: 765 |
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Deck,
For more of my thoughts on rifle scopes on SP's: http://www.handgunhunt.com/promo/membership/features/readNewArticle.php?oid=12&title=Rifle%20Scopes%20On%20Specialty%20Handguns It is several years old, but gives more info on the subject. The two actions I use more than anything is the single-shot Rem. XP-100.. XP clones by Nesika Bay or Defiance would be great as well. The second action I use is a falling block action that is currently made (Unlike the XP-100). MOA Maximum. http://www.moaguns.com/
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Ernie
"If you think you are perfect, just try walking on water." |
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DCAMM94
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: April/19/2008 Location: Fort Worth Status: Offline Points: 3491 |
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Thanks Ernie. I've heard about the MOA Maximum actions. Are they as strong as advertised? I'm worried about frame stretch with my .376 steyr barrel on my encore action.
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Although personally I am quite content with existing explosives, I feel we must not stand in the path of improvement. -Winston Churchill
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Ernie Bishop
Optics Professional Joined: January/26/2010 Location: Gillette, WY Status: Offline Points: 765 |
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Yes they are.
Actually stronger than the the single-shot XP-100, and that is a strong/stiff action. I am not a fan of the TC break-open set-up. It has a lot of flex. Personally, I don't like going over the .473 head with the Encore. |
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Ernie
"If you think you are perfect, just try walking on water." |
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meatmachineman
Optics GrassHopper Joined: August/17/2012 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5 |
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Well I do have to thank you guys for the input and direction. Ernie's been great and has given me some more to think about on this hand cannon. Before I pass out for the day (I work nights), I did think of another question. Rings & bases. Lately, I've been exceptionally pleased with the Talley lightweight one piece rings and bases. I've been using them exclusively on the last few rifles I've added to the stable with the exception of a M77 MkII in 338WM (had to use Ruger's rings). Would it be safe to assume they'll be just fine on top the 308 Striker?
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Ernie Bishop
Optics Professional Joined: January/26/2010 Location: Gillette, WY Status: Offline Points: 765 |
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Should work fine.
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Ernie
"If you think you are perfect, just try walking on water." |
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sscoyote
Optics Journeyman Joined: October/05/2004 Status: Offline Points: 328 |
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One of the ranchers i know had a Sav. Striker in 300 WSM, that i tried to work up loads for and couldn't get amything to shoot out of it. It had a Burris 2-7x on top and we assumed the intense recoil may have been affecting the scope. As it turns out it did have a problem, probably due to the recoil of the gun. After trying a 270 WSM barrel in it, we finally gave up and decided to just chamber another Striker [mine] in 260 Rem. using a McGowen barrel and now it's working great. This gun groups great and the rancher now couldn't be happier. Fact is his teenage kids are fighting over it to use it for antelope this year. If i were scoping it though i'd take a hard look at the Nikon 2.5-8x. Had that one another Sav. Striker 22-250 and shot some great groups at 425. This optic has the BDC reticle that i love, and low profile tgt. turrets as well. Great optic, IMO--
425 yds. 22-250 SS/2.5-8 Nikon--
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Steve
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Ernie Bishop
Optics Professional Joined: January/26/2010 Location: Gillette, WY Status: Offline Points: 765 |
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Good shooting partner!
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Ernie
"If you think you are perfect, just try walking on water." |
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myaneaz
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/28/2012 Status: Offline Points: 1 |
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the image given is superb, i am willing to buy this one
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Ernie Bishop
Optics Professional Joined: January/26/2010 Location: Gillette, WY Status: Offline Points: 765 |
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If any kind of distance would be involved I would get the Ballistic Plex reticle with whichever scope you choose.
The Encore is capable of handling the 308 Win, while the Contender/G-2 is made for cartridges that use less pressure.
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Ernie
"If you think you are perfect, just try walking on water." |
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