Handgun optics

Guys,
I am considering to fit handgun optics on my FA .454 Casull. Need one with longer eye release, variable magnification preferably. Any suggestions?

Bushnell Elite 3200 2x6. Just put one on mine and very happy with it. You'll have to find one used but it's worth it. Recommended to me by the WV Hitman.

John

I setup my BFRs with the Burris 2x7x32 with Warne steel rings. Very happy with them.
D

YEARS AGO I BROKE THE CROSSHAIRS (TWICE) ON A BURRIS 2x7 POSILOCK ON FA 454 REVOLVERS. HAVE HAD VERY GOOD PERFORMANCE, AND NO PROBLEMS, WITH BUSHNELL ELITE 2x6's ON MY 454's.

I have always felt that the Leupold 4X was perfect for my FA 454 and 475. If I felt compelled to use a variable, it would be the Bushnell 3200 2-6X. I have half a dozen in service on other (single shot) guns.

I run the Bushnell 2 - 6X's on most of mine, but recently switched to the Burris due to Bushnell discontueing their pistol scopes. If you want Bushnell's, it's pretty much a hunt for used ones.

#1-Bushnell Elite 2-6X
#2-OLD Simmons 2 1/2-7X
#3 Burris 2-7X
#4- Weaver 2-8X
They all work fine on the big boomers. All have decent eye relief on at least mid power.
The Elite is the best for everything. The others work and are passable.

I concur that the Burris and Simmons work great on heavily-recoiling handguns. I have no experience with the other two but I?m certain they are excellent.

I was dubious about the Simmons 2x7 due to its relatively low cost (and, well, it?s a Simmons), but JD Jones wrote that it held up well on his hand cannons and recommended it, so I got one. That was around 1995-2000 IIRC. It?s been on a number of boomers since then. Not as optically mature as the Burris or the fixed-power Leos I own, it nonetheless has been reliable.

I have 5 scoped handguns and all wear Bushnell 2-6x scopes. A couple are the Elite model, the others the Trophy model. Very happy with all.

I?ve had a Bushnell Trophy 2-6x on my SRH .44 Magnum for gosh, probably close to 30 years.

Guys, many thanks for prompt and straight forward answers. Seems that elite 2-6x is favorable for majority of you. Are you happy with eye release even on 6x? In other words, what is max magnification with satisfying eye release?
Cheers,
Igor

The eye relief is pretty constant throughout the entire magnification range, and has been quite satisfactory for me.

That's been my experience, too.

I used a 4x Leupold on my old FA 454 and it worked great. All kills with it was under 200 yards

Now clear - many tnx for your advice!

With the elite 2-6, there?s very little change in eye relief through out the magnifications. I?ve got long arms and I can
shoot 6x at full arms length.

I have 2 Bushnell 2x6, 1 Elite and 1 Weaver 2.5x8, none have failed me.

On a revolver used in the eastern woodlands, I can find no practical use for a big variable. Bought a Burris 2-7x years ago and never found a good home for it. Going past 4x under 100yds I experienced serious parallax issues. For me, they are a lot of unnecessary weight, bulk and complexity. On a revolver I want no more than a red dot or fixed 2x, though I can see some use for the Burris 1-4x I have on one sixgun. For hunting out west in open country, I could see using a 4x or the 1-4x but no more.

In general, I'm of the school of thought that "less is more" and generally think that 3-9x's are too much glass for the average big game hunter, especially in the east. The Leupold 1.5-5x is my favorite rifle scope and it rides on everything from the little .250Savage to the .416Rigby. Glassing is for binoculars.

The Bushnell I recently purchased seems better than the first one I had years ago in terms of eye relief and field of view. Compared to my Burris 2x7, the eye relief on this one still seems longer and the field of view seems a little more narrow; however, it doesn't seem to make any difference when shooting it, particularly from a rest.

I bought it because of the durability factor. It's a nice fit when mounted to the gun, (not too long or bulky), and I'm happy with it so far.

I agree Craig44,

That is why I switched out my variables to fixed Luepolds. I always found myself fiddling with the power dial when I really should have been concentrating on the shot, getting into position, settling the cross hairs etc. Couple that with some durability issues and I knew which way I wanted to go

Guys, seems that finding Bushnell Elite 3200 2-6X is mission impossible today

IGOR: HAVE YOU LOOKED ON EBAY?

I haven't looked for the Bushnell Elite (old B&L brand) but I've bought several older Burris scopes on Ebay. Burris used to make a stop at every point from 1x to 7x (or 9x or 12x?). Why they stopped is beyond me. I reckon everybody wants a variable these days. Their 1-4x was also a good one.

Bought a new old stock Leupold 2x just yesterday. Probably go in place of the Burris 2x on my FA .454 for an added measure of insurance.

Ebay, Amazon, Gun broker, Midway, Brownells, Bushnell, all small shops I could find in US - you name it

Few sold on Accurate shooter in the last week. I would keep an eye out there.

There is some other nice EER scopes on there now reasonable.

Ken Lewis had a pile of new Leupold stuff.

Tnx H2OBUG, highly appreciated

I would also look at Burris' offerings. The clarity of my Burris scopes is quite good.

I haven't been shooting Revolvers with scopes a long time but I started with my Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter in 45LC. I put a Burris 2x7 on it and after about a year, I couldn't remember using more than 4x on it, even shooting targets. I found a like new Leupold 2x on a Ruger MKII and bought it. I put it on the Ruger and have been using it for at least 8 years and never felt I needed more where I hunt in OK. I just purchased a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter in 44 Mag from Mark Hampton recently and put a Leupold 4x on it because I had it. I'm carrying it right now for our Holiday Antlerless season. It is almost too much from my pop up blind in a couple of places I hunt in the timber but I like it because it is so clear. I have one Simmons older Gold Medal I purchased to put on my Encore 460 but talked myself into a Red Dot. I will soon get another barrel or revolver for the Gold Medal scope. Thats how I justify getting barrels. Get scope and then need barrel for it.
I have 6 Burris 3x12's and 2 2x7 scopes and have never had one issue with them. And the new ones are so clear it is amazing. Burris even made some good 4x scopes but I think they only make 2x , 2x7 and 3x12 now. I have looked through the 2x and they are very clear and next Spring, I'm getting one of them for my Ruger MKII , Competition 22 for hunting tree rats and plinking. You can't beat the warranty on the Burris scopes.
Lifetime. I bought a 257JDJ with one of the oldest 3x12, regular reticles I had ever seen. It was a little foggy and the cross hairs seemed to move. I called them, they sent me a return authorization ticket and I mailed it to them for rebuild and I sent the $60 for a ballistic Plex reticle they will install. A month later I got a new, Burris, 3x12 Ballistic Plex , matte blue scope in the mail with a note the other was not cost effective to repair so here you are, a new scope, good shooting.
Good luck with your
Mike