Hey guys, I need some opinions or advice. I have a Ruger SB Hunter. It currently wears a 2x burris. This is my first scoped handgun, and I have practiced hard getting ready for deer season this year. From a sandbag, I can get 6 shot groups of 2.5-3" at 75yds. Shooting from my deerstand (for realistic practice) the groups at 75yds open up to about 5.5-6". Still good enough for hunting. I got bored with just shooting bullseye targets, and started shooting at the "life size deer targets". I can still place all 6 rounds in the vitals on the target at 100yds each time, however, the 2x magnification just aint enough. Most of you know, a whitetail's vital area is much bigger than my 6" group limit to determine my max range. I have a hunting buddy that uses a 2-6x32 bushnell, and the higher power really makes a difference at 100yds. Aim small-miss small. So, I have narrowed my choices down to 2. Burris 1.5-4x28 for compact size, but the varying eye relief worries me. OR a leupold 2.5-8x32. I'd like to hear from folks who have either or both scopes. The leupold is expensive, but really big compared to the 2x burris I have now, but I'm very concerned about the changing eye relief of the burris variable. I can't afford both, and no local stores have either in stock for me to check out. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance, God bless.

I would consider a 2-7 Burris-- however the 2.5-8 Leupold would be the best you could buy-

Don't overlook the weaver 2.5x8 the Bushnell 2x6 elite or the nikon. A straight 4 power would not be a bad choice either.

The Burris 1.5-4 has the turret in a strange place and makes for odd placement and eye relief. Weaver makes a fine 1.5-4x, but a 2.5-8 would do well too, as would a 2-6 Bushy. The Weavers and Bushies are relatively compact as well, and all seem to be durable. The Leupold is a fine scoe, but rather large and overpriced.

I have a 1.5-4x burris, and yes, i have to agree it is just slightly awkward in size, i wish it was a little bit shorter, but other than that i think it is the perfect scope for most revolver's ranges on game animals.

a person can crank it from 1.5x (which is great at close range like bear hunting over a bait site) to 4x (which helps dial in at longer range) with a very good field of view and the same eye relief. I can hold it at arms length at both 1.5 and 4x.

but, from what i am told the leuopld 2.5x to 8x is a great scope, and many people on this site can attest to this. as for the 1.5-4 weaver, i have not had experience with it, but it does appeal to me because of the power and its seemingly more compact size than the Burris.

I still wish that us handgun hunters had more options out there than what we have now...Even though i know its better than it used to be

My choice for your revolver, since you want more magnification, would be the Bushnell 2-6 X which is more compact than the Leupold 2-8 or Burris 2-7, and which I've had satisfactory service from on 7 guns. The constant eye relief is a real plus.
Personally, though, I use Leupold 2X or 4X scopes on my revolvers.

+1 on what 500WE said...

I really like the 2.5x8 Leupold's and have more of those on my handguns than any other variable...but only 2 reside on revolvers - a S&W X-frame 460 and a 10" FA Model 83, both insances where I'm not concerned about the size of the scope! (Others sit on Tenders, Encores, and XP's)

For my scoped "normal-sized" revolvers (and pistols shooting up to 100 yards) I've mounted 2X and 4X Leupolds.

If I were inclined to mount a variable, the Bushnell Elite is a great mix of compact size, clarity, durability, and price point (especially when one of the online retailers had then for $189!). I have one on an Encore barrel - great scope.

My hunting buddy's bushnell is the 2-6x32 trophy xlt. The glass in my 2x burris is brighter, and clearer by a LARGE margin. Is the bushnell elite glass going to be on par with burris? And if compared to the leupold, where would the elite fall? I've had some bad luck with bushnell in the past, and am quite leery of that brand. I think the size/weight of the bushnell would be ok, and 2-6x would be perfect. I've read several places that said the trophy xlt and elite were so close in glass quality and clarity that some guys can't tell the difference? I can see a BIG difference in the trophy xlt and my burris. The 2x burris I have now is my first burris product, and I'm very pleased with the glass, and the fit/finish, and the fact that I lost count of practice rounds fired, and it has yet to lose zero. Will the elite 3200 be on par?

You should look through the Weavers before you decide. They are my BBFTB in magnified optics anymore.

s4s4u----Does the weaver have constant eye relief? And what quality are their lenses? I looked at the website, and it stated 24" of eye relief? I'm only 5'9", and my arms aint quite that long. Also, if you use them regularly, what kind of low-light performance do they give? Early morn, and late eve?

BBwheelgunner------ how is the 1.5-4 burris in low light? And you said that you have the same eye relief at both ends of the power spectrum? I was concerned with the specs on burris's website stating that the eye relief varied several inches as you move up in magnification. If that's not the case then I am gonna have to find one to look thru somewhere, and check it out.

I have a Bushnell Elite 2x6 on my 454 and I love it. No problems with it.

The view starts to come in at about 12" and goes as far as I can hold it from my eye. It is a little tighter on high power but it doesn't vary as much as the Burris. The only time mine see 8x is at the range. I too am 5-9 and shortarmed and they work fine for me mounted atop the receiver, but YMMV.

I found the glass on par with the Burris 4x I had. The best low light sights for me are the UltraDot or my Optima and what I use early and late.

Boot,
it is as good in low light as my burris 2-7x. good clear glass in my opinion. I am 6'2" and have a pretty decent wing span and i can hold it at full arms length at 4x. That was one of the huge selling points of it for me. Best thing is if you can get to play with one in person, that helps a bunch.

I also have the Bushnell 3200 Elite and I really like it. The RainGuard is also a nice feature that does work. I had the Burris 2x7 and had no problems with it

One more bit of info is that the Busnell Elite 3200 is the Only other scope (Leupold is the other one) that the Freedom Arms recomends for there big revolvers.. they said that they had seen the Burris and Weavers destroyed by the 500, 454, and 475L