Practically all of my LER handgun scopes are Bushnell or B & L. Some are 30+ years old and still going strong. My regular big boomers all have Bushnell Elite 2x6 scopes. As I am sure you all know this fine piece of optics is now out of production. One of the reasons I like these scopes is the long eye relief they give me as I have long arms. I am not shopping today but I am often asked my opinion on what to buy. I have suggested the Bushnell Elite 2x6 or the Trophy for mild recoil guns for those on a tight budget. For those of you with knowledge in this area what are the viable options? Give us the rundown on the following:
Leupold
Nikon
Weaver
Others you consider durable for heavy recoil.
Thanks in advance.

Billa
Over the last 30 years I use a mix of Burris (3x12 Ballistic Plex) and Leupold (2.5x8) on my Contenders and Encores, while my BFRs are fitted with Burris 2x7s. I have used both company?s customer service and found each to be excellent.
Hope this is what you were looking for.
B?

I run the Leupold zoom on most barrels. The clarity and brightness is better then other options I've looked at. I notice the difference during the 30 min before and after sunrise and sunset when hunting. I'm 6"2 and have to hold the pistol at arm's length to get a good sight picture. If I choke up at all, it starts to shrink fast. Very usable at 8x

I tried the Nikon LER zoom scope and the eye relief shrinks as you zoom up so at max magnification it is ~ 9". Not a viable option for me.

I recently picked up a Burris 3-12 but haven't spent much time behind it yet.

good luck!

Thanks Buck and Karl.

Can anyone compare the Bushnell Trophy 2x6 to the Burris 2x7?
I know of several Bushnell Trophies that are on 35 Rem Contenders and 44 mag revolvers that have survived well. Not sure if the Trophy would hold up on heavier hitters. Anyone experience a failure with a Bushnell Trophy?

I don't use Bushnell Trophys on anything larger than .44 Mag.
I use Bushnell Elites on .500 S&W, .475 Linebaugh.
I've used Burris 2-7s on .309 JDJ, 6.5JDJ, but not larger. I believe they are a little tougher than the Bushnell Trophy, but not the Elite.
Not many believe how tough the 3-12x Burris is. I have them on .two .375/.284 XPs, .338 Mag. JDJ, .338-06 JDJ, and 10 lesser calibers. I've never sent one back for repairs, and all og these guns are fired more than a few times a year.
The absolute toughest scope I've found is the old Simmons 2-7X. It's on a .416 Taylor Encore which has over 600 rounds through it. Definitely not a pussy cat handgun.
Of all these scopes, I've sent back two posilocks that stopped functioning and one 3-9 X that would not track in the last 40 years. Burris gets a lot of grief from many handgunners, but they continue to be my #1 handgun scope.

I HAVE BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH THE 2X6 B&L/BUSHNELL ELITES ON MY 454's AND THE OLD FIXED 2x B&L HAS NEVER FAILED ON A 454.

IN 1997 I TRIED A BURRIS 2x7 POSI-LOCK AND A BURRIS 4x POSI-LOCK ON MY FA 454's BUT THE CROSS HAIRS BROKE AFTER FAR TOO FEW ROUNDS. SURE, BURRIS FIXED THE SCOPES BUT I NEVER USED THEM ON HEAVY KICKERS AGAIN. I SENT BURRIS A NASTY LETTER ON DECEMBER 1, 1997, CHALLENGING THEM TO MAKE A REALLY "TROUBLE FREE" HANDGUN SCOPE, AND SUGGESTED THAT IF THE PRESIDENT OF BURRIS SHOT 454's I AM SURE THEY WOULD BUILD A BETTER SCOPE FOR HARD KICKING HANDGUNS. I NEVER GOT A REPLY FROM BURRIS. I NOTICE THAT DOC ROGERS HAD TO SEND 2 POSI-LOCKS BACK TO BURRIS FOR REPAIRS. I WONDER IF THE POSI-LOCK WAS AN ANSWER TO A PROBLEM THAT DID NOT EXIST, AND WORSE, CREATED A PROBLEM THAT WOULD NOT HAVE EXISTED IN A CONVENTIONAL SCOPE. I HAVE NOT GIVEN BURRIS SCOPES MUCH OF AN OPPORTUNITY SINCE THEN, HOWEVER, WHEN DOC THE WVHITMAN SPEAKS WE SHUD ALL LISTEN, BUT BE CAREFUL WITH POSI-LOCKS.

I have settled on Leupold 2.5-8X's on the really hard kickers, and/or on 14 inch Contenders that can reach out a ways. My revolvers use Bushnell Trophy's and Elites based on recoil. I have pretty much come to the same conclusion as the Hitman, that Trophys can only handle 44 mag and smaller. On the really abusive revolvers I use fixed power Leupolds. I have only had one fail in 30 years, and they fixed it for free. I tried the Nikons, but as was stated earlier, the eye relief changes with the power setting. Tried the Burris 2-7X with posilock and experienced the same issue with the eye relief, and if you used the posilock feature it would change the point of impact. I do have a Burris 3-12X on a 223 Rem barrel, but haven't used it very much. I like the old B&L scopes, and have a 2X, 4X, and a 2-6X. I have never had issues with them and their glass is really good. I do wish Bushnell would bring back the Elite series, they are very good with a decent price.

I agree with you Rey. Posilocks suck. I just mailed another one back to Burris today. The posilock mechanism turns around like a top. Wonder what they'll do?

Probably replace it with a new scope of current manufacture.

I hope, Sawfish, but a friend just got a 2-7 Posiscrew back from Burris. They took out the posiscrew mechanism and put a plug in place. "Quality" work from a previously quality company.

I use Bushnell Elites and Leupolds on the heavies; and Burris on the mediums...

[quote=Mech ......................and if you used the posilock feature it would change the point of impact. [/quote]

I experienced the same thing with one I had and sold it.

All I use are Nikon Force XR's. My only complaints are that they're a little bulky on smaller revolvers and the eye relief changes noticeably when you adjust the power of the variable model, but other than that they're awesome, simply awesome scopes. I haven't yet knocked one off zero, no matter how heavy the gun kicks, and they even hold up well to me accidentally bumping them against things.

Thanks guys. A good thread on LER scopes. Anyone else want to share?

I have used the old Leupold M8 2X EER with satisfaction. Don't care much for the zoom scopes as eye relief, exit pupil and field of view can get so restricted. I may try the Weaver 2X28 on my next SBH. Might try the Wiegand no-drill mount, too.

I have had a couple of Burris scopes on revolvers (a 2-7x, and a 1.5-4x with posi loc). Both of these were still the made in the USA models, and had great glass IMO. The 2-7x failed almost immediately on a Ruger 45 colt hunter. reticle turned inside the tube. Burris fixed it and had no problems after that.

The 1.5-4x I experienced the same point of impact shifts with the posi-loc on my 454 casull M83 and four ring TSOB mount. It also broke the reticle once, and splattered a bunch of debris or grease on the inside of the lenses on a different occasion.

After all this I got rid of both, and went a different route for my revolvers. Luepold FXII 2x scopes, lighter, smaller, great glass, simplicity with no need to crank on a power dial. just aim and shoot with what ya got. I am liking them a lot so far. I would like to get a 10inch or longer 454 someday and would likely put a Luepold fixed 4x on it