I am putting together my first Encore Pistol package. I am going with either a 7-08 or a .308 and hunt deer and coyotes in open country. I also will do some target shooting to work-up reloads. What scope would you recommend? Originally I was thinking 2X7 for the better eye relef and larger field of view, but couldn't I just dial it down to 3 when in the woods, set it at 6 or 7 power when in the open fields and save the 12 power for the range or am I gaining something else with the 2X7? I do want the ballestic plex reticle. I use it with my Encore rifles and love it. I will use Warne bases and Burris signature Z-rings. Thanks!

my 7-08 has the 3x12 burris, n i have several other 3x12's on other rigs as well. great scope....i like it. for an all out deer rig i'd prefer the 2x7, especially "in the woods". even when on 3x, the 3x12 model has less fov.
my 30-30AI has a 2x7, and my 35rem has a trophy 2x6. i grab those when i go after deer most times.

the encore/7-08/.308/3x12 type stuff are better setups for longer range shootin imo, rather than "woods rigs"......jmo.

For a 7-08 or .308, I find a 2-7X Burris or 2-6X Bushnell 3200 to be plenty of magnification on my T/C's or XP's. My recently sold Striker .308 also had a Burris 2-7X. All are lighter, and , I feel more useable on big game hunting handguns. I save the 3-12X Burris' for .225 and .223's and the groundhogs and prairie dogs.

I think you are getting some very sound advice. A 2-7 is more than enough for the shooting application you are going to be doing.

Duane

I pretty much agree with everyone on the 2-7. If you are expecting to have some real long shots on coyotes (or prairie dogs)and have a dead solid rest, the 3-12 might come in handy every now and then. I would still go with a Burris 2-7 ballistic plex.

I'd go with the 3x12 Ball-Plex! But, that's just me. You can also use the plan old D-Plex as a Ball-Plex system. Just site it in @ 100 yards using the top of the plex "were it get's thick" Now move out to 200 yards and shot it "using the center of the Plex" see were it hit's should be very close" Now move out to 300 yards "using the bottom of the Plex and see were that hit's" I have used this system on my Leupold's with very good success. XPHunter and his hunting buddy came-up with this and it works. They could go into more detail about it, but you'll get the idea.

I agree with the guys on the 2-7 if your in the woods, I don't shoot sp pistols anymore but my favorite for ground squirrels, coyotes and was going to be for deer was my contenders in 7-30 and 309jdj with the 3-12. I shot these when I was primarily hunting open country in eastern oregon. I now only have one scoped gun and that is my 410GNR and I put a fixed 2 power Nikon Monarch on it even though I swore I'd never shoot anything but open sights for now on, but my eyes and hands just won't let the gun work to its potential so I finally gave in.

We've been playing around with the 3-12 BP reticle lately, and it turns out that if u set that scope to 7.8X the BP stadia subtensions r very close to the 2-7X @ 7X, so if u get the 3-12X BP reticle u could basically have 2 scopes for the price of 1.

That is good info! I was kind of leaning toward the 2X7 since I am new to this game and thought the longer eye relief and larger field of view might be good, but I could always dial down the 3 X 12 and leave it at 3X until I need to shoot long range.

The 2-7 and the 3-12 are both good scopes and a nice choices. Having a choice of the giving options, I would put the 1.5-4 on there. But that is my personal opinion. All the advice that you have been given is good advice. Even red dot scopes have their definite advantages in low light scenarios. It is all one really kneads for hunting deer out to 100 yards, or more. However, a variable scope going to 7 or better has an advantage when shooting a rabbit size game at 100 yards.

I am going to put a fixed 2 on my 44 mag. But that is what I want to put on there. There is a nice article on the HHM website that is worth reading about scoping your handgun. I also have another one that I could e-mail you. http://www.handgunhunt.com/feature/s23/index.html

I boils down to what you want to use the handgun for and what type/style of hunting you want to do. Again, they are all good choices, but more importantly, what do you want. Remember that the bigger the scope, the more weight it is going to be. With today’s society, people have a tendency to over scope their “rifles,” I know that is a four letter word on this website. My best suggestion is to go to one of the big stores, like bass pro shop, and compare them all for yourself. It will give you some piece of mind.

Duane


A 3-12 would have several advantages with shooting longer ranges. That power of magnification will also requires some practice on obtaining you target at longer ranges so you can get the shot at a “Charlie” at longer distances. With the good information that you are already getting, all a 3-12 would do is give you more magnification when you really need it.

I have my T/C Encore setup in .308 and with a Burris 2-7x E-dot and I love the setup. I did my comparisons and reviews on line and in the stores, but ended up purchasing from Optics Planet and got a nice price on the scope. Burris recommended a double dovetail base and Signature rings for that scope on the Encore, so I went with that set up as well. I'm very pleased thusfar with the results.

The double dovetail base is very, VERY nice!

Duane

Excuse my ignorance, what is a double dovetail base???

That is very simple. Instead of having a dovetail in the front and two screws in the back, both of the rings are dovetail and pivot into position. Leupold’s dual dovetail for the Thompson Center Encore and Omega number is 54798.



Duane

Due to the difference in scope lengths, with certain mounts,you sometimes have to use extended mounts/rings when mounting the Burris 2 x 7 on a long gun such as a Striker or XP. This problem occurs to a lesser degree with the 3 x 12. FYI, compare the "difference" in field of view on the Burris 2 x 7 vs the 1.5 x 6. It is negligible, and the 2 x 7 has the BP reticle.