What's a good magnification for a hunting handgun scope?

[Adam in WI]

I'd like to put a scope on a Contender. If you were to put any scope on one for hunting and casual shooting out to 100-150 yards, what would you pick? Would a straight 6x be too narrow of a field of view? I never had a handgun with a scope, so any advice is welcome. Thank you.

 

[muleystalker]

I always used a 2x or a 4x depending on what I was hunting and the landscape. For 100-150 yds a 2x is plenty if hunting small deer size game and bigger, a 4x would work too.

 

[SSL]

I have an old Tasco Pro Hunter 6X on my XP100. Works well for me under most field conditions.

 

[Orr89rocz]

I got a 2-6 on my super redhawk. Bench shooting i use 6x. Hunting i usually keep it on 2 and may go to 4 if a little longer shot. Most shots for me are 40-60 yrds and in

 

[Adam in WI]

I have an old Tasco Pro Hunter 6X on my XP100. Works well for me under most field conditions.

You never feel like it's too much on close shots?

 

[SSL]

You never feel like it's too much on close shots?

Good point, but where I used to hunt deer with it (Missouri and such...can't use a 7BR in Illinois) I planned on at least 75 or more yard shots. Anything under 75 yards I used a .44 Mag or .45 Colt revolver with open sights, so I carried both a revolver and the XP. Several years ago I took a nice whitetail buck at roughly 167 yards (stepped off) with it (from a convenient rest). I have shot several groundhogs out to 150 or so yards, but again from a decent rest...in those cases bi-pods.

 

[Adam in WI]

I'd like to get enough magnification, but still be able to see "deer" and not just "shoulder" if I do have to take a close shot. Maybe I just gotta pony up for a variable.

 

[rr2030]

I have a G1 Contender in .223, 14" with a Burris 4X pistol scope. Great for target shooting or hunting where it can be on a steady rest. I have another G1 Contender in 30-30, 10" that I Deer hunt with, has a no magnification Bushnell red dot on it. Much friendlier than a scope IMHO. I have practiced with it out to 300 yards. I believe you can get a 2X red dot if desired.

YMMV

 

[Lone Hunter]

Lower power is better in close but if you are going to shoot distance and small targets you need more magnification but you will also need a very steady rest too. I had a Burris 3x12 for my Varmint pistol but on my deer hunting rigs I had 2x7 and 3x9. Never felt underpowered with any of those 3 scopes. In your post you say 100-150 and a 4X would work also. I just like the option of increasing magnification or decreasing it and lower magnification doesn’t look like you are all over the target. Steady rest is a big key also.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

I found for my type deer hunting(under 50 yards) low power was a lot better and sometimes a red dot sight was better

 

[K22]

If you are going to shoot free hand, i.e., no rest of any kind, then a 2X will aid trigger control by limiting the appearance of your arc of movement. The arc will be the same no matter which magnification of scope you select but the lower power will change the appearance thus help to mitigate jerking the trigger by trying to obtain too precise of a shot.

For free hand shooting, a better visual aid in my opinion is a red dot sight. Again, the larger MOA dots are better for free hand shooting.

If you will be shooting off a rest, then by all means select a higher magnification scope, a 6X would be optimum in my opinion.

While I experimented with Leupold 2X scopes and a red dot, I still prefer open sights for a revolver for recreational shooting but for hunting, the scope or a red dot enhances the chances of making the shot especially if you have aging eye sight.

 

[snert]

For deer out to 150 yards, 2x Leupold. Been shooting the same scope for 36 years, taken 23 deer with it, never felt under powered.

Put a 2-6 Weaver on a Contender this year. Wish I had ponied up for a 2x Leupold. No need for the extra power.

You will see deer, not just shoulder.

 

[Doug Casner]

Ive got a burris 2-7x32 on a 308 encore pistol. Its got a wider field of view than my old scope. I can find stuff easier. Doug

 

[snert]

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

@ Adam,..
I have, an older, 2.5 Power TC Contender, factory Scope, in very Nice condition with, the T/ C base on it,.. for round Barrels, so NO need to, buy any Rings.
It came off of a 10 inch, .22 WMR pistol barrel that I used to Hunt Jack Rabbits with ( Sold the Barrel ).
*** 2.5 Power was ALL that, I could hold steady,.. "Off Hand" and I Blasted many, a Rabbit and a couple of, Yotes too with this, combo !
If interested, PM me with, a reasonable offer !
I can send Pictures to your Cell Phone, if desired.

 

[CJ6]

I have a few Leup's in 2.5-8 and love them. They are on XP's and Contenders.

 

[WV Hitman]

I've hunted with handguns only since 1978.I have Contenders, Encores, & XP-100s. All of them have Burris 3-12X BPlex scopes. They are extremely versatile letting you use what power is needed for any hunting/shooting situation. I can guarantee you that if you get a fixed power for these longer range guns you won't be satisfied. Fixed power scopes will do OK for many revolvers, but even for them I mostly use 2-6 Power scopes, again for versatility.

 

[TrapperBR549]

I'm new to this handgun scope thing too. I have a burris 2X6 and a Leupold 1X4 Scout. I struggle finding the target with the 6X Burris. The Leupold has a shorter eye relief which means a wider field of view in addition to being lower power. For deer I think it will be much better. I am shooting a Contender 6.5 Grendel with a can so not a lot of recoil. If shooting something bigger make sure you aren't going to get a Weatherby eyebrow.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

One thing that was important to me for my style of handgun hunting with scope was the “light gathering” of the scope, but most of hunting was in the woods in low light conditions and higher powers was not as important

 

[Kurz]

One thing that was important to me for my style of handgun hunting with scope was the “light gathering” of the scope, but most of hunting was in the woods in low light conditions and higher powers was not as important

Absolutely!

Terrain and conditions have an effect of your choice of scope designs.

In the UP (tight woods) I used a red dot with no magnification. In Georgia and now AZ, I use the 2.5x8 Leupold. You need a good hold and rest to use the 8x magnification.