XP100s and scope eye-relief - Problem solved...I think

[SSL]

I have often seen pictures of people using what appear to be rifle scopes on XP100 handguns. I've always used "pistol" scopes (LER) on my XP in 7mm BR (center-grip stock), but too many of them require me to extend my arms to the point of instability, and I have long arms. My question is this: How do you deal with recoil in regards to the much shorter eye-relief on typical rifle scopes. My 7BR recoils enough that I would think the scope would give me another scar over my eye with typical (3 - 3.5 inch) eye-relief. (First one was from crawling too close on a hot-loaded 45/70...but that's another story!)

 

[alf]

The trick with a rifle scope is to get your eye close for aiming, then back up to about a half field of view.

This is an 8.5-25x50 Leupold on both XP's:

 

[SSL]

Thanks. Might give it a try...cautiously!

 

[Hal]

Alf
Who made the stock on your black stocked XP ?

Hal

 

[NorCalMikie]

Alf
Who made the stock on your black stocked XP ?

Hal

I prefer the top one. Would prefer it more if it was a lefty and it was MINE.

 

[potatojudge]

Not all rifle scopes are amenable to pistol use. I tried a bunch before landing on a Leica ER I think 4.5-14ish on an H-S pistol in 284- it's a real lightweight with fiberglass stock and a fluted pencil barrel but won't scope me. A lot of scopes don't have forgiving enough relief to allow you to back off to 2/3 or 1/2 FOV without having a very specific hold. Point is, test the scopes you have on hand to see what might work for you.

Brakes help

Heavy barrels help

You'll notice a lot of these specialty pistols are heavy rigs, in which case about any rifle scope works.

I find the older Leupold 2x LER scopes have short eye relief, followed by the newer 2x, 4x, then the longest the 2.5-8. For me, the 2.5-8 works best on barrel mounted optics like Ruger Hunter models.

 

[alf]

Alf
Who made the stock on your black stocked XP ?

Hal

That was is a H-S Precision stock.

The other one was a Fajen stock that I had them stop the cutting on the forend, and leave it full width. They charged me an extra $25 for the pleasure of stopping.

I forget how many coats of Tru-Oil I put on it...turned out pretty good.

 

[NorCalMikie]

The other one was a Fajen stock that I had them stop the cutting on the forend, and leave it full width. They charged me an extra $25 for the pleasure of stopping.

At times, you pay extra to get things the way YOU WANT. IMHO, worth every cent.

 

[Mike Casselton]

I have often seen pictures of people using what appear to be rifle scopes on XP100 handguns. I've always used "pistol" scopes (LER) on my XP in 7mm BR (center-grip stock), but too many of them require me to extend my arms to the point of instability, and I have long arms. My question is this: How do you deal with recoil in regards to the much shorter eye-relief on typical rifle scopes. My 7BR recoils enough that I would think the scope would give me another scar over my eye with typical (3 - 3.5 inch) eye-relief. (First one was from crawling too close on a hot-loaded 45/70...but that's another story!)

You could use a cantilever mount designed for ARs.

Switch the bases for a picatinny rail and then mount the cantilever.

It wouldn't be very pretty, but you could gain those last two inches that you probably need.

I think the newer pistol scopes are designed for rear grip pistols.

 

[SSL]

You could use a cantilever mount designed for ARs.

Switch the bases for a picatinny rail and then mount the cantilever.

It wouldn't be very pretty, but you could gain those last two inches that you probably need.

I think the newer pistol scopes are designed for rear grip pistols.

That's what I have now, at least for the present. I added it several months ago, but it sure looks ugly!

 

[K9TXS]

My largest caliber in an XP is a .223 and I use a Nightforce scope SHV. With a good brake, you won't have an issue and you can get a full sight picture. I have watched many shooters using big boomers with rifle scopes and they all had muzzle brakes.

 

[kerjo]

I put an arca rail on the bottom of my .35 rem XP 100 and use a tripod with an Anvil 30. I can fully extend my arms when the gun is locked into the anvil 30.

 

[K9TXS]

Take a look at this LINK, post #18. Ernie shows a couple of his big bore XP's that he uses. You can contact him for additional information.

 

[SSL]

Take a look at this LINK, post #18. Ernie shows a couple of his big bore XP's that he uses. You can contact him for additional information.

Thanks. Very interesting.

 

[SSL]

Thanks to all for your advice and info. I dug around in my scope drawer and found a forgotten Weaver Kaspa 6-18. Gives me a surprising amount of eye-relief (6 to 8" depending on setting) with still a substantial view. Much better than any of the others I tried from that drawer. Now if I can fin d the time to actually shoot it when the wind dies down...

Thanks again!