Variable power scout scope...do they exist?

aikidoforever

aikidoforever

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I've been looking into this and it seems that the eye relief of a handgun scope is longer than what you would need on a forward mounted "scout" rifle. That is why the handgun scopes are deemed EER (extended eye relief) insted of the scout scopes being IER (intermediate eye relief). Some posts on various forums say that handgun scopes will not work with a scout rifle... constant 15" or 20" eye relief on some... which would put the eyepiece of your scope almost at the tip of the barrel on an 18" barrel.


The reason I ask, I want a scout scope but would like the variable power like a 1.5-4 or 2-7. Anyone know if there exists such a beast? So essentially I'm wondering if there are any variable powered IER scout scopes out there?

Thanks.
 
I've looked through a Bushnell Elite 3200 (I think) variable (2-6 I believe) on a Ruger Frontier and with a slip on pad on the back to increase the length of pull it wasn't too bad all though it would have been better another inch or so further forward.

Depending on the scout mount rail size and location you might be able to make it work?

The scout concept is more about quick both eyes open, almost instinctive type shooting so there is not much demand for higher magnification which tends to reduce the field of vision and shorten the eye relief.
 
I get the concept of the scout rifle with the forward positioned scope..both eyes open, that's why I ordered that Ruger Gunsite scout. But to have the option, if needed, to take a shot at 200 or more yards with 2.5 or 2.75 magnification isn't IMHO ideal. So, this Leupold 1.5-4x seems to fit the bill. Most of the game that I've dropped were 60 to 120 yard range but I've taken a few at around 200+. But the longer shots were with a 3-10x40, cranked out maxed. Again, a variable power scout scope would make that rifle suit my application better.
Thanks for the input.
 
I agree that leupold seems to be what you are looking for.
I bet the peep sight would get you out to 200 on a deer's kill zone but it's nice to have the option of a little magnification!
A nice 1-4 illuminated reticle scope mounted over the receiver would be nice too.
 
Can-down said:
I agree that leupold seems to be what you are looking for.
I bet the peep sight would get you out to 200 on a deer's kill zone but it's nice to have the option of a little magnification!
A nice 1-4 illuminated reticle scope mounted over the receiver would be nice too.
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Not 100% sure but I think the front blade on that gun is a little on the thick side to be accurate at 200 yards on a deer size vitals. I do like like peeps though, but I like your idea of the illuminated reticle.
 
I'm running a Burris 2-7 handgun scope on my M14 on an Ultimak rail, mounted in Warne QR rings. The Burris has eye relief more like an IER scope, so I can mount it just forward of the receiver. It has a ballistic reticle so you have holdover marks for longer ranges. Looked a long time before I found one of these. To my knowledge, there isn't anything else comparable out there.
 
Can-down said:
I agree that leupold seems to be what you are looking for.
I bet the peep sight would get you out to 200 on a deer's kill zone but it's nice to have the option of a little magnification!
A nice 1-4 illuminated reticle scope mounted over the receiver would be nice too.
Click to expand...

I was looking online at that scope and it seemed to be "perfect" for my application, but I'm worried about..of course, the eye relief. I've never used a handgun scope and from what I've read the eye relief is a little strange. What I mean is, although it might have a 15" eye relief, it can't work too much closer or too much farther than 15". Does that make sense and is that the case with your set up?

If you can expand on this that would be helpful. Thanks for you input.
 
Honestly I think if you want magnification over the typical 2.5 scout you are going to have to deal with a small field of view in the scope and a small sweet spot for the eye relief which is what you are referring to.

I'd say get the gun and then go to a shop and try some scopes and see if it will work or not.

Otherwise a nice 1-4 illuminated recticle scope would be a pretty sweet set up!

The one I have is actually a 1.5-5 made by Falcon and while its a bit heavy it's got a nice german #1 style reticle and is well made

Once you've tried an illuminated reticle there's no turning back in my opinion....the one I have works like a regular scope with a black reticle if there is no power due to a dead battery or it being turned off and then you can select a green or red dot in the center of the scope and choose the brightness level....pretty nice in dark woods against dark targets!
 
Can-down said:
Honestly I think if you want magnification over the typical 2.5 scout you are going to have to deal with a small field of view in the scope and a small sweet spot for the eye relief which is what you are referring to.

I'd say get the gun and then go to a shop and try some scopes and see if it will work or not.

Otherwise a nice 1-4 illuminated recticle scope would be a pretty sweet set up! If they made an illuminated 2-7x33 scout scope I would buy it!! Thanks for your input.

The one I have is actually a 1.5-5 made by Falcon and while its a bit heavy it's got a nice german #1 style reticle and is well made

Once you've tried an illuminated reticle there's no turning back in my opinion....the one I have works like a regular scope with a black reticle if there is no power due to a dead battery or it being turned off and then you can select a green or red dot in the center of the scope and choose the brightness level....pretty nice in dark woods against dark targets!
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I've got a illuminated German reticle in my Burris Euro Diamond 3-10x40 and it is the best...albeit a little on the heavy side, it works flawlessly on my 300wsm Browning micro a-bolt. I've got a Leupold 1-4 but not illuminated on a 10-22. Great scopes, but ideally I want a scout set up for my scout rifle.
 
Bushnell had a 2-6x32mm in their Trophy line for a while that I saw advertised as a Scout scope sometimes, but I never handled one so I can't be sure it wasn't the pistol scope they did in that configuration being wrongly described by some retailers. I don't see it in their line-up currently but you might find one used. Or you might at least find someone who has/had one so they can confirm you should look out for a used one.
 
TheTooner said:
Bushnell had a 2-6x32mm in their Trophy line for a while that I saw advertised as a Scout scope sometimes, but I never handled one so I can't be sure it wasn't the pistol scope they did in that configuration being wrongly described by some retailers. I don't see it in their line-up currently but you might find one used. Or you might at least find someone who has/had one so they can confirm you should look out for a used one.
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I saw one of these in a local shop and practically wrenched it out of the shopkeepers hand...I want a variable scout scope too! Sadly, the Bushnell, although it seemed like a quality scope, has long eye relief, way too much for scout rifle use.

The Burris with ballistic-plex reticle mentioned earlier sounds like the perfect solution.
 
jjohnwm said:
I saw one of these in a local shop and practically wrenched it out of the shopkeepers hand...I want a variable scout scope too! Sadly, the Bushnell, although it seemed like a quality scope, has long eye relief, way too much for scout rifle use.

The Burris with ballistic-plex reticle mentioned earlier sounds like the perfect solution.
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Yes, that's the point of this thread, everything I've read online about handgun scopes it that the eye relief is way too long for scout mounting... but I must admit many of those article were reviewing the Bushnell scopes. So, I'm trying to figure out if it's a Bushnell issue or if all handgun scopes have these long eye relief.
 
jjohnwm said:
I saw one of these in a local shop and practically wrenched it out of the shopkeepers hand...I want a variable scout scope too! Sadly, the Bushnell, although it seemed like a quality scope, has long eye relief, way too much for scout rifle use.

The Burris with ballistic-plex reticle mentioned earlier sounds like the perfect solution.
Click to expand...

Can you remember if the Bushnell you saw was marked by Bushnell as a scout scope? The current Trophy XLT series on Bushnell's website includes a 2-6x32mm handgun scope (described as having constant eye relief at 18".) And I have a clear and certain memory that in the old Trophy line (pre XLT) they had a handgun scope in that configuration. I am certain that in the time of the old Trophy line I also saw that configuration advertised as a scout rifle scope, but I am not sure whether that was on the Bushnell web site or in a retailer's catalogue. In the former case it may have been with correct eye relief for the scout rifle application or it may have been the handgun scope and they were just trying to get on the scout bandwagon with it, while in the latter case I would be less hopefull that there could be Bushnell 2-6x32mm scopes out there in used land with the proper eye relief for a scout rifle.

I have a inclination to try a scout rifle (I tend to shoot with both eyes open anyway) and of the scopes out there at present I would most likely choose the Weaver K4 Scout. I think I shouldn't take shots at game beyond 200m, so that's plenty of magnification for me.
 
Although I'm the op of this thread and am looking for a variable power scout scope, I'm not sure how practical a constant 4x scout scope would be. I also tend to shoot with both eyes open but for quick shots I think it would be a little difficult to adapt...a little too much for those quick shots. I might be wrong of course but that's why I wanted a variable scope with the lower limit of magnification around 1.75 to 2.5 power. A constant 4x might be perfect who knows. Give us an update if you do go that route. Thanks.
 
The Bushnell 2-6 scope I looked at was indeed marked as a handgun scope, but over the years I've picked up several "handgun" scopes that had shorter eye relief (or a wider range of eye relief) and which worked well as scout scopes on some rifles. These scopes are mostly lower end brands (Swift, Ruko, etc.) but they worked well. Different rifles, and different scout scope mounts, can offer a wide range of mounting positions, and for me it was just a matter of trial and error to find combinations that worked. Another thing to consider is scopes marketed for shotgun use. Some of these have around 6 inches of eye relief, and can work well as scout scopes in some applications.

I shoot with both eyes open at all times, so I find the scout scope configuration easy to use, but I want the lower end of the power range somewhere around 2x or less for the quickest acquisition on moving targets if necessary.
 
In for answers, I'm going to mount a tradition scope on my gunsite but I am inclined to try a scout scope,

Anyone use a fixed power scope ont heir gunsite?
 
Bananatole said:
In for answers, I'm going to mount a tradition scope on my gunsite but I am inclined to try a scout scope,

Anyone use a fixed power scope ont heir gunsite?
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Sorry Bananatole, let's not highjack! This thread is concerning the existence of a variable powered scout scope mounted in the forward of the reciever position. Start your own thread!
 
Haha your whack bro! I just posted a question. I found one, it cost 459.99, and I ordered it.


Buuuut I don't want to high jack so I'll keep my 2-6 variable ier scope source to myself.

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Hahahaha ak, super cute bro
 
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