what would you guys put on my 356win mod 94? i have an old leupold 3x m8, it has a 20mm obj. lens. i also have a simons 2x7x44, it's big and bright, but heavy. or, i'm looking at the bushnell banner 1.5x4.5x32. i can't spend a lot of money on a scope, so the vxIII will have to wait. i ordered a bsa catseye 1.5x.4.5x32, but i'm sending it back. according to the warranty info in the box, it only has a 1yr warranty. the bushnell has a lifetime. for $100, what would you recomend?
opinions on scopes
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I have an old Weaver 2.5X on mine. It has a five Minute Lee Dot. I am happy with it but it is not as bright as todays scopes.
I have a Simmons 1.5 - 5X that goes on and off of my Guide gun. It is a good scope.
I have a Weaver V3 on the .307.
As you can see I like smaller low power scopes. I shoot with both eyes open. For the Winchesters I have found that the Millett Angle Loc rings on Weaver bases save a lot of time and trouble. I have never had good luck with Redfield type bases on heavy kicking rifles. Access to a cheap columator helps get you on target quicker with the Winchesters.
I have a Simmons 1.5 - 5X that goes on and off of my Guide gun. It is a good scope.
I have a Weaver V3 on the .307.
As you can see I like smaller low power scopes. I shoot with both eyes open. For the Winchesters I have found that the Millett Angle Loc rings on Weaver bases save a lot of time and trouble. I have never had good luck with Redfield type bases on heavy kicking rifles. Access to a cheap columator helps get you on target quicker with the Winchesters.
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6,655 Posts
I am a Winchester Big Bore fan. But, the scope mount base holes are not set on the rifle exactly parallel to the bore. I believe they are angled slightly in favor of right handed shooters, being left handed I notice it.
Because of this some older scopes, Weavers in particular, do not have enough windage adjustment available to use Weaver rings. The Millett bases allow you to zero the adjustments on your scope and establish a basic bore sight using the rings for windage adjustments.
I have found the Milletts easy to use. Just turn out the left allen screw one turn and then open the right one for installation. The Winchesters require a columator or prisim for basic bore sighting. The Millets are small size but the handle recoil very well.
The .356 is not too hard on mounts and rings but the .444 Timber rifle will test them for sure!
Because of this some older scopes, Weavers in particular, do not have enough windage adjustment available to use Weaver rings. The Millett bases allow you to zero the adjustments on your scope and establish a basic bore sight using the rings for windage adjustments.
I have found the Milletts easy to use. Just turn out the left allen screw one turn and then open the right one for installation. The Winchesters require a columator or prisim for basic bore sighting. The Millets are small size but the handle recoil very well.
The .356 is not too hard on mounts and rings but the .444 Timber rifle will test them for sure!
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876 Posts
Gentlemen,
Not sure about the windage issue, as I'm not a lefty and not a Win 94 owner, and it sure would be good advice to check these things out before laying out the greenbacks.
I am a 35 caliber fan, and shoot a 358 in the woods, and its a pearl. As the 356 is a 358 with overshoes, I am sure it behaves the same way- good downrange punch and plenty accuratte.
The scope I have on my 358 is a VariX2 1x4, and it does allright, although I am not sure the magnification is enough. I may put a 2 x 7 compact, either leaupold or burris on this rifle, as I really like to visually interrogate an animal, and make sure that its big enough before i put the hammer down on it, and the 4x max is not quite big enough. WIth other scopes, I can swing it up to 7 or 9, and I have a pretty good idea, and that has makes a big difference.
I'm thinking that the mid size, 3-9s would be too much scope, and mess with the handliing characteristics that I really like about this type of rifle. Let me know how it works out for you.
Regards,
Steve
Not sure about the windage issue, as I'm not a lefty and not a Win 94 owner, and it sure would be good advice to check these things out before laying out the greenbacks.
I am a 35 caliber fan, and shoot a 358 in the woods, and its a pearl. As the 356 is a 358 with overshoes, I am sure it behaves the same way- good downrange punch and plenty accuratte.
The scope I have on my 358 is a VariX2 1x4, and it does allright, although I am not sure the magnification is enough. I may put a 2 x 7 compact, either leaupold or burris on this rifle, as I really like to visually interrogate an animal, and make sure that its big enough before i put the hammer down on it, and the 4x max is not quite big enough. WIth other scopes, I can swing it up to 7 or 9, and I have a pretty good idea, and that has makes a big difference.
I'm thinking that the mid size, 3-9s would be too much scope, and mess with the handliing characteristics that I really like about this type of rifle. Let me know how it works out for you.
Regards,
Steve
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204 Posts
I can recommend 3 scopes for the .356 Win
I have all three of these scopes and can say I would buy each again without a second thought. I'll list them out in order of cost, highest to lowest.
1 - Weaver Grand Slam 1.5 - 5x 32mm $295.88
Very bright and clear optics. Especially in the low light of early morning and dusk in the woods. Approximately 3" of eye relief. Very resistant to fogging up; even if you breathe directly on the lens it will clear immediately. The rubber power ring is easy to use with gloved hands. Mine is mounted on my .307 Winchester.
2- Bushnell Scopechief 1.5 - 6x 28mm $195.00
This scopes optics are almost as bright and clear as the Weaver Grand Slam. 3" of eye relief. Objective is a bit smaller so it is not quite as bright; still it is a very bright and clear little scope. Just as fog resistant as the Grand slam. The entire eyepiece is the power ring and its the quickest to use, especially with gloves. Mine is mounted on my .356 Winchester. I think that this one is dis-continued, but you might be able to pick one up if you shop around the Gun Shows.
3 - Thompson Center Hunter 1.5 - 5x 32mm $109.99
This scope is almost as clear and just as bright as the Bushnell Scopechief. Standard power ring, Approximately 3' of eye relief and almost as fog resistant of the other two. A good scope if you're on a budget. Mine is mounted on a Ruger Mini-Thirty 7.62 X 39.
Prices are from the Midway-USA catalog so I'm sure you could get them cheaper some place else (maybe Midsouth Shooters Supply).
Hope this helps.
I have all three of these scopes and can say I would buy each again without a second thought. I'll list them out in order of cost, highest to lowest.
1 - Weaver Grand Slam 1.5 - 5x 32mm $295.88
Very bright and clear optics. Especially in the low light of early morning and dusk in the woods. Approximately 3" of eye relief. Very resistant to fogging up; even if you breathe directly on the lens it will clear immediately. The rubber power ring is easy to use with gloved hands. Mine is mounted on my .307 Winchester.
2- Bushnell Scopechief 1.5 - 6x 28mm $195.00
This scopes optics are almost as bright and clear as the Weaver Grand Slam. 3" of eye relief. Objective is a bit smaller so it is not quite as bright; still it is a very bright and clear little scope. Just as fog resistant as the Grand slam. The entire eyepiece is the power ring and its the quickest to use, especially with gloves. Mine is mounted on my .356 Winchester. I think that this one is dis-continued, but you might be able to pick one up if you shop around the Gun Shows.
3 - Thompson Center Hunter 1.5 - 5x 32mm $109.99
This scope is almost as clear and just as bright as the Bushnell Scopechief. Standard power ring, Approximately 3' of eye relief and almost as fog resistant of the other two. A good scope if you're on a budget. Mine is mounted on a Ruger Mini-Thirty 7.62 X 39.
Prices are from the Midway-USA catalog so I'm sure you could get them cheaper some place else (maybe Midsouth Shooters Supply).
Hope this helps.
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43 Posts
i have a simmons 2-7x44mm on my marlin 336cs, and i love it. wouldn't trade it for anything as it makes in my opinion the perfect rifle/scope combo for whitetail.
the .30-30 is a death ray on whitetail in the cottonwoods, river bottoms, brush, and alfalfa fields where whitetails are found. the 2-7 magnification is great for the ranges at which whitetails are found, i.e., out to 200 yards, which is perfectly inside the range of the .30-30. finally, the 44mm objective allows for clear, crisp and bright vision at dawn and dusk, which is the time that i see the greatest majority of whitetails in the habitat described above.
i ahae heard good and bad about simmons, but when speaking of this scope (the simmons 44mag) three things cannot be denied. the first is that this scope has FULLY MULTICOATED lenses, not just coated lenses, not just multicoated lenses, and not just the ocular and objective lenses. this is a sign of good quality, for they would ahrdly take the time to fully multicoat their low-end line of scopes. the second is that simmons has a lifetime warranty, which makes it a reasonable buy and a good investment. the final thing is that this scope is made in the phillipines, not in china. i cannot overstate the fact that a chinese scope is junk. all-in-all, the simmons 44mag is an affordable option when looking for quality optics. sure, we would all love to put leupolds and swarovskis (did i spell that right?) on our rifles, but this is not always economically feasable.
if you already have this scope, my opinion is that you should mount it and use it. the relative "weight" of this scope is not much compared to the benefits, especially on a gun that is already light and can afford a couple of extra ounces. i found this scope and rifle combination to be lightweight and with a little practice and a 200-yard zero, you will be good out to 230 yards within an 8-inch kill-zone using 150-grain remington core-lokts. you will be able to take any shot that you might encounter with confidence that comes from being able to see it clearly, which will improve your chances for a good shot and a clean kill.
the .30-30 is a death ray on whitetail in the cottonwoods, river bottoms, brush, and alfalfa fields where whitetails are found. the 2-7 magnification is great for the ranges at which whitetails are found, i.e., out to 200 yards, which is perfectly inside the range of the .30-30. finally, the 44mm objective allows for clear, crisp and bright vision at dawn and dusk, which is the time that i see the greatest majority of whitetails in the habitat described above.
i ahae heard good and bad about simmons, but when speaking of this scope (the simmons 44mag) three things cannot be denied. the first is that this scope has FULLY MULTICOATED lenses, not just coated lenses, not just multicoated lenses, and not just the ocular and objective lenses. this is a sign of good quality, for they would ahrdly take the time to fully multicoat their low-end line of scopes. the second is that simmons has a lifetime warranty, which makes it a reasonable buy and a good investment. the final thing is that this scope is made in the phillipines, not in china. i cannot overstate the fact that a chinese scope is junk. all-in-all, the simmons 44mag is an affordable option when looking for quality optics. sure, we would all love to put leupolds and swarovskis (did i spell that right?) on our rifles, but this is not always economically feasable.
if you already have this scope, my opinion is that you should mount it and use it. the relative "weight" of this scope is not much compared to the benefits, especially on a gun that is already light and can afford a couple of extra ounces. i found this scope and rifle combination to be lightweight and with a little practice and a 200-yard zero, you will be good out to 230 yards within an 8-inch kill-zone using 150-grain remington core-lokts. you will be able to take any shot that you might encounter with confidence that comes from being able to see it clearly, which will improve your chances for a good shot and a clean kill.
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43 Posts
my apologies! for some reason i was convinced that you ahd a .30-30, now i see that is not the case! except for the ballistic information however, i believe that all my previous advice still applies.
Have you considered a reciever sight? I can shoot them almost as well as a scope on a lever gun at reasonable ranges. It keeps the rifle light and quick to aim. I find it easier to make an accrate follow up shot, if necessary, also.
I'll second the praise of the Weaver Grand Slam scopes. If they fit your budget, I think they are money well spent. I've been using one for almost two years and have nothing but praise for it. Weaver and Burris have been getting my scope money as of late, Leupold is too proud of their products in my opinion. I've also had some problems with the Leupolds not holding up to single shot pistol recoil (vari-x III). They fix them, no problem, but its a pain that is not warranted when paying top dollar for a product.
I'll second the praise of the Weaver Grand Slam scopes. If they fit your budget, I think they are money well spent. I've been using one for almost two years and have nothing but praise for it. Weaver and Burris have been getting my scope money as of late, Leupold is too proud of their products in my opinion. I've also had some problems with the Leupolds not holding up to single shot pistol recoil (vari-x III). They fix them, no problem, but its a pain that is not warranted when paying top dollar for a product.
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28 Posts
I don't like giving advice..'cause what is usually good for one is crap for another.
BUT, this time I'd say stick with that 20mm 3x Leupold or if you truely wish to up grade then buy a 2x Heavy Duplex M8 Leupold. That 2X will do everything you could ask of it , considering you're putting it atop a 356, you really don't need a 500 yd scope with a trillion X...do you? . Inside of 250 yds that Leupold will be bright, clear and the heavy Duplex is just the ticket for <100 yd woods shooting.
I know I have one on mine....and love it.
BUT, this time I'd say stick with that 20mm 3x Leupold or if you truely wish to up grade then buy a 2x Heavy Duplex M8 Leupold. That 2X will do everything you could ask of it , considering you're putting it atop a 356, you really don't need a 500 yd scope with a trillion X...do you? . Inside of 250 yds that Leupold will be bright, clear and the heavy Duplex is just the ticket for <100 yd woods shooting.
I know I have one on mine....and love it.
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1,378 Posts
3x leupold - go with it!
I would go with the 3X Leupold.
- You already have it!
- Lifetime warranty - if you need it.
- Eye relief is over 3.5" ( I will not put a scope with less than 3.5" of eye relief on anything over a .22 center fire - for example Leupold Vari XII on the highest power setting still has 3.7" eye relief)
- You should be able to mount it in LOW rings.
I would go with the 3X Leupold.
- You already have it!
- Lifetime warranty - if you need it.
- Eye relief is over 3.5" ( I will not put a scope with less than 3.5" of eye relief on anything over a .22 center fire - for example Leupold Vari XII on the highest power setting still has 3.7" eye relief)
- You should be able to mount it in LOW rings.
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