[mac266]

I've never put a scope on a handgun before, but I'm thinking about doing it to one or two that I own. Both are 4" barrels; I don't like them much longer than that. My question is, is it unreasonable to do this? Most of the scoped handguns I see are 6" barrels or longer.

For what it's worth, the guns are an S&W model 29 .44 Magnum and a Colt King Cobra in .357 magnum.

These are not carry / self defense guns, although I carry the .44 when I'm in the mountains for defense against two and four-legged critters. I might use them to hunt someday, but I'm a rifle hunter. I'd really only be doing this for something to play with.

Your thoughts?

 

[TMan]

I've never put a scope on a handgun before, but I'm thinking about doing it to one or two that I own. Both are 4" barrels; I don't like them much longer than that. My question is, is it unreasonable to do this?

I think it really depends on the scope, and the way it's mounted. Some combinations would leave the front lens out over the end of the barrel, and I suspect that would be a problem. Otherwise, it's entirely practical, and for the most part, see better and shoot better pretty much go together.

Most go for a longer barrel to get the extra speed. Inherent accuracy of a shorter barrel is affected by the sight radius, but a scope puts them on equal ground.

 

[broom_jm]

I think the reason most people don't bother scoping a handgun with a standard length barrel is you're not getting enough velocity/range to really need one. For the distances at which a handgun with a 4" barrel is appropriate, open sights, or one of the laser-sight options, is about right.

 

[tacklebury]

I think the reason most people don't bother scoping a handgun with a standard length barrel is you're not getting enough velocity/range to really need one. For the distances at which a handgun with a 4" barrel is appropriate, open sights, or one of the laser-sight options, is about right.

+1 with the exception of eye issues or poor vision. I have a few shooting buds who need the scope purely due to focusing issues. Finding a good scope for this scenerio can be difficult as well. I don't use scopes, but most of my range pardners do.

 

[MikeG]

Just a question; does having a short barrel expose the objective lens to more damage from muzzle blast? I've never scoped a handgun and don't have any idea if this could be a concern.....

 

[broom_jm]

I can't say if it's a concern on short-barreled pistols, but it's for sure something to worry about with the big boomers that are ported or fitted with a brake. That's one reason why three of my Contender barrels are 14" or longer, with only the 30 Herrett being 10". It has a short 2.5X T/C scope on it.

 

[Fred]

I believe that Elmer Keith remarked that making the barrel of a handgun longer than 4 inches was a waste of good steel. I'd say go for it.

 

[Farrier Matt]

Use a 44 mag for instance. How much will velocity change with each inch of barrel gained or lost? If a 300 grain cast bullet is traveling 1000 fps out of a 4.625 inch barrel, whats its velocity out of 6.5, 7.5, 10 etc? This has been discussed quite a bit in the rifle sections, but I have not read anything about pistols. I prefer a short barrel on a handgun for ease of carry, but am curious as to how it can affect the ballistics of the gun.

 

[broom_jm]

I believe that Elmer Keith remarked that making the barrel of a handgun longer than 4 inches was a waste of good steel. I'd say go for it.

Elmer Keith said a lot of stupid things...

 

[rjf415]

Elmer Keith said a lot of stupid things...

just made my day--

 

[Rangeguy]

scopes

Louie Awerback says "Don't put s**t on your gun"....this might come under that observation...!!!

 

[stinky]

The length of the barrel has nothing at all to do w/accuracy....to some extent. Especially w/rifles and shotguns, this has been proven, a long time ago.

With pistols, the biggest factor in accuracy is sight plane length (the distance between the sights) and trigger control...BY FAR.

I've seen several shooters shoot the same scores w/a 4" guns as they shoot w/a 6" gun and I've seen a lot of scores shot.

So, at 100 yards, the dif between the gp size between a 4", 6" and 8" gun is PROBABLY about an inch...ALL OTHER FACTORS BEING EQUAL. Personally, I can hold an inch at 50 yards, once in a blue moon, but not at 100. So, you'll just have to believe the theory.

Now, this much nobody here can dispute...if you put a scope on a 4" gun, at 100 yards it will outshoot any iron sighted gun out there. PUT IT ON.

 

[recoil junky]

Elmer Keith said a lot of stupid things...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHA PANT PANT PANT HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH PANT PANT PANT.

Truer words were never written.

RJ

 

[mattsbox99]

Elmer Keith said a lot of stupid things...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHA PANT PANT PANT HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH PANT PANT PANT.

Truer words were never written.

RJ

Quoted for Truth!

--

Here's what I would do, and have done:

http://jprifles.com/1.6.1.php

I really like mine, they are very sturdy and look great on my guns.

 

[broom_jm]

Matt, that's a very cool-looking sight option for pistols, shotguns and even some rifles! I see they are in 1X magnification, which is fine in a lot of situations. I presume it has some kind of lighted reticle? The website doesn't really show that very clearly, if that's the case.

I wouldn't expect MOA accuracy from this kind of sight, but how well does it work at say, 50 feet?

 

[mattsbox99]

Its a red dot projected onto the lens. Most front sights are on the order of 20+ MOA, these dots are 4 and 8 MOA, so you can get MOA accuracy easily with them. The dot is self regulating, bright in bright light, and dim in dim light, so you aren't overburdened with a bright light - they automatically change so no fiddling with knobs or external adjustments, and with 20 minutes of elevation and windage you can sight them in pretty easily.

Mine works great out to 50 yards or so, I just have them on .22LR Ruger MKIIIs right now, but I've used them on AR15s too.