Bushnell Banner long eye relief scope?

[Col. Plink]

Hey y'all,

Trying to knock out my 'last' long term project: scout mount and scope for my gem of an old VZ-24. So far I have really only one candidate for a scout mount, the S&K mount made for the VZ-24 at $79.

My question is whether the Bushnell Banner long eye relief scope ($80 at Midway) is a good one or a good deal, or if there are better long eye relief scopes out there for the money. How do pistol scopes rate for scout set-ups on rifles? Thanks in advance!

 

[greyling22]

following a recommendation from rcmodel I put a leupold m8 pistol scope (used for less than 150 ebay or gunbroker) on my marlin 1894 as a scout setup. I love the thing. I had to mount it as far forward as it will go on the xs mount and have to keep my head back on the stock to keep a good sight picture, but it's not uncomfortable. I just have to keep myself from ooching my head forward. it has maybe 15"+ eye relief

I have no experience with that bushnell scope, but yes, there are always better scopes out there. and they cost more too. I was looking at a swift pistol scope before I settled with the leupold.

how about this mount http://test.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=152317719
or http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=...=3132323138353631302d3132323138353539302d3638

if you end up not liking whatever you go with let me know, or if you decide on the busshnell let me know how it works out. I have an old mauser I want to scout scope. The bushnell I found on midway has a 6" eye relief, and I think you will need 12-14 inches

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I'm almost certain that the Bushnell Banner line, although touted as having "long" eye relief or "very long" eye relief, are NOT true LER or IER scopes - I think they mean long *relative to* most standard eye relief rifle scopes. Even their "Cantilever Slug Gun" Banner with a purported 6" of eye relief, is not enough. You need a minimum of 8 or 9" of ER for that use.

Now, the one "rifle" scope that WILL work is the one that I currently have on my one and only scout-rifle configured rig - and that is the Nikon Omega (or Slugmaster) 1.65-5x36mm scope. It's around $225 give or take and has about 13" of ER on the lowest setting (1.65x), and around 5.5" on the highest setting (5x). On a scout type setup, you will be able to use it from 1.65 on up to at least 3 or 3.5 power before it blacks out - plenty of magnif. for that use. HIGHLY recommended scope for a scout rifle.

Or, you can run with a purpose-made IER scope like the Leupold, Burris, etc. Not as good though (IMO), less versatile (fixed magnif), and more expensive.

Having said all that, if you mount the Banner Slug scope or a Burris "Short Mag" scope such that it extends way back of the scope rail/mount area, then it probably WILL work. BUT, then you're not gonna be able to use stripper clips, and possibly interfere with ejection. The former defeats one of the purposes of the scout setup, and the latter is just not good.

 

[Col. Plink]

Looks like reviews on that one are rather poor unless you have a German 98K, and then no guarantees it won't take some smithing.

I will likely go with an S&K mount, will revisit the scope question. If the recoil wasn't so stout I'd try an NCStar pistol scope but they seem to have mixed reviews at best especially where recoil is an issue...

Dang, looks like y'all are right about the 'not-so-extended eye relief on the Bushnell Banner. 6" doesn't get the job done...

Looks like there's an 11"+ LER scope on Midway (product # 761874) made by Leatherwood (?) for around $130; may do that eventually.

So with the lowest price option out there, to reliably scout scope a VZ-24's gonna run me $200. Dang, sounds like a lot for a hobby project...

 

[Col. Plink]

updates above...

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Yeah, not worth it probably. The scope is one issue; the mount is a whole nuther issue. Getting a solid one and a low one is tricky & expensive.

Modern quality sporting turnbolts are cheap - grab one!

But if you're really set on the scout setup thing, then you could grab a Marlin 336 or 1895 and get an XS forward mount.

Or get an Enfield No. 1 or No. 2A and put an XS forward mount on it - these XS (Ashley Outdoors) sights are are sturdy and low. Hmmm, they may work on a No. 4 as well - not sure.

Or get a Savage 10 FCM Scout, or Steyr Scout.

Beyond those specific combos, I wouldn't bother with it.

My pseudo-scout (a little too heavy) is a No. 2A Enfield shortened to look like a No. 5 Jungle Carbine (they call it a "No. 6"), in 7.62x51 with the XS forward mount, and the Omega 1.65-5x36.

The NcStar pistol scope seems like it might be a decent cheap scout route to take.

 

[greyling22]

I decided to leave my mauser iron sighted for the those very reasons. it's just not worth it. I read the reviews on the ncstar as well, and was tempted, but they have such a bad reputation on rifles I couldn't do it.

 

[Col. Plink]

yeah, I guess it's a decision to make.

I have a really sweet VZ-24 that would make a really kickin' scout, but it may be wiser just to bring that front sight post up a bit and call it a 100-yarder...