T/C Katahdin 45-70 scope advice

[ncmtnsencore]

I know this may have been covered but I've narrowed down the scopes I want to use for this bbl. Currently it's down to a vx-2 1-4X20 or a fixed 4 power both by Leupold. Any advice from owners of these scopes would be great. No shots around here more than 200 yards and I'm limited by bbl length but this bbl is perfect for the tight and thick stuff.

Thanks,
Scott

 

[R.W.Dale]

Don't worry about any criteria other then eye relief. You'll want as much as possible.

Having owned this combo I suggest a dot optic. I never could get a scope far enough away to not contact my forehead upon firing

 

[R.W.Dale]

 

[ncmtnsencore]

Luckily the Encore rifle setup with Katahdin bbl gives plenty of room for optic clearance. I've had red dots in the past but for deer hunting in this area a small optic works best.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Luckily the Encore rifle setup with Katahdin bbl gives plenty of room for optic clearance. I've had red dots in the past but for deer hunting in this area a small optic works best.

You have very little mounting less that 2" forward fully to rear leeway to get the scope away from your face.

Trust me. You will not find a scope you trust to not hit you in the face with this little powerhouse.

Have you shot it yet?

 

[ncmtnsencore]

Put quite a few factory loads thru it along with some nice potent reloads. This is my 2nd katahdin bbl since I had a .460 for a couple years in both pistol and katahdin and the optic I used on the .460 20" bbl was a 1-4x20 vx-1 which I sold to get this 45-70 bbl set up. The .460 was used when I hunted the adirondacks which are very thick but great on deer. Only reason I sold it was a coworker wanted it more than I did and the 45-70 is alot better to reload and more fun to shoot than the .460. I currently have a thumbhole setup which I had for the .460 bbl and the 1-4X20 was more than enough eye relief wise for me. I just found a vx-2 version at a local shop but was also debating on a fixed 4 power too.

 

[jmr40]

I like the 1-4X20. I find 4X too much for most woods hunting. A fixed 2X or 2.5X might be a possibility, but I see no reason to limit my options.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

if you have the front sight on at 1x you will see it i have both scopes the 1x4 is on a 12 ga 870 and i have one on my Encore 209 x 50 i always just have them on 4x and i have the 4x on my AR i would just get the 4x and not look back

 

[ncmtnsencore]

Thanks everyone for the help. I was leaning towards the fixed 4 since where I hunt theres not much call for anything larger power wise. I have the 30-06 bbl with a 3-9X40 Nikon BDC which is deadly with my handloads.

 

[TTundra]

Might be late to the game, but here's a little stick i put together. 300 Win cut down to 21". Though not a 45-70, it packs a punch. Have a 2.5-8 VX3 on there. Absolutely love it. Perfect brush gun as you mentioned but still a reacher when I want it to be. 25 yards to 400 yards, practiced and ready. ER on the VX3's is impressive, a full 4"-4.5". Leupold also has a $100 rebate going on for the VX3's now, so it makes it a great deal.

 

[Coltdriver]

I had a 450 Marlin Katahdin barrel on an Encore. I used a Leupold VX II 1-4 x20.

I never got tagged by the scope. You just have to hold the stock firmly into your shoulder. The Marlin 450 had the recoil of a seriously stout 45 70 load. I think the whole package was about 6 pounds. Well over 50 pounds of recoil and just unpleasant to shoot very much.

I went to the 45 70 and still have one in an 1895 Marlin.

I did put a Limbsaver pad on the Encore. They make one that is designed for the composite Encore stock so its a straight five minute exercise to swap it in. It was the only reason I could shoot the little monster.

That little barrel on an Encore probably makes the handiest small rifle you could come up with.

 

[JeffDilla]

I have a VX-2 1-4x20 on my 1895G and can't say enough good things about it. I rarely move it from 1x. It's my primary woods/brush gun when deer hunting and the sight-picture of 1x is outstanding.

I agree that a 4x fixed power might be too much.