I've been looking at IER and handgun scopes on and off for a while, as I want an optic of some type for my M1. The biggest problem I ran into was that I could hardly ever find a quality one in stock at a gun shop where I might test-fit it on my rifle. Given the non-standard eye relief required, I've been unwilling to buy anything I can't try out first.
Well, I made it into a Cabelas the other day, and they had Leupold 2x, Leupold 4x, Burris 2x, and Burris 2-7x handgun scopes all in stock. So I spent some time trying them all out, and really like the Burris 2-7x. The eye relief was just fine at 2x, and when I cranked it up to 7x, I had to move my head forward to - by cool coincidence - right about where it would normally be when I'm shooting prone. Perfect!
Now, to go from that Burris being a good scope to being the ultimate scout scope, I need to find out if they offer it with this reticle:
Their web page says they have it with the non-illuminated version of that reticle, and also with a plain crosshair and illuminated center dot. If I could get a combination of the two, it would be unbeatable.
One thing I don't like about going from iron sights to optics is the increased time and effort it takes to adjust the sights for different ranges. You either have to guesstimate a holdover, or take the time to adjust the scope (generally requiring removing screw-on caps and/or using a cartridge case or screwdriver). With the irons, the elevation knob is right there, no problem at all. But, with a couple ranging stadia like that reticle has, you've got a handful of precise holdovers, and it's much easier to estimate anything in between them.
The other problem I see with both irons and non-illuminated scopes is finding your aiming point in low light or no light. I can say from experience that the Garand's iron sights are basically useless at night - the aperture is small enough that it just obscures anything that isn't well backlit. But throw on a scope with an illuminated dot, and you can actually aim at anything there's enough light to see.
Combine the lit dot for low light, and the available magnification and stadia for long range, and what could be better? It's as close to an ACOG as you can get with long eye relief, and possibly even more useful, thanks to the variable magnification.
Does anyone know if Burris makes this combination? I already sent an email to the customer service department asking, but I want to know now! I want this scope!
Well, I made it into a Cabelas the other day, and they had Leupold 2x, Leupold 4x, Burris 2x, and Burris 2-7x handgun scopes all in stock. So I spent some time trying them all out, and really like the Burris 2-7x. The eye relief was just fine at 2x, and when I cranked it up to 7x, I had to move my head forward to - by cool coincidence - right about where it would normally be when I'm shooting prone. Perfect!
Now, to go from that Burris being a good scope to being the ultimate scout scope, I need to find out if they offer it with this reticle:
Their web page says they have it with the non-illuminated version of that reticle, and also with a plain crosshair and illuminated center dot. If I could get a combination of the two, it would be unbeatable.
One thing I don't like about going from iron sights to optics is the increased time and effort it takes to adjust the sights for different ranges. You either have to guesstimate a holdover, or take the time to adjust the scope (generally requiring removing screw-on caps and/or using a cartridge case or screwdriver). With the irons, the elevation knob is right there, no problem at all. But, with a couple ranging stadia like that reticle has, you've got a handful of precise holdovers, and it's much easier to estimate anything in between them.
The other problem I see with both irons and non-illuminated scopes is finding your aiming point in low light or no light. I can say from experience that the Garand's iron sights are basically useless at night - the aperture is small enough that it just obscures anything that isn't well backlit. But throw on a scope with an illuminated dot, and you can actually aim at anything there's enough light to see.
Combine the lit dot for low light, and the available magnification and stadia for long range, and what could be better? It's as close to an ACOG as you can get with long eye relief, and possibly even more useful, thanks to the variable magnification.
Does anyone know if Burris makes this combination? I already sent an email to the customer service department asking, but I want to know now! I want this scope!
