Scope for shotgun - suggestions ?

[bout time]

Wondering what everyone uses on their shotguns? Looking to upgrade from 2.5 x 20 next season. Was looking at Bushnell Trophy 3-9 x 40 - overkill? Hunt mostly hardwoods with longest shot being 100 yards ÷/-. Suggestions ?

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[Gene Shenk]

I like the Nikon pro staff scopes 2-7 x 32mm for my shotguns.

[PigPenn]

4 X 32

[Miss em]

I have Leupold Vari x 3 with Heavy Crosshairs on a couple of our shotguns.  One is 1.5 x 5 power, other is 1.75 x 6 power.  Really nice setups.

Edited December 11, 2014 by Miss em

[holy mackerel]

+1 on Leupold

[skipper19]

Leupold Heavy cross hair 1.5 to 4..yes! Especially if you shoot 3 in. Mag.

I had a Bushnell loose the cross hair on a New England Ultra Slug 3 inch.

I know...overkill...more $ for the scope than the gun, but can't hit a thing without good glass...I don't care if the gun is 5 grand, cheap glass makes a great firearm cheap..

Cent frum my notso smart fone

Edited December 10, 2014 by skipper19

[dewey123]

Nikon pro staff 3-9x40 is what I use

[steelie]

Nikon pro staff 3-9x40 is what I use

 X2

I have a Nikon buckmasters, Burris fullfield, and a prostaff. The prostaff is my favorite ! Allthough I did see the buckmasters on sale at cabelas right now for $150 ! thats a darn good deal...  Some others might want to check that deal out too...

[Chas0218]

Wondering what everyone uses on their shotguns? Looking to upgrade from 2.5 x 20 next season. Was looking at Bushnell Trophy 3-9 x 40 - overkill? Hunt mostly hardwoods with longest shot being 100 yards ÷/-. Suggestions ?

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Get something with a big objective to have as much light transition as possible.  Anything around 40 is great. If you can get something around a 2.5-7 that would be ideal.  All my guns with scopes are Nikon or Bushnell.  The Nikon glass is made right here in the USA at the Corning NY plant. 

Edited December 11, 2014 by Chas0218

[Nautitroller]

X3 on Nikon, $ for $ the best glass. Have one on my ruger muzzle loader and rifle, love em.

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[slipbob]

I've got a 1x4 Nikon Turkey Scope on my 870 slug gun that I really like.  Something else to consider using that's built to take heavy recoil. 

[Gill-T]

Cabelas is selling the Vari X I in 2X7 for $200.00. 

[Mortigan]

Leupold 1-4x 20mm on one & Nikon 2-7x 30mm on the other.  Both have been great for me

[fishshack]

I'd stay away from Bushnell. Nikon pro staff gets my vote as well

[Jersey Len]

I like  1 x 4 Mag. for shot guns . Most shots are within a 100 yards. Keep it set at low power for better field of view and quick pick up. If the game is further away you have time to turn up the mag.  By a Shot Gun scope model only. The best one you can aford.

Happy Hunting

Shoot Strait.

Len

[momay4000]

All three are great scopes are good for a shotgun - and I own all three makes - but I prefer the Leupold VX-1 for my shotguns in 3-9x40mm as I think it is the best at low light.

 

Here's a few things to consider:

 

1.) Shotgun/muzzleloader scopes are not marketed to be "more rugged" or more "shock resistant" to mount on a shotgun. They are labeled as shotgun/muzzy scopes b/c they have paralax adjustments built into the scope for closer range shots typically within 100yds (which is the typical range for a shotgun). The scopes for shotguns also typically have more eye relief.

 

2.) Contrary to popular belief, the objective lens diameter, i.e 33, 20, 40mm doesn't really have much to do with field of view, but more to do with how well the scope will function at low light. A 40mm will look brighter (called exit pupil) than a 20mm lens but both will have similar field of views at similar magnifications.

 

3.) Also, pay attention to what reticle you prefer. My newer Leupold shotgun scopes in 3-9x40mm have the thicker crosshair reticle which I also like. My Nikon has a BDC reticle which i do not like for shotgun hunting. This is personal preference, but I prefer crosshairs for deer hunting.

 

Any of the three makers mentioned above are great, but for my money i think the Nikon or Leupold are brighter and function better at low light.

 

Good luck,

 

Chris

Edited December 12, 2014 by momay4000

[justtracytrolling]

Im a bushnell guy and use their Tactical scopes on my rifles, but a grand is alot for a shotgun.  I like the Bushnell elites for muzzleloader/shotgun use, something in the $300 range.   I stick with objectives lens 40 mm or bigger and went away from 1 inch tubes found on almost all scopes and have opted for 30 mm tubes found on better scopes along with a side parallax adjustment.  As said above the best guns arent even average with cheap glass.   As for Nikon and Leupold, both are excellent but if you compare like models there isnt any difference....upper end scopes will always do the job and you will never have a problem....conversely cheap scopes suck and I dont care which brand you look at.  Another thing to look at is mounts and rings....dont try to save money there either!  Id rather see a cheap gun setup with top shelf bases, rings, and scopes than a beautiful gun with low end glass!   

[Huntin' Trout]

Nikon Slug Hunter - a perfect shotgun scope!!

[Dominic100#]

Vx1 all the way heavy cross hair

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[King Slammin]

Nikon slug hunter 2-7x with ballistic reticle. Dropped 7 deer this yr between me and my son using Hornady SST slugs. I dropped one from 110 and another from 130 yds. Never would have taken those shots without this combo

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[bout time]

Thanks all. I went with the Nikon Prostaff Shotgun 2-7x32 with weaver rings.

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