Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Is your scope a handle?

This thread is starting to remind me those on whether the .223 is a deer rifle. The people who are sure it isn't have mostly never used one on deer, but "know" it won't work. Then there are the people who actually have killed deer, sometimes quite a few, with a .223, and know it will.

bsa1917hunter,



Obviously this is only an opinion.

Ringman, read it very carefully and very slowly. I said "for me".... It may be different for you my friend..

Many a deer have fallen to the mighty 22lr. I'm in the boat that the .223 rem is a "deer rifle" and a damn good varmint rifle as well..

Carrying by the scope occasionally sure helps when trying to weave a rifle through thick brush. I've never had one change zero because of it.

You got it. My Ruger with big bell scope and high rings is made to carry that way. My Tikka is low mounted so I can't. I used to tote my Marlin GG Africa style. None of this ever affected accuracy.

I always do. Never a problem, and see no reason not to do so. If the scope/mounts cannot handle that, then they won't handle a few Gs of recoil force either.

And I don't use steel mounts.

I did read it slowly. That's the only way I can read. In fact some times I even have to sound out a word before I can move on. Sometimes I have to read something a couple times to get it. But I did notice that. Others may not.

And here's a link to an oldy but goody, on the same topic from 2005:

Do you use your scope as a handle?

I don't carry only by the scope, my fingers won't fit with low mounts and the DNZ's have a bar below. Usually my fingers are under the action and thumb on the front scope mount on top of the scope. The fat azz DNZ's work well for the thumb on top.

I always carry a sling with me. There are a couple of spots I hunt where I have to climb and need both my hands...one on a climbing/walking stick and the other on any roots, or rocks I can grab. Have held the rifle by the barrel and used the butt as a second walking stick before. I picked up an Elberstock this year and I'm anxious to see how the rifle carrier in it works for some of these spots....kinda worried that the barrel end may catch the ground when coming down the slopes though.

I use mine as a buck for logs when cutting firewood.Works good cause its a Vortex.

I do it....sometimes.

After reading this thread, I've decided to install quick release rings/base on every rifle. I will then remove the scope and keep it in the factory box and in my back pack.

When the time comes that I need to take a shot, I will carefully remove said scope from said backpack and box and install on my rifle.

That should eliminate ANY concern, other than recoil, of something happening to my scope.

Hey, even recoil won't be a problem if you mount it only on .223's. But the .223 won't kill deer.

Remember the guy who came on and posted how he carried two or three scopes and types of ammo so he could swap on and load up according to what situation he encountered while he hunted?

Did he use a Scope Caddy??Say James, I will use the Leupold 4X14 X 40 30MM please and the 130 grain Noslers for this shot!!!

Damn.....JB you know I take your word as gospel, as Ive never seen you be wrong.


I'm gonna hafta re-think this whole thing now.........

You better check with W.E. Tibbe, he knows everything.

At the very least he can tell you what edition of Field & Stream he read it in...

Where can I find this font of knowledge?

Cause I'd really rather go with opinion than actual experience.....