Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Shotgun scopes vs standard scopes - durability?

I'm putting together a 870 cantilever slug gun in 12 gauge and have a couple scopes to pick from. One is an old redfield cub 2.5X (or 2.75x) that is not mounted. It worked well on a 35 rem lever I took it off of. Still clear and heavy post & cross hair design

My other choice is taking a leupold 1-4 shotgun scope on a 3030 lever I could swap out if I had to.

Any issues with the old redfield standing up to slug gun recoil?

The only time I ever noticed a difference was on an automatic. Friend of mine had a Franchi slug gun that ate 4 scopes before he went with a 'slug scope' that the gun did not ruin (last I heard at least).

The biggest difference is probably the parallax, but with a low, fixed power scope, you shouldn't notice much.

I've got a Tasco Pronghorn 1.5 x 4 on my 870. No problems. You 2.5 Redfield should be just fine.

I firmly believe the only thing that sets shotgun scopes apart from others is the parallax is usually set for 75 yards.

The Leupold can be replaced / repaired if it craps out. FWIW I had a newer 4X fixed Redfield for years on a shotgun and it held up fine.

Not sure about that redfield on a 12 ga. slug gun but if it holds up it should be sweet. 2.5x is plenty adequate on a slug gun. That 1-4 Leupold would probably be a sure bet for the durability. I've had one on my 30-30 lever gun since 2002. I've also got an 870 12 ga. slug gun that's worn the same fixed power 2.5 Leupold ever since I first got the gun in 1987. Never had a problem with either scope. If I had to get a scope for another 12 ga. slug gun I'd go with another 2.5x Leupold for their excellent field of view, general toughness, and for slug gun range, I've always held that you don't need anything higher than 2.5- 3 or 4x . You could always run the redfield and if it craps out; go to the Leupold.

update:

I put the 1-4 leupold scope on the shotgun...
I figure its the best I got so I went with it..

And as I have been trying slugs in the shotgun... The recoil pain in swapping scopes is less on the 3030 than having to do it on the 12 ga twice.

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