Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Quality 2x7 or compact 3-9?

Does anyone make either of these but in a compact format? I know there are plenty of 3x9 out there, but the full size ones look funky to me on a lever gun. I would like click adjustments that are true and correct.
I know for instance that Vortex makes a Crossfire II 2x7 but honestly I do not trust it to make true adjustments. Sig makes a Whiskey 3, 2x7x32mm BDC but know nothing about them.

Any ideas?

I've had good luck with the Redfield Revolutions. Own two in 2-7 and am keeping them. One is going on a 20" 760. Other is in waiting.

Do they still make them?

P
I agree. Nothing says WTF like a 3-9 or similar on a lever gun, a type of rifle that should epitomize balance, easy carry and fast handling.

My lever guns with optics all carry 1 - 4s the others irons. For what it’s worth, my Number 1s only have
1 1/2 - 5s because I don’t want to encumber nice handling rifles with completely unnecessary optics.

Seems like the optics companies primarily want to sell Hubbles these days. If I were you, I’d be looking for an older Leupold 1-4, 1.5-5. 1.75-6 or 2-7. Going to assume, being a lever gun and all, it’s going to be set and forget?

Might be worth looking at some of the LPVOs currently on the market that are primarily intended for ARs

Just my thoughts.

The trouble with LPVO's for lever guns is they're all 30mm tubes and heavy as a brick with giant ocular bells precluding them from being mounted as low as they should be on a lever gun stocked for iron sight use.

The vintage Redfields in 4X on a lever.....9.2 ozs and 11 30"....hard to beat. Also have one on a Win. 69A rimfire.

Unfortunately not, but they can be had on the used market and not for big dollars.

The only thing you have to watch with them is that there is a funky LR reticle that's a bit weird. The duplex is fine.

I don't like the looks of a belled objective on a lever gun. Straight tubes look great to my eye. I love this pig plex reticle on my Leupold 1-4.




Too many of the LVPOs take on too tacticool of a look for lever guns. This one is an exception. https://www.bushnell.com/scopes/vie...ion-1-6x24-riflescope/BU-RT1624BS15.html

The Sightron 1.75-5 looks very nice.

Pertinent to this topic, I called Trijicon the other day to request they start making a 1" tube 2-7 and 1-4 Accupoint. The ground is already prepped given they make a 1" tube 3x9 Accupoint. The guy who answered the phone said they have some sort of "Tell us what you want" option and routed me to another guy who was very interested in what I had to say about the market demand for hunting scopes. He said they take customer requests and comments seriously and have regular discussions at meetings about what they hear. Maybe the guy was just shining me on, but he was interested enough to have me repeat several things to him.

Unfortunately most of todays 2-7x32's have huge ocular bells and power rings that interfere with hammer manipulation if mounted as low as they should be on a lever action. Sightron also fugged up the S-1 G2 1 3/4 -5 x32 with a huge ocular bell and power ring. I swear I don't know what the dipshyts who design these scpoes are smoking. Must be the same retards that design noisy hunting coats with few pockets and Savage rifle stocks.

How does that pig plex show up for you in the woods at dark thirty ? It looks too fine to show up well to me and there are lots of reviews to that effect. That Bushnell trophy weighs 18 oz.. Another brick with lenses. Wouldn't want it on my lever gun.

2-7x 32 mm Vortex Viper with the Versa plex reticle on my Marlin 336. They don't make those anymore and I wish I would have bought two. I believe Leupold makes a similiar scope.

I now have three so-called LPVOs, all 30mm, and all about a pound. One thing they have IMO over traditional 1” scopes is a wide-open view at low power that is very easy to get behind and pick up targets in. Two of them also have pretty generous ER. To me, that’s a good trade-off for a bit of weight and bulk, but to each his own. Ain’t got any leverguns at present anyway.

Well the Hawkes certainly look good for my purpose.

Anyone running one? Reliable?

I have 2-7x33 Leupolds, 1.5-5x Leupolds, 1.5-5x Simmons, and 1.5-5x Bushnells on Marlin, Mossberg, and Savage lever guns. They are work as well as I need them to work.

My preferred still-hunting rifles, a Ruger 44 International and a couple of Winchester 100s, have Leupold 1.5-5x Vari X-IIIs or Weaver K1.5s on them.

Back when Leupold would change reticles for a small price, I had them put heavy duplex reticles on VX2 2-7x33s. The heavy duplex reticle came standard on the shotgun scopes, but those were only made in Rifleman, VX-I, and VX-1 series scopes.

The old B&L, later Bushnell, ScopeChief 1.5-5x20s have nice optics and can regularly be found in excellent condition on eBay.

I have an Endurance LER (old model) that had its ass kicked by a Mini 14, but that’s a tough ride. I think ingwe is still running a couple. Higher grade ones have coil bias springs, or used to could anyway.

If you buy one be sure and keep the receipt and register the warranty lest you become SOL if it breaks.

I honestly don't know. I haven't piddled with it in low light.

Fotis,
The used market seems to be the best route for proper levergun scopes. Regardless of the radical turnover in the riflescope market, a 20 year old scope doesn't mysteriously become obsolete.

Like right now, there's a burris mini 2-7 on ebay. Light years more precise and rugged than the old friction adjustment 2-7 leupold ultralight, but equally light. Every animal I ever shot with a scoped levergun, burris had the right compact scope. I do miss the old burris stuff.

I currently have a Vari x 2 or something like that 2x7 on the lever with the friction adjustments. Man I can not tell you how much I despise friction adjustments!!! I can never get them right to sight in a rifle. Almost as bad as having click adjustments that will not track worth a damn!

I love my 2-7 Whiskey3. For your purpose it does, however, have a big ocular. I don't have a lever action but, I did have my gunsmith bend the bolt handle on my rifle just to mount this scope low. I also, have a couple of the older Hawke 2-7 illuminated plex reticle, Leupold VX 2 2-7 LR reticle (click adjustments), and a couple Burris FF 2 ballistic plex. Side by side at dusk the Sig and the Burris hands down. I've also got a couple Bushnell Scope Chief iv 1.5-4.5s - probably perfect for a lever gun. If I were you, I'd be looking at this: https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...e-3200-2-7x32mm-250-shipped#Post19247390

Good luck! Maybe some day they'll start making the kinds of scopes guys like us want again!

I have a Hawke scope on my $1,500 air rifle and have been very pleased with it.

Sometimes, if you’re “lucky”, you’ll get one with both features!

Assuming the adjustments are true, I like to use the old trick of shooting a few, then holding the rifle steady and moving the reticle to where the shots landed.

Life is just rough for the handicapped. Best not even try drift adjusting open sights. Sheesh.

The no longer made Weaver 2-7x (Japan) is a great scope. I have used a few and still have a couple NIB when Natchez was selling them at a significant discount as they were being closed out a few years ago.

I have one Hawke on my Weihrauch air rifle & another one was already mounted on my 17 HMR when I bought it. They seem to be well made & I’ve gotten good results with them so far. But I have no experience using them on rifles with higher recoil.

FYI - There was a 2-7x32 posted in the classifieds yesterday:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...e-3200-2-7x32mm-250-shipped#Post19247390

I have a Redfield Revolution 2-7x32 that I had mounted on my Ruger No.1 in 303 British (pictured below). It was a good combo that put deer in my freezer. It’s currently mounted on a Winchester 1885. I think it would work well on a lever action but it’s probably the largest scope I would put on one. Small & compact does look best on that type of rifle.

Fotis, the Hawke Vantage 2-7 scopes that Doug lists, look particularly suitable if you go without the adjustable objective - the fixed objective model is 11-inches long and weighs 11-ounces, which is a half-inch shorter and 3.5-ounces lighter than the AO model - price is right too if only to try it out. After seeing what Doug's got listed I'm thinking of getting one to put on a Howa mountain rifle, rebarreled to a 250 Sav for my granddaughter. Not the same reasons that you have for a lever-rifle but the same constraints.

I believe Trijicon used to make a 1.25-4x24 1” tube Accupoint or Accuview. They used to show up on eBay but I haven’t seen one in quite a while.
I wanted something a little different for my 7600 carbine that had a Leupold 1.5-5x20 on it and went with the Trijicon Accuview 1-4x24. Optically it is a fantastic scope. Huge field of view at 1x, and the German #4 with the green center dot are lightning fast to get on target. Problem is it’s heavy and big.
I think I’ll give Trijicon a call and make my case for them producing a 1-4 or 1-5 1” scope.

Who would that be my friend? If you are referring to me I will advise you that I have no issue dealing with open sights. Main reason is when you drift the sights they actually do move the point of impact bullet in the said direction. As opposed to the friction crap.

I have no problem with friction adjustments. Apparently you're special.

Well maybe your friction adjusting scope does not have an issue with tracking but mine may. After all it is a Leupold. Did you think about that before bringing up the handicap crap? Evidently not.

I once had a Leupold Compact 3x9 EER that was just plain goofy. It was aggravating to zero, then after about 20 rds, it move again, and be just as big a pain as before. After the third "refurbishing" by Leupold, I gave it to a guy who wanted it for a safe queen, ha. So I hear you on those friction dials! Early Tasco's were a toss up if they worked or not, and they were all I could afford in the 70's. I found their World Class was good. Finally, when my wife gifted me a BDL 7Mag in '80, I sold an old WW2 P38 9mm to a guy, added some saved up lunch money, ha, and bought my first Leupold VXIII 2.5x8. Now it was a good one, friction dials and all. Fast forward 40+ yrs later and I bought a used rifle with an original 2.5x8 that someone had stripped the windage dial. Leupold replaced it with a new one, but has the CDS turret. It dials in fine.

Precisely!

Fotis:

As far as currently available scopes go, I have found the 1" Sightron 1.75-5 to be the best fit for levers and woods rifles. Most importantly, they've been tough so far. They're also trim in design, small in size, and offer much better glass and a brighter view than vintage scopes I've used in the past for the stated purposes.

I'm running 2 so far and will be adding more as the need arises. I'd really like one with a #4, but such as it is, their duplex is very well done, and I've found it to be an excellent aiming tool for the low light, heavy cover scenarios in which I often use them.

Thank you. I'll take a look.

If I needed a new lever gun scope right now I'd probably try to get ahold of one of the Hawke Vantage 1-4x20's with the illuminated German #4 type reticle. Thankfully I don't need one as I'm quite content with the Weaver K-2.5's and Leupold 1-4x20's that presently reside on my various levers.

Nobody makes a 2X7. Would be pretty useless if they did. There are some 2-7X scopes out there and I used to prefer them. But anymore I've not found a 3-9X to be a real handicap and if I really want something smaller with less magnification I like a 1-4X or similar. The 2-7X's weren't enough smaller nor lighter than a 3-9X to matter. 2X vs 3X on the low end was indistinguishable. But 1X on the low end is dramatically better to me.

I sure whacked alot of game on 1 1/2 in my old Leupold 1.5x5 on a couple rifles. I had to sell it to pay the ObammaCare Ransom money awhile. Now I too do just fine with 3x on low end, 2.5 from the leupold 2.5x8. If I'm out in the open, well yeah, I'll crank up to 5-6x, and if they are out there a ways, I'll crank up to higher end.

I've come to believe the best magnification for a given situation is very subjective. I think, our brains must be wired differently. I love 2x for walking around when a fast, close shot is a possibility. 1x is too little and 3x is too much - for me. And, I'd rather have 3x than 1x. I'm resigned to the fact that I may need to live with 3x on the low end to get other things I want in a scope. 2x is 100% different than 1x and, 3x is 50% different than 2x. Those are big differences compared to the difference between 3x and 4x or 4x and 5x. And, the differences translate into how fast I can put a bullet where I want it. I shoot with both eyes open and if I feel any transition between looking at the deer without the scope to looking at the deer with the scope, I'm not happy. I feel no transition with a good clear 2x, with a nice eye box, proper scope height, and a stock that fits. More or less than 2x and there is some degree of losing and finding the sight picture going on - for me. Reticles also matter in these situations. In low light at 100 yds if I see the deer first, the high end of my 1.5 - 4.5 is not enough sometimes. I think, the 2-7 is a great all-around scope magnification range for "normal" distances. The Sig Whiskey3 2-7 illuminated is awesome but if I had to choose just one it might be one of my 2-7 Burris FF2s.

Cool thread. I'm enjoying all the info, experience and opinions.

The Kahles 2-7 that I bought a good while back is still one of my favorites of all of my rifles. Best morning that I’ve ever had hunting is with that little friend. Hadn’t shot anything and was down to maybe a day or two left that I was going to be hunt in January. Two 10 point WT in 30 minutes. That first one was at about 7:00 AM. The second one was before 7:30. I high tined non typical old buck. So that Sako 85 SS Synthetic that I bought off of here back then in 338 F (with plans to eventually rebarrel to 260) and the little 2-7 have and will remain untouched. Sends 200 G Fusions quite well.

Went and looked Oct 2011 when I bought the Sako from the CF. I’m sure I bought the scope after that used from Euro O

They are pretty uncommon these days but the aforementioned Hawke Scopes currently makes four different 2-7x32 models. They also make a 4x32 fixed and a 1.5-6x44 which are also scope magnifications that were easier to find 15 years ago than they are now. I have all three of those magnifications in other scopes (Redfield, Weaver & Nikon) since I personally favor lower-powered or fixed scopes.

https://us.hawkeoptics.com/vantage-riflescopes.html

I have a Hawke Airmax 2-7 on a HW30 and love it.

Only problem with Hawke scopes is that they are made in CHINA!!! You buy China stuff, you support our enemy.

I have Nikon Prostaff 2-7 mounted on a Mini 14. Mini's are famous for breaking scopes due to the heavily weighted Op-Rod setup. The scope has been on this Mini for a number of years and is still going strong. I don't do any dialing, it's just a set it and forget it type of scope but I'm impressed it's lasted so long on the Mini. Unfortunately, as we all know, Nikon rifle scopes are now a thing of the past.

kwg