Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics scope for Super Redhawk 44 mag

Just picked up a nice, low round count Ruger Super Redhawk 44 mag for deer hunting here in Michigan.

I'd like to shoot deer out to 75 yards and target shoot at 100 yards at my range.

I am leaning towards a Burris 3-12 handgun scope, primarily because Cabelas has it and I have enough points to get it for free.

I've read good things about the Weigand mount, so I'm going to get one of those.

Am I ok with that scope on say 4 power when hunting?

I wish I could get a straight 4 power 30mm tube with illuminated reticle

I must be spot on with my choice or way off.

No comments in 9 hours

Aw screw it, I'm gonna order it now

3-12 is “overscoped” for a 44 mag. A .243 you’re gonna shoot out to 300 yds?? Fine. You won’t go much past 100-125 yds with a 44 mag.
I’d suggest a 2x, or at most, a 4x. Why???

The field of view (FOV) on pistol scopes is WAY narrower than a rifle scope at the same power. Good for paper, but not for picking up moving game. Since you want “dual duty”, maybe the 4x.

May have caught you too late, but look for something more compact, and less magnification.

The only two revolvers I have scoped (.41 and .44 mags) have fixed 2X Leupolds. For my purposes, I can not imagine a physically bigger scope on a revolver, nor see the need for more magnification. Also, given the recoil dynamics of large caliber revolvers, I would be loathe to mount a variable on them.

This!
I have had a couple of scoped deer killin revolvers and they always get 2x scopes.

I leave the variables for my TC Encores

Leupold 2x fixed is mounted on my .44 SRH; a fine scope

2X on my Redhawk.

Thanks guys, I was going to buy tomorrow.

I had a 2x Leupold on mine and found it to be way more than enough for shots on deer out past my 100 yd limit. 3-12 is way too much to even keep game centered in the scope at arms length under any but bench condition. Mike

Check out the Galco Kodiak chest holster for Scoped RedHawks, nice leather that keeps your hands free

Another vote for the 2x Leupold.

Leupold 2X here, too. .30-30, loves 125 grain Ballistic tips and the 2X compliments my (not) tremendous skills with a handgun....

Leupold 2x on my SBH hunter had a 4x and for me it seemed to much and not enough FOV, 2x allows me to pick up my target quick.

I vote 2x Leupold also. Have one on a 7.5" stainless Redhawk for 7 or 8 years now. FOV is great and 2x is plenty for a 44 Mag. revolver.

2X or a red dot sight/reflex.

Wouldnt go 4x or higher unless a specialty pistol.

Pops had a Burris 1-4x or whatever, on a 9.5" Super Redhawk in .44 mag. I hunted half CRP, half oakwoods/tree farm.
That friggin scope came off next day.

Of course I ended up shooting the deer past 100, iron sights.
Like the gun, figured a Burris Fastfire in the fwd ring slot the way Id go if I got my own.

I do have a Burris 3-12X AO scope, on a Contender .223 barrel.
and a Leupold 4x on a .22 mag Contender bbl.

The weight of the Burris variable is considerably more than M8 Leupold.

Why I think for deer, a reflex on a revolver might be the best option.
Helps old eyes and keeps the handgun............handy.

If I score a .35 rem bbl for my TC, it will wear an Aimpoint PRO. For deer.

2x on my Super 14 30-30 and an UltraDot 30 on my Super Blackhawk. Tried a 4x and it was way too much scope.


Both mine stay on a 6” plate at 100yds without issue and I’m not that good of a shot.

Red dot

Green dot actually . I just picked one up and am amazed how much better my eye picks up the green reticle,

I had one of the first ones to hit the gun store shelves. You didn't mention barrel length .. mine was a 9-1/2. In the couple years I had it, I had a Burris 1-4x, a Burris 2-7X, and a Leupold 2X on it. I had a Leupold 4x on a 10-1/2" barreled super blackhawk. I have one now on a Contender barrel. The fixed 4 is just never the right scope for me, it is either too much or not enough, sometimes the same day in different settings. I really like the variables where I can turn 'em down for hunting and turn 'em up for punching paper without swapping scopes. I settled on the 2-7X Burris eventually on the Super Redhawk. Mine would drop 6 hornady 240 grain RXT (predecessor to the XTP) HPs into 1-1/4 inches at 100 yards at 7x from a rest.

I think the 3-12X Burris would be ok, but at 3x not 4x while hunting. Field of view, perceived multiplication of wobble, etc. I would be a little leery from the weight perspective. The Super Redhawk is a very heavy handgun even without optics.

I would not do the Weigand mount. I like Weigand mounts but only if the gun is not otherwise set up from the factory. I'd stick with the Ruger rings.

You may find that in the field, the handgun scope is more hassle, more pain in the ass than it is worth. I did. Just as I used a variable so I had both low and high magnification, on a Super Blackhawk Hunter, I used a 4X Leupold for shooting paper, testing loads, etc, but took the scope off entirely and shot the irons for hunting.

Tom