Looking for a scope and mounts that will withstand a lot of heavy 45/70 loads out of a TC Encore rifle. Preferably fixed. But would consider a variable. No shots over 200 yards on deer and hogs.
Meopta or Leupold 6x ? Or would a Nikon or leupold 4x work?
Considering the typical yardage shot, I would say 2 3/4x to 4x. I was able to shoot 3/4" groups at 100 yards from my Marlin 1895SS with a 2 3/4x scope, Handloads were hot 400 grain lo
ads around 1700FPS.
Leupold ultralight fixed 2.5x
1.5-4 or 1.5-6.
Plenty of AR scopes out there in that range.
Some of the older Nikon monarchs are sweet little scopes
That's like putting a scope on a hand grenade..
My H&R has a Nikon 4x on it. It has held up to heavy loads of 405s fine. Bright optics you can use till dang near dark.
I just grabbed an old Nikon 4x40 off of eBay. Wasnt sure how well built those older nikons were.
I had a 4x Leupold M8 on a Marlin .45/70. It seemed to suit it well, and the comparatively slim ocular bell meant I could mount it really low and yet still cock the hammer easily. I used a Weaver base and rings - about the lowest and lightest around, and I've always found them stout and reliable.
Are the older Japan made Nikon fixed power scopes pretty good?
I've been buying the Japan made Nikon scope for over 25 years. I've got them in 4x, 2-7x32 and 3-9x40. They are excellent scopes. I still buy them when I come across a good deal on the pre-monarch and early monarch scopes. That was when they only made one level of scope. I don't buy any of them made after they started making different quality/price levels.
I've got seven of them now and have set my brother up with a couple of them. We've mounted them on everything from 25-06 to slug guns. I put a 4x on my brother's Encore 35 Whelen in 2008 and load the ammo he uses for it. It has never needed to be re-zeroed. He has killed deer and hogs out to a rangefinder verified 319 yards with that setup.
The only complaint I've ever had with them is the long slope of the objective bell reduces tube length, that can cause issues sometimes on long action rifles with certain types of mounts.
Leupold 2.5x hasn't died on my 45/70
I have a Kahles AH 2-7 x 36 on my Siamese mauser converted to 45-70. Shoots well.
I like those scopes so well that I bought 5 of them.
A buddies 45/70 Marlin ate scopes like a kid eating M&M’s. He had Weaver, Bushnell, Cabelas and a couple others on it. They all ended making those funny rattling noises. I gave him my Tasco Titan and it has been on that rifle for over 15 years without a problem.