ALAN Posted December 7, 2010 Report Share Posted December 7, 2010 i've been thinking and looking at putting a scope on my 870 12 gauge..how many on here have a scope on there shotgun... what a good power to get? what bracket? also thought about redoing it to synthetic..thoughts?? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted December 7, 2010 Report Share Posted December 7, 2010 You might want to give a red dot a look. I tried a scope on my slug gun for the first time a few years ago. I've never hunted with a scope, and just couldn't get used to it. I spent about $40 bucks on slugs sighting it in and the thing hit me in the face twice. A buddy talked me into trying a red dot and I've never regretted it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALAN Posted December 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2010 are them red dots the same as a regular scope?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted December 7, 2010 Report Share Posted December 7, 2010 are them red dots the same as a regular scope?? Not really. Most red dots don't magnify and are way shorter so they have a lot more eye relief ( The distance from your eye to the back of the scope). They mount the same as a scope. I use a B square mount on my Winchester 1300. You can pick them up pretty reasonable. I think I paid around $40 for mine on sale at Bass Pro. If your shots max out around 70 or 80 yards a red dot is the way to go IMO. If you plan on shooting over 100 yards then you may want a scope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALAN Posted December 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2010 is it something that is easy to install? or am i gonna have to take it to someone?what power should i get? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DropTine49 Posted December 7, 2010 Report Share Posted December 7, 2010 If you are using it to shoot deer with slugs, I would go with a 3-9x40 or 50 and use it just as I would a rifle. On my turkey 870 Special Purpose, I have a Bushnell Prodiamond 4X32 and it works excellent for that purpose. For the mount I have one of the sidesaddle? mounts. It's the one that mounts from the side and wraps up around the side to the top. I don't really like it but it was all I could find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALAN Posted December 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2010 ya i plan on using it to shoot deer with..its got a fully rifled barrel on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 7, 2010 Report Share Posted December 7, 2010 If it were me, I would probably look into one of the "shotgun" scopes on the market. Be sure whatever you get has enough eye relief. With my experience with nikon, that would probably be what I would look closest at, but would not rule out others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted December 7, 2010 Report Share Posted December 7, 2010 shotgun scope I was going to refer you to the thread on shotguns but the posts on scopes is gone. I am partial to the Simmons Pro Diamond Master Shotgun scopes. Our whole family has these and never have had a problem. I use the 1.5-5x32 and really like it. The eye relief is good enough so you won't blacken your eye everytime you pull the trigger. 1.5 gives you a wide field of view when in brush or close cover while the 5 power gives you all the power you need at reasonable slug range. These sell for around $100 I use the same scopes on my muzzleloader. I also have one on my turkey gun. The diamond actually acts as a range finder for turkeys. If the turkeys head appears larger than the diamond in the crosshairs you are under 40 yards from your bird. If your slug barrel has cantilever scope mounting all you need is a set of rings to mount the scope. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALAN Posted December 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 no my barrel doesnt have cantilever scope mounting..its plain with open sites Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALAN Posted December 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 i thought of something this after noon..when you squeeze one off is that scope gonna come back and hit u cause of the recoil of a shotgun?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 There are several scope mounts available for your gun. Recoil can't be worse than most rifles but the Simmons scope I mentioned has an eye relief designed for shotguns. I have shot many rounds without a eye injury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALAN Posted December 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 ok i may look into that one i seen midway usa has them for 59.99.. what would a good mount be?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALAN Posted December 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 i think what im gonna do is print it off on my printer take it to my very tiny sporting goods store in town here and see if hes got one close to the same thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 The scope you saw for $59.99 is a Pro Diamond 4x32. The 1.5-5x32 is part # 878830 priced at $78.99. I think this would be your better choice overall. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALAN Posted December 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 ok ty for clearing that up..i do like the looks of that scope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALAN Posted December 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 well i just got back from the sporting goods store in town here showed him a pic of it he looked it over asked if he could get it for me he said "yes" he asked me when i wanted it.. told him it will be my birthday present to me from me next year (may 16)..so a week before my b day he is gonna order me one..know what kind of mount would i need?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 Three companies come to mind for mounts. B-Square, Weaver and Remington. I'm sure Midway will have these cataloged. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALAN Posted December 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 ty for for helping me decide which scope to get and bracket another reason i like this site soo much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stcif Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 (edited) i've been thinking and looking at putting a scope on my 870 12 gauge..how many on here have a scope on there shotgun... what a good power to get? what bracket? also thought about redoing it to synthetic..thoughts?? thanks I shoot an 870 Wingmaster 12 gauge. I have a Weaver style base mounted to the receiver. It is solid and doesn't shift or move like some of the "saddle" type mounts do that fit an 870. I use a Leupold 2-7x33 shotgun scope with the heavy reticle. I have done a lot of work on this shotgun to make it as accurate as possible. I have a hastings rilfed barrel which I had "pinned" to the receiver to cut down on vibration and harmonics. I did this work after reading a lot of Dave Henderson's stuff (Shotgunning for deer). I broke a Simmons and Bushnell scope on this gun as the recoil simply destroyed them. No problems with the Leupold and shooting Lighfields it is more accurate than the rifle I currently own. I am not bashing brands and it can be tough spending 250 bucks on a scope. I personally don't see the benefit of a big objective lens on a shotgun scope. I know it would let more light in but your eye can only accept so much light (I believe it is 5 mm exit pupil diameter - no expert here but I have some stuff by G. david Tubb that explains this.) Anyways, good luck. As for going synthetic, I like the looks of wood better. Edited December 9, 2010 by stcif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 If it were me, probably would have opted for something in the 2-7 or 3-9 power range for a shotgun shooting rifled slugs. No doubt the range these days can be extended. Have never used a shotgun mount, but the b-square and remington mounts in cabelas and midway catalogs look to be good enough. Had considered scoping my 1300 with a shotgun scope, it came with weaver style mounts that mount to the receiver, would likely opt for a 2-7 for it when if I do put a scope on it. As for simmons as a brand, I hunted with a 44 mag scope for about 5 or 6 years and it held up ok to the recoil of a .270, but did finally take a dump on me and the reticles became very hard to keep in focus, thought it was my eyes at first but is a problem inside the scope. Still have that scope somewhere here and it is still warrantied I believe, would cost like $12 to send it in for repair when I checked into that about 5 years or so ago. Always thought the aetec and 44 mag were decent scopes. The 44 mag was plenty bright and served its purpose. The .270 generates nowhere near the recoil of a 12 gauge shooting slugs, don't really know how the scope you chose will hold up, but I would trust Lynn's recommendation. Good luck with your scope choice Alan, let us know how it works out for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 Guess we could ask a couple more questions: Are you using a smooth or rifled barrel? 2 3/4" or 3" slugs? The Simmons is a shotgun scope designed to take the recoil. I use one on my 870 with heavy 3" turkey loads. No problems at all. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 Guess we could ask a couple more questions: Are you using a smooth or rifled barrel? 2 3/4" or 3" slugs? The Simmons is a shotgun scope designed to take the recoil. I use one on my 870 with heavy 3" turkey loads. No problems at all. Lynn He said rifled barrel Lynn, did not see mention of which load/slug. ya i plan on using it to shoot deer with..its got a fully rifled barrel on it Like I said, I would trust the scope recommneded to hold up since he says it will. If it holds up to heavy 3 inch turkey loads it should not be an issue with slugs I would not think. I would definitely consider a 2-7 or 3-9 vari power with the rifled barrel though if it were me, especially if you plan to hunt any open fields Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALAN Posted December 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 ill try the one LETMGROW told me about..and see how that one does for me..i can always replace it cant i by just taking it off the bracket? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALAN Posted December 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 COULD I USE THIS?or would i have to get the other one that cost like 45.00 http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting/Optics/Riflescope-Accessories/Mounts-Bases|/pc/104792580/c/104752080/sc/104534280/i/104008680/Weaver8482-1-Piece-Shotgun-Base/721068.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fshooting-optics-riflescope-accessories-mounts-bases%2F_%2FN-1100249%2FNo-48%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104008680%3FWTz_stype%3DGNP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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