Why put a scope on a short barrel revolver?

J

jasmith85

New member
I have always wondered about this and thought I would ask people that might know. I see people with scopes on revolvers and just don't get it. Its maybe understandable on something with a really long barrel like a Super Redhawk but why would you put a scope on a 4 inch Python? My lgs has just that for sale right now. Is a revolver really accurate at long enough distances to need a scope or do people just do this for looks like with buying pearl grips?
 
The same reason people put huge scopes on 16" bbl ar15's... They think it looks cool. Revolvers are plenty accurate to 100yds with iron sights. I can see it for hunting with one of the uber magnums at ranges over 100yds or for someone with failing eyesight but thats about it.
 
various people on here can hit a human silohutte target at 100 yards with a standard jframe firing standard factory ammunition.
there is a known fact that the normal factory production revolver with a 4 inch barrel, can do that at 100 yards.
some peoplehave the time and boredom that they want a scope it so that they dont have to worry about holding over and guesstimating.

people will use a 4 inch barrel on deer hunting guns. its th eminimum yes, however the 44 mag is supposed to be good at 75 yards with that barrel. so if the standard is hitting a dinner plate at that range, wouldnt it be nice to say "yep itll be in the dinner plate, but the dinner plate is goig to be centered on the left lung"?
 
as mentioned, a 4" barrel is ( has the potential ) to be as accurate as a rifle... the sight radius is the biggest difference... FIL had a simmons 2X on a 4" Dan Wesson 44 magnum... after I got it, I noticed it was particularly easy to shoot, but the front lens had a lot of powder burn pits in it from the shorter barrel...

he also had a 6" 357 Max that wore a 4X Luepold

those 2 guns kinda swayed me into pistol scopes, especially on my Contenders...

in the past couple years, I switched out alot of my pistol scopes for Williams fiber optic ghost rings ( most had to be custom fitted ) as I've aged, my older eyes do like the scopes, but I switched areas I deer hunt ( I've been pretty much only hunting with handguns, for the last 10 years or so )... anyway, I now have public ground on 3 sides, & thicker woods... the deer seem to never stop, they are always at a trot through the woods, & I was having trouble finding them with a 2-7X even dialed down to 2X... the fiber optic ghost rings work better for me...

so... back to topic... they may look odd, but generally shoot pretty nice... just watch out for pitting on that front lens... ;)
 
When I got older I put a scope on a 7-1/2" Redhawk, works great. Target shooter use red dots even tho they may have good eyesight. I think that a Red dot may end up on one of my 4" guns. Already on a .22 pistol, .45 auto and a 10/22.
 
Why put a scope on a short barrel revolver?
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I don't even know why you'd put one on a long barrel revolver. Not to fret; it's just my opinion.
I know I'm in the minority with this view but I think handguns, first of all, should be handy. In my opinion, scopes belong on rifles and handguns belong in holsters (yeah, I'm aware they make holsters for scoped handguns). I guess I could see putting a compact scope on something like a T.C. Contender/Encore for some specialized hunting circumstance but, even then, to me it would seem that a short carbine might make better sense.
 
I'm not an advocate of scoped revolvers, but I've known of several who have scoped a small .22 L.R. revolver. The reason is first of all the inability to see iron sights clearly, and secondly, allows more precise shots at small edible game. The crosshairs of the scope don't cover as much of the head as would iron sights.

Once saw a .22 Charter Arms Pathfinder fitted with a neat 1.5X scope that made a very small package. The owner told me it had accounted for nearly a hundred squirrels.

Bob Wright
 
Thanks for the replies. I hadn't thought about them being used by people with deteriorating vision, and didn't realize the bullets would fly straight enough to stay accurate at 75 yards or more.
 
At 200 meters I can put down the rams easily with my .44 Magnum. But I can't place my shot on the steel target, I just hit it. At that distance, the ram is about the width of my front sight blade. Knowing that, I will not take a shot at an animal at that range. One hundred yards is my self imposed maximum for deer sized game.

Many handguns have the capability of taking game at the 200 meters. The crosshairs of the scope permit accurate shot placement whereas iron sights do not.

Bob Wright
 
When you really think about it, - it may make more sense to put a scope on a short barrel revolver with its more limited sighting radius than on a long barrel gun.

Personally, I prefer my revolvers unsighted for their handiness and less bulk.
 
Its maybe understandable on something with a really long barrel like a Super Redhawk but why would you put a scope on a 4 inch Python?
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Funny thing , my 4" Smith 66 actually outshot the last Super Redhawk I owned , so in that case why should a scope be reserved for long barrels only?

The revolver league I used to shoot in some years ago was held in a poorly lit indoor range and a lot of the guys shooting were in their 40s , 50s and 60s which also added failing eyesight. The inability to see sights like mentioned above had many of them going with scopes or more likely red dot scopes. One used his 4" Python to finally shoot a 100 slow fire after he scoped it.

Back in the "old days" I imagine a lot of rifle shooters got bent out of shape if someone showed up with one of them there newfangled contraptions ,"Hey there boy , whats that there tel-ee-scope doing on your rifle?"

"Relax Chester , its called a scope , one day many rifles will have them."
 
Jasmith85:

Why most people scope revolvers, especially on hunting revolvers, is that the shooter can place his shot more precisely. Shooters with aging eyes can't see the sights clearly and a scope extends their years of shooting.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery Sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
Uh, a 4" barrel doesn't have the potential accuracy of a 20" barrel... anyway

"the same reason people put those huge, ugly scopes on pelletguns" is my answer
 
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