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rifle scope on a slug gun

16K views 30 replies 23 participants last post by  Gunplummer 
#1 ·
ok guys i got a question. will a rifle scope withstand the abuse of 3" mags out of a slug gun?
 
#2 ·
I wouldn't. A shotgun shooting slugs has more kick than a rifle. A lot of rifle scopes are not made to take that abuse. More importantly most shotgun scopes give you more eye relief so you don't get kissed by the scope. I've seen some nasty scope cuts from scoped shotguns. There are a lot of great shotgun scopes out there and some like Tasco are cheap. I just bought a Nikon 2X7 Prostaff on Sunday. Can't wait to shoot my Son's new 20 ga with this scope! Good luck.
 
#3 ·
i bought a new nikon a few years ago. had all intentions of putting it on my gun untill a younger family member got his first slug gun and i gave it to him. ive used a junk tasco on the same gun for almost 13 years and somehow it has never failed. that scopes had WAY too many rounds through it.
 
#4 ·
You can absolutely use a riflescope on your slug gun. I would recommend that you use a little bit better of a scope than a traditional Tasco or something in that range. Slug guns kick hard and really put scopes to the test. Good luck with your decision and let me know if you need any further assistance.
 
#8 ·
Same here. I have an older Tasco on a Winchester 1300. Its not the brightest or the best but I haven't had to touch the settings for at least 10 years and have killed a pile of deer with it. With the newer/better slugs I like the new shotgun scopes with the marks on the reticle for 150 and 200 yds.
 
#10 ·
About 12-13 years ago I bought a cheap 4x Bushnell sportsview for my 22. 8 years ago I bought a slug gun and decided to try the Bushnell on it. I even used premium $7 Tasco rings. It's all still there and still working just fine. I shoot about a box of slugs a year out of it. I haven't touched an adjustment knob since the initial sight in.
 
#11 ·
I use a 1X4 Leupold on my 12 ga. A Bolt Browning. It has a choke for slugs and turkey. So I got the 1X4 as a compromise. I no longer hunt turkeys with that gun although I killed several, so now it is just my slug gun.

Now I wish I had a 2X7 Leupold...I did not know it was going to shoot 1 1/2- 2" groups at a 110 yards when I got it.
 
#13 ·
Notice that some of the shotgun scopes are either for turkey (Diamond center) or (BDC)...rifled. So if you were going to have to buy a scope for the slug gun then it might be better to get one of the BDC type. Since in theory they are suppose to allow you to shoot farther. All the shotgun scopes do say they are shock resistant but so do a lot of other rifle scopes..Some don't say in writing that they are shock resistant...However if you can't aford a new scope by all means use one of your old ones... Looks like many of the posters they are having good luck with any ole rifle scope... Just wanted to post something to make you think about different things.. Slug scope BDC, Turkey shotgun scopes Diamond, shock resistant designations etc etc...
Cabelas also sell a slug designated BDC scope... Now if you could only find out who makes it for Cabelas...I know I have had good luck with Cabelas designated scope when I didn't want to invest in an expensive scope..
I too am in the process of buying a scope for an Encore 12 gauge slug barrel.. Now I can put on an old scope... However I have been looking at the Nikon designated slug scopes.. Also been thinking about the Cabelas designated slug scopes too...IMO if I do buy a slug scope it's going to be a designated shotgun scope for slug BDC for sure! However I might put a fixed Leupold 4 power on that I already own... I'm still thinking and have not decided what I'm going to do!!!!
 
#16 ·
i'll have a 3x9 rifle scope on a slug gun very soon. i figure if my 12 year old cheapo Tasco held up this long on that cannon, a new rifle scope should be fine. after thinking about this a lot more, i realized my question was probably un-needed. like moose said, theres rifles that kick as hard and harder than slug guns.
 
#18 ·
I have a Swift rifle scope on my Deerslayer slug gun. I shoot tacks at a 100 yards with it. It's been on the gun for 10 years. The shocks got nothing to do with it, it's the length. I've got scope eyed a few times while shooting 3" mags.
 
#19 ·
bushmaster said:
I have a Swift rifle scope on my Deerslayer slug gun. I shoot tacks at a 100 yards with it. It's been on the gun for 10 years. The shocks got nothing to do with it, it's the length. I've got scope eyed a few times while shooting 3" mags.
thats the proof right there. if it holds up to the ithaca, it will hold up too anything. mine kicks like a rented mule.
 
#21 ·
bushmaster said:
I have a Swift rifle scope on my Deerslayer slug gun. I shoot tacks at a 100 yards with it. It's been on the gun for 10 years. The shocks got nothing to do with it, it's the length. I've got scope eyed a few times while shooting 3" mags.
Hmm funny. Thats exactly what I have on my Deerslayer 87. And yeah I've been kissed a couple times.
 
#22 ·
Grew up shooting shotguns....Only thing could big game hunt with back then in NY was a pumpkin ball slinger. I preferred open sights but now hunt a lil bit in PA in county parks (shotgun only). Been fighting with scopes ever since, until I put a Nikon slug gun scope on it....
My 870 kicks a heckava lot more than my 30-06, anyday.
 
#26 ·
Peenoe Hunter said:
Check the parallax on the rifle scope some of the lower power Leupolds: 1X4, 2X7 and rimfire models are set to 75 yards. 75 yards or less would probably better on a shotgun.
this gun will be for 100-150yds. i have two others for short shooting.
 
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