Vortex 4-12x or 6-18x on 14” Contender

[cheese1566]

You guys using rifle scopes on your long range bench pistols, Contenders/REM XP’s...,
What are you using for power and scope makes?

I am looking to dive into the ‘rifle scope on pistols’ world. I have read up using them and found techniques to find the reticle and target, then move my eye back. Yes, I know you loose field of view and too close will be dangerous to the head...

I have Burris 7x EER on my Super 14 7-30Waters and 7mm TCU. They are OK at 100 yds, but I’d like some more power for the 221 Falcon, to reach out 200-300 yds.

I am prospecting Vortex Crossfire II in either 4-12x 44AO or the 6-18x based on my budget. My shooting is all done on the bench using a custom pistol rest and sandbags.

[35isit]

I have the Vortex 4-12x Diamondback on a 14" 7tcu with a brake. I shoot it in the prone position without a rest and can almost get a full field of view on 12x. I would go with the most x I could get. I don't know how much recoil your barrel has or if you have a brake. For your stated purpose, I recommend a their V-Plex reticle. But hey I'm one of the several guys that have a 36x scope on a 14" .22lr barrel.

[dale2242]

I have not found any scope with more than 12 power useful.
I have a number of LER Leupold scopes on my Contenders.
I don`t want my eye as close to the scope on a handgun as a rifle scope requires.

[idahoron]

I own two two of the Vortex Crssfire II 6-18x44. I had one on my Air rifle for 5000 rounds then put it on my 17 HMR.

https://i.imgur.com/DH5zlaB.jpg

It has been an excellent scope. It's most useful upper power level is about 14. After that it is just not as clear. I put one on my 264 winchester, and the one like I said on my 17 HMR is awesome. I think they are a very good scope for people that need to stay in that dollar range.
I did move up to the Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50 for my air rifle.

https://i.imgur.com/cUdyip1.jpg

I have two of them. One is on a 17 Hornet the other on the air rifle. They are fantastic scopes but again they are best under 18X on these.

[Iowa Fox]

I started with a Burris 7x EER on a 223 barrel first trip to Wyoming. The guys out there were all using brakes and rifle scopes on their handguns. Now one of mine has a Vortex HS-LR 4-16 FFP. I found that lacking on magnification so I jumped up to a Vortex HS-LR 6-24 on another one.

As was mentioned above go with as much magnification as you can.