A telescopic sight for my Ruger MK III pistol?

[Naphtali]

I've given up on the electro-optical dot I had been using with my Ruger MK III target pistol. I want to install a 2x or 3X telescopic sight in its place. But I have avoided telescopic sights except for a Nikon (Philippine made) 4X I installed on my Ruger 10/22 at least 15 years ago. My only experience with scoped pistol shooting occurred more than 30 years ago when I went target shooting with a friend and his special 8-inch barreled Python. I had major problems seeing the target because the slightest movement caused the target to be blacked out.

Hoping that technology has substantially improved them, among long eye relief handgun scopes within the magnification I prefer, which ones have the widest field of view at proper distance for two-handed shooting from a rest/support?

[kingrj]

I have used the Leupold 2X handgun scope on several guns for the past 35 years. Have hunted with these guns and have never had a failure...Also never had a problem aquiring the traget quickly because of the generous field of view. A scope of higher power will have a smaller field of view and consequently will be more difficult to shoot offhand.

[Fishinfool]

The higher in magnification you go, the smaller the field of view, and the more likely chance you have of "scope black out".

I would think a 2x pistol scope would be a good choice. They are more forgiving than a higher magnification scope might be.

I have several handguns equipped with 2x scopes, a Leupold and a Simmons, and they can really work well if you have "older eyes".

You mention giving up on red dots. Blurry, star shaped dot? That is common with people who suffer from astigmatism. Using a red dot with a prism type engraved reticle will fix that.

My Ruger Mark II is shown with a Simmons 2x scope mounted in high rings that also allow for iron sight usage. The Simmons scope has clear optics, and works well in this low recoil application.

Larry

[SuperMan]

The two I have had the best luck with are the Leupold 2X and the Bushnell 2-6.

Have a MKIII Hunter with the 2X and it is a tack driver...

Holster is from Blackdog...

Bob

[steelslaver]

Scoped handguns work way better with a rest than free hand.

[rockquarry]

I haven't shot a scoped handgun in years. I'm not a fan of scopes on any handgun; they make a handgun unwieldy at best. However, I realize opinions vary and some will do far better with a scope than with open sights.

I found Red Dots to be comparatively worthless gimmicks. A simple and good quality scope that requires no batteries with a plain crosswire reticle of the lowest power you can get by with will almost always be best on a handgun. Magnification might be 1.5x -2x on a handgun that will not be used at any great distance; maybe slightly more power for a longer range. Unless you're a real pro, too much magnification renders your setup useless, except from the steadiest of rests.

[Retired W4]

Three words. Proper eye relief.

[mtgianni]

Another vote for a Leopold 2x. I only have scopes on Contender bbls and they are generally shot with a rest against a 6' hiking staff. I wobble a lot offhand without one and the telescopic sights make that even more visible.

[double-dipper]

I have two scoped handguns a PC 629 with a Burris 2-7x32 and a TC Contender with a Bushnell 2-6x32 Trophy. IMO The Bushnell is just as clear as the Burris. I don't believe Bushnell makes a handgun scopes (long eye relief) anymore. Nikon stopped making scopes.