TC Contender scope & mount question

kennethg · Jul 28, 2022

I have a contender hunter 12" bull barrel with the muzzle break chambered in 357MAX. I need suggestions on scopes, mounts and rings that would hold up to the recoil of this caliber. All suggestions appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

4T5GUY · Jul 28, 2022

I went with Burris scopes and Redfield rings/bases. I’ve not had any issue’s and they’ve stood up to rough conditions.

I don’t know about the quality of modern manufactured Burris scopes though because I got mine thirty years ago.

A friend of mine is totally into the 357MAX so I’ve been around them. Should be nice in a TC.

Jim

BB57 · Jul 28, 2022

Over the years I have owned and extensively shot both a 10” .45 Win Mag Contender with a Leuopold Vari-X III 2.5-8x32 scope, and a 14” Contender in .30-30 with a Nikon Force XR 2.5-8x28 scope. The recoil on the former is .44 Mag like, and on the latter it’s….fierce.

I use steel Leopold bases and rings on both of them.

Neither scope is still in production although you can get the current VX-3 2.5-8x32. Nikon got out of the scope market which is a shame as their higher end scopes offered superb performance for mid range money.

I also have a 14” .223 barrel with a 12x Redfield scope. It’s not particulaly heavy recoiling. But it’s a 1/4 MOA combination off a bipod and rear bag with 52 gr or 53 gr Hornady match bullets. It’s a superb 350 yard Varmint pistol.

Buick · Jul 28, 2022

I also like Burris scopes and I use the base/rings from Dead Nutz. Zero issues on my .35 Rem. I even knocked down a nice buck in 2020 at a whopping 4 yards.

Lonegle57 · Jul 29, 2022

The Contender was my first purchased handgun many years ago. I now
have atleast 20 guns from 22 long rifle to 45/70. Most are scoped or have a red dot on them. The majority have a weaver base. Living in the south most shots are close but I usually have most sighted in at 100 yards. Burris and Leupold are the top and most expensive and best, in my opinion. I like a variable for my uses but they sit on 2 to 4 power most of the time, distance here is short. Bushnell makes a good variable. I usually go to Wallyworld and bring home a set of weaver quad rings , they work well and dont cost a fortune. I like a 32mm front objective to gather a little more light than smaller ones and the heavier the cross hairs the longer you can see them.
Had a 357 max once upon a time. I dont believe recoil will be to bad
on your scope set up. Wear hearing protection, in my dumb youth often didnt while hunting with one in 35 Remington and now hear cicadas all the time.

Protocall_Design · Jul 29, 2022

I've shot Burris scopes on handguns for 40 years. They have always held up, even on 44 Mag with 300gr. bullets.

H Richard · Jul 29, 2022

I used Leupold scopes on my 44 Mag 10", and on a 7X30 Waters 14". No problems.

rosewood · Jul 29, 2022

Most standard quality rings will be fine for the Max. The recoil isn't bad. I have used from the least expensive to more expensive on the Contender and Encore. I have used Nikon, Burris, Simmons, Leupold and BSA scopes on them both. Only scope I sent back was the BSA, the parallax was terrible at all ranges.

Surprisingly, Simmons makes a solid pistol scope. I haven't broken one yet and have used them on 454 Casull, 460 S&W MAG etc. Those are the only 2 calibers that ever made my scope slide and I added a 3rd ring for those and never had another issue on those barrels with the Simmons. No issues with .270 win, 7-08, 44mag or other cartridges either.

The weaver style Al bases work fine in the lesser recoiling calibers and will be fine for the Max, but the alloy or steel bases are more appropriate for 454 and up.

Rosewood

mtgianni · Jul 29, 2022

I have a 10" Max. It has used a Simmons and iron sights for the last 5 years depending on match requirements. 4 frames and 12 barrels I have never seen the need for porting on one.

Ivan the Butcher · Jul 29, 2022

I have a 12" Hunter in 375 Win. It shoots 220 grain bullets a little faster than Max shoots 158's there is very little recoil, so that isn't an issue!

I have used both price extremes and everything in between and found Burris to be the best Contender scopes.

My 10" 22 Hornet & 221 Fireball both excel with 2 and 2.5 power older Simons scopes! My 375 Hunter just uses iron sights as the distance hasn't required glass. The recoil will probably support a Red Dot or Reflex system also!

Ivan

Dr Charlie · Jul 30, 2022

I shot a 470 Nitro from JD Jones its a 15 inch Encore using a fixed 4x Leupold scope and SSK mount. Leupolds on all my big boomers.
Regards Dr Loundenboomer

Dr Charlie · Jul 30, 2022

I shot a 470 Nitro from JD Jones its a 15 inch Encore using a fixed 4x Leupold scope and SSK mount. Leupolds on all my big boomers.
Regards Dr Loundenboomer

TC Contender scope & mount question

kennethg

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4T5GUY

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BB57

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Buick

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H Richard

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rosewood

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Dr Charlie

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