I haven't had expeice with that scope personally but I have plenty of freinds that swear by Vortex for there harder kicking magnums then the .45-70. I have never been a bolt gun guy so these days i have a scope on he .45-70. I alos must say i have never been scoped by any gun ever

 

took me 60 years to get scoped, but it happened. now I have a built in pad where the scope connects with my eyebrow. just saying.
I have a vortex on a 284 Winchester model 99 savage and it works great. short enough that it doesn't look like its overwhelming but works fine.

 

Wondering if the eye relief of 2.8" is too close.

 

I'd be real careful when you're at a shooting range. Especially when you're shooting max loads and wearing shooting glasses. They will shorten the relief somewhat.

I've been scoped twice with my 1895GS shooting stout loads. The eye relief on my Leupold is 4.2 inches. I leaned into the site picture just a little too close.

Happy shooting!!

 

2.8" is pretty tight in my opinion, but it will depend on what kind of loads you're running and how consistent your technique is.

I ran a Leupold 3-9x on my GBL for a while, shooting 350grn jacketed Rem HPs at a reasonable pace. (Eye relief is 3-4" depending on magnification.)

Got scoped twice shooting off-hand when I wasn't paying as much attention as I should've.

These days I run a scout scope on that rifle

Benn

 

Is there such a thing as a 'tactical' scope that's good for the range and bear defence? With a decent eye relief?

 

yep... VXR "Patrol" 1.25-4X

 

too close for me.

 

Did a bit of research on this myself recently. I looked at a lot of different manufacturers including Leupold, Zeiss, Sightron, Weaver, Trijicon and a few others.

The best combination of higher magnification and longer eye relief I found was in the Vortex Crossfire long eye relief range of scopes.

Eye relief is in the 4-4.5" range. (Still not scout scope eye relief, but better than 3-4"!)

I'm going with a 4-12x44 because the rifle I'm fitting it to is for longer shots and my eye sight isn't so good any more.

Some scopes in the same range have adjustable objectives (side focus), but I prefer to avoid this on my hunting rifles. If something is on the move, I don't want burn time trying to bring it into focus.

Hope that helps?

Benn

 

Did a bit of research on this myself recently. I looked at a lot of different manufacturers including Leupold, Zeiss, Sightron, Weaver, Trijicon and a few others.

The best combination of higher magnification and longer eye relief I found was in the Vortex Crossfire long eye relief range of scopes.

Eye relief is in the 4-4.5" range. (Still not scout scope eye relief, but better than 3-4"!)


I'm going with a 4-12x44 because the rifle I'm fitting it to is for longer shots and my eye sight isn't so good any more.

Some scopes in the same range have adjustable objectives (side focus), but I prefer to avoid this on my hunting rifles. If something is on the move, I don't want burn time trying to bring it into focus.

Hope that helps?

Benn

Thanks Benn. I'm almost thinking I shouldn't have a sight considering that my main function will be bear defence in the bush where there'd probably be no time to get your eye in the right spot for a scope. just enough time to **** your pants and point and shoot. And the shells are too expensive to be plinking at the range for accuracy.... i.e. I don't hunt now so not much of a need.

 

Have you looked at the Vortex Sparc? It's a red dot with no magnification, but with a 45-70 - most people aren't looking to shoot long range. For bear defense, I think it's perfect for the gun. I've got one on my 1895GBL. Quick on target. I love it! No eye relief issues. You can pretty much mount it wherever you want. I've got mine mounted as far back as I can on an XS scout rail.

 

I've actually got the Sparc 2 mounted on my SKS and think I might put it on the marlin. Will probably shoot with the irons for quite a while first. Will probably keep the Spitfire for a future AR type purchase.

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!

 

I have a Vortex Spitfire 3X mounted on an AR platform, and from that experience and owning a 45/70, I think this Vortex would be a very poor choice! In Spades for your 45/70!!!!!!!!!!!

I've had 2 different Leupold 2X7 scopes mounted on my 45/70 RUGER #1 with the current mounting being a Custom Dial System (CDS) system.

This scope does not allow for a full field of view at the 7X but is used very successfully from the bench and I have taken critters, including 2 elk at 7X when time and conditions allowed.

THE SCOPE IS CARRIED ON 2X or SLIGHTLY ABOVE.

I have mounted the Vortex - on the AR - just far enough ahead to clear the pop up rear sight in the down position and am going to need to remove the pop up to allow the Vortex to be moved closer to the eye.

I am a scope person, have been for MANY years, so I'd vote for a scope without question. One of the Leupolds in 1X4 or 1.5X5 would be great if a bit more expensive then what I am using, but I find the 2X7 to work very well for me and the CDS system allows for a dead on hold out to 275yds with the bullet and velocity I'm hunting with.

Plus, Leupold is made in the USA and the Vortex is not.

I vote NO on the Vortex

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot