Scope options for xp-100

[Chad Schmidt]

Recently sent in a variable scope I couldn't focus. Manufacturer says the main tube is broken cannot repair, don't make pistol scopes any longer. The credit I will get is less than a used scope like it costs. So a .350 mag xp repeater needs new glass. Suggestions appreciated from this group of experts in the specialty handgun world. Is has a brake but still has ample recoil.

 

[TigerOnThe Hill]

Chad, Sorry to hear of your scope problems. Scope problems are never any fun. My varmint handguns wear rifle scopes, but it sounds like you're looking for a LER/traditional handgun scope. All my LER handgun scopes are Burris (mostly 3-12x, but a few 2-7x and 3-9x) mixed w/ an old Simmons 2-7x and a couple Leupold's, both variables and fixed. I've been really impressed w/ Burris Customer service. I think I've had 2 problems w/ Burris scopes. One was a fairly new model 3-9x (yes, it was a long time ago). The reticle rotated w/ the power ring when it was rotated. They repaired it and sent it back repaired w/o any charges. I once bought a used Burris 3-12 from someone on the 'net knowing it that had a small ding in the occlar bell, but was optically ok. A short time later it couldn't be focused. I told them I was not the original owner and sent it back for repair, but instead they replaced it w/ new/refurbished scope. I once had an NcStar handgun scope that mounted on a T/C Contender chambered in 30 Alaskan Bower. The occular lens shot loose so the lens was laying on it's side. I sent it back and they replaced it w/ a new scope which I put on a 22LR handgun. It's been ok on the 22LR, but I've not bought any NcStar optics since. You should be fine w/ either Burris or Leupold. Both make fine products that are well-supported by Customer Service.

 

[WV Hitman]

Your going to get a lot of suggestions for rifle scopes. I've been shooting XPs.Encores,Contender hadguns for 40+ years. All of my long range handguns carry Burris 3-12X Bplexes. I've had rare troble with them. Making shots out to 565 yds. with one on my 6.5/.284XP. I have 2 .375/.284 XPs. They've had this scope on them for 23 years. Had problems with one last year. Sent it to Burris. Got a new one for free. Other scope still working fine. Have one on a .325 WSM, .338MagJDJ, .338/06JDJ all without problems for 20+ years.
Some will say these scopes are hard to use. The nice this is they are adjustible so you can use lower powers until you get used to them. I've used them so much I have no problems getting on game. Just today-2/20/26 I opened my "groundhog season. Got one at 110 with my 6.5 JDJ Contender and 1 at 253 with my .250 Sav. AI XP. It took me all of 2-3 seconds to find them in the scope. On these big kickers you don't have to hold your eye close with the Burris. You do with a rifle scope (a brake helps some). My scopes have been to Africa, AK, western US & still function fine.
By the way, MidSouth now has the 3-12 BPlex for $150 off the regular price.
Good luck with your gun

 

[TigerOnThe Hill]

Your going to get a lot of suggestions for rifle scopes. I've been shooting XPs.Encores,Contender hadguns for 40+ years. All of my long range handguns carry Burris 3-12X Bplexes. I've had rare troble with them. Making shots out to 565 yds. with one on my 6.5/.284XP. I have 2 .375/.284 XPs. They've had this scope on them for 23 years. Had problems with one last year. Sent it to Burris. Got a new one for free. Other scope still working fine. Have one on a .325 WSM, .338MagJDJ, .338/06JDJ all without problems for 20+ years.
Some will say these scopes are hard to use. The nice this is they are adjustible so you can use lower powers until you get used to them. I've used them so much I have no problems getting on game. Just today-2/20/26 I opened my "groundhog season. Got one at 110 with my 6.5 JDJ Contender and 1 at 253 with my .250 Sav. AI XP. It took me all of 2-3 seconds to find them in the scope. On these big kickers you don't have to hold your eye close with the Burris. You do with a rifle scope (a brake helps some). My scopes have been to Africa, AK, western US & still function fine.
By the way, MidSouth now has the 3-12 BPlex for $150 off the regular price.
Good luck with your gun

As usual, Doc makes some really good points. Although I've been hunting w/ handguns a pretty long time, Doc's been at it longer than me. His sage advice is always welcome. I also prefer the Ballistic Plex crosshair. To clarify, all my active deer/big game hunting handguns wear Burris handgun scopes. The rifle scopes are only on praire dog hunting handguns. Originally, my pd hunting handguns had 3-12x Burris scopes on them. At times 12x magnification didn't seem like much. When I was putting together my 20 VarTarg handgun a hunting buddy offered me a really good price on a Vortex 6-20x rifle scope he wanted to get rid of so I decided to try my first rifle scope on a handgun. I liked the extra magnificatioin. Now all 4 of my pd hunting handguns wear rifle scopes. I've not been bit by any of them, but I shoot them suppressed which helps to reduce the recoil. I'm not a fan of muzzle brakes so I doubt I'll every try rifle scopes on big game/deer hunting handguns.

 

[Ckgworks]

Surprisingly the old 2-7 Simmons (Japanese made) are great handgun scopes. I have several of them on my Contender barrels including a 309 JDJ and a 338 #2 JDJ and they have never failed with the recoil. They are also much clearer to my eyes than the Bushnell that I have. I don't yet have a Burris but I've wanted to get one for the Ballistic plex as well. Vortex also makes a EER that I've been tempted to try but I'm not confident that I wouldn't be using their warranty.

 

[Chad Schmidt]

Thanks all I have had the XP bug for some time. I currently have 3 repeater's and 4 others. My latest is a .30 br that shoots as good as my benchrest gun. The scope I sent in was a dot reticle. I found it to be a good hunting scope until I couldn't focus it. God bless you all for sharing your thoughts. It's appreciated very much.

 

[WV Hitman]

There were some great old handgun scopes: original 2-7 Simmons, older Weavers, Bushnell 2-6 ELITE (the best), Leupold 2-8. It was a little large for small handguns & not quite powerful enough for long range handguns. I hounded Leupold for years to make it a 2-12 or better 2-16 (or 20) and put a decent reticle in it like the BPlex or better, but they totally ignored it. I'm betting they D/Ced the 2-8 because they weren't selling well. It was totally their fault for not getting their act together and improving a fairly decent scope.
As I keep saying we handgunners are the Rodney Dangerfield of hunters. We're ignored, not respected, looked on as 2nd class hunters/shooters by the most of the corporate elite in the rifle/scope world. I'd say my Dangerous 7 with a handgun, along with a few others might dispute that.
Sorry for the preaching. This stuff really burns me up.

 

[Chad Schmidt]

I agree with your frustration. I had that with shooting Hunter Rifle. Burris stopped making a fixed 6x scope then Leupold stopped. Now Leupold stopped making pistol and all fixed power scopes.

 

[TigerOnThe Hill]

There were some great old handgun scopes: original 2-7 Simmons, older Weavers, Bushnell 2-6 ELITE (the best), Leupold 2-8. It was a little large for small handguns & not quite powerful enough for long range handguns. I hounded Leupold for years to make it a 2-12 or better 2-16 (or 20) and put a decent reticle in it like the BPlex or better, but they totally ignored it. I'm betting they D/Ced the 2-8 because they weren't selling well. It was totally their fault for not getting their act together and improving a fairly decent scope.
As I keep saying we handgunners are the Rodney Dangerfield of hunters. We're ignored, not respected, looked on as 2nd class hunters/shooters by the most of the corporate elite in the rifle/scope world. I'd say my Dangerous 7 with a handgun, along with a few others might dispute that.
Sorry for the preaching. This stuff really burns me up.

"My Wife Can't do Nothing Right." Rodney Dangerfield. To funny!

 

[Chad Schmidt]

I'm very disappointed with the lifetime "warranty". Since they don't make pistol scopes any longer they gave me a $600 credit. I found a rifle scope model at Scheels for $999.99 that I thought I'd get. However on the manufacturer website sells for $1299.99. The credit is only usable at the factory. So if I use the credit it is effectively only $300 for my 2.5-8 pistol scope. Which is about 1/2 of the cost of used direct replacements. Also nearly 1/2 of the original cost of the failed scope. I feel like I'm getting buggered hard. Also makes me wonder if I should ever use their products.

 

[WV Hitman]

Leupold doesn't care about you. They want to sell expensive rifle scopes.
Bushnell pulled the same crap with me on damaged binos. I don't buy Bushnell any more.
Get a Leu-screwed scope for a little more than your credit & sell it to a rifle guy.
MidSouth has Burris 3-12X BPlex handgun scopes for $150 off the regular price. Burris has replaced all my "bad" scopes (3 in last 25 years) for free. No problems.

 

[Chad Schmidt]

Just wanted to share my "customer service" experience. I do not believe it is the Customer service representative, I believe it to be the culture. And clarify their interpretation of what they actually mean when they say "lifetime warranty" or "performance guarantee" the credit they offer against full retail. When the street price in my case is $300 less and no doubt they and the retailer are both making money at that reduced price.

 

[Buttermilk]

I made the switch to rifle scopes on my XP's a few years ago. Very glad I did. I owned several of the Burris 3x-12x pistol scopes at the time. Still have one left. They are, in my opinion, perhaps the best option for longer ranges with pistols. Eye box is not forgiving at all on the 3x-12x, but the magnification is perhaps the best choice, combined with the parallax adjustment, for shooting distance. Glass is okay, but not as good as my Leupold VXHD glass I now have on all but one of my XP's.

One thing I've noticed about using the Leupold VX5HD scopes on my XP's is that I get better field of view, and even if I pull back from the scope to a similar position as I would be with a Burris 3x-12x (on 12x), I am still getting a better sight picture than the Burris.

It is much easier to get on target with the Leupold VX5HD (mine are 3x-15x) scopes than the Burris 3x-12x, the image quality is way better, and even if you pull back off the scope some, the view is still much better than a Burris 3x-12x.

Of course, you need a decent muzzle brake to shoot a rifle scope on these XP's, and other pistols. Well worth it in my opinion.

I used to resist the idea of rifle scopes on these specialty pistols. After all, it's "pistol" and needed a "pistol" scope. I am glad I changed my mind.

 

[Chad Schmidt]

I thought I might go that route. The recoil of my .350 mag repeater is substantial so a rifle scope may not be applicable. On my other 6 xp's it may be a way to go. However this experience with the "lifetime warranty" has changed future purchases.