I have two 1.5-5 Nitrex TR-1 by Weaver on a 12 Ga Deerslayer II and on a smooth barreled Deerslayer that has a cantilever mount silver soldered to the quarter rib. I got the mount from Brownells, but forget the brand.
I have shot a heck of a lot of Hastings 3" Laser Accurate and Lightfield 2-3/4 & 3" hybrid elite out of the former and 2-3/4 & 3" Fosters, Trueball, Brenneke etc out of the latter. And these two powerhouse scopes have never failed me. Alas, they have been dropped from Weaver's catalog, but I think Weaver still markets a 1.5-5 Grand Slam that should be the same scope.
I have shot two bucks when I had to use my binocular to make certain they were bucks in one instance and in the other that it was a buck I wanted to shoot. What I am getting at is the crosshair isn't real heavy, like the Leupold 1-4 slug gun scope my buddy has, but they are fine FOR ME anytime it is legal to shoot. And in the case of both of these two bucks it was raining cats and dogs too. If your eyes are not needing the super heavy CH they should be fine. I put the shots right where I wanted them in the field, at last light, in driving rain at 85 & 65 yards.
I am not as concerned about cost as I don't want my eqt failing and these two scopes are gold. My buddy can't say that about that Leupold - and Leupold makes a pretty tough scope.
I have satisfied my curiosity in just how good the Deerslayer can shoot, like a hole in a target just bigger than the rim of a 1 ga shell @ 50 yards and so to with the smooth barrel that I bought just because it was on a 3" frame I wanted and the price was right. That one shoots about 3/4 inch groups at 50 and accuracy holds out to as far as they are effective.
They don't have hash marks for yardages so that is their only weak point, but I have not found that to limit them in my case. YMMV. What I am saying is if you practice hold over at the range I can recommend them without reservation.
