Leupold VX6 on Boddington Kudu

[tarbe]

My new Leupold VX6 2-12x42 came in this afternoon, so of course, I had to mount it right away!

Oh my...I likey.

Best thing I can say about it and the ring arrangement (leupold mediums) is this: I can address a target with the rifle at port arms, close my eyes, mount the rifle naturally, open my eyes and almost invariably the crosshairs are near the target. I don't have to move my eye to hunt for the optical box...it is right where it needs to be.

The field of view at the low end is noticeably better than the VX3 2.5-8 I had on it previously, and as you would expect, this scope is clearer and brighter. I was sure to get it into some lower light conditions to compare. Call it placebo if you want, but this scope is really nice!

I will probably keep the VX3 in the Warne quick detach mounts to use as a spare in case something bad happens to the VX6.

 

[tarbe]

Here is the VX3 piggy-backing on the VX6 to give you perspective on the relative sizes.

 

[Royal27]

Drool....

 

[Royal27]

I put most of my first aid kit together today. I'm ready for almost any blister or headache now!!!!

 

[tarbe]

You may notice the rear sight has been removed to clear the scope. I had to remove it to clear the VX3 as well.

The Boddington has a noticeably taller rear sight than the standard factory Ruger sight, to mate up with the tall white bead they put on the Boddingtons.

I will take the sight with me and re-insert it if needed. I would rather have to do that, but be able to mount the scope lower. I don't like scopes sitting up so high you have to use an unnatural cheek weld.

 

[tarbe]

I put most of my first aid kit together today. I'm ready for almost any blister or headache now!!!!

Does your first aid kit have an extra $2k in it for those unexpected trophies??

 

[Royal27]

Agree on a scope being low.... I use a cheek pad on both of my rifles now after the SAAM class. It makes a big difference.

 

[Royal27]

Does your first aid kit have an extra $2k in it for those unexpected trophies??

Where else would I put it????

 

[PaulT]

Beautiful rifle/scope combination, congrats !

Should prove to be a very handy "plains-game"/deer etc hunting rifle.

 

[enysse]

Stunningly beautiful rifle and scope.

 

[JGRaider]

You're gonna love that VX6. I have one identical to that, w/duplex reticle that sits on my 7Mag. I took it to Namibia about a month ago and killed 12 animals with it. Great stuff, and it compares very favorably to most anything. In fact, it's the most user friendly variable scope I've ever seen, and I've used most all of the high end euro stuff.

 

[tarbe]

This is the first time I have ever mounted a new scope on a rifle, and then every day for the next 3 days I have pulled the rifle out of the safe to look through the scope and appreciate it.

It really is nice. I love the auto on/off lighted reticle. Very discrete, but bright enough to show up the magic spot when the light is low.

Fast focus, great field of view, 6:1 zoom....oh yeah baby. Think I'll go to the safe for my daily fix now.

 

[Tango]

Great looking rifle. I have a No 1 Boddington 7x57 and I'm in the process of mounting a scope. I'd like to get it mounted as low as possible, but as you say the tall rear sight complicates things somewhat. Can you describe your rear sight removal process? It looks like you do things properly. Thank you.

 

[CAustin]

Love it. What cal is the Ruger #1 that you mounted it on! The two together is outstanding

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Love it. What cal is the Ruger #1 that you mounted it on! The two together is outstanding

It would be .300H&H, I have the same rifle.

Tarbe, what's your favorite load at this point?

 

[CAustin]

My Ruger #1 in stainless steel and laminated stock 300 Win Mag. Love Ruger rifles.

 

[tarbe]

It would be .300H&H, I have the same rifle.

Tarbe, what's your favorite load at this point?

I loaded up a half-dozen different loads each with IMR 7828 and 4831 with the 220 Partition and 180 TTSX...then did not make it out to the range before the summer heat hit. Ugh.

I always try to work up my hunting load in as close to the same temps as I will be hunting...so I am only shooting the generic practice loads with Ballistic Tips until Nov/Dec when it cools off.

Thermodynamics being what they are, the best load at 90F may well not be the best load at 40F. Heck, it may not be within my self-imposed case expansion parameters!

Good thing I am not leaving until next June!

 

[tarbe]

Great looking rifle. I have a No 1 Boddington 7x57 and I'm in the process of mounting a scope. I'd like to get it mounted as low as possible, but as you say the tall rear sight complicates things somewhat. Can you describe your rear sight removal process? It looks like you do things properly. Thank you.

Tango

I simply used a brass drift and a small plastic mallet. A few light taps and it walks right out!


Tim

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I loaded up a half-dozen different loads each with IMR 7828 and 4831 with the 220 Partition and 180 TTSX...then did not make it out to the range before the summer heat hit. Ugh.

I always try to work up my hunting load in as close to the same temps as I will be hunting...so I am only shooting the generic practice loads with Ballistic Tips until Nov/Dec when it cools off.

Thermodynamics being what they are, the best load at 90F may well not be the best load at 40F. Heck, it may not be within my self-imposed case expansion parameters!

Good thing I am not leaving until next June!

I hear you, haven't been to the range in over a month. My rifle seems to be temp sensitive to heat in the barrel, have you noticed that?

 

[tarbe]

Honestly, I have not fired it rapidly enough to heat the barrel.

I had it out last weekend and with it being warm as it is, I was only firing one shot every 3-4 minutes.

It seems like the No 1 can be very sensitive to barrel harmonics. I have only owned 5 now, and have not noticed them to be particularly fussy (my other 4 were 2@ 375 H&H, 2@ 45-70 and 1 .458...300 H&H is the only smallbore).

Maybe a Hick's Accurizer might help your rifle to settle down? Seems like many folks have had good luck getting more reliable accuracy from otherwise troublesome rifles?

Once I settle in on a load that I know shoots well, I will do some groups of 3 shots in 30 seconds to see if the group opens or walks inordinately.