Which scope would you prefer on a 375 H&H Bolt for DG and PG -

I have 1-4x 30mm on my 404 and it is ideal. I have it mounted with low Warne QD rings on a very low old discontinued one-piece Weaver base. So low I had to polish off a bit of the bolt handle which was just touching the front edge of ocular bell. That scope acquires instantly when the gun hits my shoulder. On low power the front sight appears as a ghost (and barrel too on 1x) but it doesn't bother me. Fast acquisition is more important. The 30 mm tube does provide a wider field of view and supposed to gather more light.

I think if you also want to shoot plains game with the same setup, a 3-9x would do fine. A thicker tube with a scope that has objective bell will require higher mounting obviously. But quick acquisition is less important for plains game as you're usually on the sticks shooting at standing animals. And truth be told, if you do your job, most of the time dangerous game will be killed off the sticks too. I shot my first two buffalo with 375 H&H mounted with 3-9x Leopold. The second one shot on the run at 65 yards no problem. Not on the sticks, obviously.

My plains game 30-06 wears a 3-9x Nikon and I typically hunt with it on 4x even in thick stuff. It only gets turned up to 9x at the range or checking out a long distance candidate for a possible stalk.

AZDAVE said:

On a 375 I would use a 2-10 or 2-12x
on a 416 I would use a 1-6 or 1-8x

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I like choices, can you please articulate the reason?

Philip Glass said:

Please consider this:

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I watched the vid, Phil. Good points made. Thanks.

I just did my hunt in August using a Leupold VX6-HD2. It was simply outstanding in every way. Field of view, superb visual acuity at dusk, held zero after a major whack in the truck! Great scope!

I also brought along my Zeiss Victory. The Leupold was every bit as good!

VX6-HD2 1-6 x 24 .

For DG I want as much FOV as possible. Something like a true 1x 1.1x or 1.25x on the low end. I also like a bold reticle that draws my eye immediately.

I settled on a S&B Stratos 1.1-5x24mm FD9

None of your scopes listed. As far as power, 2x-9x is more than enough....that's what I successfully use. As far as tube diameter, your personal preference. Your PH takes you within 250 yds of all your game, within 100 yds for DG. Just ensure the scope is durable enough to stay on zero with repeated shots.

It may have been suggested before but here's a good idea. Use two scopes + QD rings with two different kinds of ammo. Something along the lines of 1-6x 30mm with 300 gr ammo for dangerous game and 3-9x with 250 gr ammo for plains game.

I have the Trijicon and works well. I like the dot! Really helps with low light and shadows- especially a black Buff in the bush or a dark Ele in the shade!

Best thing is it doesn’t need a battery! Does make the scope fatter by the back end so I had to use medium rings for better bolt clearance

FOsteology said:

For DG I want as much FOV as possible. Something like a true 1x 1.1x or 1.25x on the low end. I also like a bold reticle that draws my eye immediately.

I settled on a S&B Stratos 1.1-5x24mm FD9

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Well that is a high end scope. My budget for this scope is to stay below 1 K.

Ontario Hunter said:

It may have been suggested before but here's a good idea. Use two scopes + QD rings with two different kinds of ammo. Something along the lines of 1-6x 30mm with 300 gr ammo for dangerous game and 3-9x with 250 gr ammo for plains game.

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I want to keep it Simple Sir.

coreydb said:

None of your scopes listed. As far as power, 2x-9x is more than enough....that's what I successfully use. As far as tube diameter, your personal preference. Your PH takes you within 250 yds of all your game, within 100 yds for DG. Just ensure the scope is durable enough to stay on zero with repeated shots.

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Respectfully I will not hunt DG (Buffalo) at 100 yards. My max is 50 yards and ideal is 30. My PH knows. Or else I will not shoot. For PG I aim to keep it within 150 yards.

IF DG is primary and longer-range PG shots are out (inside 300 yds), a 1-6 is just fine. I have the Trij and my son has the Leupold. I have shot both and in my book they're tied for just what you're looking for (the power source is not likely to ever die in the T). I've written about this very thing before , but what I did (when deciding upon the T and other, earlier purchases,) is visit EuroOptic (at location 1, 2, then the latest 3-nearly quarter of a million square foot facility-to me it's like an industrial jobsite, only filled with the finest of toys!) go outside and look N toward World's End SP through ALL the big mfrs they sell, and wouldn't you know it, for my eyes the T was clearer than the more costly K, S, Z and i ruled out the S&B (for such a cost and short-range work), so in the bag it went! They also occasionally sell demo models (used at shows, never on guns) with nice discounts. Scored an amazing 10x42 bino (Blaser Primus made in Austria-akin to Burris being borne out of Leupold knowledge, and one of my favs, some people left Zeiss and other top mfrs to start German Precision Optics and partner with Blaser) at the same time as the T scope. 'Was just there recently to pick up quality bullets/ammo. If you're not nearby, go do same at your closest seller (and then buy from EuroOptic or SWFA online!) *LOL I was there near closing time on a Sun or Mon so there were only two dozen or so people (not incl. staff) shopping, including an Amish family (must've been Mennonites as they were wearing colors, talked freely and drove a truck). Most of their business is online/internationally shipped. *If ever we see a horse & buggy parked in the lot, I'll be sure and share a pic! (It has probably occurred.)

I started with a 1-4x on my 375 but was immediately dissatisfied and wanted more magnification for PG… so I stepped up to a 1-6x… and wasn’t really that much more happy… I kept telling myself I needed a true 1x for DG… over time I realized I was wrong… I now have a 2-10x on my win 70 375 H&H and couldn’t be happier… what I wanted was a single rifle I could anything from duiker to elephant with at ranges from 25-300 yards… while there are probably better option were I trying to build a rifle exclusively for DG or exclusively for large bodied PG, I find the 2-10x perfect for the versatility I wanted with my 375…

mdwest said:

I started with a 1-4x on my 375 but was immediately dissatisfied and wanted more magnification for PG… so I stepped up to a 1-6x… and wasn’t really that much more happy… I kept telling myself I needed a true 1x for DG… over time I realized I was wrong… I now have a 2-10x on my win 70 375 H&H and couldn’t be happier… what I wanted was a single rifle I could anything from duiker to elephant with at ranges from 25-300 yards… while there are probably better option were I trying to build a rifle exclusively for DG or exclusively for large bodied PG, I find the 2-10x perfect for the versatility I wanted with my 375…

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very good thoughts and you speak from experience.

All great responses so far, I love the fact that it makes me think over and hard..BTW I'm willing to change from 1-6 to 2-10. Just not decided

I would go with a Meopta MeoPro R2 1.7-10x42 or a Meopta MeoPro R2 1-6x24. The Optika is their cheaper line, and frankly I think it is on par with the Leupold VX-6HD, but the Meopro R2 is head and shoulders above any of the Leupold's - I own them both FYI

I myself went with the Swarovski Z8i 1,7-13,3-42 due to advice on this forum, a little heavier then I might have wanted initially but now that I got used to it I find it very versatile.

Beck said:

I would go with a Meopta MeoPro R2 1.7-10x42 or a Meopta MeoPro R2 1-6x24. The Optika is their cheaper line, and frankly I think it is on par with the Leupold VX-6HD, but the Meopro R2 is head and shoulders above any of the Leupold's - I own them both FYI

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The MEopta Meopro R2 1.7-10X42 is an interesting proposition, perhaps serves the best of both worlds.

dogcat1 said:

None of those. Swarovski Z6 or Z6i 21.7-10x42 with or without turrets.
The scopes you have in the poll have very limited field of view. They are fine for up close shooting but out past 100yds, good luck in sighting your target. I used the Leupold you mention with poor success. I switched to the Swarovski noted and it made a big difference.

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Or a Meopta 1.7-10x42mm for less than half the price

SStomcat said:

The MEopta Meopro R2 1.7-10X42 is an interesting proposition, perhaps serves the best of both worlds.

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If the Swarovski Z6 1.7-10x42 is a 99 out of 100 the Meopta Meopro R2 is a 97 out of 100 - but much cheaper