Which Schmidt model Bender Scopes (non straight tube) have mounting real estate to fit on Rigby Big Game Actions with the Recknagel rings

Folks I am wondering which scopes will fit on the magnum Mauser actions actions Rigby use. I have ordered a .350 Rigby and will then purchase a .416 with it, and I wish to mount a scope with good low light performance and leaning towards a Schmidt Bender. For myself 3x on the bottom end will work (although I have a 1.5x option in mind as well) but I am thinking about mounting real estate on the following scopes.

For the hunting I intend to do, I want a better lowlight performance than the straight tubed options. I'm not interested in Leupold scopes for these rifles.

3-12x50 Zenith
3--18x42 Meta (capped no large turrets) this is a really nice sleek scope
1.5-8x42 (I may opt for one of these on my .416)

Has anyone used the above models on a Rigby Big Game, did they fit with the Recknagel rings I'll have ?

I do note the Swarovski's seem to have longer tubes, or at least the images I have looked at.

I'm not sure what you mean by "real estate".

The Stratos 1.5-8 has the most tube real estate, S&B used to have specs on their website but I cant find it anymore. Might be helpful if you post a picture with a ruler as reference for an idea of how much room you have to work with.

I’ve got an older 3-12 Klassik on my PreWar 275 Rigby in EAW Pivots. No experience with the newer BG models

I replaced a Swaro that was previously on it and the tube length is a little tighter than the Swaro but the scope itself is longer OAL. It barely fits behind the rear sight and taking it on/off might prove challenging.

You might be able to get a slightly longer offset. I’ve consider this for mine to get a little more clearance of the rear sight.

I would think all will fit. I have the 3-18 Meta on a Dakota Traveler (for the .338 Lapua) which also has a .416 Rigby barrel. I really like the scope for the Lapua application. I have a Rigby Big Game in .416 and will pull both rifles out to confirm. For what it is worth, I compared the "low light" capabilities of a 1.5-6 x 42 S&B Zenith vs. the straight tube S&B Exos 1-8 and could not discern a visual advantage at dusk. This was not scientific at all, but I could not perceive a difference.

Thanks Folks this is all very helpful.

by Real estate I mean tube space available for mounting, I know with the magnum Mauser actions its less.

The rifles are not on hand yet, likely around March next year I think.

The Klassic range does measure longer if I recall correctly.

If I went the Meta it would be the capped model it is sleek looking, wouldnt allow for any dial up but not really needed on .350 Rigby. But the 18x on the top end is a "nice to have" even though likely not needed 99% of the time.

Klassic should fit depending on objective

If you want low light, you need to go the 50mm objective. The objective is where you’re pulling the light in.

I’ve got 25mm rings with my Rigby and don’t want to spend $1000-1500 for 30mm rings so I’ve decided to go for a z5 2.5-12x50 and put that on there. Otherwise I was tossing up between a z8, a kahles or S&B

A Rigby suits good euro optics like S&B, swaro, Kahles, leica or similar in my view.

Not a ln exact answer but I have a Schmidt and Bender 1.5-6x42 Zenith on a pre-64 375 h&h based rifle and use Weaver style bases. I had to get an extended front base that hangs over the loading/ejector opening in order to mount it that way because the mounting tube is shorter on the S&B than the similar Zeiss scope I will probably switch to. I like the scope otherwise so far.

JPbowhunter said:

If you want low light, you need to go the 50mm objective. The objective is where you’re pulling the light in.

I’ve got 25mm rings with my Rigby and don’t want to spend $1000-1500 for 30mm rings so I’ve decided to go for a z5 2.5-12x50 and put that on there. Otherwise I was tossing up between a z8, a kahles or S&B

A Rigby suits good euro optics like S&B, swaro, Kahles, leica or similar in my view.

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Thanks JP, for the .350 I'd like a little more magnification so really leaning toward the 3-18x42 meta or the 3-12x50 Zenith for that.....the meta has higher light transmission than the zenith and an extra 6x on the top (you may never need it but its nice to have I suppose) and newer tech.

The zenith does have a very low profile BDC turret option though.

pc3 said:

Folks I am wondering which scopes will fit on the magnum Mauser actions actions Rigby use. I have ordered a .350 Rigby and will then purchase a .416 with it, and I wish to mount a scope with good low light performance and leaning towards a Schmidt Bender. For myself 3x on the bottom end will work (although I have a 1.5x option in mind as well) but I am thinking about mounting real estate on the following scopes. For the hunting I intend to do, I want a better lowlight performance than the straight tubed options. I'm not interested in Leupold scopes for these rifles. 3-12x50 Zenith 3--18x42 Meta (capped no large turrets) this is a really nice sleek scope 1.5-8x42 (I may opt for one of these on my .416) Has anyone used the above models on a Rigby Big Game, did they fit with the Recknagel rings I'll have ? I do note the Swarovski's seem to have longer tubes, or at least the images I have looked at.

Click to expand...

pc3 said:

Folks I am wondering which scopes will fit on the magnum Mauser actions actions Rigby use. I have ordered a .350 Rigby and will then purchase a .416 with it, and I wish to mount a scope with good low light performance and leaning towards a Schmidt Bender. For myself 3x on the bottom end will work (although I have a 1.5x option in mind as well) but I am thinking about mounting real estate on the following scopes. For the hunting I intend to do, I want a better lowlight performance than the straight tubed options. I'm not interested in Leupold scopes for these rifles. 3-12x50 Zenith 3--18x42 Meta (capped no large turrets) this is a really nice sleek scope 1.5-8x42 (I may opt for one of these on my .416) Has anyone used the above models on a Rigby Big Game, did they fit with the Recknagel rings I'll have ? I do note the Swarovski's seem to have longer tubes, or at least the images I have looked at.

Click to expand...

pc3 said:

Thanks Folks this is all very helpful. by Real estate I mean tube space available for mounting, I know with the magnum Mauser actions its less. The rifles are not on hand yet, likely around March next year I think. The Klassic range doe measure longer if I recall correctly. If I went the Meta it would be the capped model so sleek looking

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i initially wanted a swaro 2-16 for mine for double duty use out west but found the rings were low and the bell of the scope hit the rear sight. i settled on the z5 in 2-10 x42 and am pretty happy with it.

pc3 said:

Folks I am wondering which scopes will fit on the magnum Mauser actions actions Rigby use. I have ordered a .350 Rigby and will then purchase a .416 with it, and I wish to mount a scope with good low light performance and leaning towards a Schmidt Bender. For myself 3x on the bottom end will work (although I have a 1.5x option in mind as well) but I am thinking about mounting real estate on the following scopes.

For the hunting I intend to do, I want a better lowlight performance than the straight tubed options. I'm not interested in Leupold scopes for these rifles.

3-12x50 Zenith
3--18x42 Meta (capped no large turrets) this is a really nice sleek scope
1.5-8x42 (I may opt for one of these on my .416)

Has anyone used the above models on a Rigby Big Game, did they fit with the Recknagel rings I'll have ?

I do note the Swarovski's seem to have longer tubes, or at least the images I have looked at.

Click to expand...

N.B. It is called mounting length. Information is available on the S&B website. It is better to examine the marked dimensional drawing, rather than looking through a table of specifications, given that ocular housing diameter, objective housing diameter, magnification ring diameter and the angle from the main body tube to the objective housing are all critical dimensions for sight mounting.

Ok. Here are some pictures for reference. I love the Meta (as you mentioned—w/out adjustable turrets). Meta has more than adequate room. I had the Zenith on the Big Game and it works fine as well depending on eye relief/position.

RR 314 said:

Ok. Here are some pictures for reference. I love the Meta (as you mentioned—w/out adjustable turrets). Meta has more than adequate room. I had the Zenith on the Big Game and it works fine as well depending on eye relief/position.

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Wow thankyou this is exactly what I needed.

Question optics wise (glass clarity, resolution etc.) what do you like better zenith or meta or stratos (if you own one)?



Cheers pc3

As already mentioned, for the Zenith 1.5-6x42mm and Stratos 1.5-8x42mm it can be a bit of challenge to mount them on large actions. You either have to use an offset or sometimes they just will not fit allowing ample room to get the desired eye relief and eye box.

I have diagrams of the scopes with their measurements somewhere. I'll look for them and post it up for you.

Had a link saved that still works which provides measurements on several of the S&B scopes.


And for the 1.5-8x42mm Stratos

FOsteology said:

Had a link saved that still works which provides measurements on several of the S&B scopes.

Riflescopes - Hunting - 1.5-6x42 Zenith

www.schmidt-bender.net

And for the 1.5-8x42mm Stratos

View attachment 795426

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Great info, I didn't realize that 1.5-6 Zenith and 1.5-8 Stratos had different dimensions, slightly longer mounting tube but longer eyepiece on the Stratos. Glad the Recknagel mounts would work for the OP.

I thought for a bit that the Stratos would mount better on my Pre-64 H&H length actioned rifle but I wouldn't be able to push it far enough forward for eye relief (like so many nice scopes) and still not quite long enough mounting tube for my preference.
Pic for reference.

Monski said:

Great info, I didn't realize that 1.5-6 Zenith and 1.5-8 Stratos had different dimensions, slightly longer mounting tube but longer eyepiece on the Stratos. Glad the Recknagel mounts would work for the OP.

I thought for a bit that the Stratos would mount better on my Pre-64 H&H length actioned rifle but I wouldn't be able to push it far enough forward for eye relief (like so many nice scopes) and still not quite long enough mounting tube for my preference.
Pic for reference.

Click to expand...

1.5-6x42 Zenith

For some reason, finding scopes that work well for me is a challenge. Scopes that other shooters recommend, I sometimes find problematic. Maybe I need to shorten the LOP on some of my stocks. I've just always found that I need a generous amount of eye relief and a forgiving eye box. The fact that I favor Ruger No. 1's & 1885's doesn't make finding suitable scopes any easier.

One solution that has helped me is I often draft a cardboard template of the prospective scope onto a piece of cardboard (usually a cereal box) and then hold it up to a rifle that has a working mounted scope on it (e.g. one of my Ruger's) to see how it fits. I have the eye relief in mm written on the rear objective of the template so I can make an informed judgement of how an unknown scope on the web will work versus a scope that's already in my safe based on where the turrets & objectives on the template contact the rings on the rifle.



I love my S&B 1.5-8x42 Stratos on my LH Sako 85 Hunter in 30-06. As you can see in the picture below, it works great on a long action. The magnum action Winchester Safari Express in 375 H&H below it has a Swarovski Z6 1.7-10x42 which is another excellent scope. I did see that the Z6 line is discontinued and this model is no longer listed on their site which I think is a shame. It's easy to see in the photo that the Stratos does have a long rear objective if moving the scope forward is needed like @Monski mentioned in the previous post. For me, the Stratos is probably my favorite scope of all the ones I own. YMMV.



I have found that the S&B 3-12x42 Klassik fit well on a variety of rifles I've owned. It started out on my Ruger No. 1A in 6.5x55 SE but I like smaller compact scopes on my falling blocks so it now sits on my Wilson Combat in 300 HAM'R.



I had bookmarked the S&B 3-12x50 Zenith recently because it was on sale at an attractive price at Eurooptic. I don't need another scope so I've been able to talk myself out of another unnecessary purchase so far. I was just considering it because I'm an S&B fan and I really like my versatile Swarovski Z5 2.5-12x50 scope. It also started out on a Ruger No. 1S in 9.3x74r before migrating to my LH Cooper.