Vortex Scope

Yaseen · May 3, 2017

Can I fit a Vortex Viper scope 6.5-20x50 on a H&H 375 or would that be an over kill.

Ryan · May 3, 2017

Can you, probably.Should you, probably not. Not unless you're planning on using that rifle for nothing under 100 yards in my opinion. Below that range your target will fill up the scope too much. If you're looking at the Vortex Viper line go with the 3-9x40.

Yaseen · May 3, 2017

Ryan said:
Can you, probably.Should you, probably not. Not unless you're planning on using that rifle for nothing under 100 yards in my opinion. Below that range your target will fill up the scope too much. If you're looking at the Vortex Viper line go with the 3-9x40.

I have on my 308 a vortex 4-16x44. Will the 6.5-20x50 work or my 308 or would that also be an over kill.....

JimP · May 3, 2017

The only rifle that I have a 20x scope on is a 22-250 that I use for parrie dogs at 400 yards here in the US.

It will work on your 308 but is it still overkill for the range that the 308 is typically shot at.

curtism1234 · May 3, 2017

There are 2 things to consider when scoping a rifle
1. Balance / Weight / Aesthetics
2. Usability

That big scope can balance well on an 8 pound rifle like a 375, but it's going to look terrible. Furthermore, your field of view is going to be too small for close shots. At 100 yards it might be fine, but what if the animal immediately runs towards you. I would want to be in that 1-4x or 2-7x range with your 375.

Regarding the 308, I would leave it as is. IMO a 308 is best served as a medium range (350 meters/yards and under) hunting cartridge and much closer shots are often taken.

I would save that big scope and put it on a heavy barreled varmint type rifle. That's really the only practical hunting purpose it serves in my opinion.

Rob404 · May 3, 2017

My hunting in Africa was done with a 2.5x10 on a 308 frame virtually every shot taken was with the scope cranked down to give me the widest field of view. It's all dependent on what type of terrain your hunting in

Wheels · May 3, 2017

Most people that shoot a 375 would want the low range of a scope to be a x1 or x2. This would make the high magnification around a x4 to x12 depending on the scope. Think of hunting buff in heavy brush.

I doubt I have ever had a scope above x6 for any animal I have shot in Africa.

Very few things in Africa require a scope of that magnification. A scope that size is extra weight, plus extra money.

It mainly boils down to what you want, but since you asked, this is my .02

Rob404 · May 3, 2017

My 375HH is set for two weight bullets 250g and 300g I use a kwik release mount, For plains game I'll use my 4x12, for close in work I can either opted for my 1x4 or use my open sight. It may not work for everybody but I like the set-up

bilmcc · May 3, 2017

Yaseen said:
I have on my 308 a vortex 4-16x44. Will the 6.5-20x50 work or my 308 or would that also be an over kill.....

I have a vortex 4-16x44 on my 300 win mag. for long range shooting. My 308 has a 3-9 zoom. If I had a 222 I would probably put a fixed 6 or 8 power scope on that. I guess you might need the 50mm lens to get enough illumination to use the 20 power setting in dimming light. On shots at a little over 200 yards, I have usually set my scopes around 8 power. In scrub I am usually set on 3x. I just cannot think of a use for that scope in any hunting situation I have been in.

James Cook · May 3, 2017

I have several vortex 4-16x44's. Good scopes for the money. Necessary magnification depends on the terrain you'll hunt on safari. I was never in situation where a 20X would have been necessary. Of more concern is that 6X is its lowest setting. In close/heavy cover, that could be a liability - can't zoom down enough to get game in your field of view or making it harder to get game in the field of view.

Bos en Dal SAFARIS · May 4, 2017

Horses for Courses...

My personal opinion is that it is a bit over kill, it is probably a good scope for a .300 or 7mm rem mag, where long distance shooting is at the order of the day!!
But for .375 where most factory ammo is 270-300gr i dont see you shooting over 200m and for that a 6x would be just fine!!

Just my opinion but as i said it depends on what your goal is with the 375

My best

375 Ruger Fan · May 4, 2017

curtism1234 said:
There are 2 things to consider when scoping a rifle
1. Balance / Weight / Aesthetics
2. Usability

Isn't that actually 4 things?

Dr Ray · May 5, 2017

Yaseen said:
Can I fit a Vortex Viper scope 6.5-20x50 on a H&H 375 or would that be an over kill.

I suggest a 2-7 x 40 scope. The higher power scopes are fine for long distance and for shooting small game. The 6.5 to 20 on such a rifle is more likely to be a handicap with a relatively narrow field of view.
Suggest a scope nothing bigger than 40mm
as the 50mm is bulky and once again is likely to be a factor that slows you down when you require fast handling.
6.5 magnification is also a problem when fast handling at short distances in the scrub is required.

Divernhunter · May 5, 2017

If you are just shooting ground squirrels off a bench it is good.
If you are hunting PG/deer/pronghorns/pigs and such game or DG it is way overkill and will work against you.
A 50 mm lens will get you nothing but a poor cheek weld.
Depending on intended use a 1-5X or a 2-7X32 or 40, or 3-9X40 or42 is all you need. Some of the newer scopes are 2-10X and such and that would work. NO need for anything bigger than 10X and a 2X or 3X is good on the lower end. I shot a bunch of PG animals with a 3-9X40 Leupold on a 338win mag at ranges from 135 to 480 yards and all were one shot kills. I have taken pronghorns here at home at ranges out to 600 yards with 3-9X40 and 3.5-10X40 and duplex reticle.

Dwight Beagle · May 8, 2017

To each his own. The only way I could envision owning a 6.5-20 scope would be if I hunted prairie dogs or was a long distance target shooter.

This may open up a can of worms but here goes. I've never hunted Africa but do have a fair amount of optic experience. A Vortex Viper would be one of the last scopes I'd trust on a heavy recoiling rifle.

cls · May 8, 2017

Here's my 2 bits for what it's worth, A fellow I work with fitted a Vortex to his .375 and on his first trip to Africa he ended up renting a rifle because his cross hairs went to shit. Good warranty, they replaced the scope and he had the same thing happen at the range on his 300 win mag. Warranty doesn't mean much if the scope doesn't work as advertised.

bilmcc · May 8, 2017

Dwight, I am curious about what in your optical experience leads you to that statement. Also, where is your dividing line for "heavy" calibers? I am posing these questions because i do not have much of an optical background. Thank you.

bilmcc · May 8, 2017

cls said:
Here's my 2 bits for what it's worth, A fellow I work with fitted a Vortex to his .375 and on his first trip to Africa he ended up renting a rifle because his cross hairs went to shit. Good warranty, they replaced the scope and he had the same thing happen at the range on his 300 win mag. Warranty doesn't mean much if the scope doesn't work as advertised.

Do you know what he was using -- Diamondback, Viper, or Razor?

Velo Dog · May 8, 2017

Hello Yaseen,

One of my acquaintances put a large power Leupold scope (4.5 to 14x ??) with a 50 mm front lens, in high rings, on his Browning "A-Bolt", in .338 Winchester.
He had much difficulty keeping it tight enough in the rings.
In other words, it tended to "migrate" forward with repeated firings, as if the rifle was recoiling faster than his "Hubble Telescope" could move to keep up with the fast kicking rifle.
He has since put a different scope on that rifle (and I believe he said it is also a Leupold but this one's a 3 to 9 x 42 mm ?).
Perhaps of little interest to many but nonetheless, one of my .375 H&H rifles (Whitworth Mauser) has only express sights at the moment and my best one (Brno 602 square bridge Mauser) has both express sights, plus just a simple 4x Zeiss scope in Alaska brand lever rings.
Far be it from me to say I am any sort of expert on hunting equipment.
On the other hand, I have never missed a shot due to lack of scope magnification.
When I miss a shot, (and I do sometimes) it is always my fault fair and square, not the lower magnification in most of my scopes.
IMO, all these 50 mm lens / very powerful magnification scopes of today, are best reserved for long range pest shooting, not so much for the typical hunting conditions we encounter when seeking African game animals.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

Dwight Beagle · May 8, 2017

This is relative of course but anything over 30-06 is hard recoiling to me.

I have a fascination with optics. I worked part time at a Cabela's gun counter for two years and while there mounted all scopes when on duty. I also have a small scope mounting business, I've mounted a whole bunch of scopes. Based on personal experience and the number of returns I've seen I don't believe Vortex scopes handle recoil well. The exception is the Razor, all models of which were made by LOW in Japan until recently. One of two Razor models are now made in the U.S. Vipers and Diamondbacks are made in the Philippines, Crossfires in China. Some pretty decent, tough scopes are made in the Philippines but I don't believe Vipers, Diamondbacks and Crossfires hold up to heavy recoil well. I also don't believe higher powered scopes hold up to serious recoil well until you get to some fairly high priced models and brands.

Vortex Scope

Yaseen

Ryan

Yaseen

JimP

curtism1234

Rob404

Wheels

Rob404

bilmcc

James Cook

Bos en Dal SAFARIS

375 Ruger Fan

Dr Ray

Divernhunter

Dwight Beagle

cls

bilmcc

bilmcc

Velo Dog

Dwight Beagle

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