416 rigby scope

[Journey]

I have never scoped myself and dont want to start! That being said I am probably obsessing to much about eye relief for a scope for my newly acquired 416 rigby.

For whatever reason I think I need 4-ish inches of eye relief as to not to add to my already terrible looks.

I would like to hunt a cape buffalo one day and also use the gun to hunt elk (yes I know its excessive for elk). Right now I am looking at vortex razor LH at 2x10 with 3.8 inches of eye relief with quick disconnects.

Thoughts are, I can carry the gun while hunting buffs on 2 power and then take the scope off after the first shot and tracking begins (I love shooting irons).

I could buy multiple scopes for different uses but this option seems to fit the bill for everything I would use the gun for.

For you buff hunters, where is the flaw in thought process? And is eye relief an issue I dont need to obsess about

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

Critical Eye Relief is absolutely the most critical issue. The .416 family is the limit of fairly safe scope use but never the less close attention must be paid to selecting a scope. At the .458 level and above it’s time to start considering a Scout type scope or red dot. I agree with your thought of 4” of eye relief for the .416 Rigby and would also encourage you to consider a red dot.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Not over thinking it, but if never scoped before, you are likely worrying more than necessary. So many folks get scoped more from shooting position than mere recoil, like here in Alaska many folks earn a first shooting steeply up or downhill. Since you reference elk, you may end up with the rifle in such positions as well, where you would need to exercise proper caution between heavier recoil and steep angles.

Nice thing with many of the heavy hitters, if properly weighted, and even more importantly, shooting off sticks where your body moves along with the rifle to a greater degree than shooting prone off your backpack, its less of a concern and more of something to pay attention.

All that said, I love the Z81 1-8x24. Doesn't get you to 10x, but its a darn fine scope for dangerous game, and plenty magnification for elk.

 

[Mark458]

My suggestion would be the Leupold VX5-HD 2-10x42 with Firedot Reticle. I've used it for buffalo and plains game and it's worked wonderfully on my 458 Lott which has a good bit more recoil than your 416 Rigby. The 2 power is no problem for close work on buffalo and the option of 10 power for extended range is there if you need it.

My second choice would be the Zeiss conquest V6 2-12x50 with Illuminated Reticle if more powerful zoom is your top priority. Zeiss has awesome glass.

Either way I would suggest the illuminated plex reticle. I switched to these a few years back and they are awesome for buffalo in any cover and light conditions. Works great for all other plains game as well. If you don't want it you don't have to turn it on.

If the rifle fits you well getting scoped won't be any issue with either of these or any quality scope you decide to go with.

Good luck

 

[Journey]

Not over thinking it, but if never scoped before, you are likely worrying more than necessary. So many folks get scoped more from shooting position than mere recoil, like here in Alaska many folks earn a first shooting steeply up or downhill. Since you reference elk, you may end up with the rifle in such positions as well, where you would need to exercise proper caution between heavier recoil and steep angles.

Nice thing with many of the heavy hitters, if properly weighted, and even more importantly, shooting off sticks where your body moves along with the rifle to a greater degree than shooting prone off your backpack, its less of a concern and more of something to pay attention.

All that said, I love the Z81 1-8x24. Doesn't get you to 10x, but its a darn fine scope for dangerous game, and plenty magnification for elk.

Ive hunted my whole life and shot it all sorts of positions with up to 338 win mags, and i am part of the 1/8 th of a ton club so have a fair bit of mass.

That being said shooting the rigby for the first time last weekend (standing up), has led me to the conclusion that these big bores have a different type of recoil. It did not sting like like a quick/sharp recoil of a win mag, but the the first round i torched off reminded me to keep my jaw clenched. Aka it made my teeth rattle.

Makes me a tad nervous about rearranging my face with a scope .

Valid point about shooting off sticks in africa. I wonder if anyone takes there scopes off in the field for any reason.

I guess the right question is do people shoot 416s in western USA hunting positions at distance or is this just a stupid idea

 

[ftrovato]

I always shoot/hunt with quality shooting glasses.

For me they take most of the worry away.

 

[Green Chile]

Swaro Z6i is what’s on my 416 Rigby. I love it.

 

[Miletic]

I have never scoped myself and dont want to start! That being said I am probably obsessing to much about eye relief for a scope for my newly acquired 416 rigby.

For whatever reason I think I need 4-ish inches of eye relief as to not to add to my already terrible looks.

I would like to hunt a cape buffalo one day and also use the gun to hunt elk (yes I know its excessive for elk). Right now I am looking at vortex razor LH at 2x10 with 3.8 inches of eye relief with quick disconnects.

Thoughts are, I can carry the gun while hunting buffs on 2 power and then take the scope off after the first shot and tracking begins (I love shooting irons).

I could buy multiple scopes for different uses but this option seems to fit the bill for everything I would use the gun for.

For you buff hunters, where is the flaw in thought process? And is eye relief an issue I dont need to obsess about

Eye contact is something to think about. You are thinking well there.
I turned off all the options for optical sight. 416 was also made.
The recoil is not too strong, but when you shoot quickly it can cause problems. Maybe not with that shooter who shoots with the rifle tightened to the maximum. I am a long range shooter and I hold the weapon very softly without tight the rifle. In that cases, it may happen that the optics touch the eye.
For this reason, I consider only the red dot or steel sight as an option. And this way, only large animals are shot with this caliber, and at distances no greater than 100yd

 

[PCC600]

For you buffalo hunt I would go with 1.5 or 2x magnification . I would never go higher for buff. Also at these low magnifications I would leave sights on even for follow up tracking . You can easily acquire a moving or close animal with scopes set at low magnification . But like you I also like shooting over iron sites .

 

[Warren Knudsen]

I have a Swarovski Z61 1-6 EE (4.75 in eye relleif) on my 416 rigby, many consider it the best dangerous game scope ever produced, unfortunately they are no longer made but if there is one about the tent to sho up on here, but prices have gone up dramatically in the last 4 or 5 years. Keep an eye out and they do turn up.

 

[deewayne2003]

Personally I do not care for the straight tubed low power scopes, I went with a 2-10 Leupold VX5 with fire dot for my .375 and love it.

One thing to remember, ALWAYS mount your scope with it set to maximum power.

I’ve seen countless people mount scopes and then zoom in at the range and they have to creep up on the scope and ….. bang they get scope bit.

 

[R eight]

I have never scoped myself and dont want to start! That being said I am probably obsessing to much about eye relief for a scope for my newly acquired 416 rigby.

For whatever reason I think I need 4-ish inches of eye relief as to not to add to my already terrible looks.

I would like to hunt a cape buffalo one day and also use the gun to hunt elk (yes I know its excessive for elk). Right now I am looking at vortex razor LH at 2x10 with 3.8 inches of eye relief with quick disconnects.

Thoughts are, I can carry the gun while hunting buffs on 2 power and then take the scope off after the first shot and tracking begins (I love shooting irons).

I could buy multiple scopes for different uses but this option seems to fit the bill for everything I would use the gun for.

For you buff hunters, where is the flaw in thought process? And is eye relief an issue I dont need to obsess about

I love shooting irons too. Go with the heart.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

For calibers above 375HH I prefer a low power scope, 1-6. I have had excellent luck with Leupold Patrol VX6 HD 1-6 FireDot.
The scope is discontinued now but Euro Optics still has some at a great price.
A lot of AH members have bought this scope recently