Advice on 416 scope

[WAB]

Appreciate any thoughts on what scope some of you like best for my application: Bolt action .416 Rigby, short to medium range, dangerous game. Hopefully some buff hunters can comment on reticle......thanks.............FW Bill

I have Leupold VX6 1-6X scopes on my .375 and .458 Lott. They are mounted in Leupold QRW mounts. I’m not totally sold on the reticle or illumination. However, I’ve never used the illumination on buff. I have a Steiner P4 Xi 1-4X that I think is a better scope but it is shorter which reduces your flexibility in eye relief. If it fits your rifle it’s worth a look. I personally prefer the German style reticle (3 post).

 

[WAB]

I just had this discussion with my PH two weeks ago on my hunt. I purchased a CZ550 in 416 Rigby two years ago to begin shooting and work my muscle memory in getting used to the larger action for a future DG hunt. While I understand for the PH you might not need or want the magnification, for a client with a few more moments on their first shot, the magnification can be nice to have.

I went with a Leupold 2-8x36mm....has everything I want. On 2x it is very little difference than shooting an 1x scope. there is always distortion from the magnification effect on a 1x, even a true 1x, so going to 2x was fine with me. Being able to dial up to anywhere from 2-8x is also nice as mentioned above with any 1-8. I have the scope in a set of nice QD rings so after my first shot I can dismount if need be and am practicing it religiously. In our conversation my PH stated that he prefers a client with a scope in that 6x-8x max range (depending on the DG hunted) that they can line up for a more precise shot if need be. I guess this all depends on what your conditions are, but thats also why I practice the shot with shot and then without

I used that scope on my .375 before going to the VX6 1-6x. It’s a great scope. Lacks the illumination of the VX6 but imo has more precise crosshairs. I’m not sure the VX6 was an upgrade.

 

[WAB]

I appreciate all of the posts. Still considering. I bought this rifle at auction, just cleaned it and adjusted trigger. Bought rings, as they were not included with the used rifle, bought dies and brass, ordered bullets. Am looking at Trijj, and Leupold 2.5-8, but Swaro and S&B out of my price range. .....Was thinking of Leupold 1.5-5 until Rookhwk post, and agree, want a little more light gathering..............FW Bill

If you’re thinking 1-4x, check out the Steiner P4 Xi. Great glass.

 

[TTundra]

I used that scope on my .375 before going to the VX6 1-6x. It’s a great scope. Lacks the illumination of the VX6 but imo has more precise crosshairs. I’m not sure the VX6 was an upgrade.

Leupold had a Mark 4 2-8x36 that was illuminated, but I just dont like the eyepiece housing for the Ill. reticle. More obtrusive for me, but that is purely subjective. Otherwise, that was and still would be an excellent alternative to get an illuminated reticle in that scope body.

 

[TTundra]

I used that scope on my .375 before going to the VX6 1-6x. It’s a great scope. Lacks the illumination of the VX6 but imo has more precise crosshairs. I’m not sure the VX6 was an upgrade.

Leupold had a Mark 4 2-8x36 that was illuminated, but I just dont like the eyepiece housing for the Ill. reticle. More obtrusive for me, but that is purely subjective. Otherwise, that was and still would be an excellent alternative to get an illuminated reticle in that scope body.

 

[sierraone]

Mine is a 30mm tube and says "Dangerous Game" on the box and the scope!

Interesting....

Tim, Couldn't forget our gentlemanly argument....so I went to the gun shop that has my guns in storage in preparation for my move in about 8 weeks. I opened the .404 case to look at the scope and guess what? You were right. My Weavers are 1 - 5 x. Not 1.5 - 5. If I were younger, I might be embarrassed by this, but I'm not. Maybe 20 years ago, but not now! So you win. Let me know if you ever want to sell one for my .416!!!

 

[tarbe]

If I were younger, I might be embarrassed by this, but I'm not. Maybe 20 years ago, but not now!

I hear ya bro!

These days, bragging rights come from not making a mess in my trousers.

 

[MikeDeltaFoxtrot]

Here is the Leupold VX 3i 1.5-5x20 mounted on my RSM in Warne QD rings.

ETA: Please pardon my messy workbench.

 

[tarbe]

Looks like we were doing the same thing tonight. I just mounted a Trijicon 1-6 on my 45/400, in Alaskan QD rings.

I got low rings to help with the cheek weld...makes it a bit tight but I am sure with practice it will be fine on the reload. Had to file the rear sight, too!

 

[V.Veritas]

I found this old thread and I thought it needs reviving.

Scopes and glass quality advanced significantly in the last 7 years and some members got a few safaris under their belt since.

Some hunters would consider now the Z8i 1.7-13.3x42 an ideal scope for 375 H&H. Would that choice stand for a 416 Rigby as well?

Between an illuminated reticle (Leupold VX6 1-6x24) and a non-illuminated reticle (Swarovski Z6 1-6x24 EE) what would you choose for a cape buffalo hunt?

 

[rookhawk]

I found this old thread and I thought it needs reviving.

Scopes and glass quality advanced significantly in the last 7 years and some members got a few safaris under their belt since.

Some hunters would consider now the Z8i 1.7-13.3x42 an ideal scope for 375 H&H. Would that choice stand for a 416 Rigby as well?

Between an illuminated reticle (Leupold VX6 1-6x24) and a non-illuminated reticle (Swarovski Z6 1-6x24 EE) what would you choose for a cape buffalo hunt?

Swaro 1-6 (ee or not) and Swaro 1-8 are WAY better than anything straight tube by Leupold in my opinion.

I’m not selling anything, I’m just saying that by the time you throw enough thousands of dollars on the table to get a high quality Leupold or other non-German/Austrian optic, you could have just owned the best.

Point of order, name a better glass factory on the planet than Carl Zeiss? You can’t, because every precision scientific instrument and every high end piece of eye glass is from Zeiss. Who does Swaro, Leica, and S&B use? Oh yes, Carl Zeiss.

 

[Milan]

Swaro 1-6 (ee or not) and Swaro 1-8 are WAY better than anything straight tube by Leupold in my opinion.

I’m not selling anything, I’m just saying that by the time you throw enough thousands of dollars on the table to get a high quality Leupold or other non-German/Austrian optic, you could have just owned the best.

Point of order, name a better glass factory on the planet than Carl Zeiss? You can’t, because every precision scientific instrument and every high end piece of eye glass is from Zeiss. Who does Swaro, Leica, and S&B use? Oh yes, Carl Zeiss.

This may be a bit of an oversimplification, I think. They all may use Schott raw glass product but they all do their own cutting, grinding, polishing and coating in-house. Making them all a bit unique and different from each other. So there still will be differences. They are all just so high in quality that in the end it may not matter which one you buy but do be aware that not all models are not assembled by the factories in-house but may be outsourced. Zeiss Conquest line for example to USA, some Leica stuff was assembled in Portugal, etc.

 

[Milan]

Between an illuminated reticle (Leupold VX6 1-6x24) and a non-illuminated reticle (Swarovski Z6 1-6x24 EE) what would you choose for a cape buffalo hunt?

Trijicon Accupoint. Sorry could not resist a little tongue in cheek.
TR24G or TR25C

I had the TR24G and it is a great scope but once I put it on a .375 H&H, I could not find rings strong enough to hold it in place due to its weight. So keep the weight in mind. While these heavy scopes are durable (there is a whole discussion about that elsewhere in the forums), the weight can be a bit too much to handle sometimes. Just make sure your rifle can fit rings strong enough to hold these or get a lighter scope.
I do not have experience with the scopes you mention so I will leave that to other to answer.

 

[V.Veritas]

I do not dispute the glass quality difference between VX6 and Z6/8.

My question is pragmatic in nature from an African hunt perspective.

This is my conundrum: buffalo hunting is conducted during daylight. The scope’s light transmission should be sufficiently good to see a dark buffalo/ target in the shadow. Would the incremental light transmission of a top shelf scope (Z 6/8) trump the lighted reticle of the VX 6 for pinpoint accuracy on the dark target?!?

 

[Milan]

I think illuminated scopes are really nice, especially on dark targets. But I do hate batteries. Hence my preference for tritium or similar. Or systems where the batteries last a very long time.so I think the illumination would be my preference.

 

[Rule 303]

I do not dispute the glass quality difference between VX6 and Z6/8.

My question is pragmatic in nature from an African hunt perspective.

This is my conundrum: buffalo hunting is conducted during daylight. The scope’s light transmission should be sufficiently good to see a dark buffalo/ target in the shadow. Would the incremental light transmission of a top shelf scope (Z 6/8) trump the lighted reticle of the VX 6 for pinpoint accuracy on the dark target?!?

Not quite. I took my Buff with nor more than 5 to 10 mins of light remaining. I was using a Trijacon 1.5-4X20? Picket post reticle.

I cannot speak about the high end expensive Leupold's but I have zero faith and trust in their standard models. Have had several that were blurry, poor glass or construction. Yes I could send them back to be corrected but should not have to. I have never had one problem with a Euro scope and non with Nightforce NXS or Trijacon. I will take clarity over magnification, kitchen sinks, or anything else they want to put on scopes.

The sights I have for the 416 Rigby are the Trijacon (see my avatar) and an Aimpoint.

 

[pc3]

Appreciate any thoughts on what scope some of you like best for my application: Bolt action .416 Rigby, short to medium range, dangerous game. Hopefully some buff hunters can comment on reticle......thanks.............FW Bill

I have a Z8 1-8 on my .416 Rigby, worked really well this year on Cape Buff.

 

[Neil Molendyk]

Illumninated dot reticle works great black bears as well. A black reticle on a black bear bear at close range is almost impossible to detect point of aim.

 

[Surgeon1]

I just put a Leica Ampulus 1-6 illuminated on an amazing Custom Mod 70 in 416 Ruger.
I have multiple Ampulus scopes and have nothing but praise for them. The 2.5x15 illuminated With 4A reticle is now the scope on a 6# 300WBY that I built 40 yrs ago at the beginning of ultralight rifles, it wore a leupold 2-7 for 40 years to hunt on 5 continents and has taken too many to count elk being in & out of a scabbard on a horse thousands of times. After 20 in retirement I put the Leica on it and took it to Uganda in March and it took 11species like a laser beam! Still only weighs 7#4oz.
The Trijicon Credo 1-8 x28 is a great DG scope and I have a couple (both on 375). Used them in 3gun competition on AR-15, they are FFP but great eye box and the best reticle I’ve used.
Have a Z8i 1-8 it is a good scope but after trying it on for a couple days I think I’ll order another Leica 1-6 for my new 400 H&H