GPO Scopes

[RETD16]

I have another question for the hive. I’m looking for a scope for my Dakota in 416 RM. I have searched and found the GPO (German Precision Optics) SPECRA 6X in 1.5-9x32. The scope has an illuminated reticle and a 30mm tube. It also has the flexibility to do some PG because it magnifies up to 9x.

My first question is: Has anyone had any experience with GPO rifle scopes?

Second, does this sound like a good scope for a DG rifle?

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[BeeMaa]

I have no experience with GPO scopes. And I suspect I never will. Did you happen to notice that this scope offers 4mm of eye relief? Not sure if this is a misprint error on their part but I don't think you will avoid a scope cut from a 416RM with 4mm of eye relief. If it is in fact a misprint, would you really trust a company that doesn't double check their own literature? What does it really say about the quality you would expect from their scopes if you can't trust their print?

For DG, I would not trust anything less than Leupold from a price point and go up from there. The VX-5HD 1-5x24 Illuminated (about the same price) would fit the bill and also give you true 1x at the low end. This also gives 5x magnification that will allow you to reach out to about 250 yards. I would not expect a PH to be giving you the green light on a shot longer than this with a 416RM, regardless of the game being hunted.

Leupold has an outstanding reputation for durability and reliability, along with a lifetime guarantee. Other names I'd trust (in no particular order) are Trijicon, Leica, Swaro, S&B, Kahles and Zeiss. Finding a scope from one of these manufacturers WITH PROPER EYE RELIEF for a big bore rifle should not be difficult.

Going on a DG hunt is not the time to be skimping on glass. This is literally something that you are trusting your life to.

Lastly, I'd highly recommend that you mount whatever you buy in high quality QR ring mounts AND that your iron sights are dialed in for 50-100 yards. Mounts from Alaska Arms, Talley and Warne are all trusted brands and should be available for your choice of scope with your Dakota.

 

[ZG47]

@BeeMaa Eye relief for the GPO 1.5-9x32 is stated on the GPO.com website as: 4 inches;

and on the line below: 97mm.

Good general advice though, from my perspective.

@RETD16 Look up the Dark Lord of Optics if you want a true technical appraisal by an optics engineer. Ilya keeps it simple and honest.

 

[RETD16]

@BeeMaa Eye relief for the GPO 1.5-9x32 is stated on the GPO.com website as: 4 inches;

and on the line below: 97mm.

Good general advice though, from my perspective.

@RETD16 Look up the Dark Lord of Optics if you want a true technical appraisal by an optics engineer. Ilya keeps it simple and honest.

Thanks for clearing up my mistake!!! Yes the eye relief is 4 inches.

 

[YancyW]

I have don't any GPO scopes, but have handle a few of them. They seemed really nice, very good glass and tracked well. That said, I am hard to get to move on brands, so I never bought one.

On my Dakota, I had to go with Swaro scope, it just seemed to fit the rifle.

 

[Red Leg]

Call me old fashion, but that is a lot more scope (from a magnification and size perspective) than I would put on a .416. Something like the old Swaro Z6 always seemed perfectly proportioned for a forty.

It is also a lot less scope than your rifle. The Dakota is a very fine rifle. I have never understood putting a scope of significantly less relative quality on such a rifle.

 

[BeeMaa]

@ZG47 - From their website it shows all the eye relief in mm, not inches. I'm sure it's also someplace else on their website listed correctly. The question is why is it incorrect anywhere on their website.

Another point is that German Precision Optics are not made in Germany as the name would suggest. Only product design and engineering are done in Germany. Actual production is done out of China, Japan and other Asian countries.

 

[Muskox]

It is a Chinese made German designed scope

 

[Inline6]

Looked at them, hard to part with money on an unproven product.

Lots of proven options. Heavy recoil will kill a scope fast if it is not up to the task.

 

[ZG47]

View attachment 405635
@ZG47 - From their website it shows all the eye relief in mm, not inches. I'm sure it's also someplace else on their website listed correctly. The question is why is it incorrect anywhere on their website.

Another point is that German Precision Optics are not made in Germany as the name would suggest. Only product design and engineering are done in Germany. Actual production is done out of China, Japan and other Asian countries.

@BeeMaa I double checked and the site I always go to is actually called GP-optics.com . My previous post to this thread was very early in the morning where I am. I had not previously seen the table you discovered BUT everyone has bugs on their site and missing or incorrect data at some stage. I have reported such issues via contact options on more than one occasion and have always been thanked for doing so.

In regard to another reply to this thread, I doubt that the optic is made in the PRC although it is quite possible that some components are obtained from mainland China. Some items in China are made correctly and … to be honest, the PRC is going through the same quality issues that ‘Western’ countries had previously experienced. It is worth remembering that the area in question went through the Boxer rebellion, a revolution, the Warlord era, a Japanese invasion which included massive chemical and biological warfare attacks in response to the Doolittle raid; civil war and the Great Leap Forward.

Small inconveniences like that can slow down the development of manufacturing ethics and consistent application of quality control by anything from decades to a century and more. NB You can grow a tree faster via careful selection of cultivars and where necessary, inoculation with mycorrhizae BUT it still takes the same number of growing years to develop the required strength in the milled timber.

A local gun runner who specialises in quality products has the NZ agency for GP Optics BUT I have no personal experience with their products and when I chat with him the discussion is usually focussed more on national politics, club matters and how he and his spouse are doing with their business in general.

 

[RETD16]

I have no experience with GPO scopes. And I suspect I never will. Did you happen to notice that this scope offers 4mm of eye relief? Not sure if this is a misprint error on their part but I don't think you will avoid a scope cut from a 416RM with 4mm of eye relief. If it is in fact a misprint, would you really trust a company that doesn't double check their own literature? What does it really say about the quality you would expect from their scopes if you can't trust their print?

For DG, I would not trust anything less than Leupold from a price point and go up from there. The VX-5HD 1-5x24 Illuminated (about the same price) would fit the bill and also give you true 1x at the low end. This also gives 5x magnification that will allow you to reach out to about 250 yards. I would not expect a PH to be giving you the green light on a shot longer than this with a 416RM, regardless of the game being hunted.

Leupold has an outstanding reputation for durability and reliability, along with a lifetime guarantee. Other names I'd trust (in no particular order) are Trijicon, Leica, Swaro, S&B, Kahles and Zeiss. Finding a scope from one of these manufacturers WITH PROPER EYE RELIEF for a big bore rifle should not be difficult.

Going on a DG hunt is not the time to be skimping on glass. This is literally something that you are trusting your life to.

Lastly, I'd highly recommend that you mount whatever you buy in high quality QR ring mounts AND that your iron sights are dialed in for 50-100 yards. Mounts from Alaska Arms, Talley and Warne are all trusted brands and should be available for your choice of scope with your Dakota.

Great advice!!! I’m continuing to look and looking at a Leupold, Trijicon, Swaro, and Zeiss. Also, for mounts I have always loved the Warne QD mounting system.

One of my friends has a quick detach scope mounting system from Zeiss on his Dakota in 375 H&H. It is a rail-type system. Where the rail mount is integral to the scope. I cannot find it anywhere, which makes me think that Zeiss doesn’t make it anymore.

 

[PerH]

Great advice!!! I’m continuing to look and looking at a Leupold, Trijicon, Swaro, and Zeiss. Also, for mounts I have always loved the Warne QD mounting system.

One of my friends has a quick detach scope mounting system from Zeiss on his Dakota in 375 H&H. It is a rail-type system. Where the rail mount is integral to the scope. I cannot find it anywhere, which makes me think that Zeiss doesn’t make it anymore.

There is several models of the rail, Zeiss dont make the mount ,only scope with integral rail . Recknagel is one maker,but it is others also.

Several other european makers made similar rail models.

Some Zeiss models are call ZM or M after ordinary designation.

I have a 6x42 ZM eith such mount for a Blaser.

 

[RETD16]

There is several models of the rail, Zeiss dont make the mount ,only scope with integral rail . Recknagel is one maker,but it is others also.

Several other european makers made similar rail models.

Some Zeiss models are call ZM or M after ordinary designation.

I have a 6x42 ZM eith such mount for a Blaser.

I’ve seen that one, the one that is made for a Blaser. I’m just having a difficult time finding the one that will mount on a Dakota 76. It’s a really cool design!!!

 

[PerH]

I’ve seen that one, the one that is made for a Blaser. I’m just having a difficult time finding the one that will mount on a Dakota 76. It’s a really cool design!!!

Recknagel - Accessories for Hunting Rifles - Mounts › Recknagel

Our scope mounts, which are manufactured and sold under the trademark ERAMATIC, have proven themselves tens of thousands of times not only …

www.recknagel.de

Have a look here, also check with NECG,i am not sure,but i think there is a base for the Dakota that is similar to other makers that can ne used instead.

 

[PerH]

A little search i did, some to look for here also, or call Zeiss they will know the exact one you need.

recknagel Zeiss railmount for Dakota 76 at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

 

[BeeMaa]

Great advice!!! I’m continuing to look and looking at a Leupold, Trijicon, Swaro, and Zeiss. Also, for mounts I have always loved the Warne QD mounting system.

One of my friends has a quick detach scope mounting system from Zeiss on his Dakota in 375 H&H. It is a rail-type system. Where the rail mount is integral to the scope. I cannot find it anywhere, which makes me think that Zeiss doesn’t make it anymore.

I have 3 rail mounted Swaro Z8i scopes all mounted in Contessa QD mounts that adapt the scope to the Blaser R8 barrel. This is what they look like. Notice there are no rings around the scope, there is a rail integral to the scope that the Contessa mount attaches to removing the need for rings.

 

[RETD16]

I have 3 rail mounted Swaro Z8i scopes all mounted in Contessa QD mounts that adapt the scope to the Blaser R8 barrel. This is what they look like. Notice there are no rings around the scope, there is a rail integral to the scope that the Contessa mount attaches to removing the need for rings.
View attachment 405769

That is very similar to my friend’s Zeiss setup.

 

[Nitro375]

I have a 3-9×40 GPO I got last year on my old .338 Winchester. So far it has been fine, but I only have about 60 rounds through it thus far. How durable it is remains to be seen. I put it on this rifle because it seems to kill scopes pretty quickly for some reason. I think for eye relief and reliability on your 416 I would look at Leupold, Trijicon and up.

 

[RETD16]

I have a 3-9×40 GPO I got last year on my old .338 Winchester. So far it has been fine, but I only have about 60 rounds through it thus far. How durable it is remains to be seen. I put it on this rifle because it seems to kill scopes pretty quickly for some reason. I think for eye relief and reliability on your 416 I would look at Leupold, Trijicon and up.

That’s kinda where I’m headed!!! I like the Trijicons, obviously the Leupolds, Zeiss’, and Swaros.

 

[maxtheflyinghorse]

I just bought a GPO spectra 6 1-6x24 for my .375 H&H magnum. They are about £650 new bit a friend had it and gave it for £300 and it was never used. I heard good reports about them. So only time will tell