Need advice on scope for my first safari rifle

[661944]

Hi,

Long time reader, new to posting.

I am looking for some advice on scopes. I have a Winchester model 70 in 375 H&H on order. My future plan is to hunt a cape buffalo and some plains game and like the idea of a 1 rifle battery for the trip. In the mean time, i plan to occasionally use it for elk and bear in the Pacific NorthWest.

I am looking at a Leupold VX-5 1-5x24 firedot duplex. It seems to possess enough eye relief for the caliber.

I’ve never owned a leupold or a scope that uses a battery.

Can anyone provide some input on scopes?

Can anyone speak on the reliability/quality of the vx-5 scope? Battery corrosion? Failures? Anything?

I need an education.

Thank you all!

 

[pilar]

I use a leupold 2-7x compact but on a 375 ruger, the H&H is longer action so a compact might not work

 

[wildwilderness]

Should work well. Main problem I see with battery powered scopes is they get left on and die!

I make a point when I’m done with the rifle to unscrew the battery and flip it over so it can’t get turned on. When I grab it to go out I flip it on, and always have a spare

 

[661944]

The length of action vs scope didn’t occur to me. Thank you.

 

[375Fox]

I originally had a 1.5-5 on my 375 and switched it to a 2-10. I’ve taken buffalo at 5-80 yards and don’t see 2x as a limiter at all, but see a lot of advantages of having 10x for 300 yard shots. 375 recoil isn’t severe enough to really give any extra consideration to eye relief to me. There is a lot of discussion on this thread.

Thread 'My Take on Dangerous Game Scopes'

Nov 27, 2023

Here is a video where I discuss my journey in finding the ultimate DG scope. Bombs away!

• Philip Glass
• blaser dangerous game dangerous game scopes leupold philip glass rifle scopes swarovski vx6
• Replies: 255
• Forum: .375 & up

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• 

 

[Wiley64]

I would get a 3-9 if you plan on using it for more than just buffalo.

 

[661944]

Should work well. Main problem I see with battery powered scopes is they get left on and die!

I make a point when I’m done with the rifle to unscrew the battery and flip it over so it can’t get turned on. When I grab it to go out I flip it on, and always have a spare

But, you have had no issues of scope failure, just dead battery's?

 

[Hooked Now]

Big picture, Leupold is a nice choice. If you are headed in that direction reach out to @Mark Biggerstaff for some ideas. He is a great source for well-priced Leupolds. I have a similar setup as yours (.375 with a 1-6 on it) and will tell you how it does when I get back in June 2026. But general consensus is your setup sounds good. Some will offer up that a bit more power on the scope could help for longer PG shots, but that's just going to be up to your preference.

 

[mdwest]

there are a couple of different POV's when it comes to optics on DG rifles.. especially the more manageable calibers like 375 H&H and the various 416's..

If your intent is to exclusively use it for dangerous game, a quality low power variable optic like the leupold you're considering is a really good option.. you're not going to need a whole lot of magnification shooting a very large animal like a buffalo, hippo, elephant, etc (or even a lion) at the typical DG distance of +/- 50 yards (or less).. what you're going to want is the ability to get as much field of view as possible, the ability to quickly and easily detach the optic and go to irons if necessary, and maybe have a little bit of magnification available if needed..

there's been a trend lately however for folks to go to higher magnification variable power optics lately.. especially with some newer/more modern scopes being able to get below 2x and still be able to get to 10x or greater.. that's going to offer a whole lot more flexibility if your intent is to do some PG hunting where you may end up with a longer distance (200-300 yards?) shot on a great animal (something a 375 or 416 is fully capable of)..

I started out with a 1-5x on my 375 but have since "upgraded" to a 2-10x.. My 416 still wears a 1-5x though and I will likely never change it.. I have no intention of purposely hunting PG with the 416.. and if by chance while out looking for a buffalo we spot an incredible kudu that I just cant resist at 200 yards, I'd be perfectly comfortable with only 5x magnification..

 

[Hooked Now]

But, you have had no issues of scope failure, just dead battery's?

And I do have a Leupold firedot on another rifle. The dot is nice. Never had a battery issue. They are cheap. Carry extras and you will be okay. If they die, you just lose the dot. No big deal.

 

[cajunchefray]

Hi,

Long time reader, new to posting.

I am looking for some advice on scopes. I have a Winchester model 70 in 375 H&H on order. My future plan is to hunt a cape buffalo and some plains game and like the idea of a 1 rifle battery for the trip. In the mean time, i plan to occasionally use it for elk and bear in the Pacific NorthWest.

I am looking at a Leupold VX-5 1-5x24 firedot duplex. It seems to possess enough eye relief for the caliber.

I’ve never owned a leupold or a scope that uses a battery.

Can anyone provide some input on scopes?

Can anyone speak on the reliability/quality of the vx-5 scope? Battery corrosion? Failures? Anything?

I need an education.

Thank you all!

As you mentioned corrosion issues with a lighted reticle dot, which I MUCH prefer now with aging eyes, I semi- annually remove the CR 2032 battery from my Leupold VX-R 2-7, and VX3-i 1,5 x5.
I carefully clean the battery surfaces with a Q-tip, and all the contact points in the turret with 99% isopropyl alcohol (cheap on Amazon), vacuum any dust or fibers, then re-install and test.
I change the batteries yearly and only use a high-quality name brand. Always have 2 spares.
No cheap by the dozen import off brand imports. QC in battery manufacturing counts.
Lighted reticle scopes are really worth it when eyes age.

 

[grand veneur]

Hi,

Long time reader, new to posting.

I am looking for some advice on scopes. I have a Winchester model 70 in 375 H&H on order. My future plan is to hunt a cape buffalo and some plains game and like the idea of a 1 rifle battery for the trip. In the mean time, i plan to occasionally use it for elk and bear in the Pacific NorthWest.

I am looking at a Leupold VX-5 1-5x24 firedot duplex. It seems to possess enough eye relief for the caliber.

I’ve never owned a leupold or a scope that uses a battery.

Can anyone provide some input on scopes?

Can anyone speak on the reliability/quality of the vx-5 scope? Battery corrosion? Failures? Anything?

I need an education.

Thank you all!

Since you plan to use the rifle for something other than only DG in Africa, I would choose a scope with bigger objective and magnification to be able to shoot various game at longer distance with the cartridge 375 H&H Magnum, a cartridge that was primarily designed for this purpose. Which scope is difficult to recommend because there are so many scopes on the market, but Leupold offers a lot of good quality scopes.

 

[Angelo_orygun]

I use a leupold 2-7x compact but on a 375 ruger, the H&H is longer action so a compact might not work

I have a 2.5-8 Leupold on my Talkeetna, no issues with fitting:

It’s no doubt close!!

 

[grand veneur]

If the rifle is also used for hunting dangerous game, it is better that the scope can be quickly removed so that you can shoot with open sights in a dangerous situation.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Your rifle and VX5 1-5 Firedot is a great choice. You might also think about a VX5 2-10 Firedot depending on where you’re hunting if longer shots might be possible like in the Free State, Northwest, or Cape provinces of South Africa.

I personally had a VX6 1-6 Firedot as a 2nd Scope option and a VX5 3-15 Firedot as my primary option on my Winchester M70 in 375. I’ve since switched to a VX6 2-12 Firedot and moved both the 1-6 and 3-15 scopes to other rifles since it gives me the blend of both.

Zero issues with the electronics. I rarely turn on the Illuminated Firedot Reticle preferring to use the standard duplex reticle in it. The Firedot is great if you plan on doing any night hunting or for lowlight hunting. I got it with the idea of a Leopard being in its future.

 

[buffybr]

My first safari was in South Africa, and just plains game animals from Kudu down. On that trip I took a 7mm Rem Mag with a Weaver 3-9x40 scope with duplex crosshairs. That combo worked great on all of the animals that I hunted with it.

My next safari was for Cape Buffalo and PG animals in Zimbabwe and South Africa. I had a Leupold 2-7x on my .375 RUM and a 7mm RM with it's Weaver 3-9x40 scope. Again, both rifles and scopes worked great.

My 3rd trip was to Eastern and Southern South Africa for PG animals and I only took my .375 RUM with it's 2-7x Leupold. It again worked great for a variety of animals from Steenbok and Vaal Rhebok to Eland, on shots from 50 to 351 yards.

My last 3 African hunts I only took my .300 Wby with a Leupold VX 3i 4.5-14x40 scope with their B&C reticle on two of the hunts, and a Leupold VX 3i 4.5-14 CDS scope on the last hunt.

 

[661944]

If the rifle is also used for hunting dangerous game, it is better that the scope can be quickly removed so that you can shoot with open sights in a dangerous situation.

I was looking at talley throw lever rings. Better options?

 

[661944]

So it sounds like a 2-10x42 is the more versatile option for a do it all scope. I guess if i am close enough to need a 1x scope i’m already at taking the scope off and using iron sights.

 

[grand veneur]

I was looking at talley throw lever rings. Better options?

It is a good option for quickly removing a scope, but I prefer pivot mounts because it is faster to mount again the scope than with the two lever rings.

 

[661944]

It is a good option for quickly removing a scope, but I prefer pivot mounts because it is faster to mount again the scope than with the two lever rings.

Do you have a brand and model you can recommend?