Need advice on scope for my first safari rifle

[Rifleman97]

Typing from my computer now but I'll post a pic from my phone of it in the next message

here’s the pics, you can see just how little cover there was. Also I wear an orange vest as well but took it off when I got to the side by side and packed the gun up before going back to get the deer

Here is the gun with the 1-6 on it. Winchester XPR 350 legend

And here is how flat the terrain is where I shot this guy, this pic was taken only a couple fields over, good luck sneaking anywhere inside of 300 yards when the deer are standing out in the middle of that!

 

[661944]

I do not have a .375 H&H, but I have taken buffalo and plains game in Africa, and have hunted elk and bears in the Pacific Northwest, as I.live in Washington. It seems to.me that a scope that tops out a 5 may be a little low powered for your stated desires. Elk especially tend to be further out, but I have also taken PG out to about 300 yards. I use a .458 WM with a low power scope (1.5-5) for buffalo and a .300 WM with a 3.5- 10 Leupold for everything else. It seems to me that a Leupold 2-7 might suit your needs a little better. I wouldn't go above 2 power on the low end. If you M 70 comes with iron sights, I would mount the scope with a QD system. That's how I mounted the scope on my .458 though I haven't felt a need to remove it on either of the two bulls that I've taken.

Best of luck on your upcoming hunts.

Doug

A fellow Washingtonian

 

[FlowHamed18]

I have the same rifle and got myself a Kahles 1,6-8x42. I love that combo

KAHLES: Riflescopes

www.kahles.at

 

[MacJenkins]

I think you’re overthinking it a bit. If I was going dangerous game I would run a 1-6 or 1-8, if not a 2-10 or somewhere in there. I personally would just take both set up in some Talley rings or similar. I always have a spare scope in quick mounts ready to go.

I’ve shot plenty of game with a 1-4 and 1-6 at 300-325 yards. Never thought I didn’t have enough scope. If you were shooting small game at that distance maybe 8-10 on the top end would help.

 

[375Fox]

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.

I really don’t know the scenario where 1x is needed. I can’t see a functional difference between 1x and 2x. You will see the barrel at both settings. This is my latest buffalo taken at maybe 5 yards. I shot at range a lot and a few animals at 300+ yards when I only had a 5x scope, but I see a lot of advantages in 10x at distance but no disadvantages of 2x up close, so I’m glad I upgraded. However, I also don’t see the advantages of a quick detach scope. The areas open sights would potentially be more valuable are difficult to be carrying around a scope. Also you might lose a shot opportunity if a buffalo breaks at 25 or 50 yards instead of the up close shot you were possibly expecting. My scope stays on at all times just turned low.

 

[KJE81]

I use a Swarovski z8i 1,7-13,3x42 in Recknagel Swing mounts on my .375 H&H, I like the versatility of the zoom range aswell as the possibility to easily remove the scope if I would need the open sights. The Swarovski z6i and z8i scopes has a system that turns of the red dot when the rifle is not moved for a while or are pointing in certain directions and turns it on again as soon as you move it again. And if that is not enough to conserve the battery power there is also a spare battery under one of the caps.

 

[Bejane]

I have a leupold 1 -5x. Shot a buffalo at 60m, wished I had a 9 power scope, because even at 60m the engine room of the buffalo is a bit too small for 5 power. Espcially when you are staring through brush etc. And when you are on sticks, you will move around alot, they are not bench shooting stable..... so get a higher power and at least you can turn it up or down. 9 power minimum. 12x better

p.s my shot was good and the Buff expired, but it jumped up like a bee stung and took off....few heart stopping moments, but then we found it dead

 

[Bandera]

Rifle scopes and underwear we all have our favorites.
For my 375 Ruger which I will use on a Buffalo hunt in 34 days, not that I am counting, I went with the Leupold VX5 2-10 with the fire dot and CDS. I generally don’t like big knobby knobs on scopes but the CDS sits low enough to not be obtrusive. On 2X I can see the target at 15 feet with both eyes open. At 10x a precise shot at 200 yards is very easy.

 

[SDPlinker]

I've owned 3 leupold mark v's and none of them I really trusted. The first 2 would not hold a zero to save their life. 3rd one seemed to work okay but by then it's reputation and confidence in my rifle setup was gone. Sold the last one after 1 successful hunting season with it. Went nightforce and never looked back. That was not for a 1-5 however, that was a 5-25 I had issues with, went nightforce NXS 5.5-22 after that.

I would seriously check out Tract optics. Their LPVO is a 1-8x24 with a full honest 4 inches of eye relief, sub 1000 USD (even if barely) and it was designed by the guys who made the Nikon scopes back in the day. Theyre the first scopes I've seen come out recently that people have used as hammers, dunked completely in a bucket of water for 20+ minutes, and remounted with no change in zero.

My brother has their 2.5-15x44 and after using it a few times with him on his gun I will be ordering one of them with my next rifle purchase because I am so impressed with their quality.

I am a huge proponent of function over beauty, but have both when you can. Thats why I run nightforce on my elk gun, as it has the most chance of being banged around. But I think tract has earned my respect as right there with nightforce for hunting durability. I wish I could trust leupold, with that beautiful gold ring that just looks perfect on any hunting rifle with a wood stock. But my confidence in them was destroyed with how poorly they kept zero for me.

A few years ago I successfully shot a buck deer at a hair over 300 yards with a 1-6x24 athlon Midas BTR. Trying to get closer would've been impossible as the buck was standing out in the middle of an empty plowed corn field with 0 cover and no hills to speak of. Worked just fine. IMO 1 power for every hundred yards you're shooting is good enough for anything antelope sized and up. More power lets you place your shot a little more precisely, but it's certainly not necessary for a clean kill. That was probably one of the easiest pack outs I've ever done, just drove right up to it with the side by side and lifted it in. Albeit lifting that huge buck in was far from easy. Typing from my computer now but I'll post a pic from my phone of it in the next message

Not likely the Leupold propeganda, on how you had so many Leupolds that had failed on tracking, and how much better nightforce is will work here. It is more viable on the lower IQ audience elsewhere I believe?

 

[Beck]

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!

I had a VX-5HD 1-5x24 on my .375 H&H for years, great combo, but I did graduate to a Meopta 1.7-10x42

 

[375er]

I agree as stated by others.
1. @Mark Biggerstaff
2. Leupold VX 5 2x10 firedot.
3. Go hunting!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

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

If you're using a scope with no objective bell, you'll have no problem adjusting eye relief. Move the scope wherever needed. An objective lens and short scope tube can always be overcome with extended ring or mounting on a rail. 1-4x would be fine for your needs.

 

[Rifleman97]

Not likely the Leupold propeganda, on how you had so many Leupolds that had failed on tracking, and how much better nightforce is will work here. It is more viable on the lower IQ audience elsewhere I believe?

Not sure why you think it’s propeganda, and I didn’t even recommend Nightforce for a safari. I said that I use Nightforce now, but recommended Tract as one option, but I couldn’t care less what OP or anyone else uses, just offered my experience and opinion. Just because someone experiences something you haven’t experienced doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Last thing I would want is to go to Africa and gut shot a Buffalo because my scope lost zero.

 

[trperk1]

I have successfully used a Leupold 1.5 x 5 for dangerous game and plains game on my 375. To me, it's perfect. I've used this same scope, just earlier models, deer hunting and bear hunting for 30 years too. They've never failed me.

I have a battery powered red dot on my turkey gun for 20 years. Love - hate thing. I've left the battery on a couple times....my bad. Just two weeks ago I pulled up on a turkey and the battery was dead, just do to use over two days. Point is you don't know when it will fail. For this reason I would never consider for dangerous game.

 

[375er]

I have successfully used a Leupold 1.5 x 5 for dangerous game and plains game on my 375. To me, it's perfect. I've used this same scope, just earlier models, deer hunting and bear hunting for 30 years too. They've never failed me.

I have a battery powered red dot on my turkey gun for 20 years. Love - hate thing. I've left the battery on a couple times....my bad. Just two weeks ago I pulled up on a turkey and the battery was dead, just do to use over two days. Point is you don't know when it will fail. For this reason I would never consider for dangerous game.

The Leupold Firedot scopes have a regular crosshairs plus the illuminated dot. If the battery dies the only thing you are missing is the illuminated dot. No different than a regular scope. A well designed feature in my opinion.

 

[Bush Buck]

I've used a VX3 1.5-5x on several hunts and at least a dozen big game animals. It's the only scope I've ever hunted on my 375 H&H.
I mount this scope so that the gold ring is just in front of the front scope ring ( per Leupold recommendation ).
This works well but I still don't get quite a full field view at 5X (no problem hunting).

I'm curious about the VX5 2-10. For those of you who have used these scopes and the VX3 1.5-5 how does the mounting length compare when mounted on an H&H action?

 

[Philip Glass]

Here is my advice:

 

[SDPlinker]

Not sure why you think it’s propeganda, and I didn’t even recommend Nightforce for a safari. I said that I use Nightforce now, but recommended Tract as one option, but I couldn’t care less what OP or anyone else uses, just offered my experience and opinion. Just because someone experiences something you haven’t experienced doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Last thing I would want is to go to Africa and gut shot a Buffalo because my scope lost zero.

Ya Ya, I know, if you ever gut shot something it is Leupolds fault. Thank God you have a nightforce now, you will never miss. I am sure there is a reason most folks who hunt DG use Leupold and Swarovski. A piece of paper or a deer will not kill anyone! Where is your nightforce made? Are you folks that spread the same nonsense about Leupold even real people? AI bots maybe? Seems a lot like the same garbage spread by the media. Good day sir!

 

[JG26Irish_2]

On the subject of scope magnification. Besides being a hunter, I am a former national champion benchrest marksman. In that game, competitors routinely use scopes with extremely high levels of magnification. it is not unusual to see optics with 36x, 42x, even 60x or more. Yet, in my opinion, good scope clarity is far more important than the highest magnification. Good turret precision and repeatability is also important and a great reticle is absolutely necessary. I often competed with a 20x or 24x scope against competitors who were using scopes with twice that level of magnification and did quite well.

The same applies to hunting scopes. The rifle does not know or care what device the rifleman uses to aim it. If aimed with the same precision, the rifle with shoot the same either way. So, as long as you can see the animal well and see the reticle just as well, and can aim the rifle well, you will shoot well. (We need to print that on a tee-shirt, lol).

In the past, my son and I would hunt prairie dogs and these little varmints are not much larger than a pop can. We would shoot them out to past 500y with 223 rifles. While I had a 8-32x scope on one of my rifles then, I never needed to dial it past about 10x to effectively shoot 6" tall tgts at 500y. I know that many hunters will shoot at game animals at ranges well past 300-400y. But, most of that is specialized situations like the beautiful deer posted by Rifleman97 (Kudos on that one mate), or Western Antelope, etc. Those situations do not compare to DG hunting. If you PH knows what he is doing, you will not be shooting DG out past 100y. In fact there is an optimum range that is driven more by your rifle/cartridge combo. With a 375HH that would be between 50-80y more or less. With larger cartridges, it can be less.

You can find a scope that does both (up close and far way) well but will not be optimum for either. You need to ask yourself, "Which situation is most critical to be optimized?" and strive to reach that goal. In my case, I chose to optimize for the DG case and deal with the others best I can. It is always possible to swap scopes later, or in my case buy more rifles. A 6x max optic is not going to be a tack driver at 400y. But if it is clear, bright and has a good reticle, it can be sufficient. I live in the North Amercian Eastern woods and have hunted for more than 50yrs and honestly, I have never shot at any game animal past about 250y except for Coyotes, Prairie Dogs and Ground hogs.

Lastly, no mater which way you choose to go, since it is a heavy recoil rifle, go with a scope that will hold up to the pounding without issue as your life is hanging in the balance.

 

[SDPlinker]

Here is my advice:

Very good video!