Opinions Welcome. RMR vs. 1-6 Scope .375 H&H

[Bwgunslinger]

Good Morning. I am considering moving a 1-6 scope from a 308 AR to the .375 Winchester M70. The .375 will mainly be used for Buffalo. Do you think the RMR is serviceable enough to safely hunt Buffalo using it as a primary optic? I know guys use them on doubles.

I really do like how low it sits on the rifle and is dead center when I mount the gun. Only part I am iffy about is having to always have glasses on in order for the dot to stay crisp.

Another area I wonder about is low light. Or looking into brush in an area with shadows and cover.

Keeping the .375 so light and handy would be great but please let me know if you think it will be too limiting as a primary.

Thanks!

-Brodie

 

[Ndczerwinski]

I run a Swaro Z8i 1-8 on my 375 and it works great. Only thing I would say is with that scope you have it that a tactical style reticle? For DG I would stick with a simple reticle that has an illuminated dot. Other options just get busy and distracting.

The magnified optic on a 375 make much more sense to me because you could use it for plains game out to 300 yds as well.

With DR the ballistics are terrible past 100 to 150 yds so there is no need for magnification

 

[Bwgunslinger]

I run a Swaro Z8i 1-8 on my 375 and it works great. Only thing I would say is with that scope you have it that a tactical style reticle? For DG I would stick with a simple reticle that has an illuminated dot. Other options just get busy and distracting.

The magnified optic on a 375 make much more sense to me because you could use it for plains game out to 300 yds as well.

With DR the ballistics are terrible past 100 to 150 yds so there is no need for magnification

This is the reticle in the 1-6. Super clear glass and the red dot is day time bright but it does have some MIL hash marks.

 

[AZDAVE]

My wife used a red dot on her 375 last year for buffalo. and was successful.

 

[BeeMaa]

IMO - A 375H&H is too versatile to be hemmed in by the range limitations of a red dot.

I would prefer a magnified low power optic for a first shot on a buffalo, even at 25 to 50 yards. I want that bullet going EXACTLY where I want it. Not that it can't be done with a RDO, but a magnified optic will be more precise.

Plus, you mentioned that it will be used "primarily" for buffalo. Translation...you will need this to work at distances out to 200 yards on targets of opportunity that aren't necessarily buffalo.

I've chosen a Swaro Z8i 1-8x24 in a QD mount with BUIS on the barrel if needed.

 

[Bwgunslinger]

IMO - A 375H&H is too versatile to be hemmed in by the range limitations afforded by a red dot.

I would prefer a magnified low power optic for a first shot on a buffalo, even at 25 to 50 yards. I want that bullet going EXACTLY where I want it. Not that it can't be done with a RDO, but a magnified optic will be more precise.

Plus, you mentioned that it will be used "primarily" for buffalo. Translation...you will need this to work at distances out to 200 yards on targets of opportunity that aren't necessarily buffalo.

I've chosen a Swaro Z8i 1-8x24 in a QD mount with BUIS on the barrel if needed.
View attachment 700410

Very nice rifle. You are spot on about wanting that first shot to be precise. That’s where I’ve had reservations about the RDS as primary.

 

[samson7x]

I just purchased an M70 and will be going with a 1-8 for reasons stated above. With the optic I'm going with, an nx8 1-8, it's essentially a red dot on 1x with illumination activated anyway. Then I have the flexibility to precisely stretch shots a bit for PG.

 

[Bandera]

I was In the same situation as you. I ended up choosing a 2-10 Leupold VX 5 with Firedot and CDS.
On 2X I can see the target clearly at 5 yards.
I used this set up to take a Buffalo in June.
The 10X allowed me to reach out on Black Wildebeest.

The reticle in the Vortex is not a good choice for hunting. Two of the guys that went with me on this hunt took 375’s with a 1-6 vortex optic on top. They are both now buying the Leupold VX5 2-10, fire-dot and CDS

 

[Zinz]

I’ve always preferred a low power variable with a duplex reticle. Cranked up, it helped me center punch a tiny red duiker at just over 100 yards. A few days later a bedded reedbuck bolted from cover and I dropped him on the run like a busted quail at 25 yards with the scope at 1x.

A Leupold 1.5-5 or so has always been my go to. They are lightweight and can be mounted low on the receiver.

The FireDot option is a good choice, as others have suggested.

Ed Z

 

[Bwgunslinger]

I was In the same situation as you. I ended up choosing a 2-10 Leupold VX 5 with Firedot and CDS.
On 2X I can see the target clearly at 5 yards.
I used this set up to take a Buffalo in June.
The 10X allowed me to reach out on Black Wildebeest.

The reticle in the Vortex is not a good choice for hunting. Two of the guys that went with me on this hunt took 375’s with a 1-6 vortex optic on top. They are both now buying the Leupold VX5 2-10, fire-dot and CDS

What was their issue with the Vortex? Possibly losing the fine reticle in brush when illumination wasn't on? I regret selling the last Leupold I had

 

[Bwgunslinger]

I’ve always preferred a low power variable with a duplex reticle. Cranked up, it helped me center punch a tiny red duiker at just over 100 yards. A few days later a bedded reedbuck bolted from cover and I dropped him on the run like a busted quail at 25 yards with the scope at 1x.

A Leupold 1.5-5 or so has always been my go to. They are lightweight and can be mounted low on the receiver.

The FireDot option is a good choice, as others have suggested.

Ed Z

That's good shooting for sure. The Leupold scopes seem hard to beat for hunting.

 

[BeeMaa]

Other things to consider on an optic for DG use.

1. Illumination - Extremely useful for seeing the intersection of crosshairs on a dark animal standing in the shade.
2. True 1x at low range for "both eyes open" shooting.
3. QD mounting system for switching to BUIS if needed.
4. Uncluttered reticle. Keep it simple, no need for a ballistic tree confusing things at DG distances.

 

[Rem700stw]

I have been well served with Swaro 1-8 on my 375. I appreciate the versatility even if PLANNED shots are to be close range. My 416 Rigby wears a 1-6 which came in handy on a croc that offered a shot.

 

[Bandera]

What was their issue with the Vortex? Possibly losing the fine reticle in brush when illumination wasn't on? I regret selling the last Leupold I had

Reticle was to busy.
The inability to dial up a bit more magnification for longer distance.

 

[UpNorthMI]

I use an RMR on a double rifle but feel that the sight and a double rifle have range limitations, I just shot it on a high volume cull trip and it was super successful on shots out to about 85 yards. There were many opportunities beyond that range that I passed on, my son was also hunting with me and he took those shots with his scoped .375.

I like my double setup with the RMR but I personally feel that its sensible use is 100 yards and under. This range is normally more than enough for buffalo but as others have pointed out things change in the field and other opportunities come along. I was in South Africa last year hunting buffalo and my only shot of the trip was at just over 200 yards to successfully take a buffalo with a scoped .375.

A scoped rifle will allow you to take many more opportunities at greater ranges than a red dot site.

 

[pilar]

I like a scope and use 3-9x illuminated
My bother on the other hand only uses a open site on his 375 when buffalo & hippo hunting, he had a close call with a herd of cow elephant and a hippo at night
Stopped mid track and said “ F this scope “ and took it off

 

[Bwgunslinger]

I like a scope and use 3-9x illuminated
My bother on the other hand only uses a open site on his 375 when buffalo & hippo hunting, he had a close call with a herd of cow elephant and a hippo at night
Stopped mid track and said “ F this scope “ and took it off

Haha that would make me do the same!

 

[Andrew62]

I do not see as well with a red dot, for my upcoming buffalo/tuskless hunt I am using the Leupold VX6 1-6 Patrol. I debated using my Leupold VX5 2x10, but for this trip I do not have anything on my list requiring a 200+ yard shot.

 

[BeeMaa]

What was their issue with the Vortex? Possibly losing the fine reticle in brush when illumination wasn't on? I regret selling the last Leupold I had

I've had two Vortex RDO's fail me and a set of their binos had to be sent back to the factory twice for minor bumps. I wouldn't trust these optics to watch cat videos.

For brands, the entry point is Leupold and Trijicon and goes up from there. For durability I'd choose Schmidt & Bender (S&B) but for the best optics it would be Swaro and Leica.

 

[Green Chile]

By far, the best DG optic for a 375 is a lighted reticle 1-6x or 1-8x. That magnification early or late in the day, makes a lot of difference. Buff often stand in the shadows or edges of cover, mixed in with others and you need to be able to see the background and situation of that opportunity. Many times, magnification has helped me make the decision to wait...or reposition...and I stand by my record and decisions made by using magnification. No regrets.