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

[Ontario Hunter]

You will wear glasses hunting buffalo. Or you may lose an eye to thorns. No exaggeration! Get aviator style or similar with nose pads to allow better ventilation behind the lens. Helps avoid fogging up. The wrap around things are bad for that.

I have 1-4x30mm Bushnell on my 404J. It has plane Jane duplex reticle. Nothing electronic. My rifle has optional iron sights and low Warne QD rings. I like the wider field of view on a 30mm tube low power scope but getting it low enough for quick acquisition can sometimes be an issue. I found a discontinued Weaver 1-piece base for my Mauser that brought it down low enough but had to polish a bit off the bolt handle to make it clear the scope's magnification ring. I suspect you might run into the same issue using low rings and your thick tube tactical scope. You can always go with higher rings but then acquisition might not be as quick.

Also consider that on 1x magnification you will almost certainly see the barrel and front sight/hood. Again, you may be able to remedy this by raising the rings but then sacrifice quick acquisition. Removing the sight will still leave the barrel in view. Personally, I just look beyond it. When magnification is raised to 2.25x the sight/barrel starts to disappear. I shot both my buffalo with rental 375 wearing 3-9x Leopold and did just fine on 3x. The first one at 100 meters. Second bull on the run through both lungs at 65 yards.

I would advise scope without objective lens bell. This will allow for lowest mount = quickest acquisition. Big objective bell means scope must be mounted higher to clear the barrel/rear sight. Then you may have to hunt for the crosshairs when you mount the gun. Also, no objective bell allows for unlimited eye relief adjustment. An objective lens bell, especially on a short tube scope, can limit how far back the scope can be set in the rings. An extended ring can fix this but no one makes extended quick detach rings.

 

[Bwgunslinger]

I guess all that is left to decide is whether to use the Vortex Razor 1-6 and what rings are going to get low enough. I usually use Talley Ultralights on regular deer rifles and go Ultra-low and it fits fine with Leupold scopes that have 40mm bells and smaller.

But most commenters are using QD it sounds like so that will be something to look at. I have used Alaska Arms rings before but never removed the scope from the gun they were on when I had it.

 

[Bwgunslinger]

The only Buffalo I have killed so far was with a Kimber Caprivi that had a Pic rail and Badger Ordnance rings. I would rather have more room to reload than a pic rail allows.

 

[samson7x]

The only Buffalo I have killed so far was with a Kimber Caprivi that had a Pic rail and Badger Ordnance rings. I would rather have more room to reload than a pic rail allows.

That was my thought as well. I went with the Talley pic rail sections. Don't have them in hand yet, but hoping this option works out.

 

[Bwgunslinger]

That was my thought as well. I went with the Talley pic rail sections. Don't have them in hand yet, but hoping this option works out.

Does not leave you much room!

 

[samson7x]

View attachment 700437
Does not leave you much room!

Exactly. I bought the rail sections, not the 1 piece. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1027804144?pid=156066

 

[Bwgunslinger]

Exactly. I bought the rail sections, not the 1 piece. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1027804144?pid=156066

Ahh those are way better

 

[Bwgunslinger]

How critical is QD? I guess if you have a true 1 power at the low end with a red dot in the scope, the only time you would really need QD is if you had a damaged optic.

 

[JG26Irish_2]

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.

Green Chile said it about as well as anyone could. I just returned from a Buffalo hunt. I spent two years and a practice safari to get ready and set up two 375HH rifles. One wears a Swarovski Z6i which is the 1-6x with the simple duplex reticle and an illuminated red dot. It works great. Nonetheless I took the 2nd rifle for the Buffalo hunt. It wears a Kahles K16i which is also 1-6x but has a simple mil reticle with an illuminated ring at the center. Truthfully either will serve well for buffalo and you are not going to be taking shots on buffalo far enough away to need to hold over. I chose the Kahles because I liked the reticle better and I was also hunting PG some of which were large enough to want to use the 375 (Kudu & Zebra). I think both are a bit better for hunting than a red dot alone.

If Euro trash optics are too pricey for you, both Leupold and Arken make LPVO's in the 1-6x or 18x range which will do the job. I have an Arken EP8 1-8x LPVO on my 7mm/08 and another on a 338 RCM and it works great and stands up to the recoil well for a fraction of the price. You could do worse.

Some additional things to ponder. I wanted a 416 Rig or a 458WM but at the time of the hunt had not found one. With either of those the recoil is enough that in my case, I would use a red dot and limit it to DG hunting only. Also, in my view the 375 was only adequate for buffalo. I used 300g Barnes TSX ammo with muzzle velocity of 2585 in my rifle. It took 4 shots in rapid succession to drop my buff and about 30sec overall time from 1st shot to bull down. It might have been less but seemed like a lot longer. Did not time him. I am just saying that while it did the job, I was not overly impressed. If I ever get to hunt buffalo again, I plan to take more gun. I did my homework and statistically 375 performs great on Buffalo. Also, I could have probably shot mine once and stood around and waited for him to drop but chose to keep shooting as long as the animal was on his feet and visible. Glad I did. After the first 2 shots mine stopped and turned toward us and lowered his head like he had finally figured out who was pestering him. You could see that look in his eyes as he was thinking about coming after us. I put a 3rd shot into him high in the shoulder that turned him away once more. By then he was all wobblely and I fired the last shot well placed into the shoulder and he dropped dead. Certainly not a fail but well buffalos are tough.

It is just this... Buffalo do not just stand around in the Savannah like cattle waiting to be shot. They do not like to be bothered and tend to stay in thick cover much of the day and when you are stalking in thick cover do you want an adequate rifle? or a Hammer? My two cents.

 

[Bwgunslinger]

Green Chile said it about as well as anyone could. I just returned from a Buffalo hunt. I spent two years and a practice safari to get ready and set up two 375HH rifles. One wears a Swarovski Z6i which is the 1-6x with the simple duplex reticle and an illuminated red dot. It works great. Nonetheless I took the 2nd rifle for the Buffalo hunt. It wears a Kahles K16i which is also 1-6x but has a simple mil reticle with an illuminated ring at the center. Truthfully either will serve well for buffalo and you are not going to be taking shots on buffalo far enough away to need to hold over. I chose the Kahles because I liked the reticle better and I was also hunting PG some of which were large enough to want to use the 375 (Kudu & Zebra). I think both are a bit better for hunting than a red dot alone.

If Euro trash optics are too pricey for you, both Leupold and Arken make LPVO's in the 1-6x or 18x range which will do the job. I have an Arken EP8 1-8x LPVO on my 7mm/08 and another on a 338 RCM and it works great and stands up to the recoil well for a fraction of the price. You could do worse.

Some additional things to ponder. I wanted a 416 Rig or a 458WM but at the time of the hunt had not found one. With either of those the recoil is enough that in my case, I would use a red dot and limit it to DG hunting only. Also, in my view the 375 was only adequate for buffalo. I used 300g Barnes TSX ammo with muzzle velocity of 2585 in my rifle. It took 4 shots in rapid succession to drop my buff and about 30sec overall time from 1st shot to bull down. It might have been less but seemed like a lot longer. Did not time him. I am just saying that while it did the job, I was not overly impressed. If I ever get to hunt buffalo again, I plan to take more gun. I did my homework and statistically 375 performs great on Buffalo. Also, I could have probably shot mine once and stood around and waited for him to drop but chose to keep shooting as long as the animal was on his feet and visible. Glad I did. After the first 2 shots mine stopped and turned toward us and lowered his head like he had finally figured out who was pestering him. You could see that look in his eyes as he was thinking about coming after us. I put a 3rd shot into him high in the shoulder that turned him away once more. By then he was all wobblely and I fired the last shot well placed into the shoulder and he dropped dead. Certainly not a fail but well buffalos are tough.

It is just this... Buffalo do not just stand around in the Savannah like cattle waiting to be shot. They do not like to be bothered and tend to stay in thick cover much of the day and when you are stalking in thick cover do you want an adequate rifle? or a Hammer? My two cents.

All great points and you are spot on. I went on my buffalo hunt in 2021 and it was awesome! My buffalo took 5 rounds although the first shot would have killed him.

When I was joining my dad on his, he smashed a bull with his .404 Jeffery and then another bull got up and ran straight at us. Not a charge, just getting the hell out of there and happened to run straight at us. The PH was yelling and it turned off line to the right and passed at like 7 or 8 yards.

That made me want a red dot! And a bigger gun. I bought a .404 after that hunt but I could never shoot it as accurately as the .375..

I have shot a 450/400, 458 Lott, and 450 Dakota. I just think I am better with a 375 because it's less recoil! haha

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I have a one-piece base on my 404J. Absolutely no problems loading it even though the loading cutout is not as long as the cutout on the first base I tried (CCOP USA). That one mounted the scope a bit higher. A typical pic rail with no loading cutout and slots end to end would definitely not be advisable.

 

[Green Chile]

I always feel more comfortable with a 416 on buffalo because I like to get close. The 375 is minimum but effective. You were right to shoot more and if you can put another bullet into one. Boddington told me he has never seen a buffalo lost that had 2 or more bullets in it.

On the 375 vs 416 recoil, when you buy a good scope like the Swaro Z6i or Z8i then you are set for 375, 416 or even 458 Lott levels of recoil. I have Z6i or Z8i on everything 375 or larger that is scoped. Getting to that point was one of the biggest decisions I have made in my hunting. Truly pivotal for me after making that decision years ago. I've taken the best trophies of my career with those scopes.

 

[Bwgunslinger]

It's pretty crummy to admit I am recoil adverse especially when I am 6 feet tall and not slight. But honest is honest. haha

The more they kick, the more I may fluff a shot. And the .404 was not that much more recoil than the .375. The 416 Rem and Rigby on the recoil charts show to be even more than the Jeffery.

 

[PARA45]

Here is my AHR CZ-550 in 375 H&H, with a Trijicon 1-6x24 with a green dot, mounted on Alaskan Arms mounts. This set up has served we well, and I've made some amazing shots with this rifle. I do not believe you'll get the precision you get with a scope vs. a red dot.

 

[BeeMaa]

That made me want a red dot! And a bigger gun. I bought a .404 after that hunt but I could never shoot it as accurately as the .375..

I have shot a 450/400, 458 Lott, and 450 Dakota. I just think I am better with a 375 because it's less recoil! haha

You are wise to choose accuracy over a larger cartridge. No shame in that at all.

I was using a 416RM and stepped back to the 375H&H because the 416 was right at my recoil limit. I shot them both well, but the 375 was much easier. Cheers.

 

[Zinz]

That's good shooting for sure.

Thanks!

This was my Mod 70 in .416 Rem; note the Leupold 1.5-5 mounted on Leupold QD rings/bases. That set up is as low and light as you'll find, and they are two piece to keep the loading port open.

I had shot that rifle a LOT prior to that Moz hunt and was very comfortable shooting it. I had a good rest on the Red Duiker and he was running across open ground. Everyone in the group was thinking and saying the same thing, "He's gonna stop when he gets to the tree line". On queue, he stopped and turned flat broadside at about 120 yds. That 400gr Barnes X didn't even know that duiker was there, punching a clean hole through both shoulders and flattening him.

The Reedbuck... we watched him hide in a small brushy area surrounded by open cover. We snuck along, the whole time I was turning down the scope as we got closer. We were now VERY close when a tracker threw up the sticks and pointed dead in front of us. The buck knew the jig was up and bolted, slightly quartering away. I was already at a low ready position and swung on him as one would a flushing quail. It all came instinctively and I don't even remember exactly the sight picture, but it was square behind the shoulder, exiting his far shoulder. The buck piled up in a heap, couldn't have been more than 25-30 yards. It was our last morning in Moz and a fine way to wrap up an incredible trip. Seems like a lifetime ago...

In both instances, that low power variable worked perfectly.

Ed Z

 

[Bwgunslinger]

Thanks!

This was my Mod 70 in .416 Rem; note the Leupold 1.5-5 mounted on Leupold QD rings/bases. That set up is as low and light as you'll find, and they are two piece to keep the loading port open.

I had shot that rifle a LOT prior to that Moz hunt and was very comfortable shooting it. I had a good rest on the Red Duiker and he was running across open ground. Everyone in the group was thinking and saying the same thing, "He's gonna stop when he gets to the tree line". On queue, he stopped and turned flat broadside at about 120 yds. That 400gr Barnes X didn't even know that duiker was there, punching a clean hole through both shoulders and flattening him.

View attachment 700443

The Reedbuck... we watched him hide in a small brushy area surrounded by open cover. We snuck along, the whole time I was turning down the scope as we got closer. We were now VERY close when a tracker threw up the sticks and pointed dead in front of us. The buck knew the jig was up and bolted, slightly quartering away. I was already at a low ready position and swung on him as one would a flushing quail. I don't even remember exactly the sight picture, but it was square behind the shoulder, exiting his far shoulder. The buck piled up in a heap, couldn't have been more than 25-30 yards. It was our last morning in Moz and a fine way to wrap up an incredible trip. Seems like a lifetime ago...

Ed Z

Love it!

 

[Tanks]

For DG of all kinds I prefer a red dot on all rifles, including bolt action rifles.

 

[Nhoro]

I vote for a 1-6 or 8 scope with illumination. A reflex is 0-100 m and a variable scope is 0 to 300 m. Far more versatile. I have tried a Vortex 1-6 but not hunted with one. I found that on 1x that it was like a reflex sight- both eyes open and put the dot on target. It is bulkier but works the same. So for a little less view you get a scope that can reach out a fair bit.

 

[Challer]

I went with a Z8 0.75-6X on the 375 and that extra .25 less magnification makes a huge difference acquiring a target up close. 66m vs 42m FOV when you're going in close. 6X is as good as 8X at my max shooting range - never more than 200yds and more typically 100.

I also have a Blaser RDO red dot, but in practice once the first shot is fired don't think about changing or removing optics - its game on.