Glass for a .375 Ruger.......

dak47

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Getting set to order a .375 Ruger Hawkeye African as my moose and LEH grizz medicine and pondering optics.
I recently put on a V3 2.5-8x33mm on my '06 and really like it but have not had a chance to hunt heavy timber at dusk yet due to job demands so I can't comment to the sacrifice the 33mm objective makes to 50mm glass.
I like the look of the 2.5-8 vs big glass on this style of rifle and on my '06 carbine and thinking it will be plenty good to the 400y or a little better if the opportunity presents itself..... What is the take on a scope choices for some open slide hunting along with a mix of black timber thrown in?

Thanks
DK
 
Objective size and magnification mean nothing on their own. If you're worried about how bright an optic will be exit pupil is the stat you are looking for. Obviously glass quality and light throughput are factors, but that being equal, calculate the exit pupil you will have for a given magnification on your choice optic.

Exit pupil = Objective size / Magnification.

To put it simply, for the average person in dim light, anything over 7mm is a waste of light (a bigger objective won't give you a brighter image) and at anything under 7mm the image will get progressively dimmer.

So at anything under 5 power that 33mm scope is just as bright as a 50mm with the same glass! Ponder that for a second. Unless you need more magnification than 5 power you gain absolutely nothing in low light compared with a 50mm. Where the 50mm+ Objective shine is if you need more magnification. The 50 will get to 8.5 magnification before it starts to dim.

Consider what magnification you can live with in low light before you go and buy a 50mm scope. If you can live with 5 power vs 8.5 power before dimming occurs, go with the smaller scope.
 
The VX-3 2.5-8X36mm (I believe that your scope has a 36mm objective not 33mm) is a good choice... so is a VX-2 2-7X33mm or the VX-3 1.75-6X32mm... I like the VX-2 Ultralight scopes alot and have the 3-9X33mm on four rifles... but this one is probably not an ideal zoom range for your purposes.
 
The VX-3 2.5-8X36mm (I believe that your scope has a 36mm objective not 33mm) is a good choice... so is a VX-2 2-7X33mm or the VX-3 1.75-6X32mm... I like the VX-2 Ultralight scopes alot and have the 3-9X33mm on four rifles... but this one is probably not an ideal zoom range for your purposes.

Absolutely right on the objective size! 13hr shifts are getting to my brain.... Here is the scope I got for my carbine, I was impressed with the "pop" of the images being viewed and crispness of the edges.
May choose this one a second time again, but whatever the choice, will be staying in the Leupold family! The VX 2's certainly have a nice price point.....
DK

View attachment 16711View attachment 16712
 
I had a conversation with a Leupold rep several years ago, and I was mentioning how much I liked the 2.5-8X36 VXIII scope. He told me that it is the 'brightest' scope in their whole line.

Take that, and the numerous posts above for what you will. I think it's an excellent choice, and it's the 'biggest' scope that sits on any of my rifles except those for long-range target shooting.

I'm shooting my 375 Ruger Alaskan with irons this year.
 
I had a 2.5-8 x 36 on a Ruger African and liked it , but I put a 1.5- 5 Leupold on my Ruger Alaskan and it worked better for me.
My next 375 Ruger ( not a Ruger rifle ) will wear a 1.5 - 5 to start with.
 
My LH Alaskanish wears a VXIII 1.5-5. I like the combo. Keeps things compact and 5x is plenty of magnification for what I want the Ruger for.
 
Uh oh, someone started with pictures.

IMG_3704_zps2a817158.jpg


Mine wears a Nikon 1-4x20mm. It's a true one power on the low end, which is ideal for rapid target acquisition at close range. Both eyes open, it's really quick. With the small 20mm objective I get a 7mm exit pupil at 2.85 power, so beyond that you get dimming. Keep it at 2.5 at last light and life is good.
 
I have thr 1.75-6 on my HH. No problem focusing on stuff up close and 6x is plenty for stuff you would use the 375 for. Up to 4x, it is very clear up to the last minute of legal light.
 
I had a 2.5-8 x 36 on a Ruger African and liked it , but I put a 1.5- 5 Leupold on my Ruger Alaskan and it worked better for me.
I did the same thing on my 375CT. Started with the 2.5x8 and eventually went with a 1.5x5.

I liked the larger scope a lot, so it went on my 257Roberts.
 
My 375 H&H that I hunt a lot with wears a 1.5-6 X 42 Zeiss Victory HT. I think this is the perfect compromise of optics for a rifle that may be used at 10 mtrs and the next day at 400 mtrs. It is one of the finest set of optics I have ever used and one of the most versatile on the market.......JMHO



 
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