458 WM glass: 1.5-6 or 2.5-10?

[cody c]

Per the title, which would you pick?

This is for something that might get some use in AB for moose, elk, bear. No plans of thick bush lion hunting or anything too dramatic.

If you were optic shopping, what would you choose 1.5-6x42, or 2.5-10x50 in your flavor brand if optic?

Or would you go with something else?

 

[DeerHunter898]

1.5-6 for sure. A low end, under 2x is perfect for quick shots with both eyes open, and you’re not really going to find much disadvantage with only 6x top end with a 458 WM shooting big game.

 

[dak47]

It's only a .416 Rigby but it sports a 1.5-6 with a German No.4 and the objective size has never been an issue....

 

[Gatehouse]

How far are you going to shoot? 6x is plenty for 300 yards. If you want to shoot further then go for the 2.5-10

 

[antiqueguy]

How far are you going to shoot? 6x is plenty for 300 yards. If you want to shoot further then go for the 2.5-10

Depending on what it’s loaded with 150 yards is about max for the lighter .458 loads heavy stuff starts dropping pretty fast.

 

[Mike Webb]

I would stay on low end personally. Eye relief decreases as power is dialed up. Too little can be hard on the eyebrow.

 

[boxhitch]

1.75-6x32, L VX3

 

[Dogleg]

You can go either way. I’ve run 1.75-6 powers but have a 2.5-8 Leupold on mine. I’ve killed 123 buffalo with that M70 and scope and never wished for less power. That includes a charging bull in Mozambeque. More got shot at the highest power than the lowest, though most were right in the middle of the range.

It’s not that I need high power to hit a buffalo, you don’t even need a scope for that. I’ve found that while hitting a buff is easy, missing all the bush is harder. Its easier to thread a bullet through the brush when you can see it.

 

[DGY]

O would get a fix 2.5 3 or 4 … if you really need a variable then the lower magnification one!

 

[saskgunowner101]

Depending on what it’s loaded with 150 yards is about max for the lighter .458 loads heavy stuff starts dropping pretty fast.

While I haven't poured over trajectory charts, some of the zippy 300-350 grain loads should make it further than that without concern I would think. Not sure if it's brybenn that uses lighter bullets in the 458WM, but he might have an opinion? Even a bumbling 400 grain bullet at 1,200 fps (out of a 45-70) is still a viable 125 meter deer cartridge.

 

[keith mokry]

Bushnell 6500 1-8 be another good option. I have a 2.5 on mine

 

[DGY]

I think but I would have to look at my notes, with 350gn bullets I get something like 2500fps… just checked it is 2590fps I think I it would be 300m gun, maybe not for bison but up to moose I think so!

 

[saskgunowner101]

I think but I would have to look at my notes, with 350gn bullets I get something like 2500fps… just checked it is 2590fps I think I it would be 300m gun, maybe not for bison but up to moose I think so! View attachment 1061952

Thanks for that, it does better than I thought it would!

 

[9.3 Hunter]

1.5-4 is perfect ... not really a long range round but 4x is enough to aid in shooting out to 300 yds, when you need to.

1-2 power on a 458 matches up well for its purpose

I use a 1-4 Leupold on my main 9.3x62 - it has turned out to be the best optic option for me anyways.

 

[Rman]

After trying them both, and then some more, the 3.5-10 gets the nod, in 30mm tube and 40mm objective. The 10x is nice for sighting in, and is there if needed. The 3.5 is low enough, without any noticeable compromise. Scope magnification is one of those things you're better off looking at, rather than looking for. Especially given the location and likely moose scenarios.

R.

 

[antiqueguy]

While I haven't poured over trajectory charts, some of the zippy 300-350 grain loads should make it further than that without concern I would think. Not sure if it's brybenn that uses lighter bullets in the 458WM, but he might have an opinion? Even a bumbling 400 grain bullet at 1,200 fps (out of a 45-70) is still a viable 125 meter deer cartridge.

350’s with the load I’m using only drop 3 inches at 150 yards after that they fall quick over double that at 200 and velocity drops to the point that it won’t open up reliably.

 

[antiqueguy]

I think but I would have to look at my notes, with 350gn bullets I get something like 2500fps… just checked it is 2590fps I think I it would be 300m gun, maybe not for bison but up to moose I think so! View attachment 1061952

My load is 2250fps it has shot the most accurate for me with hornady 350gr round nose. At 150 yards it drops 3 inches and is right around the minimum recommended impact velocity. It could definitely be flatter shooting but I doubt I’d see much of a shot over 100 yards even with my load though if point of aim is lungs on a deer/bear/moose it will still hit something vital from 0 to 150.

 

[DGY]

I don’t think I would take a shot past 200m and probably not past 150 on bison.

 

[boxhitch]

350’s with the load I’m using only drop 3 inches at 150 yards after that they fall quick over double that at 200 and velocity drops to the point that it won’t open up reliably.

expansion is overrated when it starts out being near 1/2" dia
momentum and penetration for the win
maybe even forego the plated bullets and run straight hard cast for fun shooting as well as a killer hunting load

 

[antiqueguy]

expansion is overrated when it starts out being near 1/2" dia
momentum and penetration for the win
maybe even forego the plated bullets and run straight hard cast for fun shooting as well as a killer hunting load

My hunting load currently is with hornady 350gr. I would like to test the 405gr campro as Brobee got some expansion on the plated stuff with .44 mag.