Scope for 458 WM

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flip1

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I have a number of .44's, 45.70's and a .450 Marlin.

But I just made the jump to a .458 win mag bolt gun, and I need to scope it. I'm looking for suggestions from those with first hand information.

If I was going on a once-in-a-lifetime hunt with it, I'd buy the best optics available. However, this is going to be a novelty range gun, and maybe carried occasionally for moose (I know, overkill). So I don't need high end optics, BUT the optics need to handle the recoil and have enough eye relief.

I have always had good luck with Bushnell, and presently I have spare 3-9x40's. A Banner with 5-6" eye relief, and a 3200 with 3" ER. Would either of these hold together, and what would the minimum safe ER be?

Thanks for your input.

JB
 
The 'standard' on many big bores is one of the low power Leupold variables like the 1-4, 1.5-5 or 1.75-6x LER.

If its a long action like a CZ you might need offset front ring with these. Quality rings are necessary to prevent shifting.
 
What kayaker1 said X's 2.........& I would add that a good low powered, variable Burris, would be my own low end choice, Leupold next up the ladder of quality. Softer/cheaper, aluminum scope rings are not musical scope friendly with recoil added.
(keeping also maximum eye relief in mind of course {3 inches, my minimum})
Anything lower in price, I myself, would worry about early failure of the reticles from recoil.

Just my two cents.......
 
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1.5 X 4.5 Ziess it's a little longer than the Leupold and will fit the Cz 550 without off set mounts. If lenght is not an issue either scope works great I have both.
 
On my Cz 550, .458wm, I mounted a swarovski 1.5x6x42 habicht. This rifle/scope combination will shoot better than most people can. With 500 or 510gr slugs I have holes touching at 100yds, easy to do with such big holes being punched.
 
Don't rule out the fixed 2.5 Weaver around $200.00 and tough as nails, mine has been on many big bore cannons and stood up to many thousands of rounds still as good as the day I bought it.
 
I don't know if you are mounting the scope on a CZ or if everyone is guessing. If you are, the Leupold 2.5 fixed will fit the big action without extension rings, and so will the 1.75-6 variable. I've already done it, and the 1.75-6 is still living on my .416. By the dimensions the 1.5-5 should also fit.
The little 2.5 X Ultra lightweight is cheap, as close to indestructable as a scope can get, has 5 inches of eye-relief and the shortest occular bell that I'm aware of on suitable scopes. It's dimmer than I liked for hunting purposes so I swapped it out for the 1.75-6 but that won't matter on a range toy.
OH, if you are still thinking about putting that 3200 on, just get someone to hit you with an axe and save yourself the trouble of mounting it. You WILL get clobbered.
 
Forgive my ignorance, but that's why I am asking the questions...

- Why is everyone advocating low power scopes or the irons??? Looking at factory balistic tables, the 458 shouldn't be a 100 yard gun. I shoot my .444, 45/70 and .450 marlin out to 300 yards. Why not the 458? Is there something I'm missing here?

- As for eye relief, I would assume that more is definately better, but what would you consider minimum for factory 500 gr loads and also for lighter 350 gr plinkers?

BTW, the rifle is an Interarms bolt - Yugo built mauser action.


Thanks for your input.
 
flip1 said:
Forgive my ignorance, but that's why I am asking the questions...

- Why is everyone advocating low power scopes or the irons??? Looking at factory balistic tables, the 458 shouldn't be a 100 yard gun. I shoot my .444, 45/70 and .450 marlin out to 300 yards. Why not the 458? Is there something I'm missing here?

- As for eye relief, I would assume that more is definately better, but what would you consider minimum for factory 500 gr loads and also for lighter 350 gr plinkers?

BTW, the rifle is an Interarms bolt - Yugo built mauser action.


Thanks for your input.
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The .458 is a dangerous game rifle, and game is only dangerous when it can touch you. Therefore, the assumption is that close range sighting gear is appropriate. Once the situation changes to playing, get whatever you feel like playing with.
 
Attention said:
A 458 win mag....I'd go with iron sights:D
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There's an undeniable logic to that as well.

flip1 said:
Forgive my ignorance, but that's why I am asking the questions...

- Why is everyone advocating low power scopes or the irons??? Looking at factory balistic tables, the 458 shouldn't be a 100 yard gun. I shoot my .444, 45/70 and .450 marlin out to 300 yards. Why not the 458? Is there something I'm missing here?
Click to expand...

As Dogleg said, the 458 is meant for hunting heavy game liek big bears, Cape Buffalo, Rhino and Elephant. It's rare that you'd take a poke at an uninjured specimen of the aforementioned at 100 yards or over. And when they decide to come for you, a wide field of view and generous eye relief facilitates fast acquisition of the target, allowing you to get a precise shot off quickly and accurately. Too much magnification can lead to potentially fatal mistakes - like having your scope set on 9x when that boar grizzly comes off his kill at 25 yards and comes for you. I don't want that to be me.

- As for eye relief, I would assume that more is definately better, but what would you consider minimum for factory 500 gr loads and also for lighter 350 gr plinkers?
Click to expand...

My 458 wears irons. If I had one in a bolt (mine is a #1H) I wouldn't consider anything other than a 2.5x Leupold or 1.5-5x Leupold. Great warranty, great glass, compact (on a 458 you won't have to contend with a super-long action like a 416 Rigby), bright and wicked skookum. Those are all my criteria for a DGR scope. The 3x has a huge following, but I wonder if they're as good as the newer 2.5x versions due to their vintage. Would be interestign to compare them side by side. Plus they're all quite affordable (1.5-5x is probbaly still $550 or a hair over). Why wouldn't you use one?

BTW, the rifle is an Interarms bolt - Yugo built mauser action.
Click to expand...

The Old Man has a Interarms Whitworth Mauser 375. A 1.5-5x Leupold lives on it. As far as I'm concerned, they're the best and most versatile hunting riflescope available on the market, past or present.
 
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