Scope suggestion for Ruger #1

PoFF

PoFF

Regular
Rating - 100%
18   0   0
Location
Quebec
First of all, thanks for reading, and all input will be greatly appreciated. I do have a certain knowledge in the field of military combat optics, but when it comes to sporting (read hunting) optics, I am far less knowledgeable.

I've recently acquired a Ruger #1 Tropical Stainless rifle chambered for the almighty 458 Lott, and will be using it mostly on moose, but I might also have a chance to try it on cape buffalo within a few years, if everything goes well financially...

What I am looking for :

- Scope has to have a silver colored body (to match the stainless steel rifle)

- Able to withstand heavy recoil, I know it only has half of the energy of a 50BMG, but it doesn't have a muzzle brake, and only weights 9 pounds.

- Very generous (long) eye relief, as it is a heavy recoiling caliber. Not quite "scout" or "pistol" long, but in the vicinity of 3.5" to 4"

- Low, variable magnification, something like 1-4X or 1.5-6X.

- Preferably with a 1" tube, so I could use the rings that I already have for this rifle.


I've been looking around for the usual brands : Bushnell, Nikon, Leupold, etc and I didn't find anything that might suit my needs. Perhaps is there a lesser-known brand that might...?

Thanks
 
Last edited:
Good luck. I will be following with interest. I have a K1A 7x57. All the same questions and concerns except - no heavy recoil. The position of the base grooves on the #1 are too far forward for most scopes. The turret hits rear ring before the scope ban be moved rearward enough for a full view. The only one I found that fit my rifle with proper eye relief was a silver Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40. Its 5" of eye relief was adequate to get a full field of view. I think it is a bit too big for the rifles proportions though. Other scopes can be made to fit with extended rings, but those are only made in black. so…? Custom mounts seem to be an answer. have not found a stainless finish small/low power scope yet either.
 
The best scope for the application that I have ever run across was a Bushnell 6500 series 1.25-8 X 32, it has a 30mm tube and 6" of eye relief through the entire power range, but I believe it came in matte only. I used standard 30mm Ruger rings, no extensions and no stock crawling was invloved, it was on a #1 in 450/400 NE and was sold with the rifle, I recently picked up another one to have just in case I find another #1 that needs a new home. I believe some one out there manufactures a picatinny rail that will fit the #1's, that would solve the adequate eye relief problems and eliminate stock crawling.
 
I have a older redfield widefield 4x on my ruger #1 in 45-120 .

I find the scope works perfectly , and I am running full power smokeless loads through it .

the only issue I have had wasn't with the scope but where the stock meets the rear portion of the action , it would pound out the stock causing it to crack . then when fixed and bedded , it would pound out the bedding compound . finally bedded it with 3m panel bond adhesive and all is good .
 
I had a stainless Ruger #1 and my initial thought was also too put a silver coloured scope on it. Tried one, colours didn't match; didn't like the looks of it. Eventualy went with a black Minox with silver lettering on the side of it.......looked good.
 
I should have added: I have a Leupold 1.5-5 VXIII mounted on mine now. 5" of eye relief is not quite enough, but I get a full field of view at 3x or less. Not available in silver though. They are tough scopes and look good on a #1.
 
I would give up on the matching silver color concept... don't compromise the features of the scope for the color... and besides, matte black scopes look really good on stainless anyway. I think an excellent reasonably priced scope to take full advantage of the range of the .458 is the Leupold VX-3 1.75-6X32mm... very solid scope and good zoom range for your needs.

Here is a few to get an idea of the color issue, you will see that mixing and matching silver and black rings and silver and black scopes is perfectly aesthetically pleasing;







 
Last edited:
salarguy said:
After 4 scopes suggested to me that failed miserably in the eye relief department, I installed a Nikon Monarch African on my 1B 7mm Rem Mag and I am delighted to say the least. 3.75-4.0"
Click to expand...

I tracked down a Nikon Monarch African last year on the EE and I agree they are fantastic. The true 1x on the bottom end is very nice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom