Bumping this thread to say:
I am considering swapping out the Leupold VX-3 1.5-5 I got at LeBarons (Remember that place? I sure miss it) for a Bushnell 6500 Elite 1.25-8x32 for both more magnification & eye relief in a set of Alaska Arms QD 30mm rings...
Thoughts?
That 6500 is a favourite of mine; I have several of them and they are perfect for me for some applications...but...
...aside from the huge difference in weight, and the change to the balance of the rifle (which might be good or bad, according to your preferences), the thing about them that is both good and bad is their extreme eye relief. I use them on specific rifles where something, usually a hammer or rear aperture sight, prevents the scope from being mounted where I want it without using crazy high mounts. I can mount the 6500 scopes so far forward that they sit in front of these obstructions, nestled down rear low to the receiver.
If you actually examine one, you will find that the eye relief is very close to what many manufacturers call a scout scope. In fact, when I hold one up next to a Leupold VX2 1.5-4x scout scope (another favourite, which I think of as more of a semi-scout, when compared to something like the original Leupold Scout), my casual eyeball examination reveals literally no difference in eye relief. This is great for those special circumstances I mentioned above...but not so great when we are talking about a typical bolt rifle. The scope must sit so far forward that most boltguns will need an extended pic rail to even mount the dang thing, and even then it will have a very non-traditional look. And, although many guys will think this is silly...a rifle for one's first African hunt, or one's once-in-a-lifetime African hunt, should be something that you look at and smile. That's "smile", not "laugh".
Let's face it; you didn't buy an RSM because you are strictly a function-trumps-form kind of guy. You bought that beautiful rifle at least partially because it's beautiful. And I don't think you will still find it quite so beautiful after mounting that 6500 on it. I will admit that I have very long arms and neck, and so I am happy with scopes mounted in a position which most people find too far forward; maybe you will be able to swing this combo comfortably. I would strongly suggest you bear this in mind and try to play with one in person before ordering that scope.
For sure, the glass in the 6500 is superior to the Leupold you are using, both at dawn/dusk and also throughout the day. And of course the .375 is certainly capable of utilizing a bit more magnification than the 1-4x provides.
One last thing; that gorgeous RSM is also one fat, heavy porker of a .375...which in turn dampens recoil considerably, compared to firing the H&H in a 7 or 8 pound rifle. So, yes, be aware of eye relief and be careful...but don't be paranoid. Let's hear what you eventually decide!
Edited to add: Yeah, I miss LeBaron's too. Their catalog was like a Christmas Wishbook for hunters/anglers, and I would spend a lot of time wandering around their stores. The old location on Yonge, near Finch, was only 20 minutes from my home back then. Good times!
Edit again: Forgot to add: those Alaskan Arms rings are fantastic! You could get a couple scopes set up in two sets of those, both sighted-in and ready to go. They return to zero very well, and a spare scope that doesn't require any dicking around, just mount and go, is a nice insurance policy on a long-distance trip. Or mount your primary scope in Ruger rings, and have a back-up ready in the AA rings for instant replacement in case the unthinkable happens to your main scope.
