What optic do you like on your big bore ?

gorky

gorky

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
342   0   0
Location
Lethbridge, AB
I have a 375 coming to me, and yes it is a 375 Ruger, and am torn as to what to mount on it. I will be using the gun for elk, moose, and bear here in NA, and will eventually take this gun to Africa. I am trying to keep the scope cost reasonable, but obviously no garbage. My thoughts right now:

NF 1-4x24 ill ret. - Great for close quarters and for any sort of defense gun, but I think I will struggle on longer shots due to the lack of magnification, ill reticle just because the one time in my life I need it, I want it there

NF 2.5-10x24 ill ret - low magnification for the close stuff, more magnification for the 300 yard shots. Nice low profile. Eye relief should be good too.

Leupold VXIII 1.5-5x20 ill ret - cheap version of the NF above

Bushnell 6500 2.5-16x50 - I have an extra one sitting here. Low end magnification, lots of magnification when needed, extra weight will help offset recoil, no illuminated reticle.

What do you guys think ? What works and what doesn't ?
 
i'VE GOT A 2.5-8X36 vARI x III on my 375 Ruger. I htink it's a good choice considering the 2.5 offers a good view close up and the 6-8X range makes longer shots easier.

The 6500 you have wouldn't be out of place on the rifle, but none of your choices would really be out of place.
 
I have a 1.75-6X32 Leupold with #4 reticle on my 358 Norma. I like it a lot. Very low and has great eye relief, also plenty of magnification for any target I will be shooting at.

I have no experience with the Nightforce.
 
I've used 4x fixed, 2x7s, 1.5x6s, 2.5x8s and 1.5x5s on my 375s. All Leupolds.

All worked well, but I keep coming back to the 1.5x5.


.
 
gorky said:
Any particular reason ? What kind of hunting do you do with the gun ?
Click to expand...
It's lightweight and small while being an excellent scope. Good eye relief as well. Most big bores are heavy enough without a Hubble sitting on top.

Another benefit of a straight tube scope is that they fit better on longer actions. The tube offers more flexibility in scope position.

I hunt moose and deer with mine in mixed situations. I like the lower magnification range more than I need the higher end in bigger scopes.

.
 
I know what you mean SC. Though not a Leupold, I stuck a very nice (older) Scopechief 1.5-4.5x20mm on my Husky Featherweight. Nice clear optics that offer quicke acquisition, and seem to fit better. That being said, my BRNO 21-H wears a 2-7x32mm,Leupy. Sadly, it's a duplex reticle; therefore, may have to send that out for a change to post. Big scopes are great, on stand, varmint, or target guns. ;)
 
On my .375 H&H I have a 1.5-6x zeiss and I do like it. I have thought of going to something with just a little more power. The .375 caliber is wicked and shoots flatter than some may think so being able to see at a little farther distance is nice. Last fall I shot my grizzly at 220 yds. Six power was almost not enough for me as shot placement was paramount. Just me though.
 
I put a leupy on my .458 lott, but I almost got a trijicon accupoint 1-4. You might like the reticles they use have a look at trijicon. com. I was quite impressed with the reviews I searched on the web.
 
My 460 has a 2.5-8x36 Leupold. My 375 has a 1.75-5x20 Burris. I have used 3-9's on 416's. I was thinking of putting my Lupy on the 375 as it would fit better. If you want to shoot out to 300yds or like to see a bigger picture then a mid range variable is good. I like the gun to look 'right'. My mauser 404 has open sights only. A ruger with open sights will look like its all business with a 1.5-5x on it. I think any scope up to a 4.5-14 on a longer barreled gun would work. The Bushnell you mention would make the gun top heavy and awkward in my opinion. Have fun.
 
On my 20" .375 H&H carbine, a Leupold VariX 1.5x5x20 in Warne QD rings.

IMG_5483.jpg
 
I like Leupold's fixed 2.5x. I bought a .416 Rem Mag almost 20 years ago and topped it off with a Bushnell Scopechief 3-9x40. In those days the Scopechief was made in Japan and was a fairly high end scope (not the cheap stuff you get today at Walmart)- I still have the box for one of the two and the price tag was $300. They came with a lifetime warranty too. Anyways, the scope was done after about 100 rounds - it wouldn't hold zero and you could hear stuff rattleing around inside it. IIRC that scope became the Bausch & Lomb 3000 Balvar (or the Bushnell 3000 series).

I wasn't certain about the 2.5x but really, on large game, you won't be shooting at very long ranges and the 2.5x seems to be just fine.

The other two I would look at are the Swarovski 1-6x24 Z6 and the Schmidt & Bender Zenith 1.1–4 x 24 or Zenith 1.5–6 x 42. I know the last two are a bit pricey, but you could sell your extra scope and that would take the bite out of the cost. As a bonus you will have a world class scope that should serve you well for a lifetime.


If you really want more magnification consider the Swarovski Z6 1.7-10x42 - it gives you very low magnification as well as 10x, which is probably all you will ever need.

The other thing, that I did not have on my .375's, but did on my .416 is a set of EAW quick detach mounts. I REALLY like those mounts. You can take a look at them on the NECG website.
 
I have a Leup. FX II 2.5-28 Scout EER on top a 460 Weatherby, clear crisp, but most of all the extended Eye relief is incredable.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom