Without getting to issue of scoped vs unscoped for DGR, what would you recommend, and why, in terms of the 'preferred' objective lens for a dangerous game rifle.
I prefer 20MM (I've never knocked my scope from zero), but surely some of you are happy to go to 40MM and maybe even some to 50MM.
The objective lens of a DGR scope has to be 20 or 25 mm, because that is the diameter of the 1-4 or 1.5-5 power scopes. Only these will give you the field of view, which you should use on DG. (24 to 30 m at 100m). It allows to shoot both eyes open.
I agree with Norbert on the strictly "DGR" and also with Don G as to a dual role rifle. I do, however prefer the 2.5x8 Leupold on the .375 and on very heavy rifles, such as .500 Jeffrey or .505 Gibbs I'll stay with the 20mm objective lens, but in a fixed power scope such as the M8 Leupold 2.5x.
For a DGR I prefer iron express sights. That said I have telescopic and they have 20mm lense (25mm OD or 1 inch tube). The scope can be helpful in picking out which end is which when they are "hiding" in the grass / brush.
Many of the large bell scopes work just fine on the lower power settings, as far as field goes, but any scope with an oversize obj,bell is easy to damage, and that is why I only use streight tube scopes for the most part on larger chamberings, and reserve the big glass for rock chucks, on my 223s and 243s. My favorite scope for the DGR is a 1-5x20 Leupold!
------------------ ..Mac >>>===(x)===> DUGABOY DESIGNS Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art
Posts: 14634 | Location: TEXAS | Registered: 08 June 2000
I prefer the 20mm obj. lens for the reason you quote. and I also require a good set of irons on any DGR and for myself all my guns have iron sights, even my varmint rifles and I use them for shooting rockchucks and rabbits to keep in practice...I enjoy it, and I miss a lot of rabbits but missing a rabbit is not a real life struggle in my books.
I haven't ever hunted Africa, so I don't claim to be an expert by any stretch, but I do find 40mm to be the largest objective that I actually take hunting out into the scrub. Anything larger can really get hung up at times, and 32mm is a bit better than a 40mm. The only time I can see a use for a large objective anyway is if you are shooting at dusk or dawn they can be a little helpful. I'd have no problem putting a 22mm objective optics on a rifle never used in twilight.
Posts: 7787 | Location: Between 2 rivers, Middle USA | Registered: 19 August 2000
For many years I have been hunting the european wild boar using on my 9,3�s either Aimpoint red dots (1000, 3000) or Swarovski�s PV-I 1,25-4x24 (High Grid Circle-Dot). They all perform nicely on thick bush and up to 100 meters. I will be on my first african DG hunt in November, and for that I had my .416 Rigby equipped with the Swarovski.
Posts: 538 | Location: Lisboa,Portugal | Registered: 16 August 2001
