Let's assume the rifle is a solid bolt action .375 H&H...and will be used for everything: DG, plainsgame, small mammals... What scope to choose?

Most DG rigs seem to wear a 1-5 x24, give or take. PHs suggest shooting what we are most familiar with...I reckon many hunters are used to a 2-7 or 3-9 with a larger bell, 42 mm or larger...If only ONE scope, what would you choose & why?

Anything by Swarovski. The 1.7x10 is outstanding.

Why? It is the best made and is extremely durable.

If the price is out of the budget, use a Leupold 3.5 x 10 in VX3

Both hold up but the Swaro is better in very low light.

1.5-6x42 Swaro on my 375.

After my PG safari in Bots, I realized every shot except two was taken with my my 3-9 set on 6X. Except for 9x for oryx at 250 yds or so and 3x for Eland at 60 yds, 6X worked and looking back, a 1-5 or the old Zeiss Conquest 1.5-5.5 would have worked for everything.

ETA
Rifle was M70 375H&H

I would use a leupold 1.5x4 European 30, and spend the money I save on another animal.

If you are going to use your 375 as a general purpose rifle then you should put a general purpose scope on it.

The 1 - 5 power with that tiny objective lens is a horrible choice for general purpose shooting. It makes a pretty good close range, fast shooting, scope if used in very good light. But for general purpose where the shot might be long, or the target might be standing in heavy cover with a lot of shadow, or during early morning or late evening low light conditions it is horrible.

Use what you would use for deer hunting. Mine has a Leupold M-8 in 6x. Simple, reliable, plenty of magnification and great brightness in low light. I have used it in Namibia for long shots, and in Limpopo in heavy cover for close shots. It does everything well.

Leupold 2.5-8x is the one I have on my two 375/404.

Many hunters have used these rifles for years, shooting everything from duikers to elephants.

Thanks, everyone, esp. Muletrain., I'll stick w/ my Zeiss 2-8 x42. I just wanted to be sure I wasn't " missing" something ( pun intended!)

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
Anything by Swarovski. The 1.7x10 is outstanding.

+1 but I have the older 2.5 - 10. I picked it up used at a great price and it is a magnificent scope.

quote:

Posted 29 August 2012 19:56 Hide Post
Leupold 2.5-8x is the one I have on my two 375/404.

+1

I have found that the Leupold 1.5-5x20mm is sufficient for all daylight hunting.

For the cats, I used a Burris Signature Series 1.5-6x42mm with an illuminated reticle. Except for my lion, when it was dark, I never used more than 3X magnification, including one shot at 275 yards.

Do NOT use a fixed power 6X in the bush veldt or if you're hunting dangerous game.

Totally subjective, obviously, but if only allowed one scope for doing everything Africa it would be an S&B 6x42.

Swarovski Z6 2x12 with illuminated reticle. If on a budget, look at the new illuminated Zeiss Conquests for less than half the money.

I'll be the odd man out & say a 3x9x40 Trijicon with either the post or dot in the crosshairs scopes.
Got em both, like em both.
Also like my 1.5x6x24 VX6 Leupold.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Leupold 2.5-8x is the one I have on my two 375/404.

Many hunters have used these rifles for years, shooting everything from duikers to elephants.

That is a good choice. The other is 1.5-5x Leupold

Any variable with the low end at 2.5 or less and the high end at 5 or more with an illuminated reticule from one of the quality manufacturers.
I prefer a reticule that is easy to see with or without illumination that doesn't have too much distracting circles, etc. I also prefer a scope that does not upset the balance and handling of the firearm.
This gives you the ability to shoot at long range or small targets with the higher magnification and the low end helps to focus for close up shots and large FOV for DG follow-up. Illumination helps in dark shadows on dark targets and also leopard.

I am sure I will get hammered for this but I prefer 4 x 12 x 50. Have on my 300RUM, 375, etc and I am comfortable with them. I am not a low power person myself.

On my .375 H&H, Swarovski 1x6x24 Z6 EE. Recommend the EE--extended eye relief. Clear images and rugged construction.

Saeed,

Just wondering. What power is your scope ususally set on when you shoot a dangerous animal such as an elephant or buffalo?

LittleJoe, I'm not an expert, with a scoped rifle being a bit foreign to me these days. But after my one experience in Africa, I would be leaning more toward something a bit more powerful too. My Dad took a very unconventional scope, and really liked it. He really liked bringing that animal up so close.

I used to have the 2-12X Swarovski on my .375, but found that with a 50mm objective I needed high rings, and since the stock was set up for irons (as it should be) I needed a cheek pad for reliable cheek weld position. I got one of the 1.7-10X Illuminated ones, and that works just fine in low rings. I use a 1-6X extended eye relief Z6 for my .416, and that has worked well for me as well.

If it is one scope for everything, the Z6 series is great, and the illuminated reticle is helpful as well. Its to the point where I put it on my 3 gun rifle as it works like a red dot on low magnification as well as being helpful with low light, and 6-10 X top end is more than adequate for any reasonable ranged shots on game.

The only down side, aside from price, is that they are big and heavy relative to the 1" scopes.

quote:

Originally posted by Africa1:
Swarovski 1x6x24 Z6 EE

+1 Try the CD reticle; allows fast target acquisition.

back up iron sights you can hit with. don't let murphie's law ruin the hunt of a lifetime.

My main scope on my .416 go-to rifle is a 1.5-5 Leupold, but I also carry the 2.5-8 recommended by Saeed in QD rings and sighted in. If I'm hunting plains game (or whitetails in Texas), I switch to the higher magnifications scope.

I've had the same Vari X III in 1.75X6 on my .375 for 20 years or so. It's killed everything from coyotes and caribou to cape buffalo. I've never had an issue with it.

Surestrike has it right. A 1.something to 6 power. Any various 375 of reasonable power: the little steyr to the ruger or 375 weatherby. not the 378 weatherby.

Well, mine wears a Leupold 1.75x-6x but in your case I would have to say the 2.5x-8x would be the ticket. Either one would be great.

Good Choice i have used a 2.5x8 Leupold on my 375 HH Remington 700 on everything from Elephant to spring bock have a 1.5x5 Leupold on detachable rings as back up never had to use it

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Leupold 2.5-8x is the one I have on my two 375/404.

Many hunters have used these rifles for years, shooting everything from duikers to elephants.

quote:

Originally posted by Muletrain:
If you are going to use your 375 as a general purpose rifle then you should put a general purpose scope on it.

The 1 - 5 power with that tiny objective lens is a horrible choice for general purpose shooting. It makes a pretty good close range, fast shooting, scope if used in very good light. But for general purpose where the shot might be long, or the target might be standing in heavy cover with a lot of shadow, or during early morning or late evening low light conditions it is horrible.

Use what you would use for deer hunting. Mine has a Leupold M-8 in 6x. Simple, reliable, plenty of magnification and great brightness in low light. I have used it in Namibia for long shots, and in Limpopo in heavy cover for close shots. It does everything well.

I concur, the Trijicon 2.5-10x56 is a marvelous scope for an everything 375. It's what I have on my 375 Ruger.

I like my 1,75 to 6 on mine.

quote:

Originally posted by bwana cecil:
I'll be the odd man out & say a 3x9x40 Trijicon with either the post or dot in the crosshairs scopes.

And then there were two. I prefer the crosshair/green dot myself.

I have a Leupold 1.5-5x on my 375. I used it for Kudu and Blue Wildebeest this past April, The Wildebeest was taken at 260 yds and the Kudu at 197 yds, and I never took the scope off of 1.5X No problem.
However, one scope I would consider is the Bushnell Elite 6500 or 4200. They are supposedly guaranteed and tested to take 10,000 rounds of 375 H&H. I believe the 4200 is rated for the 50 BMG and the glass is superior. I just put a 4200 Elite 3x-9x on my 300 Weatherby, I'll let you know how it goes..

Of course the one scope I would put on any African rifle, if I could afford it, would be a Schmidt & Bender.

I use and rely on Bushnell Elite 6500 1.25-8x32mm with several of my rifles. Great eye relief for big calibers. Lots of value for the money spent!

Smith & Bender 1,5-6x42 on my 375 HH.


Torbjorn

My .375 has a Leupold M8 4X on it. I think the fixed power helps me judge distance better. My 404 has a 3-9 on it but I always keep it on 3 1/2 so it might as well be fixed.

I use a Swarovski 1.5 to 6x42 with the illuminated circle dot reticle on my 9,3x74R double rifle.

It works perfect. On 1.5x it has a wide field of view for up close shots, and at 6x it had enough magnification for a 300+ yard shot at a kudu. It also worked good in low light, especially with the illuminated reticle.

I have used it for pigs in low light in Texas as well.

+1

quote:

Swarovski. The 1.7x10 is outstanding

I to favor 2 to 2.5 on low end and as high as you like on upside. I like high power but that is not the norm. Use what you like I use a Swarovski z6 2.5x15 illuminated which you don't need but it comes in handy on long shots.

I put a Leupold 2.5-8X VX-3 on my 375 H&H back in 2006 and used it for plains game in Namibia and Buff in Zimbabwe. I leave it on 2.5X until I need to take a long shot.

I guess it all depends where and what you are shooting. For my elk 375 I use a 5-25 Schmidt & Bender but for but for Africa I like a low power 2.5 or 3.5 to whatever is on offer to upper range. Last year I kept the leopold 2.5-9 on 2.5 for buffalo but agree that for a charge it's too powerful but for general it's great. My eyes are not what they were and I switched my Gibbs 505 from 1.1-5 to a 3.5 - 14 leupold with the B&C reticle and with that I have instant hold figured out to 300 yds - it groups less than 1" at 100 yd and that works very well. For buff follow up it has iron sites.