For a hunting rifle, I only want a 20MM objective as it leaves little sticking out the front ring and is hard to jar or knock off zero, not so the belled scopes...I cannot see any difference in light gathering between the 20mm and the 40mm objectives, so I went with the 1.5x5 and 1x4 many years ago and thats about all I use on any of my rifles with the exception of varmint rifles and one 300 H&H that has an old 2x7 Leupold on it. I tried the 1.75x6 and that 1x didn't impress me much and I don't need any power over 5X for any big game hunting...

The best scope I have for early morning or evening hunting is my 3X Leupold fixed for some reason, Leupold told me its because it is a fixed power, but they also said that the eye can only handle so much light so its probably not even an issue on the light gathering capabilities of all these new scopes.....

I had problems mounting my 1.75x6 on some rifles as its too short and I ended up having to use extension rings which I don't like, so I sold it..If it fits the rifle then it of cours is an excellent scope..I think the companies are making too many short scopes these days and should go back to making them the same length as the old 3X and 4X leupolds.

Allen,

I believe the 1.75x6 is just a superior glass in general. It would be my pick and has been for 375 H&H, 375 Weatherby and 416 Remington. With that magnigication range it was easy to brain shoot hippo at 40-60 yards take on buffalo at 30 feet and hit a bushbuck at 300. As for low light you'll just get a better look at stuff with higher magnification and larger lens.

Good Hunting,

Mark

Allen,

I have scopes in both formats, and I have used then in NA and Africa.

The 1.5-5X20 works fine until you put leopard or low-light shooting on your dance card. Then you are going to need more objective on the scope to improve the twilight factor. I think the Leupold 1.75-6X32 is about the minimum, and the 40 to 42 mm objective scopes definitely out-perform the 32 to 36 mm units.

Africa mostly has more light than you can use, until you get to the leopard blind after dark -- and before moon rise. When you hear the big Crunch! as the leopard takes a bite you want to know you will see him in the scope.

jim

I have a 1.5x5 on my .404 & think it's just about perfect. I have a 1.75x6 in the safe waiting for a .375 to put it on. For all around use, the 1.75x6 will be a great choice. As far as the heavy duplex, make sure you try one out @ 100yds or so on a smaller target before you buy. I find it covers too much of the target.

I have the 1.75-6x on my .375 and have been happy with it for the past 5 years.

Another vote for the 1.75 x 6X. Mine on the Rem 700 375H&H is great, and has served me well in Idaho and Namibia. Only about 300 rounds thru it thus far, so can't speak about long term durability.

Ray, don't you think the 40mm clas will give you a edge in quicker target aquisition ? I always feel I have to really "look" through a 20mm where on the larger objectives seem to come quicker to my eye. I've grown very appreciative of 40 mm fixed 4x scopes. The new Nikon Gold 30mm series in 1.5x6x42 seems like a peach. 11.4" 17.2 oz under $500

Without doubt, the 1.75x6. Anyone who says they can't see the difference between them in low light performance either hasn't tried them side by side in dim light or can't see.

I have and use both scopes. Like them both however that 1.75 to 6 x 32 is a hard combo to beat. Our little buddy Geo. Hoffman poo pooed it until he looked thru one of mine at early morning dark thirty one morning in the middle of Chimney Hill and then kinda had a change of heart.
I agree with 450#2...go hvy. duplex...some say no as it covers up to much but I say if it is between the thick then it is between the thin...pull the trigger now! I really would like to have it in the German 3A like I do on son's CZ 9.3 x 62 with the 2.5 to 8 Leupold. That thing really works.
Ray, the early versions (1.75 to 6) were too damn short but now they have the "E" model...for extended however I agree with you as I mount scopes many times a week and damn...stuff sure is short tubed these days. You gotta keep a million dollar inventory in scope mounts and rings just to mount a few rifle /scope combos. Winchester 710's must be the worst offender of all. You have gloss, matte, silver...next is pink or red/ white and blue...Jeeze Louise! Super Low, Low, Med. High and Super High. Reversable front, reversable front and rear, extended this and that....I may have more tied up in mounts and rings than I have in ammo inventory! Bah ! Humbug!

Another vote for the 1.75-6. I've used it on plains game in Africa and whitetail deer in the US.

Good light-gathering qualities, decent magnification for puzzling out daylight brush-obscured sight pictures, can be mounted nice and low.

On 1.75 power it will focus clearly to under 10 yards.

Can't be beat for all-around use, IMHO, although Saeed (who should know!) usually votes for the 2.5 - 8.

Allen,



First off, you are going to have to fess up more money. I do not see the feasibility of using a .375 with either scope for both coyotes and moose/elk!



Why not just by one of the 3.5-10X scopes?



The 1.5-5X is good for field of view, but doubt many coyotes or moose are going to try to take you out. I wonder how good a 6X scope is going to be on a 300 yd. shot at a half-grown coyote, but it will be better than the 1.5-5X.



Rich,



The old, short 1.75-6X Leupold fits quite nicely on a regular CZ 550 action, with Warne rings. I see mine across the room!

You might consider a Burris 1X-4X Compact. It has 22 inches of eye relief at 1X and 5 inches at 4X. I have one on my 35 Whelen and it works quite well. The Plex is heavy enough and the brightness is excellent.

1.75-6x, I put a Premier Reticles German post in mine.

Do they let guys in Alaska vote?

I bought my 1.5 X 5 Leupold from Premier Reticles with the German post as well. When you purchase it new from them the price of the reticle is less. I also have the 1.5 X 5 with the heavy duplex, which is fine on DG but not too good on Steenbok at 150 yards (although I didn't miss him). I prefer two scopes in quick change mounts on my .375 H&H. The 1.5 X 5 for everyday big animal shooting and the fixed power Leupold 6 X 42 for low light and long distance shooting. This fixed power scope is great and doesn't get enough good press.

Chuckwagon,
I am not all caught up in scopes, most of the hype is in the minds of shooters. Americans cannot be pried away from bigger is better, big scopes and big prices, its in their genes!

No use to argue with them about it, not even that 1X difference and the little if any light gathering quality of a 6X, maybe its there, but I could care lesss, I don't need it....

I have hunted a bit, shot a bit of game and all I care about is putting the x on the target, if I cannot see the ticks, I can live with that...I have never had any trouble shooting a Leopard or plainsgame at night with any scope..

I could get along fine with a discontinued 3X or a 2X for that matter on every gun I have, all I require is a blur of a target and the ability to put the crosshair on the blurred shoulder, and that does not take a $1500 scope IMO. Apparantly a lot of PH agree with me on this as I have seen all manor of cheap scopes on PH and guides rifles and they always bring home the bacon.....

So, I will continue using my 3X, 1x4 and 1.5x5 Leupolds until such time as they fail me, but its been nearly 60 years and no complaints as yet, but when it happens then I will probably buy a 1.5 x50 with a 75 MM objective lens, and put it on my 5.5 Lb. Fwt rifle and that should save me from certain death in the long grass!

The eye relief on this scope is noncritical. If your eye is anywhere from 3 inches to 22 inches from the eye piece you will see clearly, if you are 6 inches or 16 you will see clearly. This scope is extremely quick on target at 1X. At 4X it if the eye is 5 or 4 inches you will see clearly. My PH in Namibia thought it was the neetest scope he'd ever seen and was delighted when I gave him my extra one. I've had mine on a 35 Whelen for several years and hundreds of full power rounds and it works perfectly.

I think the best scope (if you are only going to get one) is the same one that Saeed and I both use on our .375's -- the Leupold 2.5-8x.

Great twilight performance, excellent (and non-critical) eye relief, and a power range I've found useful from 20 feet to as far as I would shoot anything (even varmints at 8x).

I would not argue against either of your initial candidate scopes though! Fine scopes all.

jpb

My hands down choice between the two is the 1.75-6 with Premier Reticles #4 installed. It has the heavy outer crosshairs of the heavy duplex with the thin center for target work. That's what I use on my 358 Norma and would never consider changing.

Wow, thanks for all the input guys! I will probably go with the 1.75-6x32. Thanks again for all the advice and input.Allen