OK Boys- I'm building my Chui rifle for a couple years down the road. The gun is a 1959 Colt Coltsman, chambered for 300 H&H Magnum. The hunt will most likely be during "daylight" hours, over bait. It will be the light rifle for all future safaris (and a great mate to my Model 70's in 375 & 416). What scope would you recommend? Money is not unlimited, but I'm not cheap either. Illuminated reticle? 30mm tube? Or is a traditional 1" tube Leupold enough?

BN

I would use something like a Zeiss 3x-9x or Leupold 2.5x-8x. These scopes are simple, pretty rugged and transmit light well. They also have sufficient eye relief to avoid your joining the 'half-moon club'.

George

I'd go with either of the following

3-12 x 50 Swaro with IR (which I use on my 308)

OR

Z6 2-12 x 50 IR (which I wish I had!!)

The clarity through these scopes at low light conditions is second to none, and with the cost of a safari being what it is, and the fact that you wil put a good scope on anyway you only need to find the extra dollars. Mine works a treat on my deer rifle and I can shoot confidently in very low light conditions with that rifle.

Rgds,
FB

I'm using the Zeiss 1.5x5.5....but it's on a 404. The 300 would have more range so the high mag would probably be better.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

Zeiss 3-12x56 T* with IR. It's second to none.

On top of my Sauer 202 in 9,3x62 or on my Blaser K95 in 7x65R, it accounts for dozens of wild boar taken by moonlight.

B.Martins

At the advice of my PH, I purchased a Leupold 3.5X10X50 (ill reticle). I first tried the leupold 1.5X5X20 (30mm tube and ill reticle) but it was about as worthless as tits on a boar hog in low light.(I took them both on a hog hunt where the animals tend to only come out at dawn or dusk and in dark swamp) I would have preferred a 1.75X6X42 (ill) Swaro, but I just don't think it was THAT much better for 2.5X the price. jorge

BN

I honestly think for your 300 H&H any premium mid range variable will be perfect for leopard/plains game. If you have the budget a 30 mm euro scope might give you a slight advantage but if not don't worry just buy a Leupold and kill a big tom.

Mark

Do you guys feel the extra money for the illuminated reticle is worth the price? How about the Trijicon type reticle? I've heard they're good, but I've never hunted with one.
I agree with the 3x9, or thereabouts, so it makes a good long range PG rifle. I know my luck, and that cat will come in the worst light available. Trying to hedge my bets!!! BN

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Nderobo:
Do you guys feel the extra money for the illuminated reticle is worth the price?

Bwana - absolutely! Having an illuminated reticle can mean the difference between being able to shoot, or deciding not to risk it.

Leopard have a habit of coming to the bait only when shooting light is on the slim side of marginal.

i've used micro-dots in 1-4 and 2-7 with the illuminated dot. micro-dot only illuminated a 1 minute dot so it doesn't blind you. and yes i do use the dot

I have put the Schmidt Bender 3-12x50 IR on my Blaser R93 375 H&H for leopard/lion in Zim. for June.
I have used this scope on my 340 Wby for US big game. I have Swarovski, Zeiss and several others but I have to say I like the SB the best especially when it comes to sighting in. When you click for a 1/2 inch or 2 inches(actually centimeters) it is right on the money. No go past and come back stuff crisp clicks with visual gauges on the adjusment dial. It is exceptionally clear and I like the variable dot intensity.
I would not have purchased one had I not been going for the big cats though.
Good luck!

(Honest, but maybe dumb question)

I notice you fellas are seeming to choose higher magnification scopes. Why is that desirable for leopard?

Thanks,

http://www.schmidtbender.com/choosingascope.shtml

This link might help. I wanted a 50mm objective with an L3 reticle.

A lot of hooey is printed about scopes and Leopards...Leopards are shot at reasonable ranges, mostly at about 40 yards. Any good quality scope will work just fine even at night.

I have always used a 3X, 1x4x or 1.5x5 Leupold with a standard duplex crosshair and never had any sort of problem. In fact those are the scopes I have used for 90 percent of all my hunting. I tried all the European scopes and the 30 MM and found no advantage whatsoever for myself...

40 yards? The heck do you need a scope for??

Haven't used it on leopard, but I have a 3.5x10 Leupold VXL (the 50mm with the offset so it can be mounted low) on a Kimber 300 win. On low magnification, it sure seems to gather a lot of light after sundown.

I would consider an IR for leopard, but I've not used one for leopard. If its getting dark, and spot lights are taboo, you'll appreciate it.

Is one type of Illuminated Reticle better than others? I was concerned about having the battery die at the wrong time (things in my life just seem to go that way), so thats why I thought the Trijicon (without battery) was a good idea. Anyone used one? BN

I tried several. I like the small dot much better than the circle or crosshair effect. The battery in the SB is supposed to be good for 100 hrs of use and has a cap that holds a spare battery so you have a new one wherever you go. It has standard crosshairs so in the event that the unexpected happens you are not SOL. I am not familiar with the Trij. if you can vary the intensity of the light. I would assume not. It would be a big concern of mine in the twilight that if to intense you would lose vision.

Bwana

The illuminated reticle is worth every penny.

I have made several shots in low light and even some shots in the middle of the day when the animal was standing in shadow where the illuminated reticle really helped.

If your rifle was a 375 then I would recommend a Swarovski or a S&B in the 1-6x42 range.

But you might want more maginfication on a 300 mag, I know I would.

The Swaros that Fallow Buck recommended are the way to go.

Also I like using the reticle illuminated when shooting running game on low power.

Being that the 300H&H can be used for longer shots on plains game as well as for the Leopard.
I would recommend a 2.5-10x50 Zeiss, 3-9x42 Swarovski or Khales or the 3-12x42 S&B.
A Illuminated reticle would be great.

I have a couple of Kahles scopes one of which is a CL 3-10x50 which I would have to think would be a pretty good choice. CDNN is having a sale on them right now if you're interested in European glass.

Cheers,
Andy

I prefer the S&B Flashdot scopes.

I would buy a Schmidt & Bender illuminated reticle Zenith scope. Magnification and reticle style would be what appeals to you. It's expensive but so are leopard hunts!

I agree with LJS and Mr Lexma, S&B 13/4 X 6 Zenith flashdot. I don"t own one but wish I did as I'm leaving for a leopard hunt in Zim on the 24th. Sometimes the choice is between buying all the goodies and going hunting. If you can do both you can't go wrong. Good Luck!

I put a Bushnell Elite 4200 1.5-6 with the Firefly reticle. You charge the reticle with a flash light and it glows for several hours. No batteries or electronic malfunctions. Very bright quality scope. I originally ordered a Schmidt Bender but it had very short eye relief and did not outperform the Elite 4200 in the backyard at night tests. It worked great shooting a hyena in the dark, but I got lucky and shot my leopard in daylight.

Scott

I just put a Bushnell 4200 series 2.5 x 10 with the firefly reticle on my .300 Winchester Magnum with the intent of using it on a leopard some day. Bushnell's description of the firefly reticle was too generous. It takes more ten seconds with a flashlight to give you several hours of illumination. It works well, without added contraptions.

My leopard gun sports a Leupold VX III 3.5x10 50mm illuminated recticle, same as jorge's.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Nderobo:
Is one type of Illuminated Reticle better than others? I was concerned about having the battery die at the wrong time (things in my life just seem to go that way), so thats why I thought the Trijicon (without battery) was a good idea. Anyone used one? BN

The Trijicon Accupoint 3-9x40 has my vote for this purpose. An illuminated reticle that does not have batteries or an on/off switch, and which automatically adjusts the intensity for the light conditions, has got to be the best option for leopard. I have several Accupoints and one on my Merkel 9.3 double for my next foray into the Dark Continent (and for leopard I am hoping).

I love the illuminated post reticle but for those who don't like the post, Trijicon now have illuminated duplex, mildot and German #4 reticles, as well.

I am amazed that you Yanks aren't more attuned to Trijicon seeing as it is US company and the US Army and Marine Corp are now buying the ACOG (same technology as the Accupoint) and these combat sights are in service in Iraq and Afganistan.

Bluefin,
You need a scope for Leopard because you hunt them at night. A Leopard blind is usually 50 yards or under from the bait, and a proper leopard blind will silowet the Leopard..

I see no reason for all these high powered scopes for a 40 yard shot...I have always seen the Leopard very clearly in a 3X Leupold and I am then better equiped for a follow up. this hockey gets started with someones imagination and just grows like a cancer.

In 8 safaris to Zimbabwe taking almost everthing there some including Leopard several times I have only used 3 scopes. Leupold VariX-III 1.5x5, Swarovski 1.5x4.5 and a Leupold VariX-III 3.5x10. The 3.5x10 was used on my 06 once and on my 7x57 once and all the other game has been shot with the low powered scopes and I did not feel penalized in any way. My first Leopard was on my first Safari and was shot over lights with a 375 using a Leupold VariX-III 1.5x5 and it was more than enough to pick which spot to shoot at. I have never really needed more power or light in any real way. Actually most of my game has been shot with one caliber with handloads that were not even maximum loads using Nosler Partition bulletes. The calibre 375H&H the scope Leupold VariX-III 1.5x5. The 375 rifles varied from Custom Model 70's to Brno ZKK602 to Heym 88B double. I feel so confident with 375's that I have carried 2 over several times. I did have a problem in So.Africa last time with the Heym and a Mdl 70 but they finally granted me an overnite permit and said don't do it again. I would be happy to hunt Africa with the 375 as my sole rifle for whatever game though I would not DELIBERATELY hunt Elephant with it again as I DO think it is marginal on Elephant.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
My leopard gun sports a Leupold VX III 3.5x10 50mm illuminated recticle, same as jorge's.

What can I say? Great minds think alike... jorge

Although not Hunting Leopard, a friend was hunting Boar last weekend with his 308 Sako fullwood fitted with a 1.5-6x42 Swar.
On two evenings in a row he spotted (with Leica 10x40s)the same Big pig come out on last light but on bringing the rife up he could not see the animal with the scope.
This situation can happen on an expensive Leopard hunt so I would think its advisable to use the best light gathering scope available.
Imo this is a European brand with x42 minimum and better still a scope with a x50 objective bell.

I do not like the IR of the firefly type scopes.
1) at some point, you have to shine a bright light into the tube to get it to fluoresce. At the wrong time or place, turning on a flashlight could be very problematic.
2) the greenish fluorescence tends to hamper night vision of one's eyes.
I got my leopard with a 4200firefly when it was very dark in the morning. If I closed my eyes for a few moments, then looked thru the scope, I could see for a second or so. Once I could tell the bait was moving, next see the leopard standing on his hind legs feeding, next standing broadside with crosshairs(un-illuminated) behind shoulder.
I understand that the red-dots do not hamper night vision, but have not tried them.

Great information Steve. Thank you.

Why take any chances?
I use a Swar 2.5-10x56 for all those situations
when you need all light you can get. Of course
the crosshair is illuminated!

Here's one more question: Can you see an appreciable difference in light transmission between 1" tube scopes and 30mm tube scopes?
I've never owned a 30mm tube, and was wondering if it was worth the additional investment...

Thanks to all who offered advice-- BN

A 30 mm tube offers no light transmission advantages over a 1 inch tube. The following is from the Leupold website "Q&A" section:

The Leupold Answer Guide

Advantages of a 30mm Maintube
Does a 30mm main tube give you more light? The principal advantages of the 30mm tube are added strength and increased adjustment range for windage and elevation. For example, the M8-12X (1" main tube) has a total elevation adjustment of 51 minutes. The Mark-4 M1-10X (30mm main tube) has 90 minutes. The percentage of light passing through a scope is a function of lens coating and optical design, and has nothing to do with tube diameter.

I am not sure I understand what Leupold is saying - looking through an opening that is 17% larger (1" vs. 30mm) does not help with brightness? In other words, if I am looking through a peep hole and then opened the peep hole by 17%, I would see no difference? The relationship may not be exponential but it would at least be linear.

THat does not make sense to me....

Dogcat,
Your logic is great...if the lenses were made bigger to fit the 30mm body. They aren't. The space is used for the mechanicals to increase the adjustment range.
Personally, I'd like to see them increase the lens size and keep the standard adjustment range. Now that would help, especially in the straight-tubed scopes.