I am looking for a backup scope for my M70 .375 which currently wears a 2.5 x 8. I have the same scope on a different rifle in the same QRW rings that I could use as a backup or I could just pickup another scope to keep as the dedicated spare. If I buy a new scope I am looking at the Leupold 3.5 x 10 which would serve backup duties for several other rifles as well and perhaps be a bit more versatile in that capacity. Would the 3.5 x 10 give me any advantage in light gathering (36 vs 40 mm objective) for a low light situation like a cat hunt or is it too much for the .375?
Thanks
Brian

If you are looking at a Leupold for low light situations you may want to get one with the Fire Dot. In some low light situations you may not be able to see the cross hairs very well.

The magnification is up to you. Good luck on your decision.

For DG the 3.5-10 is pushing magnification a bit too high IMHO.
Mine has a 1.5-6 illuminated Kahles with a 1.5-5 Leupold as back up.
The 2.5-8 is probably best for your situation.

I did have a Leupold 3.5 X 10 on my current 375, but I just changed it out for the Swarovski Z6i 1.7 X 10. I shot a lot of plains and dangerous game with that scope on the 375. And,yes, it will work just fine on your 375. My other 375 carries the Leupold 2.5X8.

Stick with the duplicate. (Same zero?)

BC3

I personally like the 2.5x8 Leupold a lot on a 375 and have used it on two 375's. I think if your going to buy another scope you might want to consider an illuminated reticle. I bought a Trijicon 3x9 for my 375 WBY and have been extremely happy with it. It made the difference on whether I could of could not make my shot on my lion in '12. I 'm sure a standard reticle would have been invisible. I now have the 2.5x8 as my backup.

Mark

The 2.5x8 Leupold is my go to scope on three different .375s and one 9.3x74. Stay with it.

may want to consider the leupold vx6 2-12, with illuminated reticle.great light gathering and goes down to 2 for DG. and could be used for many other uses

quote:

Originally posted by BNagel:
Stick with the duplicate.

+1

quote:

Originally posted by BC3:
I am looking for a backup scope for my M70 .375 which currently wears a 2.5 x 8. I have the same scope on a different rifle in the same QRW rings that I could use as a backup or I could just pickup another scope to keep as the dedicated spare. If I buy a new scope I am looking at the Leupold 3.5 x 10 which would serve backup duties for several other rifles as well and perhaps be a bit more versatile in that capacity. Would the 3.5 x 10 give me any advantage in light gathering (36 vs 40 mm objective) for a low light situation like a cat hunt or is it too much for the .375?
Thanks
Brian

How about a 1.75-6 Leupold on your 375? Then use the 2.5-8 as your backup, as well as your "all around" scope for your other needs?

I have the 2.5-8 on both my 375/404 rifles.

If you have to have a spare, I suggest you have the same one.

In fact, my suggestion is to forget the 3.5-10.

In my experience, it is the only Leupold model that we have had go wrong.

We have been using Leupold scopes for so many years, we have had several hundreds at least.

I originally had a 2.5-8 Leupold on a 375. I switched to a 2.5-8 Zeiss as the image was brighter. I set up the second scope in talley qd rings pre-zeroed. When traveling I kept that scope wrapped up and stored in a capped piece of PVC pipe.

4# power S&B

quote:

Originally posted by BC3:
I am looking for a backup scope for my M70 .375 which currently wears a 2.5 x 8. I have the same scope on a different rifle in the same QRW rings that I could use as a backup or I could just pickup another scope to keep as the dedicated spare. If I buy a new scope I am looking at the Leupold 3.5 x 10 which would serve backup duties for several other rifles as well and perhaps be a bit more versatile in that capacity. Would the 3.5 x 10 give me any advantage in light gathering (36 vs 40 mm objective) for a low light situation like a cat hunt or is it too much for the .375?
Thanks
Brian

I own the exact same scope you are considering (Leupold Vari-X III in 3.5x10x40). In using it in low light conditions for hyenas I couldn't see squat even in full moon conditions

Funny you should ask. My original 375 Model 70 had a 20 year old Leupold 1.75X6X32 VXIII. It has shot a buffalo at 25 yards and a kudu at over 350 at last light. But being the rifle kooks we all are, I decided it needed a new scope.
Like my friend UEG, I too have a Swaro Z6 as well as a Victory HT on other rifles that I use as a benchmark to judge all my other scopes. In my back yard I have my "leopard", a deer target made of foam sprayed with black splothces (I told you I was nuts) set in some bushes and trees at exactly sixty five yards. I order all my big game Leupolds with the Heavy Duplex as it affords me better definition in low light. Compared to the aformentioned Z6 and Victory I saw NO APPRECIABLE difference in target recognition and acquisition until pitch black night set in (no moon). Now if I place a chart with letters on it, the Euros are noticeably sharper (all set to 6X), but hell I shoot animals and not alphabets. Bottom line, for the money and what you get, Leupold's the way to go and the 1.75X6 is in my view ideal for a 375. jorge

Scope choice can obviously be rather personal and subjective. For me, I prefer having an identical second scope already sighted in and in QD mounts ready to go should the need arise.

I went with the Swarovski Z6i 1.7-10 X 50 on my recent trip - great scope i would wholeheartedly recommend.

Stay with 2.5 . 8, sepcially for for close encounters.

In the lowest power (2.5) it starts to be focus at five steps from you.

The 3.5 - 10 in its lowest setting (3.5) stars focusing at 10 steps.

For this reason I switched the exactly same Leupolds combination after a safari in Africa.

In my experience the best option all the way is 2.5 - 8 X 36, it gathers more than enough light you probably are going to need.

If I could describe the Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36 in one word it would be "Balance". It's light enough, bright enough, priced right and powerful enough to deliver in almost any useful big game hunting condition.

I personally have a Leica 2.5-10x42 #1 Ret. on my .375 H&H. A touch more power but at the cost of aesthetics and weight.

Last year we had two rifles, one with an old Leupold 2.5-8 and the other one had a band new Nightforce 2.5-10.

As the sun went down, we put the two rifles next to each other, and looked at everything we could find across the river from us with both scopes.

We could see better with the Leupold than the Nightforce.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Last year we had two rifles, one with an old Leupold 2.5-8 and the other one had a band new Nightforce 2.5-10.

As the sun went down, we put the two rifles next to each other, and looked at everything we could find across the river from us with both scopes.

We could see better with the Leupold than the Nightforce.

NFs main claim to fame is that it can survive a Taliban bullet through the maintube..and keep right on working....

IIRC, both Leupold and NF get their ground glass components from Japan [I consider that a good thing.]

BY the way, was that 2.5-10x NF an earlier 24mm objective,..or.. later release model with 32mm or 40mm objective?

such obj. dia. variation can make a notable difference between the;.. available exit pupil, twilight factor and perceivable definition.

I love the 2.5 - 8 x 36 Leupold. Just bought another this week. Backup on my Africa stuff is a fixed 2.5 Leupold with Heavy Duplex. It is small and light. If I can't see something that is now 2 1/2 times larger then one of us needs to get closer to the other.
Mine is protected in the common gray foam insulation tube with blue painters tape securing it. No extra weight nor space hog in my travel kit. When in route I also have the gray foam tube over my barrel and the stock forearm. You can add a crutch tip over the end of the bbl. to protect the crown. Painters tape does not leave the residue that duct tape does. Most likely not anything else in your gun kit that is that color blue either, Easy to spot what you taped up.

I see nothing wrong with a 3.5-10 x 40 for a back-up scope, but then again I have a couple of them mounted as main scopes on .375s. For general purpose use the 2.5-8 that you already have is fine too. The chances of actually needing the spare scope are slim.

The low light question is interesting. I have a 3-10 x 50 VXL3 with illuminated reticle that fits in low rings and makes a day and night difference in the dark. You probably won't break your main scope, but the night scope could make or break your hunt in certain specialized circumstances.

I have a Zeiss 2 - 8 x 42 Duralyt illuminated as primary scope on my Mod 70 .375.

Backup scope is an elder Swaro 1,24 - 4 x 24 without illu.

A is sighted in for 270 grs Spitzer Bullets, B for 300 grs FN Solids.

Hermann

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
I did have a Leupold 3.5 X 10 on my current 375, but I just changed it out for the Swarovski Z6i 1.7 X 10.

My personal favorite "one scope", buy two of those and sell the Leupys. On the best "one rifle" too I see.....

Thanks for all of the excellent replies. I didn't make it clear in the original post but my reason for a backup scope was primarily to be prepared in the event of scope failure caused by damage. I hunted a fairly rocky area last year. One accidental tumble or slide could have damaged the scope and without a spare I would have been hosed. I appreciate all of the input.

Brian

There are no Taliban where I hunt, so the Nightforce is not needed.

Larry Sellers
SCI(International)Life Member
Sabatti 'trash' Double Shooter
R8 Blaser
DRSS

quote:

Originally posted by Trax:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Last year we had two rifles, one with an old Leupold 2.5-8 and the other one had a band new Nightforce 2.5-10.

As the sun went down, we put the two rifles next to each other, and looked at everything we could find across the river from us with both scopes.

We could see better with the Leupold than the Nightforce.

NFs main claim to fame is that it can survive a Taliban bullet through the maintube..and keep right on working....

IIRC, both Leupold and NF get their ground glass components from Japan [I consider that a good thing.]

BY the way, was that 2.5-10x NF an earlier 24mm objective,..or.. later release model with 32mm or 40mm objective?

such obj. dia. variation can make a notable difference between the;.. available exit pupil, twilight factor and perceivable definition.

On my .416, I've always had a 1.5x5 Leupold as my primary, with your favorite 2.5x8 as a backup. Both with QD mounts and both sighted in. The thought at first was always to change scopes after the buffalo were down, but that never happened. I still carry the 2.5x8 and have used it stateside, but it's never been on the rifle in Africa.

If you are happy with the scope, I'd get an identical one as a backup.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
On my .416, I've always had a 1.5x5 Leupold as my primary, with your favorite 2.5x8 as a backup. Both with QD mounts and both sighted in. The thought at first was always to change scopes after the buffalo were down, but that never happened. I still carry the 2.5x8 and have used it stateside, but it's never been on the rifle in Africa.

If you are happy with the scope, I'd get an identical one as a backup.

I've only got the one 1.5-5x Leupold in Talley QRs on my 500 Jeffery. Before I go to Africa, I plan to buy another one, put it in Talley QRs and have it sighted in as a spare, much like Lavaca. Then again I always have the iron sights which I practice with, but I'd have to get closer which isn't a bad thing...

It would almost seem that Leupold designed the 2.5x8 expressly for the 375. I tried out the 1.75x6 on my last trip and it did fine, but I later replaced it with the 2.5x8 and just like it better. Plenty of eye relief . I have more than a few of the German scopes, but I generally prefer the Leupold over them. Hard to beat their warranty also.