When hunting in Africa do you take a backup scope? For example, if you have Talley or some other removable scope mounts, would you take a second scope pre-sighted in as a replacement/backup?

I am going on my first safari in May. I am taking a CZ550 375 with two sets of Talley rings and two scopes. I am hunting Buffalo and plains game. I have one scope sighted in with 300 gr A frames and Solids, and the other with 270 gr Failsafes. If one scope malfunctions, I can sight it in with another load in just a few clicks. Everyone I mentioned this to thought it was a good idea. Time will tell. Good luck, and good hunting.

MHC_TX,

I have not been to Africa yet but, when I do I will certainly bring a spare scope.

Regards,
Dave

I'm taking a backup rifle, so no.

All my rifles have iron sights for backup, and I always take two rifles....If I were I to take one rifle then I would take a back up scope sighted in with the same load as my primary scope, and again have iron sights to fall back on..I would recommend only one bullet weight be taken...mixing loads and bullet weights is a failure looking for a place to happen....

I don't. I've hunted all over the world and Africa more than once and never do. Right or wrong, my thoughts are that if I have a good quality scope, I shouldn't have any problems. I suppose it could bite me someday, but I doubt I'll change. Often, there is a buddy with me and if worse came to worse, we could share. If I'm alone, as I always am in Africa, I'm sure I could arrange a loaner.

I always take a spare scope. As I always take 2 rifles I usually don't have it in rings . It's no problem to change. I had a scope failure 2 straight years. Not the same scope but on the same 375.

I had my first scope failure in 30+ years this past year in Tanzania. The 1.5x6 Pro Hunter came loose inside. It was on my 375 H&H. The problem is I had a second scope with me sighted in as a backup for my 416. I missed 3-4 shots with my 375 that should not have been missed, took the rifle to the range and shot six rounds while I tried to fix the scope on the 375, then it took about 15 rounds of ammo to get the new scope sighted in on the 375. Never took that many rounds before but it did this time. For those that take minimum amounts of ammo this could use up a lot of it.
Lesson learned; always take another scope that will fit the two hunting rifles, and take as much ammo as you can - you never know when things may go wrong.

I always take one and have never needed it.

My rifles for Africa all have Talley Q.D.s, and I always take a spare scope in the rings.

If I take two rifle, then no. This year I am only taking my .404. It has good irons but I am taking a backup scope, presighted in Leup. QRW rings.

I apparently had a scope failure today. It took me by surprise. After taking me about a box of shells and retightening all the screws I figured that the scope had a problem. Hopefully, in africa, I'd figure out the problem quicker.

The gun is normally very accurate and in its setup was going to be my 16 year old's when we go to Namibia. I had planned on bringing a back up, but now it may be a back up and a backup to a back up.

Has anyone had experience with Zeiss customer service?

I echo Mr. Atkinson. I take a backup rifle in the States and a backup scope in Africa. Plus an extra set of mounts. Plus the tools needed to change either. Haven't needed them, but won't go without. Really cheap insurance.

Ive always taken one but never needed it. Now I have a 3.5x10 and a 1.5x5 Both sighted in for my 375.

I took a backup scope on my first trip to Africa, because somebody said it was the thing to do. I don't do it anymore. The problem is that you only have a limited amount of space and weight restrictions. Worse case would be to break the scope, in that case, there is usually a spare rifle available, and most people take more than one rifle anyway. I think the problem on the first safari is trying to take EVERYTHING you might need. Most camps can take care of problems of things forgotten and left behind. I try to live by the old rule of when traveling, take half the amount of things you think you will need and twice the amount of money you think you will need!

I take a second rifle instead of a second scope. It is far simpler, and for the super prepared, covers a wider range of possibilities. (The scope isn't the only thing that can go wrong with a rifle.)

Bill

I always take a spare scope in mounts. It also comes with a spare barrel,reciever, trigger and stock. As said above, the scope is not the only thing that can go wrong. Good hunting. "D"

I second Ray. When taking one rifle only ( like this years lion/buff hunt) I will take my 416 with a spare scope in QD mounts and I also have aperture sights on the rifle..

Ray got it right....again!

Rich Elliott

I always try to take 2 rifles. If I only take one rifle, I will take an additional scope. I'm going to have to shoot it to see if it's on or not, so I don't care if it's in rings ready to mount.

I've only had one scope fail on a hunt and it was destroyed in the scabbard on a pack-in. I had irons on it, but ended up losing the rear sight in the scabbard as well. I did get my elk with no sights.

My wife had a Leupold Vari-III fail in Africa, and a Nikon in the USA. Others hunters with me have had Weavers, Simmons, B&L, Swarovski's, etc. fail. My brother-in-law had his front sight break off. One guy had his scope mounts screws shear off in the scabbard. Anhother guy had the horse drag his pretty wooden stock under a tree, breaking it at the wrist.