Hi all.I leave for Africa in 2 weeks on my third try for a southern buffalo. Using a .458 Lott. My scope just quit and I need to buy a new one in a hurry. 1-5 or 1-6 power, 30mm tube. Must hold up to heavy recoil. My Leupold 1-6x Vari-X 6 won't hold up. Any ideas? Need to buy on Monday and have shipped overnight. Many thanks - mj

Give Doug a call at Cameralandny. He'll fix you up. Phone # 516-217-1000

My Swarovski v6i 1-6 ee has held up for years and a buffalo cull hunt with several hundred practice rounds. Discontinued but maybe the 1-8 works as good. In Alaska arms mounts. Recommended

Cz 550 custom 458 Lott

quote:

Originally posted by Bohonkie:
Hi all.I leave for Africa in 2 weeks on my third try for a southern buffalo. Using a .458 Lott. My scope just quit and I need to buy a new one in a hurry. 1-5 or 1-6 power, 30mm tube. Must hold up to heavy recoil. My Leupold 1-6x Vari-X 6 won't hold up. Any ideas? Need to buy on Monday and have shipped overnight. Many thanks - mj

Forget the scope and tell your DG PH to put you within 50 yards of your prey. A buff makes a big target at that range.

Being close makes the shooting much easier and the hunt more interesting.

I am just curious why it has taken 3 tries to get a buffalo.....

I'm wondering what kind of heavy rifle it is. My Leupold 1.5-5x has held up to close to 500 full power rounds out of my 500 Jeffery. I've heard of issues with Leupolds before, must just be lucky (no sarcasm here)

My Kimber Caprivi .458 Lott wears the same Leupold VX6 1-6x scope that Bohonkie is fighting. I'm at well over 200 rounds fired and two buffalo with nary a problem. But a sample size of one. I do appreciate the long eye relief, but I've still nailed my eyebrow a couple times.

Mine came apart after about 200-300 rounds and a couple of buff...while on a hunt in Africa. Leupold did replace...couldn’t put it back on.

I have had good luck with the Swarovski Z6 series as well.

That being said, anything man made can come apart. Murphy's law says it will on a hunt...

I'd get 2 scopes (with rings) (or bring 2 buffalo capable rifles) with QD mounts and have the scopes both zeroed.

Ditto on my z6i. Many, many rounds of 416 Rigby with no issues. The extended eye relief model is the one you need for a heavy hitter.

quote:

Originally posted by crshelton:
Forget the scope and tell your DG PH to put you within 50 yards of your prey. A buff makes a big target at that range.

Being close makes the shooting much easier and the hunt more interesting.

This.

The highest caliber I scope is 375. Beyond that, it's open sights or peep sights for me.

Having said that, I do take a scoped medium rifle with my 40+ calibers, and someone is carrying it for me, either my wife, a friend, or a tracker. I love having a 40+ open sighted rifle and a scoped medium when I hunt Buffalo, and the versatility it offers.

For example, the last three Buffalo I have taken with Andrew in Zambia, have been two with my open sighted 404 Jeffery, and the last one, with my scoped 375 H&H. The first two were close, and the last one around 100 yards. Handed off the 404 to my friend and exchanged for my 375. Great two rifle battery solution for any distances encountered.

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
I am just curious why it has taken 3 tries to get a buffalo.....

Interesting question.

We have never failed to shoot all buffalo on our quota on any safari!??

Scope issues....?

quote:

Originally posted by crshelton:
Forget the scope and tell your DG PH to put you within 50 yards of your prey. A buff makes a big target at that range.

Being close makes the shooting much easier and the hunt more interesting.

I second that. Try stalking ahead of them, let them feed towards you, to much closer than 50 yards. It's exciting, quite safe, and memorable.

Also curious why you waited until 2 weeks before leaving to replace your scope.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
I am just curious why it has taken 3 tries to get a buffalo.....

Interesting question.

We have never failed to shoot all buffalo on our quota on any safari!??

I was wonder the same thing.

Like others have said said, Swaro is a really good choice and the clarity in low light is unmatched. I use a Z6 on my 460 weatherby with out a break as well as a 458 lott ect.

Thanks much - I'll check it out.

After reading all of these I am going to check out the Swarovsky Z6 and the Trijicon. I don't know if Doug at cameraland can help but I'll give him a call in the morning. Whatever I do I need to have it overnighted. I'll let all you fine people know what I wind up with - I sure do appreciate all the responses!
Oh, and as for anwering why it take three tries to shoot a buffalo, I'll write about that later when I do my trip report (I'm very confident that this trip will be the on I actually SEE a buffalo).
Thanks again,
mj

Scope was working fine for 4 years but quit two days ago.

I might wind up doing just that! If I do get a scope, I'll probably keep it on 1X anyway. Thanks much,
mj

quote:

Originally posted by Bohonkie:
Scope was working fine for 4 years but quit two days ago.

Exactly how mine went.

Yeah... Firing 5 shots from the bench at 100 yards had the first shot dead center bullseye with the next going 4-5" lower, then next another 4-5" lower, and so on all the way down the target. The final two were pretty much in the same hole. I first checked all the hardware and rifle and all was solid, as usual. I then put on a columnator and, while watching through the scope on 6X, I rotated the elevation turret. Several times the crosshairs would "leap" or "skip" across the grid. A couple of time the cross ahirs kept moving after I quit rotating the turret (I wasn't even touching it). In all fairness, I have fired this scope on my .458 Lott for approximately 2,000 rounds over a span of 4 years. Either this scope was not meant for such punishment or it has a manufacturer's defect. In either case, I'm not confident with it. I have a Swarovsky 4-12x on one of my other rifles but had to send that back to the factory for repair after only about 20 rounds. Still, a good scope. I have a Trijicon red dot on my bullseye pistol and it seems to be an extremely well built optic. I'm going to check into both. Thanks so much for helping - mj

Mike,

In Unit 1 you won't want to leave your scope on 1X as it is quite open. Check your PM's.

Mark

I looked up the Trijicon and the Swarovski (they still make the 1-6X but they call it a generation 2). As suspected the Swarovsky is a couple of thousand dollars whereas the Trijicon is 1300 - 1400. The Trijicon has a tiny bit more eye relief. I wonder which one is the most dependable? The decision is mine and I'm ordering in the morning but... any thoughts? Thx, mj

They don’t make the extended eye relief any more for some reason. Best big bore scope out there. From my experience with trijicon warranty no good. Swarovski the best. Big factor for me when paying big bucks. Glass way better on Swarovski as well

My personal
Experience

Gen 2 great. Auto shutoff. Better ergo. Good stuff

I'd choose a Night-force 1-8x24mm compact if I just had to have a variable. My 1st choice would be and older Leupold 3x Fixed power. I says this as I've built and then shot many, many Lotts. They can crush a scope right out of the box due to the execrated speed in the recoil moment. Been there done that many, many times. I had one 3x Leupold that sat above a couple thousand test or load development rounds on multiple rifles that never hick-upped. Nor have any of the other 3X's on Lotts when I have recommend a scope for this cartridge.

I have returned more that a few when tied to a Lott. Zeiss, Swarovski, Leica and Leupold variables in my humble opinion just cant handle the long term abuse.

keep it simple with minimal moving internal parts

I use Weaver Super Slam 1-6. 4+" eye relief.
Perfect for cape buffalo. Very tough scope.

Also Nikon P3 Muzzle loader line. 5" eye relief.
Low priced and a bit ugly. Very tough scope.

Anybody ever broke a Trijicon or a Nikon Monarch African 1-4x20 (not 30mm...the reason I didn’t recommend it...and now discontinued) on a big bore?

Curious no one mentioned this item. Leupold is the most counterfeited scope in the world (China). you can call Leupold and give them the serial number if you are suspect. They are of course junk. The others highly counterfeited are the Trijicon ACOG. Also, as said earlier your scope will be repaired free of charge if original.

Doug is selling a Burris 4X 1.5x6x42 illuminated reticle, 30mm tube scope that was built for the European market, that would be perfect.
I just bought one to put on a .458 WM, but haven’t shot it.

Thanks, everyone, for the inputs. I will check out the Night Force, Weaver, and Burris as well. One thing that bothers me when I go to the various web site is the description of these scopes. None - NONE - say they are for heavy recoiling rifles. Burris calls them "Dangerous Game" scopes but their description of how good they are is limited to AR-15 type rifles. Descriptions are the same with most other brands. I suspect the reason is there is a lot bigger market for people shooting ARs than those who are shooting at buffalo in Africa.
As for counterfeit Leupolds, this is indeed a Leupold, bought directly from Leupold (I sell them at my job at Sportsman's Warehouse).
At this point, my decision will be greatly influenced by availability and mounting (direct replacement for my Leupold). Take care... mj

Bohonkie, you are not the first and won't be the last buff hunter to strike out on his first two tries for buff so hang in there you will get it done. Best of luck.

I appreciate all the good information. Lots of help here. Thanks, also, for the encouragement for my upcoming hunt! I just ordered a Swarovsky 1-6x Z6i. If you're interested in what made my decision, besides durability and 30mm tube for direct replacement, it was availability, shipping time, eye relief, and reticle. This was the sole scope that made all categories (at this time). Price was secondary but I was lucky in that the only place that had this scope available and who could ship to recieve in 2 days, also offered fre shipping and no tax. I guess I have to admit I was lucky this didn't happen while dealing with a buffalo...
Many thanks to all!
mj

Since I have 4 you won’t be disappointed I can tell you that. Warranty is top notch as well.

Why there are no more dedicated big bore scopes on the market I have no idea.

Bohonkie,
You picked the best scope in the world. Good choice!

I always assume that everyone is on a budget like me and I suggest low priced scopes.

I have used those high end Swarovsky scope in Africa ( borrowed rifles). The Clarity in all conditions is outstanding.

Great choice! Good luck on your hunt!

Good luck with the Buffalo!