Hey guys!
I'm considering to buy a Leupold XIII 4,5-14x50 AO, (German No.4) for my 338 RUM.
I belive the long eye-relief, and the experience of Leupold's ridgidity on other models I have, that this must be a good idea on this rifle.
I cant afford these expensive German's.
Does anybody think this is a bad idea? (Good, or bad!)

(I'm considering to buy it directly from US. I see these scopes costs approx. the half of what it costs here in Norway. Here's the price on this model approx. 1300 - 1400$!! And a Zeiss, or Swarowski 1800 - 2150$!!)

I have two 4.5x14 Leupolds. Both are Vari X III's with the 40mm objective lens. Excellent scopes which see quite a bit of hard use. One is on a 7mm Rem mag Sendero, the other on a .308 Varmint Special. The one on the .308 developed a problem with the windage adjustment a few years ago. Sent it back to the factory and it was fixed and back in my hands a week later, for free. That is the only trouble I've had with a Leupold since I got my first one 28 years ago. I think they're great scopes if your hunting ranges tend to be long. Regards, Guy

I've never shot a 338 ultra so I can only guess about the recoil, I'm thinkin' it's gonna be rather stiff. With this in mind, that scope wouldn't be too close to the top of my list for a couple reasons.

#1, While the XIII 4.5-14 is a great scope and I do own one, my only complaint is the fairly good size change in eye relief from low to high power. Seems like the catalog says the difference is 1.25". I could see this as a bit of a problem if you've got to hurry a shot while up on 14x. Blood flows quite freely from the bridge of ones nose.

#2, IMO, a 50mm objective scope is a bit hard to get a good cheek weld to the stock. Again, I could see this a bit of a problem on a better than average kickin' rifle. A 40mm objective scope would be my choice.

#3, A 50mm scope will cost you $50-$75 more?

Okay, three reasons.

FWIW, my XIII 4.5-14 sits upon an easy kickin' 7STW that regularly kills coyotes a ways out beyond 600 yards. Again, it's a great scope that offers a full range of magnifications to suit just about any hunting situation. Never had a lick of trouble with the eight or ten Leupolds I've owned.

[ 01-02-2003, 06:12: Message edited by: muleshoe ]

wooops

[ 01-02-2003, 06:13: Message edited by: muleshoe ]

I had the 4.5-14x50 AO on my A-bolt in .300 Winmag and blew the scope up on the 21st round while sigthing in in June, 2000. I sent the scope back to Leupold and they warranteed it, with the service ticket stating " failure of cam followers " ...
I reinstalled the scope, took it to the range in July and it BLEW UP AGAIN ON THE 7th SHOT...! I sent it in again, asking for Leupold to replace the scope with a new one of the same model... I verified this when they sent it back with a new serial number. Before I installed it, I called Leupold Tech support and asked them for the service records of that serial scopes serial number, and the Tech told me " it had been in for failure of the cam followers" and had been reconditioned... I sent it back to Riflescopes.com and traded it in for a Swarovski... I've since removed all 5 of my other Leupold scopes and will never buy another...
Hope you have better luck than I did...

I used one on a custom 700 Sendaro that I had done in 416 Rem Mag.

Great scope.

Do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd be interested to see a scope that "blew up". Seems like it'd be kinda hard on the eyes.

So what was wrong with the other 5 Leupolds you removed? Skeered they were gonna blow up too?

I'm with you Mule! Sounds like a stretch to me.

I own quite a few Leupold scopes and have yet to experience a problem. They range from a 4x EER on a .44 Mag Super Redhawk on up to a 6.5-20x40 EFR Target scope on a .300 Win Mag. I own the exact scope you are referring to and it sits atop a .300 RUM. Granted, its not a .338, yet I have shot over 1,000 rounds through this rifle at targets way out there. I have yet to see any problems.

I should also point out that I have a 4.5-14x40 Tactical on my 6mm Rem and absolutely love it!

I wouldn't be too worried about the scope's eye relief. If the rifle fits you well, it shouldn't be a problem. And, as for the 50mm objective, given the hunting light you will be shooting in, I would definitely choose it. There again, a rifle that fits you well will compensate quite nicely. Especially if you are using a rifle made in Europe with a European style of stock.

Good Luck!

BTW -- Are the prices you quoted in $US?

I was going to buy a Swarvoski one time, but when I looked at the price tag (what a joke), I realized I could buy a great gun (which I did. Thank you Winchester) and a good scope (which I did. Thank you Leupold) for the same price! Cha-ching! Most accurate gun I got now.

If anyone wants to can their Leupold's, or sell them for a reasonable price, they got a new home!

I would say get the scope.

This is'nt easy.
I'm draged between three options here:
XIII 4,5-14x40 AO.
XIII 4,5-14x50 AO.
XII 4-12x40 AO.
All matte finish, with German NO.4 rectikel.

Yes, I'd like to have as much light as I can get in the evenings, and mornings. But the most critical issue is the ridgidity. I need something that can handle some quite stiff recoil. The rifle is not a lightweighter, It's a Winchester. pre'64, mod 70, SS, with a fluted Shilen barrel on it on 26". A straight classic laminate stock, and the whole rig weights approx. 4,5 kg.

460 WBY -- I shoot two .358 STA's with Leupold Vari X III 4.5 X 14 X 50 with A0. I have shot hundreds of rounds through each rifle, using bullets from 225 grains to 310 grains. Consider a 270 grain bullet at 3000 fps, which is a load I shoot a lot, and the recoil produced. I have never had a problem with either scope. I would say to you, stick with the Vari X III scope. Good shooting.

460 WBY,
I don't think it's a bad idea, I'ved used several Leupold scopes in the past and have been satisfied with them. I just installed a Vari-X III 4.5-14x40 on a Weatherby Accu-Mark 30-378 in Burris DD Signature rings. The only gripe I have is that the eye relief is pretty short above 11x. I've not had a problem, but I've only fired it one time at 14x without the brake installed.
I feel that a 40mm is the better choice for a rifle with a lot of recoil.
Jr.

460Wby,
I don't quite know if I'm on the same brain wave as you, but if you are concerned about eye relief due to recoil, I may understand. I'm a small framed man weighing about 160 lbs and heavy recoil moves me, or should I say the rifle moves into me, and then moves me rearward. Having a scope W/poor eye relief under 3.5 inches mounted on anything bigger than a 7mm Rem Mag causes me to have a concern of eye brow to scope contact.

Leupold has a very good eye relief which has me buying them hands down. I just bought a VX II 6x18x40 for my new 300Wby Vanguard Dlx. I have another Leupold VXI 4x12x40 mounted on my Ruger MK77 in 300 Win mag and love it too!

By shooting the 300 Wby, I can imagine the 338RUM is going to move someone alot. If you are concerned about keeping your brow away from the scope for recoil concerns, then Leupold's are the answer.

Further info, in doing math I have found the variable VX I, and II models to have greater eye relief on the greater powered models than the lower powered models on certain settings IE: the 4x12x40 has greater eye relief at 9x than the 3x9x40 has on 9x etc..

By the Leupold,
Dennis

As a rule, you want to stay away from big scopes in the hard kickers. Regardless as to who makes them, they don't hold up nearly as well as the smaller models.
I have a cyber buddy that had one fail in about 300 rds. on the same rifle. The recoil from the big rounds just breaks them down. Even a 40 mm scope would last significant longer from what I understand.
The other thing is any AO or parallax/focus feature is going to cut down on light transmition through the scope. Simply because it has more lenses.
Since you have decided on the german #4 reticle the smaller 3.5-10X40, the 2.5-8X36 or the 6X42 should work fine. I have a 6X42 with the 4a reticle that will work on all but the darkest, cloudy nights in a heavy forrest. E

I don't have direct experience with the 338 Ultra Mag but I have a 4.5x14 40mm Leupold in Talley mounts on a .338 Win Mag and it has performed flawlessly. I have shot this rig quite a bit so I would say the Leupold is as likely to hold up as any scope you can find.

I ain't saying Leupolds are fool proof but I don't hear stories of them blowing up very often and have to say I am sketpical when I do. My experiences with Leupolds have been very good. My uncle has a 3-9 Vari-X II on his .30/06. It was when comparing this scope to my Tasco that I realized the importance of good optics. The Leupold had been sitting in a corner for several months and had a significant coating of dust but was still clearer and brighter than my Tasco! My uncle has had this scope on his rifle for several decades. Once he tripped and slid down a rock slide. They replaced the scope for free, no questions asked. Leupold's awesome reputation is what convinced my to put a Vari-X III 4.5-14x40AO on my 7mm Rem Mag this summer, choosing it over the Burris and the more expensive Zeiss Conquest. I have only put a hundred or so rounds through it so I can't really speak to how rugged it is, but I am extremely impressed with the brightness and clarity of the scope.
I would fully recommend a Leupold for your .338 RUM, although unless you except to be shooting long distances, I would suggest a 2.5-8 or 3.5-10, either with a 40 mm objective. In any case, you should invest on finding one in the states. I paid $510 in Cabelas for mine in gloss and the matte finish was only $530. Good luck and good shootin.

I subscribe on RIFLE, and Handloader, and see a lot of abverticing from "Bruno Shooting Supply" and "Bearbasin Outfitters".
Looks like they have some very good prices.
Anybody having experiences dealing with them, are they nice to do buisiness with???

(I have to ask you Americans, so I dont step in the biggest "holes" !!)

Any other tip on low prices would be nice.

460wby,
I purchased my Leupold 4.5-14x40AO matte scope from D & R Sports. I paid $442.00 plus $9.00 shipping. They also had the best price I could find on the rings and bases.
www.dnrsports.com/
Jr.

460WBY: I think using a 4.5-14 x 50mm (of any make) is a poor choice on your .338 RUM for a number of reasons.

As a previous poster mentioned, the 50mm objective will have to be mounted so high that it will be impossible to properly place your cheek against the stock, making sight picture acquisition slow and difficult to hold. Also, with your head bobbing around in the air, you are much more likely to recieve a scope in the eyebrow than with your cheek firmly planted on the comb.

The heavy scope will stress the mounting system, especially with the extra tall rings, much more than a lighter scope.

The eye relief and, more importantly, eye alignment, is more critical with this power of scope, making it less suited to game hunting situations (but not a factor for the bench or varmint shooting it was designed for).

The adjustable objective, although usually reliable, is just another place for dirt or moisture to enter the scope, and for game hunting is sure to be set at the wrong distance when the game actually appears.

And finally, what kind of animal is it that you would wish to shoot with a .338 RUM that is so small that it can't be redily seen with only 9X or 10X magnification? On the other hand, a moose tight in the alders or an elk running through black timber might be much more easily picked up in the sight picture with a 3x on the low end rather than a 4.5X.

Twice, I have tried a 4.5-14 or a 4-12 on a "long range" hunting rifle and both times I have pulled it off and replaced it with a 3-9 or 3.5-10. Save that big variable for little targets and use a practical, dependable, compact, mid-power scope for hunting big game.

From my experince (gone thru 3 tubes on my 340 and am on my 4th this time a 375 Wby), I'd say if you want to use a 4-14 Leo then by all means have at it.

I've used em enough to know that they are tough enough! I also don't by into any of the eye relief stuff. If you use it and shot it as you should yoiu'll have no problems with the eye relief!

I happen to like the higher end variables as well. I use the 3-10 the 4-14 and the 6-20's all the time. It is my opinion that they are not for everyone. But I am also of the opinion that they are some kind of great optics for the serious hunter that shoots at range.

Just my ever so humble thoughts about said subject.

"GET TO THE HILL"

Dog

Thank you guys! And specially you, Stonecreek!
That was a very good answer, from a man who obviously know what he's talking about.
(NOT that you others dont!!)

You wander:
What I intend to shoot with that 338 RUM, that is so small so it cant be seen in a 9x, or 10x scope?

My answer to just that:
I'm looking for a scope that I also can shoot tight groups at the range, at 100, 200, and maybe 300 meters with, besides using it for hunting.

Great scope, I have one also have a 338 RUM and love it. I have a 5.5 X 16 X 40 or 44 Nikon on my 338 RUM, that way I can stay with medium rings. With the 50MM objective you will no doubt have to go to high rings, thus keeping your chin/ jaw higher and may feel the recoil a bit more! Good Hunting, "Z"