Just looking for some opinions on which scope set-up would be best for Leopard in the near dark/dark?
First, Leupold illuminated ret or the Burris 1.5 x 40 3p#4 edot illuminated ret? About $200.00 difference in price in favor of Burris. Second, in the Leupold line of Illuminated scopes 1.5 x 5 x 20 or the 3.5 x 10 x 50? Thanks to all that choose to comment.

Larry Sellers

Look at the new Leupold prismatic scope. See what you think. Packy

I have found that Burris and Leupole both can handle recoil of the big bores and both have clear sighting.

Forgot to mention it's going on a 9.3 x 62. I think you are right about both brands being able to handle the recoil jro45. Mostly interested in the light transfer and lighted reticles that would work best from these two offerings.

Larry Sellers

I own several of both. I haven't heard any thing bad about Leupolds cusomer service.

But I had a bad one with Burris. 6 or more trips back to burris they finaley replaced it.

I hear nothing but good about Leupold.

I'll second that Leupold's customer service is very good. Of the dozen or so Leupold scopes I own, only one has ever gone in for repair.
I like Burris too, but the money saved can be found in the added weight they carry.

Thanks guys, but tell me about the illuminated reticles from each of these makers. As mentioned it's for Leopard, looking for help in choosing the right reticle, objective lense and such.

Larry Sellers

quote:

Originally posted by buckshot:
I'll second that Leupold's customer service is very good. Of the dozen or so Leupold scopes I own, only one has ever gone in for repair.
I like Burris too, but the money saved can be found in the added weight they carry.

Larry

I have a Leupold 1.75-6x with a Premier Reticles no.4 reticle on my .416 Rigby and a Nikon Gold 1.5-6x on my 9.3x62 with a similar reticle. Go with this rather than a duplex, easier to see in the dark and fine enough for shooting coyotes at 300 yards or so if you want to practice a bit with the big bores.

email Leupold and ask them.....that's what I'd do!

you will probably find leupold s circle dot reticle will serve you well when they light up the leopard.

no clutter, just a center dot within a circle - both illuminated.

put the dot where it belongs and BANG !

YOU WILL NEVER REGRET BUYING THE LEUPOLD.

FOR BEST PRICING CHECK OUT ALLEN GLORE IN THE CLASSIFIEDS FORUM HERE. HE BEAT EVERYBODIES PRICES - AND DELIVERIES

tomo - which Leupold model has the circle dot you are talking about? Is it the 1.5 X 5 x 20 or the 3.5 x 10 x 50?

Larry Sellers

quote:

Originally posted by tomo577:
you will probably find leupold s circle dot reticle will serve you well when they light up the leopard.

no clutter, just a center dot within a circle - both illuminated.

put the dot where it belongs and BANG !

YOU WILL NEVER REGRET BUYING THE LEUPOLD.

FOR BEST PRICING CHECK OUT ALLEN GLORE IN THE CLASSIFIEDS FORUM HERE. HE BEAT EVERYBODIES PRICES - AND DELIVERIES

move this to the "Optics" section. Does not belong in the Medium Bore

Barstooler

Barstooler - We are talking best scope setup for a 9.3 x 62 (a medium bore last I checked) for a Leopard Safari. If you have a problem just don't read or post!! If you have a helpful idea please feel free to expound.

Larry Sellers

quote:

Originally posted by Barstooler:
move this to the "Optics" section. Does not belong in the Medium Bore

Barstooler

Beyond a single or few shots at a leopard what else are you going to do with this scope?
It seems a shame to opt for an oddball reticle for only a few shots at one animal.
I would get the most all around useful reticle and use it.

I find it odd that folks bring up customer service when it comes to scopes. The fact that you have to deal with customer service would lead me to belive that there is a problem. When it comes to scopes I dont want to deal with customer service it should just work...go with a zeiss or swarovski and you customer service is a non issue

Hey Larry, I've been interested in Illuminated Scopes ever since they first became available many years ago by Leupold(18-20?). Where I primarily hunt the legal hunting hours begin 1-hour prior to official sunrise through 1-hour after official sunset. There are from 12-20min of Prime Time on each end of the day where a whole lot of Killing gets done, if you can see where to properly place the Bullet. So far I've managed with the non-illuminated HEAVY Duplex Reticles, but have had to pass on some shots I really wanted to take.

So, I've not actually Hunted with an Illuminated Reticle yet, but I'm in the process of buying a few to try out and see how well they actually work for myself.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
Just looking for some opinions on which scope set-up would be best for Leopard in the near dark/dark? First, Leupold illuminated ret or the Burris 1.5 x 40 3p#4 edot illuminated ret? About $200.00 difference in price in favor of Burris. Second, in the Leupold line of Illuminated scopes 1.5 x 5 x 20 or the 3.5 x 10 x 50? ...

Between the three you listed, the LARGE Objective always gathers more light which allows you to see better in the "near darkness". That would place them in this order:
1. Leupold 3.5-10x 50mm
2. Burris 1.5x 40mm
3. Leupold 1.5-5x 20mm

The Burris has a couple of things that concern me(which may not be a real issue at all). First off the Electro Dot only has "Three Positions" - Off, Low, High. Low might be too Low and High might cause Light Blindness, like a camera flash. Second the Electro Dot might allow "Canting of the Rifle" without a person knowing it. At the close distance it will typically be used, this may not be an issue at all.

Leupold has an 11-position Switch(I believe) with Off and 10 levels of Intensity. Obviously you could start at the Lowest level and work up until it is lighted just enough to be visible. It is also shaped like a (- + -) Plus Sign which would let you know if any Rifle Cant is going on. Cost is quite high.

So, between the ones you listed, the Illuminated 3.5-10x 50mm Leupold would be my choice.
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1. What kind of Rifle will you be using?
2. Will you be taking two Rifles?
3. Have you considered using two different Scopes on the Rifle you intend to Hunt Leopard with, both pre-mounted in the Rings?
4. What Game besides Leopard will you be going after?
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When I gather up a bunch of them to Test, there will be no Leupolds or Burris Scopes in the group. There is a large number of Scopes available with Illuminated Reticles that interest me. Some are more expensive than the Leupolds, but I'll pass on them. And some have the reputation of "breaking before they get out of the Store" , so I'll pass on them too.

I've been to a good number of Gun Shops in the past 3-6 months asking about Scope Returns and Illuminated Scopes in general. Which Scopes get sold that have the Lowest Return Rate? I had some very interesting responses, many of which surprised me.

Best of luck to you on the Leopard Hunt.

Larry Sellers, I have a 4X16 Burris Bplex scope on my 300 RUM and have shot to 600 yds and with one shot I hit the bulls eye. So that Burris scope has to be clear to do that.

Hot core - Thanks for the straight foreward and comprehensive comments. I have not decided whether to take two rifles or one rifle with two scopes. If I take one rifle it will be the CZ550 Full Stock in 9.3 X 62. I have a Leupold 1.75 X 6 with heavy duplex and a Zeiss Conquest 3 X 9 X 40 in detach mounts that fit the "62". A second rifle would be a 300 WSM topped now with a Zeiss 4.5 X 14 or a .270 WSM with a Zeiss Davari 3 x 9. Just don't know if it's worth the extra effort and dollars to pop for an illuminated scope just for the Leopard? I'll be hunting Mtn. Zebra, Gemsbok, Kudu and some of the smaller species as well.

Larry Sellers

Larry,

I switched from a Leupold 1.5 X 5 to a Kahles 1.5 X 6 42 MM with iluminated duplex for leopard. It is brighter than the smaller Leupold. I know this does not answer your question but I would want a bigger objective than the 20MM on the Leupold.

BigB

Hey Larry, It looks like you have all kinds of options available as far as "Day Time" Rifle/Scope combinations. That certainly helps take the decision Stress level down a few notches.

I can't recommend what to take to Africa because I've never been there. Also can't recommend which Rifle would be the best to use, because I've never killed a Leopard or any of the other Game you will be Hunting.

The reason I'd asked what you were taking was to see where you were in the thought process and what you were "planning" to take. And you certainly have the options available.
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First off, the guys on the African Board might be able to head you in the right direction on which Rifle(or Rifles) to take. And which of those Scopes would fit the terrain conditions the best(how long the shots will be). Just depends on who responds and how many arguments ensue.

Once you get that sorted out, is when it would make sense to me to decide on "how many" Scopes to take.

Since I've not completed the Testing of the Illuminated Scopes, I'm reluctant to recommend any of the ones I'll be working with based on what a "seller" in a Gun Shop told me. Plus the Sample Size will be very small - one of each brand.

I'll send you a PM.

Larry,
I have to agree tomo577 on the circle dot reticle. While I have not used one in the Leupold, I have used it in the Nightforce 2.5x10. I believe they are the same. I have only taken coyote and fox using this reticle. I can tell you that for me, the time from target aquisition to shot fired seemed much faster than with any of the other riticles I've used in the past. The eye seems to be drawn to the center of the field of view, and the circle wants to frame the vitals without much concious effort. Hopes this helps with the reticle issue. Don't rule out the Nightforce though. Yes they are more expensive, but worth every cent.
Good Luck,
Lance