I am considering mounting a Swarovski 1.25-4x scope on my 404 Jeffery. The rifle is on a mauser action and will use EAW Quick Detach rings.

Before I drop the $ on the Swarovski, I wanted to know what experiences people have had with this scope. Also, how does it compare to the Schmidt & Bender scope of the same power?

They are basically the same price and here are some of the specs for each:

Swarovski
12.7 ounces
3.15" eye relief

S&B
15.9 ounces
3.7" eye relief


I like the weight of the Swarovski, but I like the extra eye relief of the S&B.

Any thoughts and/or experience regarding these socpes?

Thanks.

Tim

Keep in mind that weighty scopes are hard to hold in mounts on high recoiling rifles as they tend to slip forward...Also the finish on some of those European scopes makes them hard to hold, and EAW mounts have been a problem for many folks on the heavier recoiling rifles, and installation is critical with them on the lesser recoiling rifles....

quote:

Originally posted by Shumba:
I am considering mounting a Swarovski 1.25-4x scope on my 404 Jeffery. The rifle is on a mauser action and will use EAW Quick Detach rings.

Before I drop the $ on the Swarovski, I wanted to know what experiences people have had with this scope. Also, how does it compare to the Schmidt & Bender scope of the same power?

They are basically the same price and here are some of the specs for each:

Swarovski
12.7 ounces
3.15" eye relief

S&B
15.9 ounces
3.7" eye relief


I like the weight of the Swarovski, but I like the extra eye relief of the S&B.

Any thoughts and/or experience regarding these socpes?

Thanks.

Tim

Swarovski... it's lighter.

As for mounting, I'd definitely get either one with a rail mount, and Swarov's new "locking rail" should be the stoutest of them all.

Swarov get's my vote. I've got a 1.5x4 30mm on my 375 and love it.

I have run into problems with a leica and a S&B with not having enough clicks to get you on target. This is on a mod 70 and not a mauser mind you. I understand that Swarovski is similar. On this rifle the smith I am using says to go with Leupold all the way. The S&B and SWaro only give you about 2/3rds the number of clicks and still want you to only use about half of those or else it will screw up. After investing what to me is a big pile of money I am going back to Leupold. You might save yourself a pile before you spend it. It is your money however. I do not own stock in Leupold either. Good hunting. D

I agree D. Hunter, I tried them and went back to Leupold...

Try the Meopta Artemis 3100 1.25X4 (30mm) illuminated reticle.

About $600.

Optics are as good as the Swarovski.

Try a 4mm wide by 10mm long piece of rubber electricians tape on the inside of the bottom half of the ring (it's rubber, and will ooze almost like a liquid as you tighten the rings down). It will NOT scar or dent the scope.

Garrett

Having used all of the different scopes throughout the years, I like S&B.
I have a Zeiss that has been around the block more than a few times and is a great scope as well. Neither has given me any problems but I lean toward the S&B as it has the best light gathering of all. I am not a fan of EAB rings or mounts but try sprinkling a little rosin inside the rings and wipe it around the entire id of the rings. This will stop any movement.

I have three of the Swarovski 1.25-4x24mms: one on a .416 Rigby, another on a .416 Rem. and the third on a .458 Lott.

Obviously, I like them. They are lightweight and very robust. With the Battue (or, as it is also called, the No. 24) reticle, this model of Swaro is the perfect DG scope.

I also own a Schmidt & Bender 1.25-4x20mm Flash Dot scope that I bought for the option of having an illuminated reticle. The S&B Flash Dot is the best engineered and executed illuminated reticle on the market. I mounted it on a .375 H&H Magnum and am very happy with it as well.

If I were going with an illuminated reticle, it would be the S&B. If not, the Swaro.

I would not put a Euro scope on a .404. Heck, I can't even keep a Zeiss or Kahles 1.5-6 from sliding in the Talley rings on two 9.3 x 62s! Leup 1.5-5 or Leup 2.5x compact for me on big boomers. The 2.5x never breaks, by the way.

Tim, what's wrong w/ the good ole Leup. VXIII 1.5x5? Yes I would like a bit more light late in the day but you got to love the eye relief. How is Laszlo coming w/ that hunk of iron? Can't wait to see it, drop by on your way home & I'll spot you a beer.

Fred,

Laszlo is working on the stock. Once it is finished, then you and I get to go to the range and dial in (file down) the iron sights. Once that is done, then all he has to do is blue the gun and I'm good to go. Can't wait to shoot it!!!!

By the way, I already have a 1.5-5x Leupold in QAW rings on the rifle. I just thought it was a sin to not have a Euro scope on a mauser actioned 404. After the above comments, I may just keep the Leupold on for a while and see how it does.

Thanks.

Tim

My vote go's to the SCHMIDT&BENDER 1.25-4 mag eye relief model.
As of yet my freind's and I haven't experienced any movement of them in the mounts,after a long time and many shots in EAW,Recnagel, Blaser, Hilver and Sako mounts. But if this is a concern, EAW and Recnagel make bigger surface to surface mount rings .

How about the 1.1-4 Zenith S&B scope? It should have wider field of view at its lowest power range. Does the extra 3 OZ of scope weight make much difference?

I look forward to it Tim. Maybe we can take a ride up to Tehachapi, I belong to a private range up there & almost no one ever goes.

Go with a Swarovski or Kahles, nothing is any better imho, anyway.
LLS

Schmidt & Bender for me thank you, never had a problem three scopes and recoil from the 7lb 330 Dakota is an eye opener. Leupold QRW,Talley and EAW rings have worked well.
bigbull

Shumba,

I have the Swaro 1.25-4 on my 375H&H Custom with #24 reticle & it is a fine scope. Love that reticle - mine is also the illuminated version but I don't think illumination is really worth the $$$ & not as waterproof IMHO.

For my 404 custom however, I went with the S&B in the same power range with #7 reticle (cause the circle dot was not avail but also I think S&B" version is not as nice) mainly for the extended eye relief.

Having said that, this " Moron" still got scoped! But only once! Thank goodness & I learnt my lesson. It was off shooting sticks too. So I hang my head in total shame.

Optically, I cannot pick a difference. Both have not moved POI and they both track predictably which can't always be said of Leupolds till they settle down.

A friend has the Leupold Vari XIII 1.5-5 and the front lens cracked. I understand because of the scopes short tube length you need to avoid clamping directly over the lens with the front ring.

Bear in mind all scopes can fail - so test them out before you go on a major hunt.

Both my scopes are in Talley QD's with custom bases. No problems at all with them moving.

I find the recoil of a 404 a big jump from a 375 so I would want as much eye relief as I can get.

Regards
JohnT

When comparing eye relief, make sure you check the specs for both low and high power. Most scopes only have a long eye relief on low power. When you turn up 3 or 4x the eye relief usually drops down to 3 inches.

Here is a Leupold Ultralight 2.5x (with post & crosshair reticle ) along side a .404 cartridge. They weigh about the same, and the scope has 5 inches of eye relief.

For what it's worth, I just bought a .404 Jeff that is a J.K. Cloward custom job on a mauser. I thought about scopes and I even had an extra S&B flash-dot 1-4 with a 4a reticle. I chose a 1.5-5 Leupold because I get a bit more magnification but mainly because I think it will hold up better. It will be interesting to see if your Swav or S&B holds up as well as a Leup. I hunted buff and lion with Ernst Sholz of TGT and he shot a .460 Weatherby with a 1.5-5 Leup. that he had on the gun about 5 years. That was good enough for me.

Did you get the Cloward from WR? It looks very nicely done, 23" barrel, 9 pounds, straight grain wood, M70 safety, good irons, drop box, steel buttplate. All classic, all very nice. Also, I like an action with the thumbcut, although some do not, because the thumbcut can be helpful in reloading, and it assists in gas escape in case of a case rupture.

Will you mount a scope or go with straight irons?

Only 5 scopes I would consider on a .404 Jeffery, and they are all Leupolds with 1 inch tubes:

2.5X
1x-4X
1.5x-5X
1.75x-6E
2x-7x
2.5x-8x

Lots of choices, all Leupold.
I own and use S&B, Zeiss, Swarovski, just because I got suckered into buying one of each. Thereafter, Leupolds only need apply.

Is it true that Leupold quit making the 2.5X rifle scope? Glad I have 4 of them.

The 2.5X Leupold "Turkey Ranger" shotgun scope (50 yard parallax) will do nicely if that is all you can find, for a heavy kicker.

I still prefer the standard Leupold Duplex reticle over any other, and I am not alone in this ...

I like the German N° 1 reticle and Premier Reticles will install it on any Leupold scope, even giving a discount if you buy it from. I find it the best all-around reticle.

Thanks guys for all of the great responses. I'm still waiting to get the rifle back from the gunsmith so that Fred and I can get the iron sights dialed in. I think for now I will stick with my Leupold 1.5-5x and see how it goes for a while. I do love the extra eye relief of the Leupold. If I later decide to go to a Euro scope, I will probably go with the Swarovski as of now.

Thanks again!

Tim

Sorry folks, I have to say I have 14 pro hunters on my big game rifles. I also shoot them more than most on the forum. Just this year I have gone through 300 North fork bullets in my 404 Jeffery. I have used both the 1.5x6 pro hunter and a backup 1.25x4.5 pro hunter. Both are 30 mm tubes in Talley QD rings. Not one slippage. In addition to the 404, I have shot over 400 rounds in my 375, 200 rounds in my 416 Taylor, 200 rounds in the 416 Rem.Mag. and all without a single slippage of the scope. I am sure that those that are using Leupold etc. scopes don't experience slippage either. If you can shoot over 300 rounds of big bore in any caliber in about two months time and don't have problems with the scope mounting system then there isn't a problem. I just have not had any problems with Talley rings and Swarovski scopes on any of my rifles. I shoot them a lot, they aren't just to look at. I do get custom bases for my Talley rings as I have found that there is often enough variation in the drill/tap or bridge geometry such that scope alignment can sometimes be a problem, but not with custom bases!

I have used most of the scopes mentioned above. they are all good. However my current favorite would be the Swarovski with the illuminated circle dot reticle. I have the 1.5-6x42 on my 9,3x74R. On a 40+ cal rifle the 1.25x4 with the same reticle would be a good choice.