Just picked up a .458 WM from Biebs, now looking to put some glass on it.

Question:
Which would you choose...and why?
(looking for maximum durability, but also with the ability to shoot accurately out to 150 yards)

Choices:
Leupold FX-II Ultralight 2.5x20mm
Leupold VX-2 1-4x20mm
Leupold VX-2 Ultralight 2-7x28mm

 

I have an old 1-4X20 Leupold VX-2 on mine but I've only shot it to 100 yards.

Leupold 1.5-5X...

Whatever but make it detachable and get to know know your iron sights.

The .458 was designed to put big animals on the floor at fairly close ranges and does it with ease. Great calibre and carried one for some years.

If you have to magnify any animal more than 2 1/2 X that you need a 458 for, then you need to learn how to stalk !

That is what I have on mine (Ill. model) but if I did it again I would invest in a VX6 1X6X24. Due to the fact that scope is just so good.
Have had no issues with the 1.5X5 though.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Leupold 1.5-5X...

Leupold FX-II Ultralight 2.5x20mm.

I use a new Weaver Super Slam DG scope 1.5 X 5 for my 557NE.
Very clear and long eye relief. Have shot it about 80 times but have not had it in the bush yet. I like it so far.
Brian

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Whatever but make it detachable and get to know know your iron sights.

The .458 was designed to put big animals on the floor at fairly close ranges and does it with ease. Great calibre and carried one for some years.

I will absolutely have the scope on a quick-detach system of some kind....more than likely Warne QD rings.

This is my Krieghoff Teck double rifle in caliber .458 Winchester Magnum, with a Lyman 2 1/2X All American Perma Center mounted in German claw mounts at the factory.

I prefer a fixed low power scope for a rifle with heavy recoil. There are fewer parts to come adrift than with a variable.

That's why I would choose the Leupold FX-II Ultralight 2.5x20mm. 4.9" of eye relief is another plus as well as almost 40' field of view at 100 yards and the 6.5 oz. weight.

I have a Weaver K2.5 on my Ruger #1.

I have several 2.5x20 leupolds. On my 458 win and Lott you can use it out to 300 or so yards no prob. It's light and holds up. I don't like fiddling with variables and consequently use fixed 6s and 4s also.

i voted fxII ultralight 2.5 leupold and this is what my 458 wears ...

I have also used the Leupold FX11 Ultralight 2.5 and really liked it. Very quick to get lined up. Brian

I didn't vote because the
Nikon Inline 3-9x40 was not listed.
It is virtually indestructible, light and rather compact.

Someone who shoots thousands of rounds of big bore every year had to ship many (+10) Leupolds back for their excellent service. Finally he tried Nikon and has switched his arsenal over, not having busted one Nikon last I heard (2015).

Anyway, the Nikon glass is bright and crisp and the Inline 5-inch eye-relief throughout the magnification range is a great added plus. The only downside would be if you wanted an illuminated dot. Then you would need something more expensive than the Inline model and would give up the 5" eye relief. 3 power works well up close and the 9 power gives you optical comfort if you want to shoot something at 100-250 yd.

Here is a picture of my wife that shows her 5-inch eye relief on a 375Ruger

1-6 30 mm VX-6

quote:

Leupold 1.5-5X...

Use one on my .416 don't see why it wouldn't work well on a 458

I voted for the VX2 1-4 because that was the closest to what I started with. I started with VX3 1.5x5, but if I were giving advice, I would recommend the VX6 1-6 illuminated. I have switched 5 or 6 of my DG rifles to this and couldn't be happier. Great field of view, good eye relief, plenty of power for longer shots, and a great selection of reticles in regular and illuminated. Great warranty if needed and half the cost of similar Euro scopes.

I love mine.

quote:

I would recommend the VX6 1-6 illuminated

And they hold up great when you have to wrestle a Buff to the ground :-)

The eye relief on the Leopold V6 1-6 is 3.8", which is adequate. Reliability is more of an issue, but an extra inch of eye relief is nice when available. See above.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Leupold 1.5-5X...

NOTHING from leupold -- their warranty exists because you have to use it.

nikon monarch -- upgrade your glass

I have VX6s on two double rifles and .458WM, .416Rem, 404J, .375H&H bolt actions without a failure.
I very satisfied with them.

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
NOTHING from leupold -- their warranty exists because you have to use it.

nikon monarch -- upgrade your glass

C'mon Jeff...you're not being serious are you?

I've probably got a dozen Leupolds of various flavors and have never had even the slightest issue with any of them.

I have had issues with two Leupold scopes, out of several dozen. The issues were not recoil related. One was on an older scope and another was on a brand new scope. While I would have preferred to not have any issues, I will say that Leupold promptly got the issues taken care of and the scopes shipped back to me at no cost in either instance. Your mileage may vary.

I put the old Leupold Vari-X III 1.5-5 on my .458 around 1998, and it hasn't moved POI in all those years.

I went with the heavy duplex.

I've had great luck with Leupold over the years, but would consider the Nikon Monarch 3 1-4X. As with MS Hitman, I have an El Paso K2.5 that has seen service on several Ruger No. 1s in heavy calibers.

I voted for the 2-7x28, not for the magnification, but for the 28mm instead of 20mm! I actually prefer a 30mm tube in a DGR scope. I struggle with centering a 20mm scope to my eye, and have faster target centering with a larger optic.

My 458 Lott sports a Leupold m-8. 3x
Great combination in tally detachable mount !!
Go for it :-)

The 1.1-4 30mm Nikon African scopes are no longer being made, but you can find them NIB at considerable savings. My 505 Gibbs wears one.

quote:

Originally posted by Eland Slayer:

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
NOTHING from leupold -- their warranty exists because you have to use it.

nikon monarch -- upgrade your glass

C'mon Jeff...you're not being serious are you?

I've probably got a dozen Leupolds of various flavors and have never had even the slightest issue with any of them.

I haven't had a SINGLE leupold last more than 500 rounds on a greater than 416 (excluding 45/70 and such) --not one - every one of them goes back -- and some have made the trip 3 times .. i give up on them

perfectly serious --the japan made tasco titans can't be killed -- the nikon monarchs are the best bang for the buck in this space ..

look why everyone calls out leupold "the warranty" ... literally NO ONE should be using that warranty if it was fit for purpose ...

you must have the magic touch...

In forty-plus years of shooting big bore rifles, the only Leupold I have ever sent back for repair work was an early 6.5-20X that I stuck on an air rifle. The replacement had the air rifle back bracing.

Who else has a lifetime warranty on the product?

Out of your choices, I'd have a hard time deciding but I'd lean towards the fixed power and use larger targets for sighting in.

However, I loved this Votex Viper PST 1-4 30mm on my 458 lott. It stood up to recoil fine and the reticle is one of my favorite along with the trijicon post. The glass is very good too and it is a tough scope with a better warranty than leupold. life time, 1st, 2nd, 3rd owner, for any reason.

I settled on the 3X Leupold many years ago, have never seen the need for anything else. A variable just has more parts to go south in most cases..I have a number of 3Xs couple of 1.5x5s and 1x4s in the shop..I like them all but never have seen the need for the varibles on a DGR 458 Win and under...It the bigger bores I always use a 2.5X compact as Leupold moved the adjustments to under the caps and made them recoil proof.

Decided on the 1-4....

quote:

Originally posted by Eland Slayer:
Decided on the 1-4....

nothing wrong with that.

My vote goes for the Leupold VX-6 1-6x24mm

Have had many Leupold scopes on heavy recoiling rifles and never had an issue.

I'm late to the game, but I'll play.

None of the above.

I have a New Haven Classic controlled feed model 70 458WM.

I started with a Nikon African 1.1-4x24 and have since turned to a Nightforce 1-4x24 NXS FC-2 Reticle.

The NXS was not cheap. However, it is one bad ass scope that will handle anything you can throw at it.

Andy B

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
The 1.1-4 30mm Nikon African scopes are no longer being made, but you can find them NIB at considerable savings. My 505 Gibbs wears one.

The Nikon African is being manufactured and sold with a different brand name. I suspect they were in fact supplying them to Nikon. Sun Optics USA.