The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores 375 - Why not "bigger" scopes?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| One of Us |
Seems everyone including myself mount 1.5-5's or at most a 2x7 on the majority of the .375 rifles. One of mine, a .375 stainless Ruger Alaskan carries a Leupold 2.5x8 since it will see duty hunting blacktails on Kodiak Island. As I grow older I appreciate the usefullness of the .375's and there ability to hit well at longer ranges. We all know the 270's have the trajectory of the 180's out of the 06 and the .375 Weatherby is even better. After buying my latest .375 (CZ lefty 550 magnum )was considering which scope to add to it realizing it would most likely be rechambered to the Wby version at some point and finally a light came on and it hit me. Why not try a high quality 3x9? I really do not need the wider field of view offered by the 1.5's and have NEVER used a scope set this low while hunting. When using the 1'5x5 always had time to crank em up to 5. So I ordered a Sightron SII Big Sky 3x9. It has excellent eye relief and great reviews from anyone who ever tired one. The rifle will never see Africa and I have plenty of unscoped short range rifles. Personally, if I were limited to one caliber rifle for Alaska hunting it would be the .375 bore. So it is about time to bring this old gal up to date with some modern optics. So let the debating start and remember, there are no wrong choices, just what works for you. My biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my guns for what I told her they cost. | ||
|
| One of Us |
I picked 1,5-6x42 30mm scope with best blend of eye relief and fov. The 3-12x56 IR 30mm is on another rifle just for shooting european boar after dusk from a high seat. | |||
|
| Moderator |
My .375s have all worn (Leupold) 2.5x-8x scopes because I appreciate the versatility of that magnification range. If I ever own a Sako AV .375H&H again, I just might put a Zeiss 3x-9x or Leupold 3.5x-10x just for those longer shots on large ungulates. George  | |||
|
| One of Us |
I use the 2.5 x 8 Leupold on my .375 H&H. | |||
|
| one of us |
I believe the 2.5-8X to be perfect for the 375's, as with the 235 or 260 grain bullets it will reach out 250-300 yards just fine. 2-3 power is still plenty usable for close ranges, so have a straight 2.5X on my 450/400, and love my 1.75-6X on my 416 Ruger. | |||
|
One of Us |
Most of my "Big Bores" up to my .416 Weatherby wear Leupold 2.5-8x on Talley QR mounts.  I did put a Leupold 1.5-6x on that 416 for Africa, though I brought a 2.5-8x pre sighted-in as well.  My impression is that a 2.5 gives all the FOV you need for anything farther than "Handshake" distance.  NRA Lifer; DSC Lifer; SCI member; DRSS; AR member since November 9 2003 Don't Save the best for last, the smile for later or the "Thanks" for tomorow | |||
|
One of Us |
Two scopes on my Montana '99 .375 H&H: Burris Euro-Diamond 1-4x24, Ill. #4 ret. Burris Euro-Diamond 3-10x42, Ill. #4 ret. Both are 30mm bodies in Talley QR mounts. They are heavy and push the rifle up to 9.5# - not something I'd necessarily want to lug around all day. There's a part of me that wants to put a 1.5-6x32 in a set of Talley lightweight rings on the rifle. That would get the weight down to 8.75# or so - much more manageable. If I were chasing Cape Buffalo around for days on end, there's no question that's exactly what I'd do. On the other hand, the 9.5# weight is exceedingly nice at the range and off the bench and a 10x scope makes it quite nice for groups. Plus, the Illuminated Reticle is fantastic in low light conditions. Pig hunting in Texas from a blind, for instance. Or Leopard...thought that's not on my radar screen. I guess it all depends on how much one has to walk and what the game is. Regards, Robert ****************************** H4350! It stays crunchy in milk longer! | |||
|
| one of us |
Because people who own a 375 use it for hunting and a 2-7 or there abouts is perfect for "hunting" on ANY rifle. Ranges that exceed the usefulness of that power range move from hunting to target, sniping, or just plain lazy/stupid shooting. Like George my 375 and down (270, 9.3, 30-06, etc) medium game hunting rifles all wear 2.5-8 Leupolds. If I ever needed to, most shots on game for me are around 100+/-, I am game accurate to 300 yards with those optics. If I can't get within 900 feet of my quarry I am not hunting well/hard enough and they win. Getting off my soap box now...... | |||
|
| one of us |
My Blaser barrel in 375 H&H wears a 3-9x40 Zeiss Conquest. Peter Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong; | |||
|
| One of Us |
This has to be a subjective call. I like 1-4x because I want the widest possible field of view for those up close jump shots. One solution no one mentioned is QD rings and TWO scopes. | |||
|
One of Us |
There is a general tendency to put high magnification scopes on all hunting rifles these days, and the .375 is no exception. I think it can be, and often is, taken to extremes. Most of my .375s have had scopes with high end magnification of 4x, although I have one that has a high end of 6x. My choice for a low end on these scopes has always been 1.1x, 1.25x or 1.5x. I like a low end of 1.1x to 1.5x for close work, as I have found that a low-powered scope can be as fast as or faster than open sights. On the other hand, for shots within 200-250 yards or so (speaking only for myself, of course), I have always been quite happy with 4x or 6x of magnification. I have found that more power than that can be hard to handle - without a rock solid rest. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
|
| one of us |
Not a new concept. I like it. Peter Hathaway Capstick used a 3x-9x on his .375 H&H. Saeed uses a 2.5x-8x on his .375/404. I think any of the choices from 1.5x-5x through 2.5x-10x are good. Sightron: Excellent. Sightron had same warranty and same Japanese lenses as Leupold, last time I check. Comparable to Leupold. No better is needed. A 4x-16x Sightron mildot has stood up to my .510/460 Wby for long range plinking. I just use 4 rings to attach it to the rifle, and there have been no dramas thus far. Notice my choice of 2.5x-8x scope for this .375 Wby (Just trying to get some more mileage out of this target scan ... and no one has questioned my veracity about this being 100 yards 3-shot group yet???) (Group was a little right of where I wanted it, but elevation was right-on, so I think it was the wind.):   | |||
|
One of Us |
I have an old Leupold Vari x11 on my 375 and love it, but I don't use it on dangerous game, 250g sierra soft points, a full case of powder and it's a pretty good flat shooter to 250 to 300, Heavy long rang hitter on deer size game, thats what I use it for, it's a 1 to 1.25 moa GUN at 100 yards, certainly not in the same class as RIP but it's OK I carry the bipods with it and shoot it prone if need be, the recoil doesn't bother me. regards S&F | |||
|
One of Us |
Snowwolfe, I like the 1.5x5 on my 375 H&H because 5 power has always been enough power for me when hunting with my 3/8’s bore, and as a fellow Alaskan, you know can always run into a bear thus the 1.5. But I do have a 3x9 Minox on Wisner QR rings so I can go with a bigger scope if desired. The other advantage of QR rings is you can go with a 3x9 and take it off when worried about bears & packing meat (assuming you have open sights). Jim fur, feathers, & meat in the freezer  "Pass it on to your kids" | |||
|
| one of us |
Like a previous fella I use a 3-9x40 MC Zeiss Conquest on a SS Classic M70 .375 H&H. Is a good combination for me ... but I tend to use that one as a backup for DG rather than a primary. I like the 1.5-5x and 1.8-5.5x for DG rifles. Mike -------------- DRSS, Womper's Club, NRA Life Member/Charter Member NRA Golden Eagles ... Knifemaker, http://www.mstarling.com | |||
|
| one of us |
I put a Weaver 2-10 on my .375 Wby ............partly because that's what I could afford and mostly due to it's light weight reducing inertia during recoil. It has held up well. The 2x is perfect for a snap shot at a bear in brush or heavy timber. The 10x is great for groundhogs or long-range paper & steel. At some point in time I should probably replace it with higher quality glass. But I'm pretty stubborn to fix things that ain't yet broke. Founder....the OTPG | |||
|
| One of Us |
Have a Swarofski 1.7X10 Z6 with 4AI reticle on my AHR 375H&H and think it's about perfect for anything. Can shoot out to 300 yards and is good for Dangerous game close up. The field of view is good and the clarity of the glass will spoil you and make your old,tired eyes, decades younger. Putting one also on a 416 Rigby that is being built as well as a second scope, a 1X6 Z6 with circle dot reticle. | |||
|
| One of Us |
I find more utility with the ability of the 1.5 power setting for gig stuf up real close, and have never found it a hinderence. I have however had problems with fast moving animals in close with more power. And, I have found that if 5 power is not enough at long range with big game; then the animal is too far to shoot at anyway. I also like the straight tube rather then the belled objective. Smaller, lighter scope, and they have longer eye relief. Nothing wrong with a 2-8, just never found the need for them or bigger on a .375. | |||
|
one of us |
I use a 2.5-8X Leupie on mine and 8X was not too much on the zebra at 300 yards or the Steenbok laying in the grass at 100 yards. The 2.5X worked great on running shots on my kudu and gemsbok. Frank "I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money." - Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953 NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite | |||
|
| One of Us |
I have a leupold vx111 1.75-6 on my H&H and it has work well on cape buffalo and PG JOE | |||
|
One of Us |
My S&B 1.5 - 6 on my .378 was plenty of magnification even for 3 to 400 yard shots on plains game and low enough to work up close and fast. If the new March 1 to 10 had been around back then , I'd have probably bought it. DuggaBoye-O NRA-Life Whittington-Life TSRA-Life DRSS DSC HSC SCI | |||
|
| One of Us |
I agree. My current 375H&H has a 1.5x6 zeiss that I usually leave on 2x. 6x is plenty enough to waaay out there. The one I'm building (currently at pacnor) will be a lightweight open sighted stainless/laminate M77 H&H that should do anything I'd ask of an all weather AK gun. Bob DRSS "If we're not supposed to eat animals, why are they made out of meat?" "PS. To add a bit of Pappasonian philosophy: this single barrel stuff is just a passing fad. Bolt actions and single shots will fade away as did disco, the hula hoop, and bell-bottomed pants. Doubles will rule the world!" | |||
|
| One of Us |
I've used 3-9x scopes on various .375's for 30 years, on deer, moose and black bear. Nine power is nice for longer shots...not necessary, but it's a confidence booster to have a good view of your target. Three power is low enough for any up-close, fast-moving target. Having said that, when preparing for my buffalo/PG hunt last year, the first thing I did was mount and sight in a 1.8-5.5x Zeiss, and a 2-7x Leupold in a spare set of rings for backup. Go figure. John | |||
|
| One of Us |
Unless one hunts in low light and needs larger objective I would stick with x36mm or x42mm objective and see no point in getting anything smaller. How much weight does one save by going with "straight tube? Two oz? If one wants to save weight it's much wiser to ditch 30mm tube and get 1" scope with larger objective lens diameter. It's the objective lens diameter and quality of FMC that determines amount of transmitted light not the stupid 30mm tube. | |||
|
| one of us |
My daughter uses a Zeiss 3X9 on her 375. Typically I think she leaves it at 5 or 6 times. The only time I have seen her use the 9 power setting is looking at the target after a shot to see the bullet hole. | |||
|
| One of Us |
With loads using the 260gr Accubond or 250gr Trophy Bonded, the 375 becomes a useful, longer-range rifle for Eland, Kudu, Wildebeast and Zebra. I use a 2.5x10 Zeiss on mine...have bigger rifles for Dangerous Game hunting. | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores 375 - Why not "bigger" scopes?
Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia