Are Heavy Duplex recticles more durable than Standard Duplex's or is there any real differences in durablity on hard kickers?

Don't know. However, the only Leupold scope that I have ever owned that held up to the big bores (458 Win mag, 500 A Square, and now 500 AHR) is a VarXII 1X-4X Heavy Duplex. I shot somewhere around 1000 rounds though the 458, 200 - 300 through the A Square, and around 300 through the 500 AHR without an issue so far <knocking on wood frantically>. That scope also held up for a 100 or so 12 gauge slugs. I cannibalized it off of a 12 gauge slug gun I once owned, now that was a real POS (Win 1300).

Scott

One reticle is as durable as another...Excessive recoil will break most of them....On the 458 Lott and up I will either use iron sights or the Leupold 2.5 compact that has all the fragile stuff in the center under the adjustments..That little puppy is one tough scope...I have broken many a high dollar scope on the Lott and 505 bolt guns..Some last 300 rounds, some 10 or 15 and 20 is the norm....

Ray
How do you find the recoil of a .416 Rigby, with regards to scopes? I have one being made, it will have express sights fitted but I was thinking of a scope down the track abit. However I won't fit one if it'll break all the time.

I doubt that you will have any problems with the 416 Rigby...Any quality scope will hold up well on the 416's..The problems start with the 458 Lott...