Hello folks,



I have recently gotten my first .375 H&H and it is ready to be scoped. It is built on a Winchester Model 70 "classic" action by AR member John Lewis of Carolina Precision Rifles. It has a 24" #5 PacNor stainless barrel w/o sights and a Mcmillan fiberglass stock. I have had a heck of a time finding Warne scope bases locally to fit the "magnum" length action, but I found some from Brownells.



I have purchased a Leupold VXIII 2.5-8X to mount on the rifle. Since I have never shot a .375 H&H I was wondering if this would be a good scope choice. My main concern was will I be able to shoot this rifle with the scope on "8" power from the bench and have enough eye relief? Or, would I be better off with the 1.75-6X model?



Thanks in advance for any opinions.



X



BTW, where's Atkinson? I want to use this rifle next year in Africa. I sent him an email but he might be "gone huntin".

Leupolds generally can be relied upon to have sufficient eye relief for heavy recoiling rifles. The catalogs usually even give you the approx eye relief for each scope, but in any event it's not likely you'll have a problem with a Leupold. Just watch yourself and make sure you're not in the habit of crawling up on the scope in certain positions, or it will bite you. I've got a new .375 H&H Ruger M77/MkII RSM and will be mounting a 1.5x5 Leupold VX-III on it soon.

Good luck!

I have used the Leupold 2.5x8 on several 375 H&H caliber rifles with perfect satisfaction. I will be carrying one of these back to Zim in less than 2 weeks for lion. This scope definitely gathers more light than any of the straight front tube models. The 8 power makes for a good sight picture at longer range on smaller animals, and the 2.5 power end of the range is good on close range shots. It seems like the best compromise for general use on the 375. There is plenty of eye relief, even at 8 power for a 375.

I also have a 1.75x6 Leupold on a 416, and the 1.5x5 Leupold on some of other large calibers (458, 416, 375, etc). In addition, I have some low fixed power scopes (from 2x to 3x) on several big bores. They are all nice scopes, but overall I like the 2.5x8 better.

Jim

Can't do much better than that! I personally like the 1.75X6 but the 2.5X8 is a wise choice, especially in a rifle of that caliber. Find a copy of the lastest rifle magazine, it it you'll find a great article on scopes which will add credence to your choice. jorge

X,
I really like the 2.5-8 and have one on my pre-64 375. I use my big bores for everything including small varmints so I like the slightly higher power of this model. If your rifle is set up right you won't have a problem with the eye relief. The 375 is a great round and pretty easy to shoot well from the bench.

John

I have only had my .375 H&H just a little while, but I have decided to get a VariX-II or VX-II 2-7x33 "shotgun" scope with the heavy Duplex. New at $279 from Cabela's, but I'm on the look-out in the used market first.

Redlander,
You will be happier if you get a Vari x III in 1.5 x 5, or 1.75 x 6. That $100.00 you save might just trash an expensive hunt down the road. Get a used scope and send it in to Leupold for a check up. They fix 'em free if it is needed. I am partial to the 1.5 x 5's, and always have a spare zeroed in the same style rings. Only needed it once.
JCN

On any big bore rifle with velocity under say 2700 FPS, I want a 3X Leupold fixed, a 1.5x5 Leupold or a 1x4 Leupold....

I want that 20 mm objective lens and that striaght tube that just sticks out of the front ring an inch or so...that makes it a sturdier set up and not likely to get knocked out of zero..very important on a DGR....also the trajectory of a 375 H&H can't use any more magnification than 4 or 5 power IMO....

Now Ray, I knew you were going to say that . Why do you say that the 1x4 or 1.5x5 is better just because it has a straight tube on front? I have killed more 1.5x5 than 2.5x8 Leupolds on big bores, not to mention a number of other "high quality" imports (both fixed and variable). I agree that the fixed power is better on a larger caliber, but the 375 is not as critical in respect to recoil as something bigger would be (remember, Saeed uses the 2.5x8 on his 375/404 Imp). On top of that, if you are cat hunting (or hunting anything else near dusk or at first light) you put yourself at a big disadvantage with the straight tubes due to less light gathering ability that the 2.5x8 or 1.75x6 (been there, done that, swore never to be caught in that situation again ).

That extra power comes in handy if you are shooting something as small as a klipspringer at a couple of humdred yards, assuming you are using the 375 as a general purpose rifle like I do (my 250 grain A-Frame plains game load does over 2900 fps, and hits right at point of aim at 200 yards when the 300 grain load is zeroed at 100 yards). Granted, the extra magniification is not needed for buff at 20 feet, but then neither is any magnification.

I guess that I am getting "crustier" in my old age, don't know if it's just my personality or the influence of certain un-named board members .

When are you headed back to Tanz? It would be nice if we could get together with Ernest on his buff hunt with Pierre next year. Ought to make for an interesting camp (remember the old Chinese curse-"May you live in interesting times") .

Jim

I put a Leupold 4X on my .375H&H. Its a versitile power for a versitile cartridge.

Thanks for all of your experiences guys. Anyone care to comment on 300 grain Nosler Partitions for Cape Buffalo?

Mr. Ray Atkinson,

Did you get my email?

Thanks,
X

Glad to see you guys like the Leopold for the big stuff. I have a VX-III 3.5 - 10 on my 7mag. and several other mid range scopes on smaller caliber rifles. I've had good success with all my scopes so far. A couple of months ago, I contacted my local gun shop about a 1.5 - 7 Leopold for my recently aquired .375H&H. He said he wouldn't consider anything other than a Swarovski and said the Leopolds would shake loose over time. I personally have a lot of confidence in Leopold so I'm glad to see people that have some history with them on big bores have that same confidence.

Your local gun shop guy is a dork. Swarovski scopes are very good, but they are not more rugged than a low magnification Leupold. If you shop around you can find 1.5 x 5 Leupolds for $425.00 or so. You can buy one scope, one spare, and mounts for the cost of a Swarovski. I have a Swarovski on my 416 Rem Mag. It is a great scope. I have a lot of confidence in it, especially since my back-up scope is a Leupold.
JCN

I have a 1-4 leupold on my cz .375, but I would quite happily put a 2-7 Vari X11 leupold on it, it is a very sturdy scope the 2-7 and may benefit those guys who prefer to shoot 270 gr bullets from there .375's.

I currently use the 2.5 x 8 Leupold on the 375 due to its weight eye relief and versitility, and past performance. The 375 even with 300gr. bullets shoots flat enough for me to see a need occassionaly for the top end. I shot lose a 1.5 x 6 and I have no dought that if you shoot enough full house loads a guy can shoot lose any make/model. I also use a Khales 1 x 4 as a back up and that has seen around 300 rounds without any hiccups, but they will all fail if you shoot them enough. Just my thoughts.

HBH

No truer words were ever spoken. If it is mechanical, it will fail. I see guys put 4.5 x 14 x 50mm scopes on Ultra Mags and can't help but think: "Is that guy smoking crack?"
Someone older and wiser told me that with 340 Wby Mag on up it is a good idea to keep the guns heavy, and the scope light. Less inertia in the scope guts plus a slower recoil impulse makes for a happier big bore shooter. Remember, friends don't let friends go on expensive trips without pre-zeroed back-up scopes AND iron sights.
JCN

I've got both a 2-7 VariX-II and a 4x leupold fixed-power (back-up) coming in the mail, both of them for under $400 total. Bought used off e-bay, they are both the shotgun model with the heavy duplex reticle. I plan shooting them enough to shake out any kinks well before any trip and I'll use the 4x, which Leupold doesn't offer anymore, for the back-up. I just think if these scopes can handle an 870 Remingtion shooting 3-inch slug loads, they can handle a .375 H&H. If I was shooting something with a bigger bore, I'd go up in price range. I think I'll save to buy a better set of binocs - I really like those 8x32 Swarovski SLCs. I also want the bigger objective for longer range stuff, an upcoming Alaska trip, and for whacking pigs at dusky dark. Here in East Texas that seems to be when they finally stick their heads out of the brush.

Well I finally got the 2.5-8X Leupold mounted and I took the gun to the range yesterday. I bore sighted the gun and put up a target at 25 yards. I shot the first round and I was on paper. I made some scope adjustments and on the second shot I got a minor case of "magnum eyebrow". I fired another shot and was dead on at 25 yards.

I then took the target out to 100 and missed the entire target so I moved the target back to 50 yards. I then shot the fifty yard target and hit it about 3" high. So I made some more scope adjustments and took the target back to 100 yards and clipped the lower left-hand corner of the 1" target circle on my sixth shot. O.K. now I was out of cartridges for this gun. On either the 5th or 6th shot, I don't remember which, the gun tried to come back on me again, it just gave me a love tap this time.

These were starting loads of IMR4064. I'm wondering how the gun will react with maximum loads. The recoil wasn't painful at all, but I'm wondering if my scope choice was wise. I wonder if the 1.75-6X might be a better choice for this rifle or even the 1.5-5 model. However, according to Leupold's website there is no signigicant difference in eye relief on either of these three scopes. For example, the eye relief on "8" power on the 2.5-8 power model is 3.5". On "6" power on the 1.75-6 model the eye relief is 3.2"?? I wonder why there is less eye relief? On the 1.5-5X model the eye relief with the scope set on 5X is 3.6", if I am understanding the data correctly. So as you can see there appears to be no significant difference in eye relief on any of these models. Perhaps I just need to learn how to keep the thing out of my face!! I honestly moved my eye back just far enough to keep the scope from beginning to blacken out.

I said all of that to say this. Am I interpreting the data correctly? If I have a 2.5-8 power scope then I have more eye relief with the scope set on "8" power than I would have with the 1.75-6X model set on "6" and only slightly less eye relief than I would have with the 1.5-5X model set on "5". This makes no sense!

I mounted a Leupold VX11 2-7x33 on my Mod 70 375. The eyepiece is just about even with the cocking indicator and seems to offer a great field of view. It would be quite difficult to hit myself with this arrangement, at least I haven't so far. ( I shoot off of an Outers Varminter at the bench, perhaps your bench and shooting position is as much of a problem as your scope mouning.)

X,
Double check your rifles length of pull and the the "mounted" eye relief of the scope. I set up my scopes for max eye relief because I learned I can handle the recoil of the rifle if I don't have to worry about getting cut. This was _critical_ for me moving up in caliber. I had a 300 Win Rem 700 that would knock my shooting glasses every time from the bench. Too short of LOP and the scope set too far back. At the time I just figured thats the way it has to be with such a powerful rifle

When I mount the rifle I have a perfect view through the scope at the lower "most used" powers. I might have to move my head a LITTLE forward a the highest power. Might not be benchrest textbook but it works for me. The scope IMHO is not the problem, its the setup. I have a 2.5-8 on a 338 Lapua and on my Win Pre-64 375. Other 375s, 416s and 458s have 1.5-5 or 1.75-6s on them. I'm going to put 2.5-8s on my RSM 416 Rigby and 458 Lott next year for ground squirrels. I wouldn't give up on your scope yet, but if you do I'll take it!

Seriously, with any scope you must get your setup right. The recoil of a proper 375 is not bad at all...but you have to know that your not going to meet Mr Ocular when you touch off a round. This assumes that you aren't a habitual stock crawler and have decent form. My brother in law is much smaller than me, but can take my rifles with a long LOP and goose neck to where he can manage to get whacked

I'm certainly no expert but I have worked through this exact situation. Feel free to email me if you want.

Take care,

John

Thanks for the advice guys. What I guess that I don't understand is that I moved my head as far away from the scope as I could without the scope "blackening" up prior to the shot. I don't feel that the position of the scope on the rifle would make any difference as long as you consciously move your head rearward as much as possible. Does that make sense?

X

X caliber,
to answer your question re: 300 gr. Nosler partitions...They work OK but I am not impressed, they have been known to fail in that caliber...and I am a dyed in the wool Nosler fan, but???????

The bottom line is with calibers as small as the 9.3 and 375, that is where I see a real need for solids only...And a good monolithic is perhaps the answer for a soft..The GS cusoms or maybe the new Triple shock X bullet from Barnes.

On boomers I like to mount them as far forward as possible. With the scope on maximum magnification I would rather have a black ring around the veiw than a red one around my eyebrow!
I have also found that you don't want a boomer to have a good run at your shoulder and tend to hold them much firmer off the bench than a normal caliber. I'm curious if the other big bore shooters approach bench technique the same way.
I have also looked at a standing bench setup, how many of you use one?......DJ

Atkinson:

Thanks for your reply regarding the Nosler Partitions. I was wondering if no one had an opinion, or if no one on the board had ever tried them on Buffalo. BTW, I received your email saying that you had not received my email and sent you another email. Due to your lack of response, I am assuming that you did not get that email either? Anyway, I want to talk to you about the feasibility of hunting Buffalo, probably in 2006. That is if I can learn how to shoot this gun. I'll just give you a call sometime.

Mbogo:

Thanks for your advice, though I'm not sure I know exactly what you mean. I would be happy to shoot with you if you and I are in the same area. I'm from up in the mountains in Ellijay. Where are you at?

X-Cal, your setup and your scope mount may be ok but your shooting technique may have a flaw, if that makes sense. When I first got my big bores, a .375 H&H and a .458 Win Mag., I had to retrain my body to really hold the rifle firm, yet allow my whole body to give with the recoil. I didn't shoot off the bench for the first 50rds or so and I used iron sights. Once my body accepted the higher recoil, and no scope ring on my head to intimidate my every shot, the bench work was better than I expected. Believe it or not my hardest felt recoil firearm that I have is a 2-3/4" Model 1100 with a Hastings slug barrel. That thing just kicks my ass and my first shot with it just barly moved the scope to touch my brow. I was scared for the next ten shots and couldn't hit anything offhand. Just remember that bench shooting is fine for load developement and zeroing, but the real results are your offhand efforts. Try it without the scope for a while if you can then see if you have a different result. Best of luck.

X,
I'm in Filer Idaho, just the other side of Jackpot, just out of Twin Falls.

Email me at ray@atkinsonhunting.com...be sure and put a heading or subject as I have to be very carefull about viruses and I don't open anything from someone I don't know..

x-caliber,

I am in south Georgia, quite a drive from Elijay. If you are going to be down in the Savannah or Dublin area drop me an email and we will take that 375 to the range.

As for the adjustment, loosen the rings and move the scope away from your eye until the image at high power (8x in this case) starts to show a ring of black around it as you are leaning into the rifle as far as you can when shooting from any type of normal shooting position (standing, sitting, kneeling, lying down, and from the bench). This will ensure that you aren't close enough to get hit with the scope if you are holding the rifle properly. After tightening the rings try all the positions again to be sure that you aren't too close to the scope in ANY of them.

Grip the forearm and wrist area of the stock firmly while pulling the rifle into your shoulder when firing to minimize muzzle rise, and to prevent the rifle from trying to slip off your shoulder during recoil.

Good shooting,
Jim

X-Calibre,

Leupold are generally well know for being quite forgiving as far as eye relief goes so I do not think that is your problem.

In addition to the advice to site the scope as far forward as practical,read what JKS says about length-of-pull again. IMHO too short a LOP is a major factor in these sort of problems. You could always try one of those slip-on recoil pads at the range and see if it improves things.

Regards,

Pete

X I am just over the line in NC. You are not far from me. I have been using the 375 for about 4 years now as my main hunting rifle for almost everything. Yes I think the 2x8 is a good choice for all the reasons above. I have gone to larger scope since the deer hunting club I belong to has strict rules about how many points on a side as a legal shooter. With a 1.75x6 I had trouble counting in last shooting light. My eyes are not what they once were. I am at the age of frustration. Glasses are not required to do everything but sometimes I have things I just can't see detail on. 8x should give you all you need. Good hunting. "D"