I just bought a great CZ safari 416 Rigby from jjs and now I need to decide which scope to place on it. I am considering the Burris safari 1.75X-5X-32mm (Bal plex ret)or a Leupold VX-III 1.75-6x32mm (B&C ret). Both have good eye relief but the Burris is better. I am considering an illuminated reticle. Ok veterans...hit me with your opinion but be gentle...I am fairly new to dangerous game hunting. Thanks in advance, Dave

I saw a Leupold Tactical 1.5-5x20 Illuminated today...very impressive!

http://www.leupold.com/products/tactical_products/Mark_4_1_5-5x20mm_MRT_M2.htm



Product Highlights
Now, in addition to our 3x – 9x MR/T, you have the Mark 4 1.5-5x20mm MR/T M2 for greater versatility in mid-range scenarios.

Product Specifications
Actual Magnification: 1.5(1.5) 4.5(5)
Length (in): 9.3
Eyepiece Length (in): 3.1
Objective Length (in): N/A
Objective Diameter (in): 1.2
Eyepiece Diameter (in): 1.7
Tube Diameter: 30mm
Weight: 15.0 oz. / 425 grams
Eye Relief (in): 4.4(1.5) 3.6(5)
Eye Relief (mm): 112(1.5) 91(5)
Obj. Lens Diameter: 0.8in / 20mm
Max. Adjustment @ 100 yds (in): 80
FOV @ 100 yds (ft): 65.7(1.5) 23.7(5)
FOV @ 100 m (m): 7.9(1.5) 21.9(5)

Ring Spacing
Max. Mount Ring Spacing (in): 5.8
Front Ring Space (in): 2.1
Rear Ring Space (in): 2.5

Dave,

Not sure if you got my e-mail today...if not you may want to check for details...gun was shipped today, your FFL holder should have in two or three working days....

Best regards,

Jim

No problem Jim...already called my ffl and asked them to be looking for it around Tues or Wed. Thanks Jim, Dave

Thanks Bus. That would be a great option but I'm staying with a 1" tube as the rifle is coming with 1" quick release Talleys.

S&B Zenith 1.1–4 x 24 .. I look through a Khales, Swarvski, S&B and Zeiss scopes at the SHOT show.. Th S&B was that best.

Sorry this is 30mm

mitchell6873,

The Burris safari 1.75X-5X-32mm used to have a fairly long occular piece that forces the scope to be mounted closer to the shooter's eye....I have a ten year old scare over my eye from said scope.

Durability is a real concern on a 416 so I would recomend that you keep the scope as light as possible and also as Leupold as possible. The fixed 2.5X works great and the 1.5-5X seems to hold up fairly well.

Something I have not tried but would consider is one of the Nightforce low power scopes. The big 56 Mil Nightforces live better than most on 50 BMG's so it stands to reason that the small scopes they offer can only be tougher.

quote:

Originally posted by mitchell6873:
I just bought a great CZ safari 416 Rigby from jjs and now I need to decide which scope to place on it. I am considering the Burris safari 1.75X-5X-32mm (Bal plex ret)or a Leupold VX-III 1.75-6x32mm (B&C ret). Both have good eye relief but the Burris is better. I am considering an illuminated reticle. Ok veterans...hit me with your opinion but be gentle...I am fairly new to dangerous game hunting. Thanks in advance, Dave

Here is the real stuff:
http://www.nickel-ag.com/de/products/scopes/15630.aspx

A scope with 5" eyerelief.

I had a 2.5x compact leupold on my .416 but just today I mounted a 1-4x20 leupold which was on my .375 H&H, I wanted a little more magnification, we will see how it goes.

The 2.5x is a solid scope however.

While there are certainly more expensive scopes available, the 2.5 Leupold is an excellent choice for that application. Also, although you didn't ask...IMHO...for a .416, if you feel you need more magnification than that, you're too far away from your target.
Whatever your choice..Best Wishes,
Don

tasco titan 1.25x4.5
leupold 1.5-5 .. either 1" or 30mm
leupold 1x4 .. good eye relief

AIMPOINT

quote:

Also, although you didn't ask...IMHO...for a .416, if you feel you need more magnification than that, you're too far away from your target.
Whatever your choice..Best Wishes,

Glad you lead into that with "opinion" as the 416 rigby is a decent DGR and a FINE plains game rifle... though I tend to use 416s (and just about everything thing bigger) for deer and feral hog guns... using a 416 on nilgai either means an EXCELLENT stalk, or you are going to have to make a 150-250 yard shot, and some guys like more power...

though a 6x18 on a 416 rigby would result in bleeding eye syndrome!!!
jeffe

I just put an old Leupold M8 3X fixed-power on my CZ 550 Safari .416 Ribgy. This scope has post & crosshair reticle, which should be suitable. I have heard that the Leupold 2.5X Compact is the toughest scope available for heavy-recoil rifles, and have no idea how well this 3X will hold up. Plan to find out! Haven't shot it yet, though.

Have a Leup. 4X Compact on a Ruger No. 1 .45/70 that develops 58 ft/lb of recoil, and so far, it has held up O.K.

All my rifles have scopes except one.....my 404 Jeffery.....

I'm not at all sure that the truly big bores need or atually are beneficial with a scope. This is of course is a personal consideration but sometimes we don't consider the irons as the primary sighting system.

I see the 416 Rigby as a versitile "big bore" capable as a DG rifle, yet flexible enough to take PG out to range....that requires a scope, my eyes are just not that good beyond 50 yards... and when you consider hunting in the "Bush", well a scope help in picking a spot to shoot through..the Talley QD mounts will allow you to take off the scope, if the need arises.....

I prefer German Optics, Swarovski and the like, for most everything except a big bore...not enough eye relief...from what I have seen and experienced.

My choice because I have some experience with them...and their warrenty is among the best...is Leupold. I would go with the VX III 1.5x5, matte finish..but everyone is not the same and your "eyes" may see better with another choice...I would leave the 2.5x for the true big bores...458s and the like.

Good luck with your choice..

I have the 1.5-5x IR Leupy on mine with a 2.5 Compact as a spare. Both have worked nicely and have taken the recoil with no problems so far. The 1.5-5x provides just enough more magnification to make it easier to use for me.

I just put a straight 2.5 Leupold on mine (last week). I am concerned about durability of variables scopes on with the Rigby cartridge.

This was not based on any personal experience, but from the experience's of many posters on this site.
Chad

I do intend to hunt feral hogs and Nilgai with it so I feel compelled to have at least a 5 power. How much would I be pushing it to use up to 6 or 7 power? Would I be bleeding? Would the scope hold up to it?

The common wisdom is that .416 is where scopes start to get really pounded and as their own weight increases they become less able to withstand the recoil.

There is a real difference in recoil (moment) between a .375 H&H and a .416 Rigby. The .375 is the largest caliber I personally would use with a large scope even if it has sufficient eye relief. No point in begging for scope breakage.

1.5-5 30MM leupold with German #4 illuminated on my M70 .416 rem mag. The Leupold is every bit as clear as my nightforce compact for half the $$. I liked it so well I bought 2 of them.

I think the scopes you are picking from are all top quality, I personaly would choose a heavy duplex reticle. And a 20mm objective.
I am no dagerous game hunter, never hunted anyplace but oregon. Nor am I a guy who places a bunch of unoficial rules into a hunting experience, but I would not shoot bear a lion an elephant a cape buffalo or any potentialy dangerous animal at a distance where a balistic plex reticle would be required.
I think 200 yards is as far as my ethicks would allow. I don't wan't the animal I wounded killing another hunter and I would give up hunting if I ever did such a thing, mabye evan if I put a guide in a position of going into a thicket after somthing I shot !!!...tj3006

The bal plex or B&C ret wouldn't be for DG. I would use the center crosshair for that or remove the scope via the quick det talleys. As I mentioned, I want to also use it for feral hogs and Nelgai also. I have shot 350 lb boars where I hunt and there are some much bigger. The one I shot this year (300lbs, hit in the base of his lungs with a triple shock that stopped on the far side shield plate) went into the brush in south Texas and subsequently charged my hunting buddy who went in to help me find it. He then unloaded a full clip into from his 40 (using golden sabre bullets) before it had the good grace to lay down and die. Scared the hell out of us. After an autopsy we retrieved a number of these bullets from the neck/chest area. I can try to post pics of bullets and or animal if anyone is interested. Anyhow, I now feel these animals are worthy of being shot with a 416 rigby. And a think the Nelgai speaks for itself.

I have a Leupold VX-III in 1.5x5, matte finish, German #4 reticle, mounted with Talley Quick Release rings on my CZ 550 in .416 Rigby. It is a great combination. Check the post from several weeks ago on this forum with some pictures of several targets from the rifle's inaugural trip to the range. Two three-shot groups with all three shots touching. Good optics with plenty of eye relief.

Dave:

When you have a chance go ahead and post some pics of the bullets..always interesting to see bullet performance on game.

Charge from a wounded hog...I know that can be an interesting experience!

I had never been hog hunting until last year...meet the DRSS guys for a Hog Hunt down in Crowell, TX...On the first afternoon 577NE (who is a poster on AR) and I were being dropped off ...we were just out of the truck when a group of hogs cut across the field...since I had no idea of the range (fields can be deceptive and I was shooting a DR 470NE) I yelled out "how far", the guide said 100yds...I shot at the lead hog...and the guys yelled, you "hit him"..I thought must not of been too good as the Hog limped off the field...577NE, let go with his 500NE...shot down a tree!

Anyway, we followed the Hogs down a ravine...hogs and bullets started flying!
In the aftermath, I went down to check in the ravine...out of the grass, I almost stepped on the hog I originally shot...well I was unsure what happened next me yelling "oh shxx" or the sound of my 470NE going off..the hog was quickly put down from a couple of feet away...very interesting experience...

The first shot on this hog had hit the knee cap..500grain North Fork Cup Point almost severing the leg...we later measured the distance of the first shot...almost 170yds, no wonder I hit low....

Hogs are fun to hunt, I wish we had them around here....

Back to your 416, before you purchase a scope for that rifle make sure whatever you buy has enough tube length so you can mount it properly

I have a 4.5-14x50 Vari-X III on my CZ!

My RSM is scopeless, for the time being.

The Leupold 2.5 is a tough scope but, on a DG rifle, you are handicapping yourself a bit by not being able to go to a LOWER power for the close stuff. Huge difference between the Leuplod's actual 2.3 magnification and what you see through a scope such as I eventually put on my 416 Rigby, a 1.1-4X Kahles. The 416 Rigby does have some recoil(actually MORE than a 458 WM) but generally does not eat scopes as readily as, for example, the Lott does. It will eat the mounts though if not sturdy enough.

I don't think i have permission to post photos here...anyone know how to get this done?

Mjines, I'm in Tomball and would love a chance to see your setup sometime if possible. Did you have any issues with tube length?

The definitive source for information on posting pictures. I was able to do it following the instructions, that says a lot.

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6321043/m/951100671

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Well, for some reason I can't get the pics of the bullets to load correctly...

Here are some pics of my CZ in .416 Rigby with the Leupold 1.5x5 with Talley QR rings:

Thanks Mike!

For a fellow Houstonian, no problemo.

I put my 2.5 on with QR Talley's also. If/when I make to Africa, I would like to shoot a buff using the express sights. But if the opportunity presents for a longer shot, say >100yards the scope will be easy to put on and use.

I have a 2-8 Burris w/posi lock on my Whitworth 375 in QR Talley's also. I wanted a little more magnification with the 375, but the option of open sights if needed.

SDhunter,

I have had only fair success with the Talley's returning to zero. Zeroing, removing the scope and remounting...results in POI shifting up to an inch or so, generally right or left, not so much up or down.

I have tried differnt regimes tightening the levers but have not found the answer.

You will want to check to see if you have better results. Not that an inch or so is all that great, but...

JPK