OK, I've got this here FN in .375 H&H (peep sights being removed). Now this here gun is not to be relegated to strictly DG usage. In fact, it is primarily to be used as a plains game day rifle and a leopard over bait at night (dusk?) rifle. It is also in the process of having express sights installed so that it can serve as a back-up (to my 404 Jeffery), DG rifle.

Question -- what scope do I want to put in the QD rings? Remember, chances are that it will never hunt dangerous game, BUT IT COULD! My gunsmith thinks I should go ahead and put something like an Elite 4200, 2-10x40 with the firefly reticle for low light. Makes sense, since the gun is primarily a long-range capable, plains game gun.

Ah hell, I guess I guess I could just go ahead and buy two scopes for it with two sets of QD rings -- one in high power, illuminated configuration and one in say 1-4x20 for dangergous game. Or I could make it three scopes, with the third one being a designated night-time scope. This would solve the whole problem.

But let's pretend for a minute that I'm not made of money. What scope would you put on here for this "all around" usage?

Zeiss 1.5x-6x42mm.

George

While I am not a fan of illuminated reticals, in this case you may need one, or at least find it beneficial. My choice would be a 1.5-5x I.R. Leupold VXIII. 5x is all the power one needs for shots within normal game shooting ranges. I have several 1.5-5x scopes on different DG rifles and have shot paper with them out to 300 yards with no trouble, and if I use an 8" target instead of a 3" target, shots to 500 yards are quite doable. IMO one of the biggest mistakes most shooters/hunters make is over scoping their rifles. The extra power might be nice on the range, but in the field it hurts more that it helps as most shots are not going to be that far away, and for a DGR, you want the biggest FOV you can get for when things get up close and personal.

[ 11-13-2003, 21:11: Message edited by: Big Bore ]

I have been quite happy with a couple of VariX III's 1.5-5 with IR. On my 338 in dark second growth timber it really helped. If not 1.5-5, the VariX III 1.75-6 is another choice.

Let me summarize the above:

Zeiss 1.5-6
Leupold 1.5-5
Leupold 1.75-6

It is hard to improve on those suggestions.

I reckon big bore has got it right most people over scope, I was guilty of that, I reckon a 1-4x20 leupold will serve you very well. 4x is plent of magnification out to 300-350 yards for pig sized game and I would barely ever shoot that far more like 150-200 yards would be the regular shooting distances. If you do want a little more magnification the leupold 2-7 Vari X11 is a lightweight tough scope with heaps of eye releif and it is a lot cheaper than the afore mentioned 1.75-6 leupold, it also handles recoil I had mine on a .416 Rigby with no dramas for a while, only changed it because it did not look right on a .416 . I reckon the law of diminishing returns is sinking in with the Vari X111 leupolds. Have a look through a 2-7 leupold there a damn good all round scope, I have one mounted on my 9.3x62 (I would rather have a 1-4, but it was what I had lying around).

Everybody seems to be steering me toward a dangerous game-type scope, which is fine, since I hunted plains game with my 1.1-4x24 Kahles on my .404 last summer and had no problem with shots up to 300 yards.

But what about my leopard hunting? Any of these illuminated? I don't think so. Who makes a quality low power illuminated scope?

Seriously, that's why I'm currently leaning toward the Bushnell Elite with firefly reticle. Before you turn your nose up at Bushnell, I can testify to the quality of the Elite series of scopes. I have two Elite scopes (one a 4200 and the other a 3200) and could not be happier with them. I use them on my "extreme conditions" guns (wet and cold) because of the rain guard feature. I also have a VXIII and an older VXII on a couple of guns and these are the only scopes ever to fail me in the field (on one, the rear lens broke free from the tube and pivited, and the other fogged up in a rain storm). Of course Leupold made good on both scopes and I still use them heavily. I just bring this up to show that Leupold is not infallible.

GAHUNTER,

Pay attention now, Leupold makes their 1.5x5, with Illuminated Reticle with both Regular Duplex (leupold # 53650) and German #4 (leupold # 53652) reticle's.

Kahles makes their Helia compact with IR, in their 1.5x6x42, as well as 2.5x10x50, and 3x12x56.

I sure others do as well. (I just do not have their cataloges in front of me.) Not too fond of the eye relief on most of the better German scopes, but if they are your bag, go for it.

Regards,

Bob

[ 11-14-2003, 01:06: Message edited by: Shadow ]

I have a Leupold 1-4X20 VX-II on my .375. It shoots fine.

Vari-X III in 2.5x8 power. Works great for leopard, buffalo, and anything in between. There in no real need for an illuminated reticle, just one more thing to fail, and yes a 375 will cause scope failures at times (I have had failures with several name brand scopes including Leupold-none of them are immune!!!!). Take a backup scope for "just in case", but stick with your main scope for all your hunting, as this makes it much easier to shoot well due to familiarity with your equipment.

The low power variables (with 20 mm front lenses) are fine for normal daylight use, but there is a NOTICEABLE difference in low light performance. The 1.75x6 VX-III works fine for most hunting (this is what I replaced the 1.5x5 with on my 416 after being disappointed in it's light gathering ability while hunting hyenas), but I find that I personally prefer the added magnification of the 2.5x8 for plains game use.

If I am in a situation that requires less magnification than 2.5x (read thick bush) I usually switch to open sights anyway.

Did you get the 404 reload situation resolved? We need to have another GA 404 Jeff Shooters get-together .

Jim

Jim,

I ain't played with the .404 a'tall! Been too busy aworkin', playin' with the new .375, and venison critter huntin'. Soon as the venison critter season ends, I'll get back to the loading bench and see if I can get all the bugs worked out permanently.

I propose that the next time the Georgia Association of 404 Jeffery Shooters meets, we do it up in Hotlanta. I'll treat the membership to a steak on the Big Green Egg and we can spend the afternoon at River Bend Gun Club thumpin' paper --all the way out to 600 yards, if you like (you ever seen the 600-yard trajectory of a 400-grain .423 bullet traveling 2300 fps?.

By the way, you make good sense about the scope suggestion. Something in the neighborhood of 2-7x40 may be just the compromise I'm looking for. If I have to follow-up a wounded buffalo or leopard, I'll just lose the scope for the open sights.

If we are going to take a club trip to the Dark Continent this summer, we better hurry up and act, since I'm on the verge of booking a DG hunt in the Caprivi Strip. This might also be a good place for you to get Simba, albiet a might pricy.

See ya.

The Leupold VXIII 1.5-5 IR IS an illuminated retical, just like I said in my first post. The biggest problem I have with something like the Firefly is that you have to charge it by shining a light source into the ocular lens of the scope. The Leupy IR has that goofy looking battery pack on the ocular lens housing, but at least you don't need to shine a light in the rear end of it to make it work. I would think having to do that in the evening in a leopard blind would be a sure fire way to go home empty handed. If it behaves like most glow in the dark items, it shines brightly at first then fades dimmer and dimmer as times goes by. If it needs recharging in very dark conditions, it may shine too brightly at first. I see so many problems with that type of set-up that I would rather take my chances on a battery going dead, at least I could dial in the amount of brightness I needed. Even with the firefly you are not only dependent on having good batteries in your flashlight, but also not forgetting to bring the flashlight in the first place.

GAHUNTER
I have all of the Leupold scopes mentioned.
The 1.5x5, the 1.75x6 and the 2.5x8.
ALL HAVE THE HEAVY DUPLEX.
I repeat.
ALL HAVE THE HEAVY DUPLEX.
Mine do not have the illuminated reticle. A friend of mine has a Leupold 1.5x5 with the illuminated reticle, 30 mm tube.
The 2.5x8 has proven the best in low light conditions. As it gets dark, you loose the ability to see your reticle before you loose the ability to see and identify the game.
THE HEAVY DUPLEX or some type of illuninated reticle [that can take the recoil] is the most important thing.
I have the Leupold 2.5x8 with the HEAVY DUPLEX on my 9,3x74R Chapuis double rifle and I am very pleased with it.
I have several European scopes on other rifles and I like them too... But dollar for dollar the 2.5x8 with the HEAVY DUPLEX will serve you very well.
Most illuminated reticles seem to be less than ideal when they are "turned off".
I have a set of 30mm rings ordered for my 9,3 and I am researching what illuminated reticle scope I am going to buy. No hard decision yet.
I plan on using it for Leopard in 2004 and for pigs at night. I have taken a pig at night, on a dark night with the 2.5x8 with no problem.
The Heavy Duplex scopes do not cause any problem on even coyote on long range shots.
I also have a Leupold 2.5x8 with the regular Duplex, I much prefer the HEAVY DUPLEX for all big game hunting.

Well I just learned that the 30mm rings for my Chapuis 9,3x74R double are in the country and enroute to me. So now I must pick an Illuminated reticle scope. I have been dwelling on this for quite a while and think I may have the answer.
The Zeiss Varipoint VM/V 2.5-10x50.
If it will not fit because of the 50mm objective then the Varipoint VM/V 1.5-6x42 will get the nod.
I like the Reticle 56.
unlike other European scopes the size of the dot remains constant, thus it does not "get small" at low power or "get big" as the power goes up.
This scope will be used for Leopard and Lion over bait, and for wild pigs at night in TX. If I really like the scope I will use it on the rifle all the time, if not I will use the Leupold 2.5x8 as my general purpose scope. In any event I think it is an excellent idea to have a spare scope sighted in for your rifle.

Has any one used this scope?
Also I would appreciate any feed back on any illuminated reticle scopes ya'll have used.

I use and like a 1x4 Leupold on my 375 or a 1.5 x5 Leupold....No need for more.

I always buy the best when I can--and as close to it as I can when I can't pay the freight.

With scopes, I can pay the freight. So I bought a Schmidt & Bender 1.25-4x20mm Flash Dot scope with the A7 reticle for my .375.

The left hand turret has 11 variable intensity settings for the illuminated reticle.

When you turn off the illumination, the reticle is just like a standard one. It is versatile and tough and comes with a 30 year warranty.

The illumination option has come in handy for me on leopards. In fact, I won't go to Africa without that option in future. Every little bit helps.

OK, I've make my decision.

I've decided to go with a Kahles 1.5-6x42, 7A reticle, 30mm scope for this gun. I've been very happy with my other two Kahles scopes, and this one, with the 42mm objective, should be very bright, while still providing a low enough power for dangerous game hunting. The more I thought about it, the more I kept coming back to the Kahles.

I love Kahles 30mm scopes!