I am a newbee on this subject so bare with me.

What sights do you have on your big bore bolt action rifles?
Is it setup for Safari?
How much eye relieve does this setup allow? (I prefer not to go to the hospital with a scope cut.)
Are there any good budget/used options?
What else is there to consider when making this purchase?

1. quality open sights, such as the NECG Masterpiece sights or the ones that come on the Ruger RSM.

2. If you choose to mount a scope, sturdy quick release rings such as Talley.

3. If you choose to mount a scope, something with a large field of view, good eye relief and rugged, such as the Leupold 2.5x compact with heavy duplex reticle.

Be careful of heavy scopes on big bore guns because they break.

As far as scopes & rings go…

When mounting on the receiver the Leupold 2.5 compact is pretty hard to beat with around five inches of eye relief…

If you’re really worried about getting hit the scout style set up is also good for big bores…

I’ve got a Leupold 2.5 scout scope mounted on the barrel in QR Talley rings and absolutely love it…

Although the .375 H&H is a borderline big bore it's the biggest I have so far.

Scope is Zeiss Conquest 2.5-8

Rings are Talley quick release

NECG banded front sight

I'm still working on making an aperture to go on the rear scope base. When I took it to Namibia this last year I just took a second duplicate scope which I never needed. I'm in the planning stages for a true big bore, and it is likely to just get a NECG banded front, and an aperture rear. As to wether I will make the action a square bridge and mount the aperture on the rear bridge, or use a Rigby style is still up in the air.

ddunn,
My 458AccRel is being set up for hunting Sambar deer in terrain that's steep and wooded. Its currently wearing a 2.5x Leupold but that'll be swapped for a 4x Leupold ... no open sights yet. I kind of wish the Ruger open sights as found on the bolt-actioned Ruger Hawkeye/International where available aftermarket ... I'd fit a set and then modify them to suit my preferences.

I'd second what 500grains said about heavy scopes ... hard on the mounts and eventually the scope.
Cheers...
Con

I may be lucky, but I have a CZ 450 Dakota and a load with 500gr Barnes solids at 2450fps or so that shoots within an inch horizontal and vertical of the bull at 100 yds with the factory sights. It also has a Leupold 1.5-5X on it. Perfection in a 458 caliber rifle? Yes!

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

I have a Leupold VX III 1.75-6 X 32 scope with Leupold QR rings on my .375 H&H M70. The iron sights are the standard Winchester M70 sights set for 100 & 200 yards.

Rhys,

Talley makes an aperture type sight for their bases as does Jim Brockman. I have a Brockman and am having it refitted by Mark Stratton onto his bases for my Mod 70. I like it because its always there when you will need it.

_Baxter

No open sites on my 416rem. I have a vxII 1x4 in QR's. I also have a spare 1x4.

Right now z1r is tweeking it for me so I may or may not have to change rings but regardless, it'll work.

For an open sight try this one:

It is a passive fibre sight at once AND
illuminated by LED on your request...


http://www.titanium-gunworks.com/titanium-gunworks/led-...r-blaser-rifles.html

And if You want to use a scope without "scope kiss" - take Swaros Z6i 1-6x24 EE which has an eye relief of 4,7 inches !

Klaus

I've seen both of the apertures mentioned, and may get ahold of the talley, but I also have built most of the parts for my rifles.

I went Leup. 1.5x5 in Leup. lever rings on my 404j. My backup is a Leup. 2.5 in the same rings. My immediate backup is a single leaf express sight w/ NECG banded front flip-up ivory bead set @ 50yds. All wrok great. The 1.5c5 is sturdy & offers good 4: eye relief, the 2,5 abit more.

My 458wm has and my 375 had G&H quarter rib and banded front sight and G&H quich detach mounts for the scopes; a zeiss and a Schmidt & Bender. So far has worked well.

I use a barrel band front sight with a 3/32 Ivory bead and a shallow V rear on an Island or a quarter rib..

Sometimes I leave off the island sight and quarter rib and use a slip on Talley Peep on Talley bases with a NECG gold face partridge front sight..

I prefer low power scopes with 20 MM tube..My favorites are the old 3X Leupolds, the 1.4X and 1.5x5 Leupolds and in that order...

I would not own a big bore without iron sights, and in fact I use the iron sights more than the scope sights..I use the scope as a spare but I always have it and QD rings and bases, either Talleys or Claw mounts.

What Ray said, though I would add that if you need a scope on anything I would not use a scope on anything bigger than a 375. So, get a 375 or smaller if a scope is needed. And a 375 will kill any buff.

If you are going to use a scope and use it for hunting as opposed to wasting ammunition at the range (!), the latest hell-raising 6000 super boomer is big on recoil and little in need.

You didn't state what caliber, but it's what I would do.

I have a Burris Scope on my 458 Lott. With
Burris rings on a 1 3/4 X 5 X 30mm scope.
Hopes this helps.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
I would not own a big bore without iron sights, and in fact I use the iron sights more than the scope sights..I use the scope as a spare but I always have it and QD rings and bases, either Talleys or Claw mounts.

Why?
I have several medium bore rifles that have irons and scope. I only use the scope at this point.