My own personal preference for sights on big bore rifles are aperture sights. But, the eyes are just beginning to go. I know scopes are in my future.

I assume fixed power scopes are more reliable on a kicker.

What's a good magnification?

Am I wrong about variable scopes?

I mean, I haven't had any trouble with variables, but I don't have a variable mounted on a rifle that comes to the rear rather smartly.

Roger

Scrollcutter, not to skew the direction of this post but... Is and how is your eyesight effecting your work? Do you use a stereoscope, allowing infinite focus for your eyes?

I've used a microscope for about 15 years.

So to answer your question it has had no effect on the work. But, my shooting with open sights is deteriorating.

I've been using reading glasses for about 3 years and the blur has extended to about 20 inches and continues to go a little further south every year.

Roger

[ 07-12-2003, 04:09: Message edited by: Scrollcutter ]

I would take a look at the 2.5x compact made by leupold they are a very tough scope, and fine for game to 150 yards (and thius is small game). Big stuff say Horse size they would be good to 200-250 yards and thats as far as I would want to shoot any way.

I use the following scopes on guns up to and including 416...

1. 2.5x Leupold Alaskan 7/8" tube in Talley QD
R&Bs

2. 3X Leupolds

3. 1x4 Leupolds

4. 1.5x5 Leupolds...

Notice that all have the 20 MM objective or rather a straight tube that does not extend beyond the front ring very much...

I have had no problems....

For 458 Lott and larger and especially with a scope trashing muzzle brake, I only use a 2.5 Leupold Compact...That lesson cost me a lot of money in scopes......

Ray

I am looking for a new scope for my new 400. It has a leupold 1.5x5 now. It is as far back as it can possibly go but I would like another inch. How long are the 3x leupolds in comparison?

Ray

I am looking for a new scope for my new 400. It has a leupold 1.5x5 now. It is as far back as it can possibly go but I would like another inch. The front ring sits over the gold ring and the rear is against the turret.

How long are the 3x leupolds in comparison?

this is so important I asked it twice.

[ 07-12-2003, 07:25: Message edited by: Mickey1 ]

Aimpoint sight is the best for a big bore. It is the fastest sight that I know and it have very good accuracy from 0-150 meters!

I have a leupold Vari-x III with Warne QD mounts on a heavily braked 585. Both systems still doing fine -only 80 shots so far or thereabouts (estimated 75-80ftlbs recoil energy)

Karl.

I believe a 1X-4X or 1.5X-5X Leupold would stand up to the recoil of nearly anything! But there are 1X and 0X scopes, which only give you an aiming reticle, and have the same "field of view" as no scope at all.

Mickey I have the same problem with scope length you ask about. The 3x Leupold is a very long scope and will help you with the problem. It also has relatively long eye relief. I don't have a Leupold variable to compare with but the Leupold 3x will give you 9 3/4" from the gold ring (front of the front scope ring) to the rear of the scope. (This will vary slightly depending on the focus adjustment which varies the length of the scope,of course.)The turret adjustments are pretty well forward on this scope and I doubt they will be a problem. I asked Leupold and they advise against covering the gold ring with the front scope ring--they indicate the front ring should not surround the front scope lense. If you do this however the distance described above is almost 10 1/2". You will like the 3x--try to find one with the 3-post reticle if possible.

marsingbob

Thanks for the info. It might work then. Are you from Marsing ID?

Karl,
You will probably trash that scope within 300 rounds max...You would be smart to go to a 2.5X Leupold compact before that happens.

The problem is that scopes are made only to handle recoil that comes rearward therefore putting pressure on the forward torx of the scope...An airgun scope is just the opposite BTW because an air gun will trash any rifle scope..the muzzle brakes brings the gun forward or the same as an air gun, so you trash the scoope...The 2.5 compact has all the guts in the center under the adjustments and apparantly it is uneffected by all this business...Not by design but by providence...

Mickey1,
A quick check looks like the 3X Leupold is a good inch longer than the 1.5x5 leupold and about an 1-1/4 longer than the 1x4....

Marsingbob & Ray

I was just at the local gunshow where I was able to compare both scopes. The 3x is longer but has less eye relief. when both are but to the same point of view the turret is in the same place. I don't think that the 3x will do what I want.

I am now leaning towards a new Peccar as they have a very long tube on the 2x and 3x. They are made for Doubles and Drillings.

Thanks to both for your help.

Ray,
I have been thinking about taking the variable off for a while.
And the brake.

Karl.

Mickey,
My 3X have all the eye releif in the world and as much as my varibles or even more, or so it has always seemed to me...I have used them on all manner of big bores including my 505..they worked on it but not with a muzzle brake, it trashed them...Leupold fixed them..

Ray

Perhaps the new ones are different? Both of the ones I checked were used and I have no idea when they were made.

Mickey I admit it--Marsing Idaho. All of the 3x Leupolds are used--Leupold no longer makes a 3x.
Like Ray, I am surprised about the eye relief. I found the 3x to be as good as any of the Leupolds, unless you compare it with a 1 1/2 x 6 set at very low power. Eye relief varies a lot with the power setting. However at about 3x, I found the fixed to be about as good as any for eye relief. Let me know how your choice works--I am always looking for long scopes!

Ray: Are you saying tht my VX-III 1.5X5X20 currently on my 416 Ruger has a "limited" life? it has about 10 rounds through it right now. jorge

marsingbob

I have a good friend that has a vineyard just outside Marsing.

I set the 1.5x5 on 3x and held them side by side. the 3x is about 1.5"longer but only if the turrets were even would they both offer the full view.

What about the 2.5x? Anybody know?

Jorge,
Probably not on a 416 with a brake...You should be OK, its only on 458 Lotts and up that I have experienced scope/muzzle brake troubles. Karl is shooting a 585 Nyati I presumed and with a muzzle brake that should really play havoc with a scope...

Calibers larger than 416 should be shot with iron sights IMO, as most don't have the range to justify a scope in the first place..but todays generation is so scope cultured that relitively few shooters even know how to shoot irons these days or even consider it...to bad, because they are missing out on a true experience, and irons are so much better in the short rows..

I like a 2.5x leupold compact, current manufacture. You can get regular duplex or heavy duplex. They cost $180 and don't break. Great field of view and they hold zero.

Ray: my 416 is Un braked. To my way of thinking, if you need a brake, you need to go down to a smaller caliber. And I agree on your scope views and large calbers. jorge

PS; got your brochures, thanks!

Ray, I have heard and read about the damage that an airgun cna do to a "regular" scope but am yet to witness it firsthand. I have an older (15+ years)4x Redfield that has been on a 177 air rifle (thousands of rounds over 6-7 years) and it currently resides on my 458 win. No problems yet and the air gun was fairly powerful (900 fps range). What sorts of failures are associated with using a non-airgun scope on an airgun?

thanks

I use a 2.5x compact on a breaked .585 Nyati and so far it has held up no worries (100 or so shots).

Wolfrum,
your lucky most air guns will trash the adjustments and lossen the lenses..I have seen this on air guns...I have seen it a lot on big bores of 458 Lott and larger that have muzzle brakes....All scopes are designed to handle only backthrust...The one exception is the Leupold 2.5 Compact and that just happened, not by design, but by luck and by gosh!!

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the airgun/scope issue solely restricted to spring powered airguns? CO2 and pneumatic guns would not have a problem, and I doubt any of the recoilless spring powered guns that were used by air rifle competitors in years past would either.

Regards,
Scott