Hi Folks
I need some advice. I just bought a Ruger DGR in 416 Rigby ( I have used it on Buff and love the caliber). I am using Warne detachable rings. I wanted 2 scopes mounted for it. The scopes were a 1.5 -5 Leupold and a 1.75-6 Leupold. My gunsmith says the 1.75 to 6 will not fit. Not enough space for the front rings. The question what is the minimum eye relief I should have for this scope? Other that the 1.5-5 which has plenty, what other scopes are suggested. Thanks folks. Buff and sable in Mozambique in 2009.
Thanks Tony

You picked the 2 best for that rifle,without going to the high dollar Schmidts,Zeiss and other German stuff..and,their eye relief is not as much either....They may make a extended ring for the Ruger that will allow the 175-6,but if not,the 1-5 is fine,has long eye relief and 5x is enough for what your hunting with that caliber and when you get face to face with that buff,dial it down to lowest power...Get the #4 reticle if you havent bought it yet..The best for DG...The only other scope with more eye relief (5"!) is the Leupold 2.5 Ultralight.I have that on my .600OK Bolt and will put it on my .700 too.The only drawback is its only 2.5 power,but thats still enough for me...Good Luck!

Leupold 2.5x compact. If you mount it to the extreme forward position in the rings, it will stay farther away from your forehead than any other scope. The issue is not just eye relieve, but how far back the scope eyepiece sticks out from the rear ring. Variables will always project back farther than the 2.5x compact.

Yes,that is a Fact!I learned the hard way a few months back before I switched back to the 2.5 Leupold! Ouch!

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
Leupold 2.5x compact. If you mount it to the extreme forward position in the rings, it will stay farther away from your forehead than any other scope. The issue is not just eye relieve, but how far back the scope eyepiece sticks out from the rear ring. Variables will always project back farther than the 2.5x compact.

Is it unusual for the objective bell on the 1.75-6 leupold to interfere with the Warne rings so that I cannot get the scope close enough to get a full view??? Thanks for the info folks,
Tony

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
Leupold 2.5x compact. If you mount it to the extreme forward position in the rings, it will stay farther away from your forehead than any other scope. The issue is not just eye relieve, but how far back the scope eyepiece sticks out from the rear ring. Variables will always project back farther than the 2.5x compact.

500gr has an excellent point. The 1.5X5 eyepiece is much longer than the 2.5X8 Leupold. I have both in QD mounts for the same rifle, and the 1.5X5 gets real close to the eyebrow, while the 2.5x8 leaves a bit of margin with a shorter eyepiece section.

I wish I had a fixed 2.5, to tell the truth. It would replace the 1.5X5 as fast as I could make the switch.

I also have a 2.5 Leupold on my 416. After careful checking it seemed to have the best chance of not hitting me. Short eyepiece and long eye-relief. I was looking at a guys Ruger 416 the other day with a 1.75-6 Leupold on it. It seems to fit on it, though I would have slid the scope farther forward than he had it.
I don't know what trick of the eye makes it happen, but for me a 2.5 power seems exactly like no magnification at all. With the heavy duplex it is like glorified iron sights.

I have had a 1.75-6x Leupold on my RSM in .416 for years and it fits fine. There is absolutely no room to move it forward or back, but it is fine just where it mounts for me. I am using Ruger rings though which could make a difference. I love the lower end variables on the 9.3x62 and up, they are perfect to hunt with and you can pull off a long shot on a springbuck as well. 4 in. of eye relief is about the least I would want on the .416's. I have a 1.5-6x Sightron on a .375 and it works well, optics are a little brighter than a Leupold at night, supposedly they hold up to recoil well, but mine is pretty new. They are not nearly as pretty as the VXIII, but you can buy one for under $250 too. I like the max 6x mag. for practicing, can shoot some coyotes with it just to get used to the rifle, and the lower powers are perfect to hunt with.