The Accurate Reloading Forums
Scopes and recoil
11 August 2003, 23:15
OverkillScopes and recoil
What scopes can take hard recoil? I mean calibers like the .585 Nyati-.600 Overkill???
I have a aim point on my .460 and it works well. Is it possible for any scope to hold with a rifle that have a recoil in the 200 (ft/lbs) range???
Thanks!
//OK
12 August 2003, 02:05
<eldeguello>I'M not sure ANYONE has the answer to this! I have found that Leupolds stand up to recoil pretty well, but have no experience with such extremes!
![[Confused]](images/icons/confused.gif)
12 August 2003, 11:51
cr500I asked the same question recentley and was told that the only scope which will handle big recoil for a long time is the Leupold 2.5x compact. Something about where its adjustments are located and their general design. Its got plenty of eye relief and seems to be a perfect magnification and size too. Its what I will be getting for most use on my 458 Lott when it arrives.
12 August 2003, 11:53
<bigcountry>A friend of mine has a 460Weatherby and had bad luck with the Leupolds. They always fixed them, but wouldn't stand up. He finally got a Unertl and they seem to be doing well on this gun for 6 months.
13 August 2003, 00:39
<J�rgen>My friends 416 Rigby destroyed a Leupold Vari X III after the 12th shot , can`t say anything good about this ........!
Maybe you should try a Zeiss ?I`ll test my 500 Nitro soon with a 1-4x Zeiss on top , I`ll let you know , J�rgen
![[Big Grin]](images/icons/grin.gif)
I reckon the 2.5x leupolds are a tough scope. I have them mounted on my .416 Rigby, .585 Nyati, 45/70 and will also put one on my .458 Lott when it's finished. Above .375 H&H I also like fixed scopes.
13 August 2003, 10:44
Paul HMe thinks one of the biggest problems with scope life on big bores isn't the scope so much as the mount, or lack of sufficient mounting. Look at what the guys shooting the handcannons due to keep their scopes alive. Using 3 or 4 rings, and being sure that the rings are properly alligned to prevent the mount from torqueing the scope is a very good foundation for keeping your scope alive.
13 August 2003, 16:57
AtkinsonThe 2.5 Leupold compact is the toughest scope I know of, on big bores.
14 August 2003, 09:35
OverkillSo a Leupold Vari X III 1-4 x would not hold on a real big bore?
Not bigger than a 2,5 x would hold or what?
That can be a reason to why the most big bores have open sights and ghost sights.
17 August 2003, 09:03
SabotThe key is that the scope not only needs to be strong and well mounted, but LIGHT. The weight of the scope determines the stresses it undergoes for a given amount of recoil. Its more important for the innards to be light than the housing, so simplicity has its advantages.
17 August 2003, 12:40
raamwI broke a brand new Leupold Vll- 1-4 on the first or second shot since I could not get the 458WM to group, I put a Bushnell Elite 2x7 and the gun grouped perfectly with over 60 rounds with no problems, figure that....price sometimes does not spell strenght
17 August 2003, 16:13
retreeveroverkill,
I am using a leupold varXIII with 1.5/5X on my Lott..With Warne QD mounts and a fiber otic front sight Will get it back next week and will send 50 rounds thru it to see if it works..and holds it POI..
Mike
Freedom is not Free
I will opt for a 2.5x compact in a set of warne qd's I have here for my .458 Lott. I just feel for .375 and up I want a scope with as few moving bits as possible. I know variables work and many use them on there big rifles but this is just what I like. I would consider adding a 1-4 on my .416 Rigby over the 2.5x compact it wears now possibly.
17 August 2003, 18:04
<rogerq>I have a new Nikon Monarch 2X7 on a Ruger #1 Tropical. Just shot first time today. Mounts shot loose in first two rounds, scope fine! Will keep appraised!
416 remington mag 400 grain hornady at 2400fps
Roger Q.
Copious amounts of loctite next!!!!! First three shots touched at 50 yards, more tommorow.
PS are PAST recoils pads any help?
17 September 2003, 17:10
ColeHave a LEOPOLD VARI X 2 1x4 power on a 458lott. Shooting 600grs. bullets - no problems yet. Using Ruger rings.Been shooting it 2 years.
17 September 2003, 17:45
sharps54While the recoil level is not as high as a DGR Trijicon Reflexs survive on M2s and MK 19s. Trijicon says they will guarentee them on ANY rifle. For those not familiar the M2 is the original 50 BMG and the MK19 is a beltfed 40mm Grenade Launcher.
Jason
18 September 2003, 11:34
JudyMy ex-husband hated Leupolds for big bores, because he broke them all the time. This irrated me, since I then, had to listen to him explain why he need to spend more money on different scopes!
Anyway, as I recall he had one Leupold VAR II 1-4 that held up and the other big bores wore Zeiss optiks. I cannot recall ever having heard him say one of the Zeiss scopes failed.
As for me personally, I have a 416 Rigby, which had a Zeiss 3-9 on it. I have fired ~ 300 rounds without any issues at all! The other great things about the Zeiss is that it has 4" of eye relief and the point of impact doesn't change when you change the magnification. The latter has always seemed to be an issue with Leupolds, at the least the 4 or 5 I have personally used. judy