I mounted a Leupold VX2 1-4X scope on my new CZ 416 Rigby. I am not sure if the below mounting of the front ring is faulty. The ring is over the gold ring and the objective lens.

This scope has just come back from service at Leupold with a new lens assembly as the old one had spots and was bit murky. I have not fire a single shot with this scope on since it came back from Leupold 2 days ago.




Now here is the problem - the front lens has got spots again. These are not murkey & I can see the sight picture clearly from the normal end.





My questions are

1. Have I made a mistake in mounting the scope with the rings over the lens area?
2. Have I crushed the lens when tightening the ring and thus damaged the scope - thus leading to spots?
3. What are the spots? Why?


I would appreciate any help.

I suspect the front lens may be cracked. It happens when the front ring is tightened over the front lens. I did it once myself on my 602. Luckily Leupold will repair it. The 1,5-5x is slightly longer if I recall and can be mounted slightly further forward, thus solving the problem.

Naki while the lenses may not be cracking it could be the coatings that are being distorted into spotting, same cause though, front ring too close to front lense.

I have a 2x Leupold on my 404 but the front ring is well back on the tube as in the photo below and scope just like new after 30 odd years of use.

The CZ has a fairly long ring spread. You might consider retiring the Leupold 1-4 to a different rifle.

FTR, the Nikon Monarch Compact 2-8 fits very nicely on the CZ. I've had three on three CZ 416's and they are CLEAR-bright glass, ruggedly reliable on big boomers, and 2 power for up-close dnagerous and 8 for reaching out as far as you want to shoot a Rigby, cover all of the bases. Eye-relief is a comfortable 3.8" at the highest power, 4" at 2.0 power.

Of course, a famous PH used a 416 Rigby with open sights over a 60-year career. It's a great calibre.

If you are going to stick with the Leupold get an extended ring for the front so it won't be over the lens.

I trashed the front lens on the same scope in Talley rings on my 416 CZ. I switched to a 1.5x5 as suggested and it works fine. I would also consider the new / old Leupold 3 power. It is a very nice longer straight tube scope. I believe you can buy these from the Leupold Custom Shop for about $300.. I'm not sure if any dealers carry them in stock. Very nice with a German #4.
I am going to switch to a Trijicon 1x4 scope for my CZ. It is a 30MM scope and plenty long enough. It gives you one power at the bottom end which is nice. The Leupold becomes a backup scope.

Yep! Your gonna need an "extended" base if you are gonna use a short scope....had to use 'em on my Rugers too!


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Thanks guys. Really appreciate the feedback & info.

I'll just return it to Leupold nd tell them this story. They might charge me for the lens this time ...but they are always very good to deal with.

You might want to ask Leupold if they have a spec established for tightening the ring screws when straight tubed scopes are used. I am curious if there is one. I use Brownell screw drivers and I know it is easy to "gorilla tighten" the screws.