I currently have a Leupold 2.5 compact on my Mod. 70 416 Rem. Mag. using Talley bases and rings. I have a Leupold VX II 2x7 but it won't work with the currents rings/bases. I want a spare scope. I missed out on a Leupold VX II 1x4 sale so my options are 1) find another 2.5 compact 2) buy the VX 3 variable or 3) get the VX 1 shotgun variable. Since it is a spare I really don't want to throw away money although I guess the compact could become the spare if I buy the VX III. Maybe different rings and bases and use the 2x7. Those Talleys are nice though.

Thoughts?

regards,

Don

The talleys are nice rings and bases. I had to go with Leupold Reversible Fronts to get some of the glass I use to fit me or the scopes to get the proper eye relief. Hated to take the
QD talleys off but I couldn't make them work.

Have you considered the VX-R Firedot? they make a 1.25 x 4 and a 2-7 power and it has an easy on illuminated reticle. Friend of mine went with that for his .458 and it seemed to work pretty well. It's gonna be in the neighborhood of 400-500

Do you have the extended Talley base on the front, the 1x? It gives you .250 more room to move the front ring back and may fit your 2x7.

I'd stick with the Talley's. I will get getting another set today and using my current set for a back up 4x for my 375 MOd 70.

Good Luck.

I would not skimp on a scope, not even if it is a spare.

Given what you have I would just buy another 2.5X Compact.

Just buy another leupold compact. Don't skimp on a backup scope. -Rob

I think I'm going to keep the Talley regardless. I'm certainly not adverse to another Compact 2.5. I just need something with a straight tube so that rules out anything other than the low power variables or the compact.

I am particularly fond of the old 3X Leupold and use them on most of my big bores. They can still be found if you shop...they work great on the 416s..A new 1x4 Leupold isn't all that much, they are a real buy in a new scope.

The 2.5X Leupold is one tough scope but I save those for the 458 Lott and 505s, they are about the only big bore scope you can depend on when the recoill levels get up there with the Lott and big 50s...

I know this recommendation won't fit very many "pistols" out there (as in "Whatever fits your pistol"...), but here goes anyway.

When I moved to the 'States in 1982 I had to spend almost 18 months stalking down old steel-tubed, El Paso-made Weaver scopes of the K-1, K-2.5, and K-3 persuasions for my friends back in Canada. Don't know how many of those suckers I shipped north specifically for use on heavy caliber rifles.

I also have 8 or 10 of them on my own rifles. They certainly work well for me on rifles such as the .450 Ackley Mag, 475 A&M, .404 Jeffery, .458 Winchester, .404 Barnes Supreme, and so on.

They can still be found used for $35 to $75 in very fine shape. So, if all one needs is a back-up to toss into a hunting kit, I still see them as worth consideration.

They are not only sturdy, but have reticules which can be easily removed and replaced, even in the field if need be, by a blind child. Not that the reticule thing matters much...I've never had one break in the old Weavers anyway.

Still, I've only been using them myself since 1950-something, so maybe they'll all start flying apart in the near future. If so, I'll amend this post.

Boxhead has this right.

But, let me preach for just a second. Sell the Leupold and buy 2 U.S. Optics 4x's.

Done preaching. Good hunting.

The 1.5-5 Leupold would be my pick. I picked one up on ebay pretty cheap and it went south on about my 5th shot. Sent it back to Leupold and they sent me a brand new scope!
BTW it is in Talleys on my 375H&H M70.

I am with the "Get another 2.5X" group. Get a set of the Talley rings like you have now and sight it in. If you have a failure you just put on the backup, fire a shot or two to check zero and you are back in business.

Mark

A better option IMO is to take two rifles if its practical..I still don't care to take scopes off and on, they always move a bit regardless of some claims and even an inch could make a good aimed shot miss a critical brain shot for instance..

I take them off from time to time, in fact quit often, but I use the iron sights until I get back to camp and can make a target shot to check the zero. I'm talking African DG hunting.

I always have an extra scope that was pre sighted but I would never stick it on the gun and go hunting without a test shot prior to hunting..I have seen way too many "accidents" from not checking the sights before a hunt. I also take a bore sighter to camp with me on every hunt and check my pre marked zero every morning, even with my irons, but I have yet to have an irons sighted gun go off zero with me. I suppose one could but its never been the case with me.

I just went through getting a DG scope and a backup scope and have decided on Nikon 1.65-5 x 36 Slughunter. It is designed for heavy loads even though my rifles do quite a bit more than a shotgun slug.

The BIG reason for the choice was a 5" eye-relief throughout the magnification range and the good clarity of the glass. Prices are low for this quality of scope, around $200.

So far, so good on reliability. I have had Nikon Monarch 2-8's for three years on some heavy-loaded 416 Rigbys. Before that I've been using Leupolds for 30 years on everything from 223 to 416, especially the 2.5-8. I've been so impressed with the Nikons that I decided to try the Slughunter for a 500 AccR build and for backup. Michael458 on Terminals has tried one out and has already sent a few hundred heavy loads downrange with favorable results. The Slughunter looks like a player. It's biggest obstacle is that the mounting space on the tube is only 4.76" long, so that an extension ring will be needed on many dangerous game rifles. Anyway, for now, it is my scope of choice and I look forward to using it hunting next season.

The low setting of 1.6 is very fast for acquiring a target.