As some of you know, I recently bought a WJ Jeffrey magnum Mauser in 416 Rigby. It is equipped with Holland style detachable rings/mounts configured for a 1 inch tube.
I found this option on the Leupold website, and ordered one in gloss, with German #4 reticule.
The eye relief seems adequate at 3.9', and a fixed 3 power seemed like an appropriate choice.

I think it's a neat option, that for about $400 will work well on a traditional rifle.

That ought to work great Marty. Let's see some targets showing how your Jeffrey shoots.

Forgot the link, sorry.
https://customshop.leupold.com...?s=667&r=2&aw=5&ae=5

I have more than a few Leupold 3Xs...My all time favorite scope for big bores up to .416 caliber...
Larger than .416 I opt for 2.5X compact Leupold as they are a much tougher scope as to recoil, in fact they are the only scope I trust on the 458 Lott and upwards..I arrived at this conclusion after more than a few years of scope failure on big bores and after extensive testing of quite a few high dollar scopes wherein I found scope failure almost always within 250 to 300 rounds, sometimes much sooner..Leupold moved the adjustments on the 2.5 compact to a location directly under the adjustment dials, and it handles all the recoil I could muster up with a 505 Gibbs Imp. that was extremely light and a real bitch to shoot.

leupold has a lifetime return.. and i've used it, repeatedly, on their scopes on big bores.

i will not be using another, and, at this moment, i think the only one i have left is on a 22 my youngest son likes to shot.. its a singleshot, so not likely to ruin the scope.

i am currently working on nikon monarchs - i haven't sent a nikon back -prostaff or not..

yeah, i know, blasphemy

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:

yeah, i know, blasphemy

How DARE you speak the truth!!

I am at the other end of that spectrum. I have owned Leupolds for more than forty years, including on hard kickers like my 505 Gibbs, and not been able to break one to date. I have used them on my 404 Jefferys, the 458 Lott(three different ones), a 450 and later on a 460 Buhmiller, as well as competing on a national level in BR with some success.

Last count, I had more Leupolds than all other makes combined.

Rich

I have exactly the 3x Custom Shop scope on my Lott. After c.50 shots all fine.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
I am at the other end of that spectrum. I have owned Leupolds for more than forty years, including on hard kickers like my 505 Gibbs, and not been able to break one to date.

actually - the one on your gibbs, iirc, had just come back from the shop when i sold it you - and while it last a while on some end loads, that one was sold fairly quickly to rodney, right?

perhaps sometimes they last - sometimes they last a limited number of shots -

the common verse is that they last forever - the truth is that they frequently go back to the shop for a rebuild --

and it all boils down to a two part question,
why does everyone KNOW you can send them back forever, and why is that relevant?

That scope is still earning its keep here. The rifle, not the scope got sold to Rodney, iirc.

Answer: I manage, somehow, to break a Leupold. I send it standard mail to their US factory to be repaired, or replaced, at their option. I have it back in a couple weeks. My cost: the $$$ I paid to ship it to Leupold.

For the sake of argument, let's say I break any other brand. Most other scopes have a limited warranty, and may have to go overseas for repair.

I am not aware of any other brand with such a simple warranty. Does not matter if I bought it new, or if I am the twentieth owner, the scope has a lifetime warranty, parts and labor.

Everybody knows because of stories here and elsewhere. It matters because sending one back outside the country is generally an expensive and lengthy time-consuming process.


Leupold and Dillon are the only two companies with such a simple warranty. It breaks, they fix or replace it FREE.

First, let me say that Marty's scope sounds fine, and it might not need replacement. But it might need replacement, especially if loaded to Rigby's true capacity (6000+ftlbs.), and a second scope could be bought that would leave the inherited scope as a second. (Or vice versa, as desired.)

I prefer a scope on a big bore that will not break. If I am in Tanzania, I don't want a broken scope, regardless of warranty.

Leupolds are good, excellent, and I've used them in Africa in the 80's and 90's happily. But since 2009 I've been using Nikon. They don't break. My testimony is limited, but Michael McCourrey of "Terminals" fame, was shipping boxes of Leupolds back for repair. Since switching to Nikon he has not sent one Nikon back anywhere.

Again, I applaud the Leupold warranty and service, but I want a scope on a dangerous game rifle that won't need service. Nothing in life is perfect, but the Nikon Monarch, Inline, and Slughunter scopes are remarkably tough and reliable. They appear to be the toughest thing out there. They have become my go-to scope, even for light calibre like 338 and 375.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Answer: I manage, somehow, to break a Leupold. I send it standard mail to their US factory to be repaired, or replaced, at their option. I have it back in a couple weeks. ...

yep- just about my experience, exactly .. I frequently wonder how I managed to break a leupold scope, but somehow I did, AGAIN, and I send it in a box (i actually use better than standard mail, as I want tracking, but to each their own) and in a couple weeks, generally less than 2 months, it comes back ...

and then in a year or two,
I frequently wonder how I managed to break a leupold scope, but somehow I did, AGAIN, and I send it in a box (i actually use better than standard mail, as I want tracking, but to each their own) and in a couple weeks, generally less than 2 months, it comes back ...

and then in a year or two,
I frequently wonder how I managed to break a leupold scope, but somehow I did, AGAIN, and I send it in a box (i actually use better than standard mail, as I want tracking, but to each their own) and in a couple weeks, generally less than 2 months, it comes back ...

I could cut and past that a couple times more, to get the point across if needs be ...

so, about 15 years ago, might have only been 13, I switched to nikon on my ligher guns, and I noticed, i have NEVER had to send one back, though I have heard of some people doing such....

I have never heard of zeiss's return policy .. its never even been discussed
I have never heard of schmidt and benders?
I have never heard of nightforce's return policy

i have heard rumor that tasco/bushell/refield/weaver have horrible polices

and that fact that everyone knows, anyone who has a legitimate leupold that is broken can send it in for repair/replacement ...

and that nearly everyone that has owned 2 or more leupold scopes has had to use that policy ...

things that make one go "hmmmm"

Interesting thread.
Mostly, I was looking for an appropriate single power scope that would fit my one inch H&H style mounting system, and available in a gloss finish for a more period look.
Based on this discussion, it will serve my purpose, but if I ever decide to trust the rifle to the baggage apes and take it hunting, I might put different glass on it.
Thanks for the input!

i've had very good luck with my Leupold 1.5-5x on my 500 Jeffery. So far about 400 full power loads through it, about 150 on a lead sled which is more stressing on the scope I believe. That being said, I'd like to know what higher end brand of scope people are using that haven't failed due to recoil.

I mounted a 2 1/2 Leupold on my 458 over 30 years ago and anyone who has hunted with me will testify that I don't baby my rifle, yet after many 100's of rounds and 1000's of miles traveled it has never changed POI.
In almost 40 years of guiding I have seen virtually every make of scope fail and up until this past season had never seen a Leupold fail. both were fairly new ones.

I preferred Leopold and still believe they are among the best. At this time I would state the Nikon Monarchs the winner in a value contest over any other brand I have had experience with or based on reputation. The combination of excellent optics, proven toughness and often overlooked greater degree of eye relief at quite reasonable prices make Nikon a great choice for those who have to consider cost. I am also very impressed with the Zeiss Conquest 3X9 I own. It is the best optically of any I have used in its price range and maintains a full and constant 4" eye relief through the power range. I don't know how durable it would be mounted on a 5000f.p. and up bruiser.
A consideration: Nikon is said to be a large supporter of anti-hunting efforts. I only read this recently and if true, disappointing.

Also, check the Weaver Super Slam, Dangerous Game scope 1-5x24 30mm. Lots of eye relief. I have one on a 577 NE single shot.

I have used an old steel tube El Paso K6 Weaver on both my .375 and one of the .458's I owned.

On the comment: "but if I ever decide to trust the rifle to the baggage apes and take it hunting,"

The main culprit on needing repairs is recoil. I'm not so sure that baggage handling does much scope damage, but I know that shooting rifles can damage scopes. That is why I now rely on Nikon.

I'm not worried so much about damage, but my tuffpak has been left on the tarmac on two trips. Traveling with high value firearms is stressful, at best.

Marty, I think your power choice is spot on. I use 1.5-6 or back-up 1.5-5 scopes on my 375 and leave it on 3X when hunting. It gets turned up to 5 or 6 for long shots and down to 1.5 for follow-ups but 3x seems to give the best compromise for threading a bullet through the jess and gives adequate FOV.
And yes, they have both been back to their respective factories.