I have a Leupold VX3 1.5x-5x on my 416 Rigby. It has a 3.1 inch eyepiece and 3.7 inches of eyerelief on 5x. It is pushed as far forward as it can go. I still occasionally get a touch under range conditions, which makes me think I will probably get a whack in the heat of the hunting moment when I don't have time to think about how I am holding the rifle and where I put my face. It needs to be automatic if it is going to be right for hunting big game. So I want a scope with more eye relief (around 4.2 inches) and an eyepiece length of 2.8 inches or less. I know that the 2.5x Leupold compact will do the job (I have one on my 505 Gibbs, and it works fine), but I really want a good quality low range variable (eg similar to Leupold) on the 416. Does anyone have any suggestions that may help. I have searched the web and can't find anything suitable, but there are probably brands I am not aware of.

you might want to make sure the lenth of pull on the stock is correct for you. It seems odd to me that you are getting hit. I have shot my 416 wby with the same scope you are using and have never been close to being hit. also have someone look at the way you are seated on the bench. if you are bending way forward then your body wont move with the recoil. on the bench you should be sitting almost strait up so you roll with the shot

LOP check first. Put padded shoulder thingy on (PAST over here) and shoot from standing position. At our range I put two seats on top the bench and the bags on them. Leupy's are known for good/long eye relief so it's probably LOP too short...

My length of pull is 14.5 inches. I am 5ft 10in tall. When on 5x the sight picture is slightly diminished as I am too far back, but it is fine on 4x. I was shooting off-hand yesterday, and I only got touched once out of 5 shots with the scope on, and it was only a touch (no cut). Most of my shots yesterday were with open sights. From the bench I haven't had a problem, I have only fired 6 shots from the bench. It took me 3 shots to get it on target at 100, and then I shot a 3 shot group for interest,(into 0.6 MOA), but I don't expect to shoot from the bench again. I don't think LOP is the problem, the gun fits me fine. May be its the way I shoot, but I would still feel more comfortable with and extra quarter inche between me and the scope. If anyone knows of a scope with a shorter eyepiece and longer eye relief than the Leupold, that would be greatly appreciated. I am hunting pigs this weekend, so I guess I will see how it goes under field conditions.

Shooting off the bench often puts the shooting position forward because the bench is too low. The shooter is leaning down and forward to get at the scope picture, that means leaning into the scope.

I got whacked on a Ruger No. 1, .458 WM, w/ a Leupold FX 4x. Bench position was too low and I was leaning forward to get at the scope. I was wearing shooting glasses, and had a Butler Creek lens cap on the eyepiece (rubber) and so no blood.

Leupold has some of the best eye relief of any of the scopes on the market. Check your bench position. I'm betting a shorter stool would help. It's possible with nearly any rifle to sneak up on the scope and risk getting whacked. It's reflexive to get close because you get a larger, clearer scope image. One whack will fix that habit!

I don't know about the new Weavers, but the older ones or Older Lymans will solve your problem realizing that you give up some glass quality doing that. However, they worked then and they still will. I know everybody wants the best glass they can have, but sometimes compromise is the thing of the day. But, then I value eye relief and don't shoot at night.
When I had a .416 Rigby and used it back in the mid-70's I had a Weaver K-3 on it and it always did me fine. Sometimes a Lyman Alaskan 2.5, great eye relief.

I'm putting a swarovski Z6 1-6 x24 on my Winchester M70 safari express in 416 rem. It has 3.74 inches of eye relief but they make an extended eye relief version with 4.72 inches of eye relief. I was advised by several that I wouldn't need the extended eye relief for the 416 rem. but I haven't shot it yet. I'm not sure if the rigby recoils so much more but Chuck Hawks recoil chart says 52.9 for the rem and 58.1 for the rigby.

Leupold has reintroduced their 3x - which should be about perfect for any 416

I used a Trijicon 1-4 amber post and it is fine. Once sighted in, stay off the bench (suggestion) and only shoot from sticks or field positions. You will be able to tell real quick how it will act under field conditions. Practice rapid reloading and shooting off sticks. The eye relief on this scope for me at least is longer than advertised. No paralex either at 100yds and less and no batteries required. Leupold is a good brand but sometimes it is hard to see a black cross hair on a black buffalo in dard shadow. The Trijicon solved all my problems except one, just get the buffalo to hold still.

Good Hunting and Shooting

Tetonka

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:
Leupold has reintroduced their 3x - which should be about perfect for any 416

That's good to hear.

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for your suggestions. I just got back from 3 days out west chasing pigs. The area was very heavy cover, and all the action was close (under 40 yards), so although we saw a few I only got 3 (for 3 shots). The Rigby is VERY effective on pigs, (using the 410gn Woodleigh at a muzzle velocity of 2470fps), much more than needed, but lots of fun. I got touched (not cut) by the scope once, so I will investigate a few other alternatives. The Trijicon looks like it is worth checking out. Thanks for your suggestions.

I have several Swarovski Z6i Illuminated 1x6x24 EE on my big bore bolt guns and they work flawlessly. The extended eye relief is especially useful for hard kicking calibre's.

I just put a nikon african 1-4x20 on my rigby,4.0 to 4.1 eye relief and I have to say I like it. All of my scopes are zeiss and I have to say I like the nikon.. On 1 power, veiwing with both eyes open is very comfortable and natural for quick shots. The scope is very clear( not as good as zeiss) and bright and ment for hard kicking rounds. For 250.00 it's a good scope.

generalwar: I guess i'm second guessing myself now; for a 416 Remington do you think I should have picked the EE verison at 4.72 or do you think the standard 3.74 will be enough??
Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by bgomez:
generalwar: I guess i'm second guessing myself now; for a 416 Remington do you think I should have picked the EE verison at 4.72 or do you think the standard 3.74 will be enough??
Thanks

I think you will be ok. But its really up to how you mount the gun and take the recoil while under quick shooting conditions. I would take it to the range with a friend and have him watch you shoot and see how close you are under normal conditions to judge where your at first. I seem to put my head more forward when a quick shot comes up during hunting conditions.

quote:

I seem to put my head more forward when a quick shot comes up during hunting conditions.

I use the Swarovski Z6 non-illuminated 1x6x24 EE on my .505 Gibbs, as I got kissed by the non-EE models. If possible, try out both the EE and non-EE models.

The .416 should kick less than the .505. But as generalwar says, under duress, head positions usually move forward, and that extra 1inch eye relief may prevent cuts.

1.75-6x Leupold has worked quite well for me. Sighted it in about 4-5 years ago and 300 rounds later still perfect. Plenty of eye relief too.