I picked up a LH Ed Brown 416 Rem recently and I need to decide what optic I should put on it. It will primarily used on dg situations but maybe pg as well. Do I bother with qd mounts? This rifle will carry a can as well. Any input would be appreciated. I would like an illuminated reticle as well.

I like the Trijicon because there is no battery involved and you can adjust the brightness with ease.

I would get the quick detach mounts so that you can change out the scope easily if goes south while on a hunt.

Mark

The low power trijucons are nice, but I file off the knob on the power adjustment to keep from skinning my knuckles on reload. ( I have low mounts) If you take the rifle off your shoulder and cycle bolt carefully with palm its not an issue, but if you practice doing it with rifle at your shoulder in a hurry, it can get in the way if your not careful. I have a variety of their scopes, not the best glass around the edges but good enough and yes, no battery

@lpankratz, I have used Leupold VX-6HD 1-6x24 and Trijicon AccuPoint 1-6x24 with no problems on my 416 Remington Magnum rifles. The Swarovski Z6i is probably a good one too. Anyway, the Leupold has Warne QD rings and the Trijicon wears Talley QD rings. This works for me. Good luck and good hunting.

On a 416 0r 404 big bore I've found the Leupold 3X suits me to a T, but above 40 Cal I settled on an old Lyman or Marble receiver sight and a Williams works as well.

My .416, albeit a Remington, wears a Swaro Z6i. A true one power to six. They now make a Z8 that's the same thing but eight power on the upper end. What I like about it is on follow ups, you crank it down to one power and turn the lights on and you essentially have a red dot. For old eyes, that's faster than irons, but I still would use QD mount.

My Z6 went wonky on me last year and wouldn't change powers, so I took it off for a leopard follow up. I'm thinking about getting a Z8 and carrying both next time.

Never been keen on variables and high power scopes to shoot a 1600 lb. bear or 1800 lb. Cape buffalo!!; and a fixed 3 works well on a Mule deer at 400 yards best I recall, I suppose Im old school!

Ray,

I hear you. I was slow to come around to variables. I was slow to come around to illuminated reticles. I was slow to come around to synthetic stocks -- used to think they were an abomination. Now, all my working rifles are synthetic stocked with variable scopes and most are illuminated.

Michael458 who used to post here has done lots of testing on DG rifles and scopes, and found that the low power Nikons, like their African model, were the most durable on big bore rifles.

I use the Swarovski Z6 or Z6i in 1.7-10x42 on my .375 HH and 416 Rigby.
Work very well.

Sufficient eye relief is something to consider with a high recoil setup. Some of the red dot sights might do what you want.

I like low-range high-end Euro 30mm main tube variables on my .416s.

So, I use Swaros and S&Bs that bottom out at 1x to 1.5x and top out at 4x to 8x.

Mike,

Totally agree, but I like a true 1X on the low end. I do like good glass.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Ray,

I hear you. I was slow to come around to variables. I was slow to come around to illuminated reticles. I was slow to come around to synthetic stocks -- used to think they were an abomination. Now, all my working rifles are synthetic stocked with variable scopes and most are illuminated.

Exactly!!!!

quote:

jpl
posted 15 February 2024 06:40
Sufficient eye relief is something to consider with a high recoil setup.

Words of wisdom ^^^^^^.
Fairly recently I acquired a rifle in .375 Ruger, the recoil of which, compared to my rifles in .375 H&H, has a noticeably "snappier" recoil action. I don't think it's greater recoil, just more sudden and feels more dramatic. Anyway, the scope I had available for this rifle is a Swarovski Z6. 1.7-10, Illuminated. Lovely glass and reticle. The trouble is the combination of .375 Ruger recoil and actual eye relief ( slightly short ) means I have been whacked several times on the forehead whenever forgetting to pull my face back sufficiently from the scope.
Conversely I also tried a Leupold V6HD, 1-6x24, Illuminated, which is perfect due to having just that little bit more eye relief which eliminates the forehead beating. I had to dedicate this scope to another rifle and want to find another for my Ruger.
Just a small thing but the difference is significant.
I never would have anticipated this issue with a Swarovski scope, all my others are great, but there you are.

ive done the full circle with scopes. and for 95% of my hunting a straight 4x is all i need for BIG GAME animals
375 RUGER 4X LEUPOLD
416 RUGER 4X LEUPOLD
06 4X LEUPOLD
however my rifles have got QD rings so i can change scopes around to suite the conditions
Ziess 3-9 x36 Ziess 3-12x56...so all bases covered
MY only regret is the quality of the glass on fixed power scopes is not what it could be....i wish the manufacturers would put quality glass like they do on there high end scopes and charge accordingly and let the market decide

I have a 1.5x5 Leupold on my 416 works very well.

I prefer variable's on my rifles.

I went with a Bushnell 4500 1.5-4x with a heavy duplex and 30mm tube and it will sit in Alaska Arms QD low rings. I just bought a Ruger No 1 450/400 that it will go on but since I Just had neck surgery about a week ago so I can’t shoot any of the big boomers for a while

King, sounds like your stock is too short. Add a spacer.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Ray,

I hear you. I was slow to come around to variables. I was slow to come around to illuminated reticles. I was slow to come around to synthetic stocks -- used to think they were an abomination. Now, all my working rifles are synthetic stocked with variable scopes and most are illuminated.

My first rifle was a BDL in 270 Win, came with a Redfield 3-9x Tracker scope (their economy model) think I paid $350 for it with a case. I'm a big fan of the 1.5-5x20mm Leupolds. 5x is all the magnification I need for elk out to 400 yards or so but it's alway set to 1.5x.

A Swarovski Z6i 1-6EE has served me extremely well on my .375 H&H. I've been toying with getting a .404 or .416 of some flavor and would have a hard time choosing something other than another Swaro Z6i 1-6 (albiet a non-EE model with the way used prices of them have soared) or Z8i 1-8.

I went mod for a time and created more scope problems, plastic stocks didn't suit me nor did Laminated wood..

I went back to what works best 3X and 4X fixed Leupolds, receiver sights, wood stocks, the KISS principle and never looked back.

I mean how in the world can a 1x4 or a 1.5x5 improve on 3 or 4 power, its in your mind children, they are pacifiers. And you dont need to be messing with a scope when you oughta be shooting..

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
King, sounds like your stock is too short. Add a spacer.

Lavaca, in a sense you are correct. Adding a spacer crossed my mind but just haven't got around to the matter. Would like to personally tackle the task but found the recoil pad, which I would like to reuse, is glued on and I haven't researched if there is a good method to detach it. I need to pull finger and get onto it.
However when comparing the eye relief differences between the two scopes I can see why the Swarovski isn't quite as user friendly, at least for the .375 Ruger recoil trait.
The pics below show my .375 H&H with Leupold VX6-HD, on top, and .375 Ruger with Swarovski Z6 1.7-10, underneath. LOP measurements for both rifles are the same. I am looking for another Leupold VX6-HD, 1-6x24, Illuminated which is another way of solving my problem.

free online image hosting

Surface grind your action to the focal plane of the scopes centered adjustments and being Stainless its easy to bead blast and not necessary to blue..It also makes return to zero more accurate.

All the rifles I hunt with now have Leupold VX5HD scopes with illuminated Firedot reticle and CDS system. .264 has a 3-15x, .338 & .375 have 2-10x and .416 has 1-5x. I’ve found these to be excellent scopes and good value.

I also believe the Firedot illuminated reticle to be a Game Chnger. I now keep it on all the time and carry spare batteries that I change out every couple days. I’ve easily made some high pressure shots due to that little bright red dot instead of regular crosshairs.

quote:

Originally posted by DLS:

I also believe the Firedot illuminated reticle to be a Game Chnger. I now keep it on all the time and carry spare batteries that I change out every couple days. I’ve easily made some high pressure shots due to that little bright red dot instead of regular crosshairs.

The very first time I used an illuminated scope was last year in Nyakasanga, Zimbabwe when shooting a Hyena in the very early and dull dawn light. The scope was the Leupold VX6-HD on the .375 H&H in the pics above. A stressful shot due to constant movement of the Hyena and a black crosshair against a dark silhouette target would hardly have helped. But the tiny Firedot on quite a low setting was perfect, enabling me to confidently locate a Point Of Aim. Yes, a game changer for my ageing eyes.

I've been thinking that maybe I could use more magnification. My eyes aren't getting any younger.

I have a new Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm variable power scope - it's new, but I've had it for years and have just never used it.

I think I'm going to mount it on my Winchester Model 70 .416 Rem. Mag. and see how much I like it.

I've had that scope on my 270 Win for many years really like it. Just bought the 3.5-10x50mm scope to put on my BDL in 7mm Rem Mag. For me, I ilike my 1.5-5x20mm Leupold on my 500 Jeffery, great eye relief, enough magnification out to 300 yards and I find I shake less at lower magnification lol.

99% OF BUFFALO, ELEPHANT,hIPPO are shot at under 50 yards and most at even less..Most Lion and Leopards at under 100 yards..All have rather large kill zones..Guess that's the reason I like the 2.5 compact and the 3 and 4 Leupold's..and they have yet to fail me in the field..and if they do, I can handle it with a receiver or shallow V, To do otherwise seems like a failure to trust your own abilities, but to each his own,

Ray, I agree, but I often take only one rifle, usually my .416 or at most two rifles. When I take a light rifle, a lot of smaller game gets shot with the larger rifle because that is what is in my hand, so it might not be withing 100 yards. That's why I like a variable.

If you have a follow up on dangerous game especially, I like to be able to reduce it to a true 1X and illluminated is useful. Had to follow up a leopard last year due to my bad shooting and my variable froze and wouldn't reduce power, so I detached the scope. Variables, illuminateds and detachable mounts give you options. Fixed powers scopes don't.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Ray, I agree, but I often take only one rifle, usually my .416 or at most two rifles. When I take a light rifle, a lot of smaller game gets shot with the larger rifle because that is what is in my hand, so it might not be withing 100 yards. That's why I like a variable.

If you have a follow up on dangerous game especially, I like to be able to reduce it to a true 1X and illluminated is useful. Had to follow up a leopard last year due to my bad shooting and my variable froze and wouldn't reduce power, so I detached the scope. Variables, illuminateds and detachable mounts give you options. Fixed powers scopes don't.

Lavaca
What was the make / model of variable scope that "froze" on you ?

Lavaca,
Rest my case on that last paragraph!

I like the Swarovski 1-6x24 EE also but whether EE or not, the eyepiece is ungodly long and you cannot take advantage of the eye relief unless you have a long lop on your rifle. The Swaro 1.710x42 has plenty of eye relief but with say a 13 1/2 or 13 5/8 lop it won't be mounted far enough forward and will be in effect less than the Leupold. I have a 1-6x24 EE on a long lop .505 gibbs and it is perfect. I picked up another that is on a .375 rifle (for now) with a 13 5/8 lop and it actually wastes the eye relief potential.

Oh so many have "drank" the Koolaide served by the sucker board of trustees and yee of great faith have paid the advertisement bill that sold you a scope that cost 3 times the price of your rifle!!

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Oh so many have "drank" the Koolaide served by the sucker board of trustees and yee of great faith have paid the advertisement bill that sold you a scope that cost 3 times the price of your rifle!!

Ray you might not be aware but electricity are now working in home ...

Changed my mind.

I'm sticking with my Leupy VX-7 1.5-6x24mm on the .416 Rem. Mag.

On the "If it ain't broke don't fix it." theory.

It's great glass and I do prefer a 30mm tube, generally.

Follow up is justification for QD scopes, take the scope OFF and use the receiver sight or barrel mounted shallow V for close up work..Just my opinnion and applies to me only, to each his own as to what works best...

Ray,
I'd love to hunt with you anytime. You sound like a gunsmith I used to work for who was pretty set in his ways. He taught me a lot and I miss him. I was stubborn too, but have changed my views over the years. Some technology is good.

I never said I was right! just what worked for me over the last number of years and options to be had..

My 416 Taylor wears a Leupold VX3 1.5x5 in QD mounts. I have NECG front and rear express sights. Kinda a belt and suspenders thing, but I'm happy.
Was gonna post pics but I've forgotten how.