Been looking at scopes for a Ruger RSM .375 H&H and was considering a Leupold 2x7x33 VXII. My question is this: Is the VXII enough scope for the .375 H&H or am I better served with a VXIII. I do have a couple 3x9x40 Zeiss Conquests not currently being used but wanted something a little smaller than the full size Conquest but not smaller than a 30mm. I've had several VXII scopes in the past and they have always served me well, in fact I prefer them to the VXIII in the eye relief department. Give me some thoughts here...

I used a VariX II 2X7 on a 416 Rigby for seven years with no problems, whatsoever. It replaced a Swaro that fell apart after 6 rounds. I now have the same scope on a Sako/FN action 375 Wby.

I have one on a 375 that has held up to 300 or so rounds without problems. Others on 338s and a 7mm magnum have held up to many more rounds without trouble.

quote:

Is a Leupold VXII enough scope for a .375 H&H?

I've had $40 Bushnells on a 375 H&H....it worked just fine.....
I've also had an old Weaver K-6 on a .375 H&H.....again no problem.

What are you going to use the rifle for?

If for leopard or lion hunting, you will want better glass. For all other uses it will be just fine.

I use a Swarovski for the cats, but prefer a Vari-X III 1.5x5x20 for all other game. Your VXII should have the same optics as my older Vari X III I think.

JPK

More than enough.

A friend of mine had one mounted in CZ .458 Lott, that I had the "pleasure" to sight-in, and after more than 500 full-house loads, it's still going strong.

BTW, during that same session, I saw a previously mounted Swaro scope to fell apart in less than 7 shots...

The scope is going on a .375 H&H for a Mozambique Buffalo Hunt (with a little plains game on the side, so low light is not going to be a huge issue...Like I said, I've had great luck with VXII's so have never had a need to go the VXIII route.

I use a vari x 1 on a 375 for over 10 years no problems have a vx 2 on a 458 lott no problems 400 rounds

quote:

Originally posted by archer_375:
The scope is going on a .375 H&H for a Mozambique Buffalo Hunt (with a little plains game on the side, so low light is not going to be a huge issue...Like I said, I've had great luck with VXII's so have never had a need to go the VXIII route.

I think your 2x7 will do a great job for your buff and plains game.

JPK

The 2x7 leupold is one of my favorites. I used one on a 338-06 for 10 years and then gave it to my daughter for her 7mm08 and it is still going strong. I have a 1.5x5 leupold on my 375 H&H and like it even better. Get your local dealer to let you look through both of these at dusk and you will see the advantage of the VXIII. But you can't go wrong with either scope.

I have the scope mentioned on a 350 mag. works fine. However, it doesn't gather as much light as my VXIII on my 375 H&H.

2-7 VX 1 will work fine on a .375 H&H I had the old VX 11 on my .416 Rigby for 150 shots with know dramas.

Gave 2-7x Leupolds I had to grandchildren as I went to higher powered VX-llls. Hmmm. The IIIs are great, but didn't really need the higher power. Will probably stick with the 2-7x for all future rifles. Oh, a Vari-X-II is on my .375H&H and going strong

I have both VariX II and VariX III scopes. I would not make the decision based on ruggedness. Both are highly durable, but the optics are "clearly" superior on the VariX III. I didn't notice the difference when I was younger, but my aging eyes now find the VariX III much preferable. I am currently upgrading all my scopes to VariX III or equivalent.

I have a VX III 2.5-8x40 on my 375H&H with a VariX III 1.5-5x20 as my backup scope.

I would put 3-9x Conquest on that gargantuan rifle! Why throw away money on something you don't need?

I've got a plain old M8 4X on my 375, it works just fine. I bought it used and it hasn't come apart yet.

I have yet to find any correlation at all between price and ruggedness and durability!
Price seems more related to quality of lenses.

I think its a mistake to mount any scope over 5X on a DGR. I have seen too many instances where it was left on 7 or 8 power and the client couldn't find the target, once in a charge situation, the PH killed the bull with his iron sighted .375.

The perfect scope for what you describe is a 1x4 Leupold, 1.5x5 Leupold or the old wonderful 3X Leupold.

I have never been in any kind of a hunting situation where any of the above scopes would have failed me over a larger power scope. I can see a bull elk or deer in a 3X at 500 yards just as well as I can with a 10X. I put the cross hair over the shoulder and pull the trigger.

High power scopes are not needed for big game IMO, only for varmints at long range and then a 9X will do it all and without all that distortion, again my Opine.

I think the ultra high power scope is a product of advertising BS, a sales gimmick that met with success, besides if an animal is 600 yards away, I know that I can get at least 200 yards closer 99.5% of the time.

quote:

Originally posted by archer_375:
......My question is this: Is the VXII enough scope for the .375 H&H or am I better served with a VXIII.....

It will. I have a VXII 3X9 on my .375 and it works great. I have total faith in it.

luv2safari,

quote:

I used a VariX II 2X7 on a 416 Rigby for seven years with no problems, whatsoever. It replaced a Swaro that fell apart after 6 rounds. I now have the same scope on a Sako/FN action 375 Wby.

I'd like to hear more details on the Swarovski scope failure. What model? How did it fall apart? etc....

$bob$

Gustavo,

quote:

BTW, during that same session, I saw a previously mounted Swaro scope to fell apart in less than 7 shots...

Gus

I'd like to hear more about the Swarovski scope failure. What model? What do you mean fell apart? etc....

$bob$

That's what's on my Winchester M70 Classic Stainless .375 H&H.

I have the Euro model VXII on my .375, no problems so far.

Amnen, Ray, you said it well!
It is incredible how many sales gimmicks there are out there today being gobbled up hunters not useing their common sense. I mostly use fixed, low powered scopes on my rifles.

Vasa

I am afraid I have disagree with my good friend Ray on this one.

Years ago, I had a Leupold 1.5-5X scope on my African hunting rifle.

I did not like seeing the end of the barrel through the scope at low power.

After that I changed both my 375/404 rifles to the Leupold 2.5-8 scope, and that is the way they have been on 12 safaris.

Severel hunters use these rifles, and they retained their zero all the time.

The countries I hunt in don't allow night hunting, and I have never found these scopes lacking in visibility at legal hunting times.

I've never understood why seeing the end of the barrel through a low powered scope would be an issue.

When sighting down the barrel of a rifle equipped w/ fixed sights, you'll most definitely see the end of the barrel. In no way does this prevent you from aquiring your sights and in no way does this prevent you from getting on target.

Seeing the same end of the barrel through a low powered scope is no different. In no way does this prevent you from aquiring your reticle and in no way does this prevent you from getting on target. Both are the same.

GVA

I've never been on safari but hunt an average of 60-80 days per year with rifles and selected the 2.5-8x36 VX-III for my 350RM, 375H&H, and 458 Winnie for several reason which included LOOOOOONG eye relief and not liking the very distracting look at the end of the barrel at powers lower than 2.5x.

The ability to crank it up to 8x to evaluate a trophy or for a long shot was a plus for me too...

$bob$

Sure, but Ray did say "clients" and some of them wouldn't be up to the standard of you lot here, and if anything could go wrong for some it will. And if something nasty snorted and charged I doubt they'd notice the barrel through the scope.

That 2x7 is a short scope. make sure it will fit.

I bought the VX II 2x7x33 and YES, it is a short scope...I does not fit with my Ruger Warne Rings, so I just ordered the Ruger offset rings...I am guessing it will fit with the offset rings...I am another one that does not like seeing the barrel through my scope, its just kind of a distraction. It appears as though this VXII is going to fit the bill...

quote:

Originally posted by GaryVA:
I've never understood why seeing the end of the barrel through a low powered scope would be an issue.

When sighting down the barrel of a rifle equipped w/ fixed sights, you'll most definitely see the end of the barrel. In no way does this prevent you from aquiring your sights and in no way does this prevent you from getting on target.

Seeing the same end of the barrel through a low powered scope is no different. In no way does this prevent you from aquiring your reticle and in no way does this prevent you from getting on target. Both are the same.

GVA

The first time I looked through a low powered scope I noticed the barrel. Five shots or so and I no longer noticed it. Kinda like a new filling in your teeth. You notice it and then you don't even notice that you don't notice it.

I've never taken my scope off 8X.I've learned to shoot at this magnification under all situations except when something is running broadside up close and in the trees or just broadside up close.I guess a skeet shooter would be good at taking such a shot.I've gotten so used to the 8X that I own a fixed 8X scope,and feel really uncomfortable when it is not at this setting.If I go with a 1-5X for my big bore I plan on practicing a great deal so I can get used to it.I have never shot a big bore but own a few 300Win Mags and the idea of having a large scope the size of a 2.5-8X near my eye on a 458 Lott shooting hot loads with no muzzle break is scary.

Don't be a sook. Just put the field dressing on FIRST. It's like a recoil pad for the head. May even be available in cameo.

Viewing the rifle barrel may become a little more than a distraction when you get the sunlight reflecting off of the barrel one day.

Yes... It's happened to me before.

$bob$

LD Hunter,
That can happen with any scope any time, I have had it happen more than just a few times when shooting into the sun or a pretty Idaho evening or early morning. I suppose a sun shade would cure the situation, I use a toilet paper center roll myself for those ocassion.

I ageee the barrel could be disconsorting Saeed, but your 2x8 at 2 will do the same thing as my 1.5x5 will do a 1.5..The barrel quits showing up in the scope at about 3 or 4 power. But it doesn't bother me as long as I can see the intersection of the crosshairs.

Besides Saeed, I never get to shoot anyway, somebody always shoots my buffalo out from under my sights and cackles like an old hen that can be heard for miles!! It is the worse sound in the jungle, strikes fear into my heart! it tells me I must walk another 100 miles on these worn out old legs...

quote:

Originally posted by LDHunter:
Viewing the rifle barrel may become a little more than a distraction when you get the sunlight reflecting off of the barrel one day.

Yes... It's happened to me before.

$bob$

You can have the same problem when shooting fixed sights, not just a low powered scope. If your barrel is too reflective, putting blinders on by opting for a higher powered scope w/ less field of view does not cut the glare. The glare will still be there. Having a dull/matte finish can cut the glare over a reflective finish and may be a better option.

This is where I differ. When following up on bears, I like too see what's directly in front of me. Putting the blinders on does not make things go away, they are still there. This could be the end of the barrel, a glint of reflection, or something moving at you fast that may cause you harm. It only vanishes in your mind because of the restricted view, but it is there.

I prefer to see, I prefer to use the scope as a gun sight, and I prefer to save observing distant detail for binos and spotters. That's just me, not saying anyone else is wrong. That's just my take on it.

GVA

I have a 1.5x5 Leupold on my mod 70 300Win Mag, I regularly hunt in grizzly country, when set to the lowest power yes I can see the end of the barrel, I can also see the bears face, had this happen with a huge grizzly quite a few years ago, he reared up in some alders about 20ft from me, he went south I went north but I wouldn't trade the low power scope for anything else, I have higher power scopes on varmint weapons but have yet to have a killer 'coon or gopher threaten to prematurely terminate my hunting career.

Gary,

You have parallax problems...

$bob$

I have a very old Redfield scope (2x7) about 35-40 years old on my 416 Rem Mag. I have lost count of how many rifles this scope has been on. They were tough well built scopes back then.

The 2-7VXII compact is my all time favorite scope. At 2X it will focus down to less than 10 ft and I have taken game (thankfully not DG!) closer than that with one. You can turn it up if you need the magnification or leave it on 2X if things get dicey. I have 2 on light rifles one of which has been flawless for 20 years. BUT my DG rifle wears a 1.5-5 Leupold my feeling being if something is way out there and you can't hit it with 5X, more magnification probably won't help much. On the other hand, if something is 10 feet away and all you can see is hair, (this has happened to me with a fixed 4X) you're in a heep of trouble.