Any one with experience from Africa? What is the minimum magnifying for hunting in Africa?
Fixed or variable X?
Any favorits in manufactures?
What type of range are we taking about?
Is a Hendsoldt 2+4x32 to small?

The scope is to be mounted on a custom .416 Taylor with iron sights and scope in QR.

Thanks

Welcome to the forums.

I have seen people use fixed and variables. Both seem to be happy with their choices.

Personally I prefer a variable. I use the Leupold 2.5-8x on both my 375/404 rifles, and find them very reliable. In fact, I cannot remember ever having to adjust them once they are set for a specific load.

Ranges can vary, depending on the country and terrain you will be hunting in, and the animals you might be hunting too.

I have used the above scope to shoot animals from 12 yards - buffalo - to over 500 yards - eland.

Most game are generally shot at less than about 200 yards.

Any good quality scope you can use comfortably is appropiate. To me ANY name brand would be acceptable. As to power and type (fixed or variable) again whatever YOU are comfortable using. I am hardpressed to advise anyone on a scope except to point out the need for adequate eye relief with heavy recoil rifles. There are so many variables to be addressed that it's hard to know what to say. Not being familiar with the Hensoldt (except the name to me denotes quality) scope in question it would be hard for me to advise. By too small do you mean the 32mm objective or the 2-4 power? If the gun is to be used in low light the larger the objective usually denotes better low light capability. What is 'enough' to you. If the power range that again depends on your vision and what type of magnification you require. I have scopes from 1.5-5 and 20mm to 3-12 and 56mm.I use both equally as well. But not for the same purpose. For a 416Taylor I would think the Hensoldt to be more than adequate if the eye relief is enough. These are all personal opinions and should be taken as such.

Thanks for Your answers so far.
To answer; -"By too small do you mean the 32mm objective or the 2-4 power?" I mean the power AND objective but mostly the power.
I will test to shoot with my scope at 200-250 yards and see how that will turn out.

Pleas give me more comments and experience in this area.

Thanks.

I used a Leupold 1-4x20 on my 416 Remington Magnum in Namibia this year. I kept it on 4X the whole time and made shots from 50 yards to 275 yards from dawn to dusk with no problems.

All I can do to help is to give you MY scope uses. My 416Rigby has a Swarovski 1.5-4.5 20mm and has been used extensively in Africa but I don't think many shots were over 50 yards and mostly at 4.5x. On the other hand my favorite 375H&H has a 2-7 x33mm Leupold and also has been used extensively in Africa and has taken game fron 20 to 300yds in all times of day and one Leopard over bait at night although for the Leopard it had a Leupold 1.5x5 VariX-III 20mm set at 1.5 power. Shot was 50 meters. I tend to prefer higher power scopes but actually own more 1.5x5 Leupold VariX-III's than any other with 4 currently in my inventory. My absolute favorite is a Zeiss Diavari Z 3-12 x56 MC but it weighs a ton. Definitely not a walk around much scope. The absolute BEST scope I have ever seen for Dangerous Game ( I assume that is the reason for the 416Taylor) was a 1.5-5 Schmitt & Bender with illuminated circular reticule. But the price was dangerously close to bankruptcy also. I would say that the most popular scope for a 416Taylor would be the 1.5-5 VariX-III Leupold probably by a large number. The price is also good.

I would go with Saeed's recommendation or with a 1.5X5 Leupold VX III 20mm, or a Leupold 1.5X6 VX7 24mm. All of these would be great on your .416 Taylor

On a 40cal rifle used for DG that might want to run at you rather than away from you, I like a variable with 1 or maybe 1.5x on the low end.

On my 450/400 double I mounted a S&B 1-4 in claw mounts with the flashdot reticle.

I consider it a perfect choice.

I assume that you will use your Taylor for dangerous game.

I have used variable powered scopes for dangerous game hunting (including elephant, although I prefer open, express sights for elephant hunting).

They have ranged from a low of 1.25-4x20mm (Schmidt & Bender) or 24mm (Swarovski) to a high of 2.5-10x56mm (Schmidt & Bender).

All worked quite well.

I've successfully used:
A 2x on a .458 Win Mag for Buff.
A 2.5 x 8 on a 30/06 for a variety of plains species.
A fixed 4x on my .375 H&H for a variety of plains game.
The only scope I didn't find useful for hunting wild game was a fixed power 10x Leupold...however we were able to put it to good use on an M1-A Match rifle in the late 70's in Rhodesia for mmm...varmint control.

Another vote for Leupold. One of my friends works at one of the big gun companies, in their test lab. He said they shoot all kinds of big bore guns daily. Sometimes putting 15,000 rounds through them over time. Of all the "upper class" scopes they've mounted, the Leupolds were absolutely the best in absorbing heavy recoil without breaking. LDK

I like what Zim said about the brand of scope not making any difference - if you've confidence & trust in whatever is mounted on your rifle and it performs relaibly as sighted-in - fantastic.

I've used a 1.5-4.5x26 w/Red Dot (still on the .375H&H), 1.5-6x42 Kahles (on another .375H&H) and two fixed power 6x42's (S&B & Kahles).

Like Saeed said - sometimes I go a complete trip without ever changing the setting on the scope with a varibale and certainly don't have any issues with the straight 6X power either.

I think your Hensholt would be just fine IMO. Either a variable 2-4 (?) or the straight 2X or 4X in 32 objective.

There's certainly not much use in carrying a huge European objective belled scope IMO; 'cause there isn't much twilight in Africa - it seems to go from dark to dawn & a little bit dusk to pitch black in about 5 minutes - so the 10 minutes a day when such a scope could be used to some advantage is pretty much OBE in my book; the 20, 24, 26, 32, 36, 38 & 42 objectives are more than adequate.

The range will depend on where you are hunting and what type of game but from my expereince the occaisional longish shot may be required but a 2X, 4x or 6X will get you there just fine. Mostly my shots have been well under 100 meters so magnification isn't much of a criteria to me.