New scope for rifle

[badshot]

Originally Posted by Guymullins

I have a theory that much money is often spent needlessly on rifle scopes in Africa. I am interested in what the rest of you feel.
Most of the high priced scopes that are available here in Africa (Swarovski, Leica, Zeiss etc) make great play on their lens coatings and light gathering qualities.
These qualities are very desirable for Northern Hemisphere hunting, where the winter days are very short and the light really poor for much of the day. In Africa, especially South Africa, our winter days are extremely bright with swift dusks and dawns. We seldom have rain or even clouds for all the hunting season, so the only time low light hunting occurs is on baited leopard, when the norm is to shoot at times of minimal light. So, my theory is that we generally dont need many of the costly features that are so desirable for European hunters. What we would prefer is a super-robust scope that can take a bashing on bad roads and from heavy recoil that we tend to get with our bigger calibres. Comment?

Nikon Monarch 2-7x32. Oddly some of their fixed power scopes don't handle the abuse over the long term. Some background, first (I catch crap for this) I jb weld them on, sometimes red locktite. On many mt. Lion hunts there is a 3 or more hour drive over boulders in a 88 Toyota 4x4, top speed if lucky is 5mph. Boulder fields slower. Then there is climbing, falling, high and low temps (highest 112f' lowest -5f -33f wind chill), wet, and lots of banging. Most shots are in low light, many borderline. This scope has never let me down at 4x up to 400yrds. Since Bobcat and fox are on the menu as well it has to be damn accurate. It's used with a 22-250 (yes it kills lions) .243 and .30-06's with hornady's most powerful flat flying rounds (light mag or newer superformance 150gr for example in 06). I have used some of the optics you mentioned for short to medium range (Kentucky windage) but prefer the above mentioned scope for that purpose.

Durability...shot out the 22-250 in two years and that scope was transferred to another one, that was 12years ago and being rolled on by an ATV...from the low deserts of Arizona to the rocky mountains of montana. Still works just fine. The old rifle is being saved for a gunsmith in az.

For the mid four hundred dollar range, an excellent part of the package (pro discount less)
Excuse the writing, on an Android...hope that helps

[Guymullins]

Originally Posted by badshot

Nikon Monarch 2-7x32. Oddly some of their fixed power scopes don't handle the abuse over the long term. Some background, first (I catch crap for this) I jb weld them on, sometimes red locktite. On many mt. Lion hunts there is a 3 or more hour drive over boulders in a 88 Toyota 4x4, top speed if lucky is 5mph. Boulder fields slower. Then there is climbing, falling, high and low temps (highest 112f' lowest -5f -33f wind chill), wet, and lots of banging. Most shots are in low light, many borderline. This scope has never let me down at 4x up to 400yrds. Since Bobcat and fox are on the menu as well it has to be damn accurate. It's used with a 22-250 (yes it kills lions) .243 and .30-06's with hornady's most powerful flat flying rounds (light mag or newer superformance 150gr for example in 06). I have used some of the optics you mentioned for short to medium range (Kentucky windage) but prefer the above mentioned scope for that purpose.

Durability...shot out the 22-250 in two years and that scope was transferred to another one, that was 12years ago and being rolled on by an ATV...from the low deserts of Arizona to the rocky mountains of montana. Still works just fine. The old rifle is being saved for a gunsmith in az.

For the mid four hundred dollar range, an excellent part of the package (pro discount less)
Excuse the writing, on an Android...hope that helps

For some reason, the Nikon scopes are not popular here at all. The cameras are held in the highest regard, but not the scopes. I seem to remember that there was a "moving reticule" problem with the early scopes here. I remember a pal had one on his .416 Rigby and took it off quite soon after he got it. I would say Swarovski and Leoplold are probably the best regarded scopes here right now.

[badshot]

Originally Posted by Guymullins

For some reason, the Nikon scopes are not popular here at all. The cameras are held in the highest regard, but not the scopes. I seem to remember that there was a "moving reticule" problem with the early scopes here. I remember a pal had one on his .416 Rigby and took it off quite soon after he got it. I would say Swarovski and Leoplold are probably the best regarded scopes here right now.

between those two I'd choose Swarovski. As for the Nikon, the ones made where noted earlier work just fine with the Japan made one the preferred.

Guy its important to keep in mind the calibers, those large bore rifles may cause an issue with Nikon that I'm not aware of.

Maybe someone else here with experience with elephant guns can give some helpful input.

[mark46th]

Good points, Guy. An expensive scope is an expensive paper weight if it can't hold zero after a bumpy ride...

[The Reaper]

I run a Leupold 1.5-5X Vari-X III on my Win 70 in .375 H&H.

I have had no problems with it.

TR

[Guymullins]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

I run a Leupold 1.5-5X Vari-X III on my Win 70 in .375 H&H.

I have had no problems with it.

TR

That is probably a better magnification range for a .375 than what I have. I got my scope, unused, but second hand, for about a third the cost of a new one from a dealer. The 1.5 end is great for the big stuff, so I dont suppose you ever have to detach the scope in a hurry?
I like the positive feed of your Winchester too, so long as it is the Mauser type action and not the push action (like my Remington) that Winchester adopted for a while.

[Guymullins]

Yesterday was a public holiday, so a pal and I took the opportunity to field-test our new rifle and scope combinations so as to be ready and confident for the upcoming season. A private game farm about 60 miles away invited us to come out and sample its pleasures. As it was pre-season, the game was very tame and approaching them was very easy. I took an Impala at about 120 yds and a Blessbuck at about 150 yds. The new scope performed flawlessly, dropping both animals with heart shots as if their puppet strings had been cut. My pal, trying out his new Parker Hale .270 was also very happy with his rifle, although both of his animals ran a fair distance before falling. He was using Hornady points and they mushroomed OK and held 60% of their weight and penetrated through shoulder bone ending up under the skin on the far shoulder. The new farm was nice with lots of game ranging from Buff, to giraffe, Sable, Eland, Oryx, Kudu and all the smaller species.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Guymullins

That is probably a better magnification range for a .375 than what I have. I got my scope, unused, but second hand, for about a third the cost of a new one from a dealer. The 1.5 end is great for the big stuff, so I dont suppose you ever have to detach the scope in a hurry?
I like the positive feed of your Winchester too, so long as it is the Mauser type action and not the push action (like my Remington) that Winchester adopted for a while.

No plans to take it off.

I have a nice receiver sight for it, but the scope has been pretty solid since I mounted it. The Winchester is a Custom Shop job, and it is the controlled feed version.

Looking at the Leupold 1-6x Mark 6 for another application. A bit spendy, but it looks like it is very well-designed and made. If I was limited to a single rifle and I thought I might be in dangerous game with it, or on a once in a lifetime safari, that would be a great optic for it.

TR

[Papa Zero Three]

Originally Posted by Guymullins

I have a theory that much money is often spent needlessly on rifle scopes in Africa. I am interested in what the rest of you feel.
Most of the high priced scopes that are available here in Africa (Swarovski, Leica, Zeiss etc) make great play on their lens coatings and light gathering qualities.
These qualities are very desirable for Northern Hemisphere hunting, where the winter days are very short and the light really poor for much of the day. In Africa, especially South Africa, our winter days are extremely bright with swift dusks and dawns. We seldom have rain or even clouds for all the hunting season, so the only time low light hunting occurs is on baited leopard, when the norm is to shoot at times of minimal light. So, my theory is that we generally dont need many of the costly features that are so desirable for European hunters. What we would prefer is a super-robust scope that can take a bashing on bad roads and from heavy recoil that we tend to get with our bigger calibres. Comment?

Have you looked at US Optics scopes? I've gone to the one high quality scope for all my rifles way of thinking. I am running a US Optics SN3/ Lr-17 3.2-17x on a Larue QD mount that works on all my guns. US Optics allows you to configure the scope how you want it so if you don't want all those bells and whistles, you don't have to get them. They are still a top shelf scope price wise but they are durable and can handle the large caliber rounds.

http://www.usoptics.com/optics.html

[badshot]

Originally Posted by Guymullins

Yesterday was a public holiday, so a pal and I took the opportunity to field-test our new rifle and scope combinations so as to be ready and confident for the upcoming season. A private game farm about 60 miles away invited us to come out and sample its pleasures. As it was pre-season, the game was very tame and approaching them was very easy. I took an Impala at about 120 yds and a Blessbuck at about 150 yds. The new scope performed flawlessly, dropping both animals with heart shots as if their puppet strings had been cut. My pal, trying out his new Parker Hale .270 was also very happy with his rifle, although both of his animals ran a fair distance before falling. He was using Hornady points and they mushroomed OK and held 60% of their weight and penetrated through shoulder bone ending up under the skin on the far shoulder. The new farm was nice with lots of game ranging from Buff, to giraffe, Sable, Eland, Oryx, Kudu and all the smaller species.

Nice guy...I have a pricey 4x leupold on a 30-30 that performs well.

As for the .270, have found the faster hornady's using the SST perform poorly at closer ranges with elk especially for my aimpoints...breakdown bone shots. Hornady's bonded bullets retain their weight and drop them on the spot.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by badshot

Nice guy...I have a pricey 4x leupold on a 30-30 that performs well.

I didn't know Loopy made a scope with a 6-mil dot.

[badshot]

Originally Posted by Dusty

I didn't know Loopy made a scope with a 6-mil dot.

Lol...

Hornady made the 30-30 an accurate 300yd firearm

FYI:
Don't know where to post this and QP's may already be aware...if you want great pants for temps ranging from 20 to 80F that are quite, don't smell, and strong...King of the mountain bun-lites are very good. Some sellers offer discounts to the Teams. Currently testing a great replacement for a different manufacturer that are less expensive and offer discounts to military and/or pros, and are great people too. It's early in the test but so far the wind protection provided by these new pants is exceptional, better than the KOM's. All the above are specially weaved, strong and light weight wool.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by badshot

Lol...

Hornady made the 30-30 an accurate 300yd firearm

I hear you.

Believe it or not, even the LeverEvolution rounds for my 45-70 hit pretty close to one another on a target.

[badshot]

Originally Posted by Dusty

Believe it or not, even the LeverEvolution rounds for my 45-70 hit pretty close to one another on a target.

I do, Hornady makes precision ammo and brought back the lever action. Sounds like a fine hunting rifle...

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by badshot

I do, Hornady makes precision ammo and brought back the lever action. Sounds like a fine hunting rifle...

9 out of 10 shots out here are no further than 60 yards due to the terrain.

I had to get the britches off two deer and process 'em in one day last year, and I'm about burned out for deer hunting, but turkey hunting's still fun.