Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Help me scope my new 375 H&H

Somewhat impulsively I picked up a slightly used Remington 700 express rifle in 375 H&H. Not sure if I've been reading too many books on Africa or what but I fell to the temptation to buy the rifle way before the trip.

Since it's use is still somewhat unknown, may some day be the dark continent, maybe Aaska for bear...the scope needs to be something that can adapt.

Was thinking maybe a Zeiss Terra 2-7x33 instead of a more limited VX2 1-4x20. Any ideas or gotchas I need to be aware of when picking out glass for my new big bore? Want to keep the $$ under $500 if possible.

Have a Leupold 1x-4x on my .375 H&H and I don't find it limiting at all. Also have a Weaver 3x on another H&H and a Leupold 3x on my .375 RUM.

I have a Leupold VX3 in 1.75-6x. That is a great choice but as anything has pros and cons.

The pros:
1. Great power range for a hunting rifle. 1.75 allows huge field of view and lightning quick target acquisition. 6x is about a high a power that most can hold steady in the field allowing quicker shots.
2. Has a longer tube than nearly any other Leupold variable allowing the use of mounts not extending over the loading/ejection port;

The cons:
1. It is known for having limited windage adjustment often resulting in the need for windage adjustable bases or rings on some rifles.

A 2-7 33mm is a good choice as well.

I went with the 1.75 x 6 as well. After some use, I believe I am going to change it out for a 2.5-8x36. I have them and 2-7x33's on several rifles and find them just as useful at short range and a bit better past 250 yds or so.

Paul C,

You could do far worse than mounting up a Leupold VX3 2.5-8x on your .375. After trying several scopes, I ended up with one on my .375 Ruger Hawkeye, and have found it to be ideal. It has been used in Argentina for Water Buff, Africa for small and large plains game, and in Texas for Nilgai, all with excellent results on game ranging from 20 yards to well over 250 yards.

The versatility of the .375 can definitely use some equal versatility in optics, IMO.

Thanks guys!

I also have a Vari XIII 2.5x8 on my 375. As others have said good from 20 yards to 250.

2.5-8 matte Leupold in a set of steel Talley QD's is the prefect do it all set up IMHO, 270 gr TSX's zeroed dead on at 200 yards with the scope, and 300 gr Barnes solids zeroed on at 50 with the factory irons.

You can stretch the legs a bit on a 375 H&H rifle. I'd opt for something like a Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40. Even though I've had erector failure on one of those, it was one of my favorite scopes. Light weight, bright, clear and good adjustments/tracking until the erector failure. I currently run a Zeiss 3.5-10x44 on my 375 after trying others that I was not happy with. This included the lower powers: VX3 1.5-5, and 4x. I felt very limited with these scopes and would not feel comfortable shooting past 300 yards with these scopes. YMMV though.. I'll admit, my rifle/scope package is heavy, but very manageable and balances perfectly. A little extra weight in a 375 H&H sometimes isn't a bad thing either.. Here's mine with the Conquest 3.5-10x44 that I settled on. Excellent piece of glass so far:

While moose hunting in Alaska on a fly in lake, a bush pilot dropped off a couple of native bear hunters at our camp while he went back to their camp to pick up some more of their gear. Those guys were both armed with 375 HH rifles with fixed power 16X target scopes on them. I asked them why and they said you didn't want to get to close to the bears. I said OKkkkkkk.......

My preference for my 375s is the 1.75x6. 6X is more than enough power for any animal big enough that you need to shoot a 375 at. Just my opinion.

Recently purchased a likie new Cabelas LTD. Model 70 .375 H&H with a Bushnell Elite 6500 Rifle Scope - 1.25-8x32mm Multi-X Reticle. I already had a scope that I intended to use on this rifle when I bought it. I probably will sell the scope in the picture. The Bushnell is like new, if interested. Would also be a fair price.



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The Leupold 1.5 x 5 x 20 VX III.

Like Adam and Eve.

That's what I run.

I had a plain-jane Leupold 3-9X40 Vari XIIc on my .375 H&H for years with no issues or no feelings that it wasn't adequate. It rarely came off 3X though so I finally put a Leupy 2.5X ultralight (heavy duplex) on it with talley lows and think it is going to be awesome for what I use that rifle for.

I ain't planning on winning 1000 yard matches with it.

A little more versatility than the 1.5X5X20 Leupold is the 1.75X6X32 VX3. I've used it on two safaris at ranges from 25 to over 350 and light transmission is better than the 5X.

I find a scope that can be dialed back to (almost) true 1x is easiest and quickest to shoot with both eyes open for close in encounters such as bear defense. For normal hunting a 375 can reach out pretty far so scope choice depends on what you intend to use the rifle for.

This one.

I have a Weatherby mark 5 in 375 H&H right now.
I have a Nikon Monarch 4x40 straight 4 power on it.
In the past, I have had a Leupold M-8 6x42 straight 6 power, on a 700 in 375 H&H.
I have also had a Ruger M77 in 458 win mag and used 6x42 on it.
I like low straight powers, easy to find your target. And there is no thinking about, what power is my scope on? When you are looking thru it at something that is looking at you.
I like the 4x40 best.

1.5-5x20 is pure and simple worthless as fu ck. Stretch the legs on that 375 and run a 3-9x40 or 3.5-10x40.. Hint..

Just transplanted a 1.5-5x from my Ruger to my Winchester, both .375's.



On the Ruger, it was used to finish a wounded black bear at 15', and also to drill a black bear at 320 yards. No problem with either shot. Fairly useful scope I thought.

Guy