Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Scopes for High Recoil Guns

What are your thoughts on scopes for higher recoiling cartridges, such as 300WM, 7mag, 300wby? Do you put more consideration into “toughness” and reliability for scopes on these guns versus standard calibers such as .308? Is it enough difference in recoil between the two to matter? Is there a scope that you would use on a .270 that you would not consider on a .300 mag?

People have issues with Leupolds but I personally have not. I've read about problems with Swarovski Z3 series on heavier kicking guns.

I run either Nightforce or Schmidt & Bender scopes.....no issues!!

Mule Deer has had several from several companies break on his 300 Win Mag (I believe). He would be someone to ask if he was willing to give a brand that he found worked better than others.

I prefer older fixed power Leupold M8 series scopes. Have a M8 6x on a 7mm Rem Mag and a M8 3x on .338 Win Mag for years with no issues.

I've had issues with both on higher recoiling guns.

For scopes that are currently standing up to heavy kickers I have a light 375 H&H with a SWFA 1-6, a 338 win with a NF 3-10 SHV, a 338 win with a Sightron 6x, 300 mag's of various flavors with Bushnell LRHS/LRTS, SWFA and NF's, a few 45-70 and 450 Marlin levers with Leupold 1.5-5's and USA built Burris Short mags. Several large magnum revolvers with Bushnell elite pistol scopes. Other scopes I used through the years without experiencing any problems on heavy kickers: Weaver GS 4.75X, Bushnell Elite 2-7, USA built Burris's, Leupold 6x.

Of course there's a lot of models out there I haven't tried; the tendency being to keep buying more of the models that have been working well. Likewise, I have other models of scope that've done well on lesser recoiling rigs, but that's outside the purview of this thread.

I had a 3.5-10x50 Leupold VXIII on my 300RUM. Never had any issues. It now sits on a 223 and a while back fell over on a concrete floor with no change in zero. Maybe I'm just lucky?

I had a .338 RUM in a factory synthetic with a Leupold 3-9 that stopped adjusting. Also gave me a horrible flinch that lasted long after that gun went to a new home lol.

I still have a Leupold on a big bore but it doesn't go hunting. For a range gun it's no big deal if the scope dies, for a hunting rifle I spent a little more to hopefully avoid a problem at an inopportune time.

Had a Leupold 6.5-20 on a 30-378 for about 15 years and several hunts. Worked fine. Replaced it with a Zeiss to acquire a long-range reticle. I've had issues with rings not standing up to Weatherby recoil, but the scopes have weathered the storm. I'm still going with Weavers, Redfields, and Bushnell versions with no issues on other rifles. Need a new rifle now to go beneath that Leupold.

No issues with the Leupold 1.5-5X on my M70 375 H&H and 416 Rem or anything else I shoot for that matter.

I’ve run Kahles Helia C and a Sightron S-II on a .300 Wby without issues and Burris Signature Selects on other hard kickers.

Had a couple hundred Leupold's....I've sent back for repairs over 1000 usually 4-6 at a time.....several years ago had 4 for repairs at Leupold got a phone call asking me if I wanted any scope made by Leupold they would send them in exchange for my old one....only thing not bad mouth Leupold for 4 years....took the scope sold them in the boxes and change every Leupold for Nikons then the stupid company quit making scopes....one thing I have never had a problem with a Nikon and they are used on some very heavy recoiling rifles.....
A other scope that is very good is Trijicon's been using them on heavy recoiling rifles never have had a problem with one.....just wish they didn't quit making there low power scopes with 1" tubes I just hate 30mm scope tubes.....

My Ruger 1 45-70 had a Leupold VXIII 1.5x 5...no issues
Marlin 1895 45-70 had a Leupold 3X .....no issues
Ruger 77 338 Win. mag. had a Leupold VXII 2x7....no issues
Browning BAR 300 Win.mag. had a Nikon Monarch 3x9...no issues
Colt Coltsman 300 H&H had a Weaver El Paso 6X....no issues
I been very lucky when it comes to scopes, the only issue was recently with a Bushnell Elite 3200 3x9 and I returned it and they replaced it with a Nitron 2.5x10.

I have a CZ 550 .375 H&H with a Leupold VX-6 1-6x24 on it. So far it's been great. I had a Leupold VX-3 1-5x20 on it before and took it to Africa with no problems. The VX-3 will be my backup scope for my next trip to Africa which is in Mozambique.

THIS OR A 6X -42 Leupold

I’ve had issues with a vari-x-III that was mounted on a 340wby for 25+ years. It held zero….but wouldn’t adjust poi when I changed loads. In fairness, it could have been from no use of the turrets in so long that they froze up. I’m having the same issue with an older Z3 that’s sat on a 300wby for the same length of time.. It’s holding zero but small adjustments aren’t changing poi. Recoil related? Hard to say….

My 340 Wby has destroyed north of 10 scopes. The most recent was a Vari- x III. 3.5-10 AO
Reticle fell out.
A 1.5-5 vari-x III Lasted less than 10 shots on my Lott.

Currently the 340 wears a Vortex Razor LHT
The Lott, a Hawke 1-4

I don't have a go-to but always look for eye relief. I've been thumped in the noggin a few times.

Shoot anything you want. We put a tasco on a 50 cal and it didn’t hurt it

Sheer luck I suppose via 416 Rem M70. The same one I won the shoot in Arizona some years ago...