Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Scoping a 458 Lott

Usually, I select a scope based on clarity, sharpness, and brightness. However, for my Ruger #1 458 Lott, my sole selection criteria is not getting busted in the face during recoil

Now, I'm not always going to use the rifle for heavy duty ele stompers, but I also don't want to have to remove it when I want to shoot the heavy kickers, but then bolt it back on and recheck zero when I want to shoot my more routine mild 458WM loads. Been looking at Optics Planet, and there's a couple models I'm considering.

First is a Leupold Scout Scope. Saw someone on here had one installed on their #1 458 Lott and said it worked fine. I think this is a great option, but I'm hesitant to just order it without looking through one sitting on my rings. Price is $299

Second is the Leupold 1x4x20 shotgun/muzzleloader scope. Eye relief is 3.8-4.3 inches, which I like. I doubt this particular scope has as clear or as bright of glass as some of the other options, but I like my plain jane 2x20 Leupold shotgun scope that sits on top of my Marlin 1895GS. I've shot some serious thumpers out of the little Guide Gun and have never been popped. The scope is also plenty good for what I use it for. Price is $190

Third is a Nikon Monarch African scope. It's a 1x4x20 similar to the Leupold, but eye relief is 4.1-4.3, and the price is $245.

Fourth is a 2x20 Nikon extended eye relief scope. Haven't found a price on this one, but it has eye relief of 10.1", which would be similar to the Leupold EER scope, but a little smaller.

Again, don't wanna get popped in the eye and don't want to have to take the scope on and off. Any experience with Ruger #1's in heavy calibers or these scopes in particular would be appreciated. 90% of my shooting will probably be done at levels where eye relief won't be a problem, but after I get a mercury recoil reducer and limbsaver installed, I will be shooting some full power Lott loads as well.

Thanks!

If you want to add in the scope handling rough use and abuse, consider the Burris posi lock series. I love 'em on the big guns.

If it were mine, it would wear one of the new Leupold 3x fixed power scopes available from their Custom Shop...fewer parts to break apart and fall out when the Lott kicks the snot out of the shooter (and scope). Plus, it is long enough to mount on a Number 1 conveniently.

I "only" have a .458, but it has broken a couple of high quality variables. So far, so good with a 3x Loopy.

The 3X from Leupold, no question. As for a second choice, the Leupold VX3 1.5X5x20. Lots of eye relief on both. I've used them on heavy kickers like the Lott with no issues but I'd stay away from Burris'. I obtained one of their top of the line (for them) Euro Diamonds in 1.75X6 with the ill reticle and it's been back to them twice for repair. It now resides in my junk drawer.

First of all, before buying a Burris, check the feedback on those scopes on MidwayUSA. They're not all that complimentary.

Stock design has a lot to do with getting or not getting scope bites. I have a CZ 550 in 458 Lott and had no problem even with a Leupold 2-7X scope. I currently have a Nightforce 2.5-10X on it which I really like. I never came close to a scope bite with either scope but the Ruger Number 1, with which I have no experience, may be different. The scope for this rifle is in Talley QD base/rings and there is no loss of zero in detaching and reattaching the scope.

I wouldn't go with an EER handgun scope as you'll find the eye relief too long to work well with a rifle.

using a Leupold 1.5-4x20 with Leupold quick release rings and bases, its working well without loosing zero on my Win70 .458Lott.
Pushing a 450gr Barns X@ 2372fps it has a recoil reducer i the butt and recoil is managable. And no scope rash either!
The Lott is the one one on the left.

VX-R 1.25-4X20MM Fire Dot Duplex

One was the culprit here: http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/showthread.php/104111-Model-70-300-WSM-still-not-grouping-after-gunsmithing-work!!!!!!

I don't know how many others like them, but I chose a Bushnell 6500 Elite 1.25-8x 32mm for my .375 Wby. If you want eye relief, it has about 6-inches of it and is an excellent scope IMO.





The reason the scope is mounted so far forward is because it has such a huge amount of eye relief, it has to go up there.

The Lott ( Ruger Magnum Rifle ) in my safe wears a 1.25x4 Schmidt & Bender and cant think of a single downside to the combo.

Von Gruff.

The Lott certainly has an earned reputation for ravenously devouring scopes. I prefer utilizing the iron sights, but also have a Leupold fixed 2.5x20mm in Talley QD rings that has (knock on wood) held up fine.

My now 16 years old Tasco Titan has fired over 1000 rounds though my .460 and never slipped, changed zero or shown any sign of any issue whatsoever. It is housed in Leupold 2 piece bases and 30mm rings.

On my .416 Weatherby's, I used 1-4 and 1.5-5 Leupolds and they were also very good options that perforemd well.

I tend to fall back on the 2.5x or 3x LEU for a benchmark on durable scopes.

I'm not a Bushnell user, but that scope MarineHawk showed above looks interesting. A bit bulky for my taste, but the specs are pretty impressive having a 5.9" mounting tube, 6" eye relief, 60' field of view, and 75" of adjustment. A 1-pound scope may throw balance off a bit, but I'd imagine a heavy rifle could absorb the extra weight.

Best

On my .375 Wby, I was actually welcoming a bit of extra weight.

I found a Leupy 3x in excellent condition. Can't wait to get it on there and get back to thumping!

I have used a Leupold 1.5-5x20mm on my .458 Winchester MOdel 70 and not had any problems. the .458 Lott only gets about 70 fps more velocity with the same pressures as .458 Winchester handloads that use AA2230 so I doubt you would have a problem.

I have mounted a Burris Signature Series 1.75-6X on my .375 and have had no problems with it either.

To avoid scope cut, mount the scope low and as far forward as you can without getting vignetting.

To avoid getting hurt by recoil, just hold the rifle tightly with both hands and a good cheek weld. Do not shoot it off the bench unless you have heavy padding for the shoulder and elbows. I would not mess with recoil reducing devices. Others would.

My .458 Model 70 has been fired quite a bit with heavy loads...I used to allow the police recruits to fire it on the last range day of the academy, so it probably has more than 700 rounds of full power 500 grain ammo through it so far, plus another 800 or more rounds of full power 350 grain and mid range 405 grain ammo that is much more "fun" to shoot now that I am an old geezer.

It broke a Leupold Vari-X III 1.75x-6x. Leupold repaired the windage adjustment and I put the scope on a lighter rifle.

It broke a Leupold Vari-X III 1.5x-5x. Leupold replaced the erector assembly and I put the scope on a lighter rifle.

Now I have a Leupold M-8 3x on the rifle...so far, so good.

Oh, yeah, it also broke a stock, and Winchester replaced it...but unlike Leupold, they didn't fix it for free...as I recall, it cost about $300.00.

If variables have trouble on a regular .458, I have my doubts about subjecting them to a "Lott" more recoil.

My .416 Rigby wears an Aim Point 9000.

My CZ 550 in 500 Jeffery wears a 1.5-5x Leupold with Talley QR mounts. So far it has 400 full power (570g TSX at 2300 to 2410 fps) rounds through it, about 300 with the scope on it (I shoot iron sights with it as well). No problems so far, but fingers are crossed.

570 @ 2300?! Makes the 458 Lott look like a little girl's toy!