Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics .300's eating scopes

Boy oh boy it gets frustrating with .300 mags eating scopes. Was just shooting my Tikka .300 winny. This rifle is a consistant shooter. Usually puts 5 into.7" to 1" with hunting loads. (180 BT or TTSX with either of the 4831's)

Shooting at 200 yards which is my zero. 2 hit right on zero couldn't see the third and thought went into another hole. Fired another and noticed a hole low left about a foot low. One more shot was low and left into the dirt.

Checked all the mounts, action screws. All good. I guess this one is going to make the trip to Leupold again. It is a VX 3, 3.5X10 CDS. It has lasted about 75 rounds.
2nd time back to Leupold.

Lefty C

Time to try the new Nightforce SHV 3x10x42.........

Some variables and lightweight 300's aren't a good mix.

I guess it's something we all have to learn for ourselves.

Bad luck, I guess. I got the same scope but with the B&C reticle on my 8 lb. 300 RUM. Always stacks them 2" high at 100.

Get a Nikon Monarch 3....even Pro Staff and Sluggun will hold up to heavy recoil better compared to Leupolds and better eye relief.

Myself and several other people are using them on large bore lightweight rifles weighing less that 8 pounds, 375 up to 500 caliber. In 3 years and thousands of full power rounds not one has broken. Usually in one year 5-12 Leupolds would be going back for repairs.

Disconcerting, my favorite hunting scope.

Lefty C,

I have used a Burris Signature 3-9x, and a Leupold VX-III, 2.5-8x, on my .300 Weatherby for 20 years or so, with nary a failure. Last year, I took the Leupold off the Wby. and put it on my Ruger Hawkeye .375 Ruger, where it continues to operate without a problem.

It may be just a case of getting a bum scope to begin with. Even if Leupold fixes it, you are not going to have a lot of confidence in it. It stands to reason that scopes on heavy kickers may not last as long as on milder shooters, but that's what they were designed for, after all. If it were me, I would list it on ebay, and get another Leupold.

I always carry a spare scope when hunting far afield with my Weatherby or my Ruger, but so far, no need to use it.

I really like this combo and have taken 2 elk and a mulie with it. I backpack and I really don't want a heavy scope like a NF on this rifle. I am actually surprised it failed as the recoil is really not that bad. Perhaps I will go with a 6x42 with dotz.........after all elk are pretty big targets

Lefty C

Try a fixed power like a 6x. Fewer parts and unlikely to ever go TU.

Agreeing w/Bob to a point...but when a manufacturer builds a scope it should be able to withstand the recoil of any mainstream rifle recoil. If not they should have some kind of warning on the box like may not hold up to heavy recoil. Kinda extreme I know but my opinion. powdr

+1 Have a Nightforce on my Mcmillian 50BMG since I got it, over 1700 rounds and its still holds zero and tracks like it was new. Anything that's a heavy hitter wears a Nightforce. I have them on my 300 wby, 300 Ultra, 257 STW, 30-378 Wby, 338-378 Wby, 338-416 Rigby, 340 Wby, and 358 STA, they all wears Nightforces and have not had to send one back.

I shoot Leupolds on some heavy kickers. Had a VXII go south several years ago, but it's held up since being returned.

I would tell Leupold that you have lost confidence in this scope and would like a new replacement. I wouldn't be surprised if they sent you a brand new scope.

I ain`t got no dog in this hunt but.......
My Weatherby Mark V Ultra Light Weight 30-06 I bought here
from Wes 7x57 has Busted these scopes in this order.
All Leupolds Vari X III 1.75-6x32 HD
VX III 1.75-6x32 HD
FX 3 6x42 HD
FX 3 6x42 LRD
All were sent back to Leupold and returned to as new condition
Sold all of them here.
I love Leupold`s more than ANY other scope maker but
for me I am trying other makes for now.
May try a Leupold Redfield Revolution next on this 30-06 and see how it does.
AMRA

I put over 800 rounds of 200 grain .300 Win Mag through the Mark 4 version of your scope. Never a problem and held zero regardless of what happened to the rifle.

Whiebread

I really like Leupolds and have them on several rifles that kick more than this Tikka. For some reason this scope has failed twice on this rifle. There is no second guessing it either it usually throws shoots 4-6" per shot.

I also own three NF scopes on my heavy long range competition rifles, great scopes but not for this rifle. IMOP even the compact ones are a bit heavy for a pure mountain rifle.

Lefty C

With concern about a scope giving up, one could always have a couple, mounted in QD rings and pre sighted. If one bites the dust, mount the other.

One headed back for CS, the other on the gun.

DF

I'd rather have the extra 6-7 oz of dependability than 13 oz's of possible failure!

I have Bushnells on everything from a 223 to my 458 WM not one ounce of problem, same with the 2 Vortex Vipers I have on a 257 Bee and 325 WSM. I never had much luck with Leupolds and wouldn't have one on a rifle. Sure it was probably just bad luck but twice with 2 different scopes on 2 different rifles was enough for me. Just my 2 cents

I have Bushnells, several 4200's and a 6500. Good scopes.

Their ER's seem shorter than Leupolds and I'm not sure I'd want one on a hard kicker. My 4200's are on .223, .204, 22-250 and .220S. The 6500 is on a .240.

DF

Nightforce!!