Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Optics for big bores

Thanks ..... I've been looking for one of these for a while.

This one sat for sale buried in an obscure ad on-line titled for other items. It was covered with camo tape so didn't look very good and I don't think the Tasco brand helped much either. $150 got it.

Last weekend at the Michigan Campfire Shoot, my 375 Ruger Alaskan killed it's second scope.
It was a mid 90's Leupold Vari-X III 1.5-5 x 20.
The other was a Leupold VX-1 2-7 x 33.

Granted, both of those scopes had spent time on a 416 Rigby, a Remington 700 Classic 35 Whelen, a Mossberg 835 slug barrel, and last before this was an Ithaca M37 w/Hastings rifled slug barrel.
Can't say any of those was a cushy ride, but I'd like to find a tougher scope to put on the 375.

I've had a Nikon 1.5-4.5 on my 416 Rigby for 15 years, no complaints. Recently installed a 20 year old Leupold VX2 1-4 on my 500 Nitro in Talley QD rings, holding up well so far.

I have a low powered Leupold on my 375 H&H AI.
My 416 Rigby will stay -- iron sights only. Open "V" rear and post front.
My 375 Whelen AI also will stay -- iron sights only. Lyman steel aperture rear and post front.
While not quite a "Big Bore" my light 350 RM Remington 600 recoils like a "Big Bore", I have a 1x4 Weaver on it. That 350 main use is for the woods and a high power scope has no place there, IMHO.
Other heavier kickers all have Leupold VX-2 or VXIII's. After reading MD's stuff, I think I'll be looking for a Fullfield II to try.

I don't think any of these heavier kickers will be shooting at much over 250 yards, probably less than 50 yards, and I'd bet 100 yards max - Perhaps my 375 H&H AI, might go to 200 yards. These limitations are limitations of the mechanism that is pulling the trigger, not the rifles.

I did all of load development for my 404 and 375 with a SWFA 3-9.

Then went to Leupold VX6 1-6's on both for my upcoming trip to Africa. Both Leupolds have over 200 practice rounds through them with no issues. Last three shot group with both was well under an inch with all shots touching.

Still have at least another 100 rounds of practice to run through both before the June departure.