Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters scoping my 7X57 mauser.

I just re'read Mule deers article about his moose hunt with the 7X57. makes me wonder why i bought my .338 win !
I have an excelent 7X57 , in a ruger #1A. I pulled out my note book for the rifle , and there is a target inside that has a .70 inch group at the top and a .50 inch group 2 inches below.
The load notes on the Target say its a 140 grain balistic tip over 50 grains of H-414. And the velocity listed in the notes show a velocity of 2877.
I think it time I put a better scope on . Not sure what to use.
The odd ring spacing on the #1 makes it a bit of a pain.
But a leupold 2.5X8 is sure a good idea, or mabye a 1.75X6.
I kind of like the Idea of a Geman #4 reticle , but it only comes on the 1.5X5. That is enough magnifacation , but I just don't know about that 20mm tube for light gathering.
I could Get the 1.75X6 and have the reticle changed.
Opinions please. ( no fixed powers and I aint buying no 1000, dollar scope)
thanks guys.
...tj3006

Decide which one of your choices you want and send it to Leupold for the new reticle. Either one will be just fine, too little difference to worry about between the 2.5-8 and the 1.75-6. I have several of each and personally tend to use the 1.75-6 on the larger calibers and the 2.5-8 on the smaller calibers with some overlap. Since your gun is the relatively heavy #1, whichever one balances best would be my recommendation.

Good points on the scopes, but You are slightly mistaken on the rifle. The #1A is prety light. About 7 lbs.
the reason I am thinking of the 1.75X6 is beacuse the 2.5X8
(I have 2) at the higher end magnifacation might not have the eye relief needed for the far forward mounting system on the #1.
I could go to off set rings, I will look at that Idea, But I can't have the scope in the way of quick reloads.
One great thing is I can drive out to leupold for a reticle change.
...tj3006

I just sold my Ruger #1A in 30-06 that I had for over 10 years. I used a 1.5-5 on it most of the time but also tried a 1.75-6, 2.5-8 and a fixed 3X Leupold. The 1.5-5 and the 3X worked best for me. I went with a Rem 700 mountain rifle in a Basner stock with a 2.5-8. About a pound lighter with that scope than the Ruger 1A with its scope which is why I characterized it a relatively heavy.

tj,

You are wise to be concerned about the 20mm objective lens. I think you will like the 2.5-8x33 much better, especially at dusk. Personally, I would mount a VX1 2-7x33 and use the money saved for more loading components. I have done just that on my #1s. The eye relief of the 2-7x33 is long, even long enough to see the full FOV at 7x. Oh, I own one Vari-X III, and yes it is a nice scope, but not worth the extra money over the VX1 IMHO.

I once mounted a Vari-X II 3-9x40 on a #1A with Ruger extended rings. Those rings are sizable chunks of solid steel and are very heavy. It worked, but I didn't like it and switched to the 2-7x33.

BTW, "medium" are the lowest Ruger rings possible to mount the 2-7x33 on a #1A with the rear sight in place. If you remove the rear sight, then you can use "low" Ruger rings.

My pre-warning M77 7x57 wears a straight 4x scope (an El Paso Weaver). It works very well but the capability of cranking up to 7x or more on a longer shot is nice. An average whitetail viewed from 200 yards looks pretty small when viewed through 4x, and I don't know if I'd even shoot at one from 300 yards. The reticle subtends a lot of deer that far away. My M77MkII 7x57 has the 2-7x33 and it is a very nice scope.

Good luck.

-

I have a Leupold 6X36 on my 7X57, and can't imagine wanting more, or less magnification. If I were to change, it would be to Leupold's 2.5-8 scope, probably my favorite scope of all time. Best of luck with whatever you choose.

Big red head.
I had a VX2 2X7 on the rifle for along time, and its probably good enough, But I wan't somthing better.
So far when I take the 7X57 mauser on a hunting trip ,it usualy gets back up duty , just beacuse my little Roberts or my .308 has a better scope.
In broad daylight at the range the VX1 or 2 is probably plenty good enough. But dawn and dusk is when the better lens coating makes the difference, and the new VX3 is supposed to have a better coating then the older VXIII series, and bring in even more light.
If I could afford it, I would buy swarovsky scopes. (i know I spelled it wrong.)
...tj3006

tj,

I have the same rifle as you (1A in 7x57) and put a 4x Leupold on it initially, but I did have to lean forward a tad as I couldn't bring the scope back enough. I then switched to a 1.5-5x20 Leupold and problem fixed. No objective bell to hinder moving the scope back. The 1-4x20 would be just as good. I use mine on pigs mostly but just 5 days ago I took a lovely fallow buck with it. I've used mine quite a bit on dusk and never felt handicapped with the 20mm objective in regards to light gathering, and thats with black pigs in the dusk. Good luck whatever you decide.

I have four 2.5x8 Leupolds on my most used hunting rifles, including a Ruger 77, 7x57. I think they are a perfect hunting scope. Next in line the VX2 2x7 or 3x9.

I have tried most of the low to medium magnification Leupolds that have sold during the past 30 years;

1.5-5, 1.75-6, and 2.5-8 Vari-X IIIs and VX3
1-4, 2-7, 3-9, 4-12, and 6-18 pre-Vari-X II, Vari-X II, and VX2
2-7 VX1 and Rifleman

and think that the current production 2-7x33 VX2 probably offers the most performance and value for the $$. So, if a 2-7x33 fits a rifle, both physically and for its intended use, the VX2 version is my go to. I know that if I had a Ruger #1 in 7x57, a gloss 2-7x33 VX2 with a heavy duplex would be my 1st choice.

Jeff

Get an older model M8 4x (longer tube), get an extension ring for the rear mount (don't need it for the front w/ this setup). I have a #1A .270 w/ this exact arrangement, works great, eye relief perfect.

I have had excellent luck with 4x28 Leupold M8's on Ruger No. 1's myself, but have always just used the standard mounts. I guess it depends on our individual measurements! (They also work very well on Savage 99's.)

The 1.75-6x Leupold also has worked very well with the standard mounts on No. 1's for me.

Been kicking around the idea of an FX-II 2.5x20 on my 1-A in 7x57.

Not too common a scope on the 'Fire, though, so far as I can see.

- Tom

VERY long and forgiving eye relief, plus weight of 6.5 ounces. I have used them on No. 1's and they work well, if you can accept the other limitations. There really aren't as many as most people think....

I had exactly that combo a few years back, it served me well. I gradually morphed to the Leupold VX-III in 1.5-5x though.
Lotsa good suggestions on his thread BTW.
Ingwe

I think I just found my perfect #1 RSI scope with that 2.5x20 ultralight. Now, If I can just shave an ounce or two off those heavy rings.

My 1A 7X57 wears a 1.75X6 older short model. Good eye relief with std rings for my stature.

Right now i have about narrowed it down to the 1.5X5 or the 1.75X6. I had a 2X7 on it and I caught myself crawling up the stockon about 6 power.
The 1.5X5 has the german #4 and it just looks cool on the rifle.
I called a tech out at leupold yesterday and was told the new lens VX3s are noticably brighter than the VXIIIs
Its quite posible that I might need to pass on a shot for poor light , so the 1.75X6 has its advantages.
Well 1st I need to buy new tires for my truck, But the scope is not far away. I would prefer gloss but matt works too,
...tj3006

When hunting Northern Michigan swamps, the scope that makes the most sense is a Leupold fixed 4x. Shots are never longer than 150 yards, and most of the time inside 75 yards. That's what I use.

i've got a leupold compact 2.5X from 1998 mounted on my m70 fwt .243... it's a point and shoot rig...
if i can get my head in the same county as the scope i've got a sight picture... right hand, left hand.. sticking my head and arm through a fence and shooting left hand...
rugged, reliable... i don't remember much about the adjustments on it because it's been so long since i've seen them...