Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Scope Eye Relief for 375 Ruger Alaskan

Guys any minimums I should think about. Reason I am asking is that I am mil dot guy and have a spare Leupy MRT M2 2.5-8 laying around that looks size and power range wise great on the gun. Only issue is the eye relief is 3 to 3.7". Think that is to tight?? Thanks Spence

If you can't shoot a 375 Ruger (or a real one) with 3" eye relief either your're doing something wrong or the rifle is set up wrong. Only exception is shooting prone uphill with any hard kicker, that can bite you.

IMHO mil dots make about as much sense on a dangerous game gun as teats on a bore hog.

The Trijicon 1-4x24 Accu-Point 30mm Rifle Scope with the big red post is the perfect scope for any "thumper". To paraphrase Finn: Big game to far away to be shot with a 4 X scope is too far away.

A 2 1/2 power scope would be called good so if the advantage of an 8x upper end is available for better definition of an animal at the capable range of the shooter and the 375, or checking through a brush screene for a branch that might deflect a bullet, or fading light advantage, then I say go for it. The mil dot reticle is incidental and while not needed is not a detractor or a disqualifier.

Von Gruff.

Thanks guys I would not buy a mil dot for it but it is sitting on the shelf with no home so may use until I trade or buy something better. Spence

.............Agree with interthem about eye relief and the mil dot. Imo mil dots are not the best reticle for the Alaskan. Have a 1-5x20 VX3 on my 375R Alaskan. Has good eye relief and is a good match for the Alaskan rifle.

The 1x4 Trijicon would also make a great match for the Alaskan.

I shot my 375 Ruger African with a VX-III 3.5-10x40 and factory loads and equivalent from the bench and off sticks. It often would graze my brow, never quite bit me but made me a little nervous. Never had this happen with the 1.8-5.5x38 Conquest or with the 2.5-8x32 Conquest it wears now. I would think a good quality 4" eye relief scope would be cheaper than a trip to the ER to get the gash sewn up.

i like 4" or more of eye relief on stuff that kicks.

I have a Monarch African on mine which is rated at 4-4.1" eye relief and I like it fine. Mounted fairly far back in the rings as well. I think you could live with the relief of your scope as it isn't much less than this? If it were me I would put anything available on it just to get to shooting and load development.

what toad said...

Swarovski Z6 1-6x24 EE (extended eye relief) with #4 reticle (post) on my Alaskan. No regrets at all for spending the extra $$.

I had an Alskan and I have scopes with 3" of eye relief I would never consider the two together.

I had zeiss's with the 4" relief on both the 375 ruger and 416 ruger. 4" is the way to go. In my opinion, 3" is not very smart on a hard kicker!

I put a Leupold VXR 4x12 on my .375H&H for elk hunting. 3.7" to 4.9" eye relief. Mounted as far forward as I can physically mount it. Cheap insurance. No worries.

An added bonus for me, on the VXR, the center cross wires of the duplex reticle appear to be slightly thicker than a normal duplex (maybe for the fiber optics ?) Regardless, makes the center portion of the reticle easier for my old eyes to pick up.

i've thought about that VXR 4-12 on a .375 Ultra because of the 4.9" (@4X)of eye releif. that's about the same eye releif as the Leupold Compact 2.5X.

IIRC, the Leupold 6x36 has 4.3", and the 6x42 has 4.7"

My 375 Ruger African wears a Leupold VX-3 2.5-8 x 36, with duplex crosshair. Eye relief is 3.7-4.5", weight of scope is 11.4 oz, according to Leupold specs.

I have found the eye relief to be plenty adequate for this rifle- it has yet to tickle the eyebrow. The scope is mounted as far forward in the Ruger rings as I can get it, which gives me a full FOV when mounted to the shoulder.

The accuracy and range available with this rifle and loads, IMO, warrants having higher power available for longer shots at game, especially when used for African plains animals.

Going with a Leupy VX-2 2-7 until I find a killer deal on an S&B Zenith 1.5-6.

Thanks to all. Spence

Recommend you look at the Redfield revolution 2 x 7 x 33. It has from 3.7" up to 4.2" eye relief, and is made in the Leupold factory in Oregon. The quality control guys there tell me it goes through 5,000 repetitions of recoil simulating a 375H&H, and passes with flying colors. I have one on my classic model 70 375, and it is exceptional optics. And the price is unbelievable. Have shot a couple hundred rounds through it since adding the scope, and it hasn't budged. Good luck.

Guys last question. Looking at Swaro, Zeiss and S&B 1.5-6x42s they all list 3.5" as the eye relief. Is this correct?? thought it would be more?? Thanks Spence

Larry,

FWIW, it's a BOAR hog. The BORE handle cold be better applied elsewhere...

DF

I run a Trijicon TR21 1.25 - 4 x 24 (red triangle post) on mine. Incredibly quick acquisition of sight picture and very bright and clear. Butler creek doesn't make an objective lens cap for these.... at least they didn't last year. That may or may not be a bad thing.

Note the stainless off-set front ring that needed to be bead blasted to match. This scope actually has a bit longer eye relief than Trijicon's TR24 (1 - 4 x 24) and is more than adequate for .375 level recoil. (4.8" - 3.4" as opposed to 3.2" "constant" for the TR24.)

IMO this is a great set up.