Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Optics? What’s on your big bore, express, DHR?

What are you using and why? What are you avoiding and why? Likes and dislikes?

Of what’s out there today (new and obtainable used) what would you buy? Thanks.

1.5-5x20mm on the .375 H&H. Rugged. Around 1,000 rounds now down the tube with no issue. I tend to have it on 5x from the bench, but leave it on ~2x in the field.

1.5-4x20mm on the 400 Jeffrey #1. Mostly as an experiment to see if it will eventually puke. So far, so good. I just leave it on 1.5x. It's more than this cartridge needs.

2.5x20mm on the 9.3x62mm. Simple, rugged, though only 275 rounds down the tube. Taking the setup with me to Africa in the next couple of months chasing Cape Buffalo. Afterwards, I plan to swap scopes between the 400 Jeffrey and this rifle as I think it will be a better fit.

I used two VX6 1-6's on my 375 and 404 Jeffery the last time in Africa. Both of those rifles are gone.

My 416 Remington is going to get a Trijicon 1-6, and a backup Leupold VX6 1-6.

VX3 1.5-5x20 on my .400 Whelen with the Heavy Duplex. Seems pretty useful from in-your-face close to out further then I would ever shoot something with a low velocity round.

1.1X4 S&B on my 458 Win mag

IX8 LPVO Tract Toric on my 416 Rem mag

My preference is the 1X8

Swaro Z6 1X6.

My .416 Taylor wears a VX II 1-4, but that scope is going to be replaced by a Trijicon Accupoint 1-4 to match what's on the 9.3x62. The trijicon is a definite step up from the Leupold. My .375 has a Vari X III 1.75-6. It crapped out years ago and was sent back for re-education, and has been functional since.

@Puddle. Are the scopes you referenced Leupold's?

My 375 has a 2.5 - 8 Leupold, I had a 1-5 X 5 but my eyes needed a little more magnification for taking a shot through a window in the brush. The extra magnification helps to see unseen twigs and stuff. On th elower end 2.5 is about perfect for me.

Burris fullfield posi lock original 1.5 x 5. Duplex

Would prefer a post as they are my favorite but Burris want swap reticle anymore.

I leave it on 3x most all the time.

Yup

Currently this is my lineup, though arguably my rifles are all mediums and I haven't used them for animals other than brown bears and moose within Alaska.

I've a Leupold 4x28 on my .375 H&H.

I have a Leupold 2.5x8 on my .400 Whelen.

I have a Zeiss 1.8x5.5 on my .416 Remington, though I've mostly hunted that rifle with a Leupold 3X.

For me, anything that brackets 3-4X is fine from the muzzle to as far as I intend to use those rifles. All of the scopes have a "duplex" type reticle.

M8-4x with FX2-6x as back up scope Leupold quick detach bases/rings on my 375H&H AI. Iron sights on 45-90, 45-70’s, & 375Whelen AI.

Thanks Puddle.
Looks like Leupold is well represented.

Leo 2.5-8x36 on 375 H&H w/ Leo 1.5-5x20 as spare
Leo 4x33 on 416 Ruger w/ Leo 2x20 as spare
Leo 1.5-5x20 on 9.3x62

Iron sights on all of them as well

To the guys with the 1.5-5 Leupolds, can you comfortably shoot with both eyes open on 1.5?

Yes. Ditto at 5x.

Ditto with the 2.5-8x36 that's on there now. Ditto with the 1.75-6x32E that was on there before.

-Chris

I do.

I move scopes around at times. But, presently:

2ea illuminated 1-6x24 Swarovski EE on 458 Lotts

1-6.3x24 illuminated Leica Magnus on a 416 Ruger

1-4x24 illuminated Schmidt & Bender Zenith on a 416 Remington

1-6x24 non-illuminated Swarovski Z6 on a 375 H&H

1-8x24 illuminated Tract Toric on a 375 Ruger

1-5x24 HD non-illuminated Leupold on a 20" Marlin 45-70


Optically have no complaints with the aboves. Mechanical time will tell.
I have a 458 Winchester to decide on what scope. I am currently leaning towards a 1.1-4x24 Kahles. But undecided. I have a few lower powered straight tubes to place somewhere.

I have also use an illuminated 1-4x24 Zeiss HT on a 416 Ruger. No complaints, just wanted a couple of more magnification steps. I think, the 1-5 and 1-6 are my favorite power ranges. Though this 1-8 Tract is definitely growing on me. But, 5 & 6x are about perfect for me.

1.1 - 4 Kahles on the 700 in .458WM

1.5 - 6 Kahles on the 700 in .375 RUM

1.5 - 6 Kahles on the 721 in 9,3 x 62m

The AR-10 in .458 Lott/American will get a Holsun 510C to start with (may change it out later)... bullet and shotshell loads are getting played with.