I have a new Winchester M70 Classic Stainless in .375 H&H Mag with a McMillan Stock and open sights. I took it to the range a few weeks ago and was shooting factory PMC ammo with the 300 grain Barnes X. Let me tell you, this gun ROCKS! :biggun:
People say that a .375 H&H gives more of a "push" than a "punch" with regards to recoil. Well....I'd say it gives BOTH. :eek:
With the open sights (and keeping in mind that I was cleaning the barrel after EVERY shot in order to properly break in the barrel) I was getting about 1.5" groups at 50 yards. I'm certain that the spreads were a little big because of the oil residue in the barrel after each cleaning, so I think that, after barrel break in, I should shrink the groups down quite a bit. Plus, I also flinch a bit, so I need to work on that problem. In addition, those iron sights are not the best in the world either, but I don't plan on using them as my primary sights. Rather, I plan on mounting a scope - ergo the purpose of this post.
So what scope do you guys recommend? Please keep in mind that, although this is a BIG GUN, I plan on using it 99% of the time for - believe it or not - big wild hogs.
Yup, I got frustrated some years ago when I had a 75lb boar charge me after I shot it through the lungs. Dang thing made me climb up a mesquite tree!
Anyways, as such, I don't need the traditional safari scope in the 1.75x-5x-20mm range. Hogs, even at 200 pounds, are not as big as, say, a cape buffalo or a grizzly, but they are every bit as mean. I say this because, since the hogs are small, and I will shoot them within a maximum of about 150 yards (with 75 to 100 yards as the average), I would like to have more magnification than, say, 5x.
Theoretically, I COULD get your traditional 3x-9x-40mm. Such a magnification would not have a wide FOV such as the safari scopes, but again, it doesn't matter. My thought is that, IF and WHEN I do go to Africa or Alaska - you know, for the dangerous Bigger animals, I can get another safari scope for it. Oh, BTW, I do plan on getting the scope with some sort of quick detachable scope mounts, so this way I could have 2 scopes for the gun.
On the other hand, I could start off by getting a safari scope because, in part, they generally have longer eye relief - which you NEED in a gun like a .375 H&H.
As such, I was initially thinking about the New Burris Safari LRS with the new Illuminated Fast Plex. However, there are two things that I don't like about this choice. First, everyone tells me to stay away from Burris. And even though I own a couple and don't have any problems, I am worried about their customer service. From other posts, it is evident that they will not back behind their product. And if they do, it may take months to get it fixed. Second, it has Posi-Lock which I consider to be useless.
Based on that, I was thinking about the Leupolds and Bushnell Elites. The Elite 4200s have very short eye relief - that's my only gripe about them. They have an Elite 3200 in 1.5x-4.5x with the new Firefly reticle for under $200 - not bad. Problem is, although it has longer eye relief than some of its 4200 siblings, it is still relatively short at 3.6".
The Leupold Vari-X III 1.75x-6x-32mm on the other hand, has eye relief from 3.7" to 4.7" That's much better. The problem here is that it costs double - about $400.00.
I strongly advocate buying the best optics you can get. As such, I may just get the Leupold. I own a few Vari-X IIIs with Illuminated reticles (they cost about $625 each), but, as I have said before, Leupolds are overpriced. Then again, on a super hard kicking .375H&H, you want a company that will stand behind its product if it breaks - and Leupold is the best in the business in that department. As such, I try to consider the extra price of the Leupold as a built-in insurance policy. Anyway, I was also thinking about the 2.5x-8x-36mm. Then again, since this is my "Hog" scope, I could get your 3.5x-10x-40mm too.
On the other hand, the Elite 3200 is also tested to 1,000 rounds of .375 H&H recoil. And, I have heard that Bushnell also has very good service - or at least that's what their warranty says.
So what are your thoughts guys? Remember, 99% will be for big Hog hunting.
Zachary
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