458 / scope

[TomC]

I would like to put a scope on my Remington M-798 in 458 win mag. Any suggestions?
Thank you all in advance.

 

[Velo Dog]

TomC,

The following is regarding my personal limitations.
Perhaps others here will have better suggestions.

The various .458s with bullets much over about 400 grains, produce more recoil than I feel is safe with conventional eye relief scopes.

Some folks prefer these forward mounted "scout scopes", including on hard kickers, perhaps especially on hard kickers.

I have tried one and found it awkward, others seem to love them.

On .458s and other especially hard kicking rifles, I prefer a wide / shallow "V" rear sight blade and quite large white front bead sight (on one of my shotguns used primarily for slugs, as well).

Another sighting arrangement for especially hard kickers that I have used and like very much is, a generous aperture ("large peep sight" or "ghost ring") rear sight and a heavy duty front blade sight, similar in concept to an old fashioned (1970s / 1980s) Smith & Wesson revolver front sight.

Again, perhaps some others will have more encouraging suggestions for scoping your .458.

Kind Regards,
Velo Dog.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Tom,

I have a .458 B&M that would be somewhere between a .458 Win and Lott. The fellow who developed this cartridge is Michael McCourry. He was a long time Leupold guy. Michael shoots more big bore rounds in one year than most will shoot in their lifetime. The Leupy's at one point or another wear out under that stress and he would send them back to Leupold. They fixed them with no cost to Michael. But he grew tired of having to do this. So he moved to Nikon a year of so ago. As far as I know he stlll hasn't sent one back.

Not sure what your plan is for your rifle, but I presume DG primarily. Nikon makes good glass, not great, but good. I personally put much more importance on reliability over optical quality when it comes to a DG scope.

 

[GL416]

Hi Tom

I have a Leupold VX-6 1-6 x 24 on my Winchester Model 70 in .416 Rem Mag. The rifle only has about 100 rounds through it since I changed scopes, but the scope is holding up fine. The only problem I see with it is the size and weight, but I do like the 30mm tube, and the scope has excellent field of view. Heavy scopes can certainly test your mounts, I am using Talley Lever Lock QDs and really like them. The scope has around 4" of eye relief, but it is non-critical and has been more than enough for the .416, so you should be ok on a .458 Win Mag. The German Number 4 reticle that mine has is a bit thinner than I normally like but I am used to it now and have hunted with the rifle and scope a bit and I didn't notice. The one power on the bottom end is nice is close bush, and the six power is more than enough for any shot you are ever likely to take with a .458, in my opinion. I know a guy who has the same scope on a rifle chambered in .450 Rigby and it has held up fine. The price is not cheap even compared to say a VX-3 1.5-5 x 20 (which a lot of people also like for big game rifles) but the VX-6 is a lot of scope for the money if you want to spend that much (over $1,100 in Australia), or don't want to spend as much as you will need to for a Z6 Swarovski etc. The people I know with Z6 Swarovskis like them very much, I have just never been able to bring myself to part with that much cash for a scope.

My back up scope for the .416 is an old Leupold VX-II 1-4 x 20 that has a couple of hundred rounds of .416 under its belt and many more full power 45/70 handloads out of a Marlin guide gun. That scope has never lost zero or given any trouble, even though the VX-II series is not meant to be as recoil resistant as the VX-III line, as you probably know, due to the VX-II only having a single erector spring compared to two in the VX-III. I might have just got lucky with it.

Another scope to consider if you don't mind a fixed power is the little Leupold Ultralight FX-II 2.5x20 scope, I have used one of these and they are tough and have around 5" of eye relief, which is always nice on a big game rifle.

I certainly agree with the opinion that has been expressed above, that reliability is more important than optical quality for a scope on a big game rifle.

I know a lot of people will tell you that open sights are the go for .458 class and above rifles, and it is all personal preference, but with my ageing eyes I just can't shoot with open sights like when I was a kid, you might be fine.

Best regards

Glenn

 

[Red Leg]

I really think the decision about mounting a scope on a .458 and similar class rifles is a function of ones eye sight and the intended use of the rifle rather than recoil. There are scopes which will reliably handle that kind of thump (many are mounted on .375's, which because of their often lighter weight, often generate as much recoil as a lot of .458s) and which have plenty of eye-relief. The lower power Zeiss Victories seem to be almost indestructible - I have one on a .404 - and a Trijicon on one of my .375's has held up under hundreds of rounds and two of my trips to Africa. I bet I haven't adjusted the sights in five years.

A largely forgotten alternative is a peep sight. With my 61 year old eyes and while wearing glasses, I can still shoot a wide peep as well as a scope out to two hundred yards. I admit, I have about a zillion hours behind military rifles and so am really comfortable with the "ghost ring" concept. Three of my rifles have traditional Griffin and Howe side mounts and each has room for and also wears a Redfield peep with the target disc removed. Talley makes one which will hold its sight-in setting and can be fitted on Talley bases within seconds of removing a scope using Talley detachable rings.

 

[Suaio]

Another scope to consider if you don't mind a fixed power is the little Leupold Ultralight FX-II 2.5x20 scope, I have used one of these and they are tough and have around 5" of eye relief, which is always nice on a big game rifle.
Glenn

Hi Mr. Glenn. Are you sure this Lep will survive to the .458 recoil?
I've just received one instead of a FXII 2x20 - handgun scope, the ordered one. I got a CZ 550 in .458win and no intention to scope it, but I may try this cheap Leupold, as it won't be useful for me on a 44mag SW Hunter.

 

[CAustin]

I agree with previous post that the Luepold VX6 makes a great big and dangerous game rifle scope. I put it on a 416 Ruger in the 1 to 6 magnification. Also had the CDS system on it.

 

[GL416]

Hi Mr. Glenn. Are you sure this Lep will survive to the .458 recoil?
I've just received one instead of a FXII 2x20 - handgun scope, the ordered one. I got a CZ 550 in .458win and no intention to scope it, but I may try this cheap Leupold, as it won't be useful for me on a 44mag SW Hunter.

Hi Suaio

If it was me, I wouldn't hesitate to use that scope on your rifle. I am planning on buying a rifle in .450 Rigby in the near future, that same model scope is what I intend to put on top of it. Of course any scope can fail, but the 2.5 x 20 has a pretty good reputation for holding up on heavy kickers. Fixed power scopes in general have less to go wrong with them internally. The little scope is certainly no optical powerhouse but I would have confidence that it will hold up on your .458.

Best regards

Glenn

 

[Suaio]

Hi Suaio

If it was me, I wouldn't hesitate to use that scope on your rifle. I am planning on buying a rifle in .450 Rigby in the near future, that same model scope is what I intend to put on top of it. Of course any scope can fail, but the 2.5 x 20 has a pretty good reputation for holding up on heavy kickers. Fixed power scopes in general have less to go wrong with them internally. The little scope is certainly no optical powerhouse but I would have confidence that it will hold up on your .458.

Best regards

Glenn

I'll start looking for a pair of rings. At least it will be usefull for me!
Thanks a lot sir!
Rodrigo

 

[TomC]

Thank you everyone for the great advise.
Has anyone used a Trijicom RMR on a large caliber bolt action, the 448.win mag would used primarily for DG
and at 57 my eyes are not what they were 20 years ago. NO scope, Small scope or Red dot/Trijicom type?

 

[CAustin]

Recoil of my 416 caused no issues with the scope in the field or on the bench. I put 3 1/2 boxes thru it before the hunt at the range. By the way that Custom Dial System does exactly what it says it will do.....very accurate. Only problem was that I let my bush pilot shoot the rifle and the scope hit him in the eye. Told him to stick to flying.

 

[Suaio]

Thank you everyone for the great advise.
Has anyone used a Trijicom RMR on a large caliber bolt action, the 448.win mag would used primarily for DG
and at 57 my eyes are not what they were 20 years ago. NO scope, Small scope or Red dot/Trijicom type?

Never used sir, but I've seen some mounted over heavy caliber Double rifles, so they must work as intented and hold the recoil without being dammaged.

 

[Bushstalker]

Hello Tom,
I use Zeiss 1,5-6x42 Varipoint for the last years on my 416, strong and good with out problem. Have now change and waiting for the new Schmidt & Bender Exos 1-8x24 with falshdot in reticle FD7, will also move away from Apel pivot mount and use German made Recknagel swingmount to receive as low mount as possible.

I do not think that Leopold can offer anything near to what Smith & Bender can offer, but that is only my opinion...

Cheers, M (Bushstalker)

 

[bassasdaindia]

either leupold

VX6 1-6x24
or

VX3 1.5x5x20

 

[bebo]

Winchester 70 Safari Express .416RM scoped with VX3 1.5-5x20 : very good eye relief !
But today, I think the VX-6 1-6 x 24 is more interesting.

 

[Grumulkin]

I had a Leupold 2-7x Vari-X on a 458 Lott for awhile with no malfunction. I now have a Nightforce on it mainly because I couldn't get enough adjustment with the Leupold for 500 grain bullets.