I just want to run a couple things by you all while on the subject...
When I got my first .375, I topped it with the Leupold 1.5 X5 illuminated. This was the first generation illuminated, it's been back to the factory twice with issues relating to the loosening of the dial on the objective piece. Since that dial is prone to "turn itself on", the battery is generally dead when I take it out of the safe, so I determined recently if I want to go illuminated scope, I would have to get the type that turn themselves off after a period of time. I think this is a good consideration in any illuminated scope.
Additionally, if you look at the actual power specs it's 1.5 to 4.5x, not 5.0.
When I finally acquired the wherewithal to go to Africa, I decided to build a new 375. Since this was a plains game Safari, I opted for a new 4.5 - 14 X 40 Leupold. I have to say I was really glad that I had more than 4 or 5 power for the longer shots, but I don't think I ever cranked it up past 10.
Low power scopes for 300 yard shots on those SA farms could be unnecessarily handicapping ones self as you may see in a moment.
So on 13 Sept I'm heading to Zimbabwe for Buffalo, however once the buffalo part is over it's off to hunt more plains game, particularly a big Livingston Eland and (say a prayer with me now) that mythical 60" kudu. After 12 days in Zimbabwe, we're flying back to SA for some more game with my nephew, plus hunting the farm where I got my 53 inch kudu last time for a monster and another very open farm that has some great Springbok, Black Wildebeest and both white and common blesbok. One can shoot as far as one can shoot on this place, so a higher power scope is a decided advantage and could be a lot more fun.
The point of all this is scoping my .375 correctly. I have a 1.75 6 Leupold on another rifle in the safe I could mount, But after looking at the real magnification specs I discovered it's actually 1.9 X on the low end and only 5.5 x at the upper. (Cheaters. When choosing a scope it pays to pay attention to REAL specs, not the ones in the ads.)
Enter the new 2-12x43 VX6 illuminated.
I don't think anyone would argue that the 1.75 - 6 VX3 is not a good dangerous game optic. The new VX6 actually has essentially the same low magnification (2.0 vs 1.9), more field of view (57 feet versus 51), 12 power at the top end for the long shots, It has the Leupold CDS (preprogrammed elevation dial) which I just ordered for 300 grain TSX factory loads that I chronographed at 2650 out of my 70. The illumination module shuts off after a few minutes at rest and comes on immediately when moved.
It's 30mm tube takes a very little bit of getting used to for us old 1" tube guys, but I seem to have adjusted well to the slightly higher cheek weld. The only drawback I see is that it weighs 5 ounces more than the 1.75x6, comes in at 16.0 vs 10.9 (actual) but who cares on a .375?
Seems to me the H&H is now set up pretty well for just about anything I am likely to encounter on the large end, and am bringing a 280 Ackley Improved (160 Accubonds @ 2950fps) for the smaller stuff.
Where am I going wrong here?
