Who Needs A Scope On An Elephant Rifle?

[Bert the Turtle]

I shot mine in tall grass at a touch under 30 yards. I found a scope quite helpful in seeing the landmarks I needed to see to make a brain shot. I don’t think 1x on my 1-6 is any disadvantage up close. Perhaps sight offset for super close but otherwise it’s a nice illuminated circle more or less like a holographic sight.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Kudu or croc I'd be hunting with a scoped PG rifle. Buffalo I'd want to get closer even with a scoped rifle regardless. Not to mention if one is out hunting elephants they are not going to be running into too many crocs .

Now, there was one day on my last hunt one of the trackers was carrying my scoped 9.3 as we were in a area where this one giant kudu was seen while hunting for elephant. We didn't see it.

Have you ever hunted the Caprivi? While we looked over many elephant we saw many more Buffalo crocodile and even leopard not to mention hordes of plains game including monster kudu while doing so. The area is surrounded by and laced by Rivers with a climate unlike most southern African areas... It is possible to see everything above and more at the same time. They didn't seem to mind the calibers we were carrying...

 

[Tanks]

Have you ever hunted the Caprivi? While we looked over many elephant we saw many more Buffalo crocodile and even leopard while doing so. The area is surrounded by and laced by Rivers...

No, I haven't. Question for you. If I am hunting in Zimbabwe I have to get a "special" permit for leopard, lion, elephant and crocodiles in order to hunt them. So, while hunting an elephant if I see even a 30 foot crocodile the parks ranger is not going to let me shoot it if it is not on my hunt paperwork. So, over at Caprivi you don't need a "special" license for those?

We are also playing "what if" scenarios. I am not going to NOT take my double just in case I come across exceptional game that I am not hunting that might be a long distance away.

 

[C.W. Richter]

With the right PH anything is possible and the caprivi is a short drive from Zimbabwe through its beautiful Park through the chobe Park in Botswana and finally into namibia's finest... You can take the long way through Zambia. Zimbabwe is my favorite country in southern Africa to hunt. If you stay at the Safari Lodge in Victoria falls you can hunt them all! I would simply get on license any species I was interested in a particular area and then you are ready with your scope... If simply after elephant in the wide open there's no issue with that double rifle.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Many people in the caprivi are after elephant Buffalo lechwe crocodile and hippo and they never seem to appear in the desired order so the scope is a good idea. We came across a gigantic Tom leopard two mornings I sincerely wish that was on license but it wasn't even a consideration at the time of booking.

 

[TOBY458]

I went ahead and ordered an Aimpoint Micro H2 in the name of research. I'll let you know how it works out on my 458.

 

[Inline6]

I went ahead and ordered an Aimpoint Micro H2 in the name of research. I'll let you know how it works out on my 458.

I love my aimpoints!

 

[YancyW]

I went ahead and ordered an Aimpoint Micro H2 in the name of research. I'll let you know how it works out on my 458.

I run a lot of red dots on my ARs, Aimpoint is the best for a primary IMO, but placement is really key, you want to avoid placing them too far forward. Do you know what your mounting system is going to be?

 

[TOBY458]

I run a lot of red dots on my ARs, Aimpoint is the best for a primary IMO, but placement is really key, you want to avoid placing them too far forward. Do you know what your mounting system is going to be?

Was just going to mount it on the scope base on the front bridge. Will that work?

 

[Challer]

I agree that the the ghost ring does block out more than open sights. An RMR does seem to be the best compromise between a scope and iron sights. I've been practicing at 50-75 yards, so 25 yards should be a snap. I suspect an RMR would make thing even easier.
To the guys who use the RMR, do you use the battery operated, or the fiber optic style? I've looked at both and prefer the battery myself.

In my opinion, unconventional for AH, I’ve had very good experience mounting the RMR on top of the low power scope. Must faster than a QD. Some tacticool flavor but nothing wrong learning from others.

 

[TOBY458]

In my opinion, unconventional for AH, I’ve had very good experience mounting the RMR on top of the low power scope. Must faster than a QD. Some tacticool flavor but nothing wrong learning from others.

You'd have to hold your head way off the stock to see through it wouldn't you?

 

[IvW]

That is why a 1-5 or 5 DG scope with QD mounts is a no brainer for most DG rifles.......

 

[crs]

I prefer to use the express sights on my .405 WCF DR, but do appreciate the Talley QD mounts and Leupold scope when needed. Also have Talley QD peep that is very accurate out beyond 100 yards.

 

[Challer]

You'd have to hold your head way off the stock to see through it wouldn't you?

Yes. At 60 with corrected vision, open sites are a challenge. Head up isn’t a trouble for me. I typically use a scope, a red dot, or both.

 

[TOBY458]

Yes. At 60 with corrected vision, open sites are a challenge. Head up isn’t a trouble for me. I typically use a scope, a red dot, or both.

On a high recoil rifle?

 

[Challer]

Not a problem for me up to 375

 

[Rare Breed]

I agree that the the ghost ring does block out more than open sights. An RMR does seem to be the best compromise between a scope and iron sights. I've been practicing at 50-75 yards, so 25 yards should be a snap. I suspect an RMR would make thing even easier.
To the guys who use the RMR, do you use the battery operated, or the fiber optic style? I've looked at both and prefer the battery myself.

Battery

 

[ActionBob]

To

I went ahead and ordered an Aimpoint Micro H2 in the name of research. I'll let you know how it works out on my 458.

Good move Toby. My elephant was at 19 yards. Side brain with a Trijicon 1-4 with the single post and tritium and fiber optic lighted triangle.

For elephant with open sights, no question I would stick with Express sights. You need to be prepared to shoot at 10 yards, more si than at 60 yards. If you ar well practiced, confident and competent with them, go for it. I think it would enhance the experience. I think a ghost ring could be potentially confusing and trouble finding your target when all you have inside that ring is a big grey blob.

Otherwise the 1-6 scope you are selling would suffice

 

[TOBY458]

To
Good move Toby. My elephant was at 19 yards. Side brain with a Trijicon 1-4 with the single post and tritium and fiber optic lighted triangle.

For elephant with open sights, no question I would stick with Express sights. You need to be prepared to shoot at 10 yards, more si than at 60 yards. If you ar well practiced, confident and competent with them, go for it. I think it would enhance the experience. I think a ghost ring could be potentially confusing and trouble finding your target when all you have inside that ring is a big grey blob.

Otherwise the 1-6 scope you are selling would suffice

My new Kimber 458 has the shallow V rear sights, so I can see those plenty well for a 10-50 yard shot. I would prefer a heart lung shot if I'm given the opportunity, which would be easier to make than a brain shot from any angle. I'm going to give the red dot a try as well, and see how that works. I feel like that would kind of be the best of both worlds. Very lightweight, much more so than a scope, and ahould be very fast to get on target.
As for the ghost ring sights, I use those with both eyes open, so I don't think it would be a problem. But, they are not a sight that I've ever used a lot, so open sights, red dots and scopes are what I'm most comfortable with.

 

[ActionBob]

Toby where are you hunting and who with?