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1-? Illuminated reticle scope for 375 thru 458 rif

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    Posted: April/28/2018 at 18:58
So I was out sighting in my 375 Ruger Guide Gun. Everything was going well UNTIL.
I was also moving up in powder charge. I had gotten to 80 gr by the time the pic was taken . At 81 gr the eye peice bumped the brim of my ball cap. That's when everything went haywire.
All the sudden there was a bunch of scrap that flew up onto some lenses inside the scope 1-4×24 SWFA SS Classic. And the reticle was WAY out of focus. When I adjusted the eyepiece the reticle focused but the image went totally out of focus
This is a major bad thing for me as I rely on an optic.
At 1 power both the image and the reticle was mostly in focus . I fired the 3 remaining rounds and all the sudden I was getting about a 3" group at about 35 yards.
I'm really disgusted with this
The ( built like a tank) way this scope was described couldn't be further from the truth. Scope power was set at 4x .The impact of the eyepiece/ ball cap wasn't even enough to knock my hat off.
The scope has been working great since I got it. I've had it on my 6.5 Creedmoor .

Anyway. Does anyone know of a scope that is actually tough??
It's not like this fell off a cliff or got smacked with a framing hammer.
The 1-4 Vortex Crossfire 2 ir has been working fine on my 338 win mag. Kimber Montana.
The biggest thing I like about the SWFA is the reticle. I found using 36" with the rangefinder portion works great for caribou .


Edited by Cold Trigger Finger - April/28/2018 at 19:10
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/28/2018 at 20:49
http://swfa.com/aimpoint-9000l-30mm-red-dot-sight-103880.html
Aimpoint 9000L in 30mm rings.

With  375 H & H  what you seek is a fixed power optic, the less moving parts the better.  I have a Tasco 2.5x shotgun scope on mine and it is adequate but ugly.  I have had aimpoint 9000L scopes on 45-70 encore pistol and several high recoil type guns because eye relief is not an issue it can be mounted forward.  Call SWFA their Customer Service is Excellent.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sparky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/28/2018 at 23:14
Unfortunately things happen. Anything mechanical can fail. SWFA will take care of you.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cold Trigger Finger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/28/2018 at 23:50
Thanks. The thing is tho the stuff that these modern 1 thru 4,6,8 power variables does.
I'm just wondering if any of them are actually as good as they are advertised.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Scrumbag Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2018 at 06:04
I would say something German / or Austrian. Meopta are also excellent value.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cold Trigger Finger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2018 at 12:54
Can the European glass take a beating ?? And just work.
I used to run Leupolds on my 458s and 416s and 375s, 338s . But got tire of not being able to make out the reticle against a dark background. Like a deer or bear in the brush at close range.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2018 at 12:57
The fact that one sample failed is not an indictment of every sample.  Mechanical things break sometimes due to normal statistical variations.  In other words, I am sure SWFA will replace the scope for you and you should put it back onto the rifle and go back to shooting.

That having been said, I am sorta paranoid, so I almost always have a secondary sighting system available to me in some way.  Since your rifle has iron sights already, I would consider using QD rings, just in case.

If you want to move upmarket to a more expensive scope, there are many excellent options in the 1-6x range.  Vortex Razor Gen 2 1-6x24 has a very good reputation for ruggedness.  Meopta Meostar R2 1-6x24 with 4C reticle is probably a more hunting oriented designs and it seems to hold up really well.

If you want something in the similar weight range as the SWFA, options are slimmer.  Perhaps, you shoud consider Leupold VX-4 1.25-4x20, but you give some speed due to it not being 1x and some low light, due to a 20mm objective.

It does have a very bright illuminated reticle.

Still, as I said in the beginning, I would not jump to too many conclusions based on one broken scope.

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cold Trigger Finger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2018 at 12:59
One thing I noticed on this 1-4 . About a month ago. When I turn the power ring up or down . At about 1.8 power, there would be what felt like a CLUNK then the power ring would continue to rotate freely. I had never felt that before.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Scrumbag Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2018 at 13:46
Originally posted by Cold Trigger Finger Cold Trigger Finger wrote:

Can the European glass take a beating ?? And just work.
I used to run Leupolds on my 458s and 416s and 375s, 338s . But got tire of not being able to make out the reticle against a dark background. Like a deer or bear in the brush at close range.


My experience would be yes

Leica, Kahles, Swarovski, Zeiss, Schmidt & Bender, Docter, Karl Kaps and Meopta would be where I would be looking.

(I would say those with an illuminated reticle, number 4 with an illuminated centre dot would be your best bet)

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cold Trigger Finger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2018 at 14:22
Can you give examples of how they've held up ?
Money is an issue with me. Which is why I don't have a flock of NightForce M8s .
For me the ability of a scope is to just do what it's supposed without breaking. Tho $1,700. Is a budget breaker. If I KNEW that that scope would never stop working correctly. For at least 2 barrel life's on a 458 . I would save up and buy one asap.
I've had a Burris scope that lived thru several hundred rounds on a 9.3x64,416 Rem mag and 375 Ruger Alaskan.
It was still zeroed when I sold it. Tho the. Electro Dot was getting iffy and the reticle was appearing to change shape a bit.
Most of the low power Leupolds I've had made it thru 1k rounds of 458,416,375. And many many miles. But eventually they went gunny bag.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cold Trigger Finger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2018 at 14:25
I do very much appreciate all the replies. Thank You !!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Scrumbag Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2018 at 14:41
Well, the European stuff is the choice for most of us over here on large rifles for boar and dangerous game (9.3x62 and .404J) in my case.

If you have had good experience with Burris, go for that!

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2018 at 17:25
A lot of it is likely familiarity and geographic proximity.  I have seen both durable and fragile designs from all continents.

With Japanese made scopes, Nightforce NXS 1-4x24 and Vortex Razor 1-6x24 probably have the best track record for durability, but that is largely a function of many units sold, so there is good statistics.

Much LOW stuff holds up well to abuse.

With Euro stuff, I've had good luck with Meopta and higher end Zeiss, although mid-range Zeiss has me confused.  Zeiss generally is doing something weird, so I practically stopped looking at their products.  Can't make heads or tails out of it. 

S&B 1-4x24 that has been around forever and a day seems to do quite well.

Leica ER and Magnus seem to hold up exceedingly well.

Swaro Z6 has decent track record, but 3-gunner were complaining that they had more issues with the Z6 than with Razor Gen 2.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cold Trigger Finger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2018 at 21:02
How has the 1-6 PST2 fared ? I was handling one at SW and other than it being a little challenging getting lined up with it at 6 power it had a Lot of good stuff going for it. Capped turrets . Fairly constant eye relief. Would like to have some of the mil scale illuminated . But all in all it seemed a good optic.
??
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2018 at 23:10
Originally posted by Cold Trigger Finger Cold Trigger Finger wrote:

How has the 1-6 PST2 fared ? I was handling one at SW and other than it being a little challenging getting lined up with it at 6 power it had a Lot of good stuff going for it. Capped turrets . Fairly constant eye relief. Would like to have some of the mil scale illuminated . But all in all it seemed a good optic.
??

I am pretty happy with the 3-15x44 and 5-25x50 PST Gen 2, but I havn't tested the 1-6x24 model.  I know a bunch of people who are happy with it, but they are all AR people.  I do not know anyone who put it on a boomer.  I test all the low range variables I try on a 458SOCOM, but it is not quite as peppy as your 376 Steyr.  The scope I have on it now is Razor HD LH 1.5-8x32, but is not 1x and it is not illuminated, so it does not fit your criteria.

In the same general price range as the PST, you can find Leupold VX-6 1-6x24.  It has been around for a bit now and seems to have a good reputation for holding up.

ILya


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/30/2018 at 07:26

 I have a Swarovski Z6i 1-6 on my Champlin rifle in .378 Weatherby Magnum.  It is holding up nicely.  I've got over a hundred rounds "on it"... no problems. 



Edited by Kickboxer - April/30/2018 at 07:32
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/30/2018 at 09:59
 What exactly are you doing with this gun?

My first instinct would be to take the optic off and go open sites.  They are accurate enough to reasonable distance, are almost impossible to break, and easy to gain confidence in.

If it had to have an optic, I'd keep that first point true, do as Koshkin said and put the optic in QDs, and go with a good fixed power scope (I'm guessing the gun kicks a bit.)

SWFA stands behind their stuff, they will make it right; but you are asking quite a bit of a $400 illuminated scope.

As said above, the Aimpoints hold up exceedingly well.  And I have the Vortex gen2 1-6 and it is simply awesome in use, would be perfect for what I imagine that gun does well.

And, regardless of what you do for an optic, make sure the irons are good to go, and put whatever you get in QDs.  In a pinch, strip off the optic and go old school.

People way undervalue iron sites.

And you can get tritium sites for rifles, or have tritium added to your existing, then they are darkness-ready.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cold Trigger Finger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/30/2018 at 10:45
I may need it to shoot a bear up close or a caribou or deer at 500 yards. Generally I use medium bores as general purpose rifles.
My eyes aren't as good as they used to be so I do less iron sight shooting than I used to.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/30/2018 at 11:03
At this stage, you really need to converge on how much you are willing to spend and work from there.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/30/2018 at 11:16
Originally posted by Cold Trigger Finger Cold Trigger Finger wrote:

I may need it to shoot a bear up close or a caribou or deer at 500 yards. Generally I use medium bores as general purpose rifles.
My eyes aren't as good as they used to be so I do less iron sight shooting than I used to.


Of those 2, the "bear up close" has some urgency, I'd plan for that shot first, and the 500 yarder a distant second.

And I agree, I'd go with something tried and true, with a great reputation for reliability.  I know the 10X SWFAs are awesome in that regard, don't know much about the 1-4 reliability.

I think you might need to go a bit beyond $400 for something that will do both very, very well (up close and 500 yards.)

Vortex Razor gen2 1-6 would be on my short list.  It's pricey, I know, but is gun/optic/ammo where you want to save a few $$ that could be called upon to save your life?
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