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458 Lott vs. Nikon Monarch African

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Texas Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: 458 Lott vs. Nikon Monarch African
    Posted: September/03/2009 at 15:23
Howdy all.  I recently acquired a new CZ 550 American Safari Classic 458 Lott (walnut stock), and have been performing the ritual new rifle scope search. This has been as much fun as usual, because I love this stuff!  I decided on and have purchased a Nikon Monarch African 1" 1-4x20 scope for trials, that I will mount on the rifle this weekend in Talley QR rings.  I selected the Monarch African because of the combination of OT 2009 scope scale rating on the Monarch, price, specs and (importantly) lifetime warranty. Price and warranty were particularly pertinent to me because of the Lott's reputation as a scope-wrecker. Also, no one seems to know much about the field performance of this scope, so I'm going to give it what should be significant recoil test (but no lead sled). If it doesn't hold up to Lott recoil, I can always send it back to Nikon and upgrade my rifle, right? And, I will tell the board how it goes.
 
I had never seen one of these scopes in other than pictures until FedEx delivered mine. It is mostly pleasing to me in appearance, compact but long enough to mount on a magnum-length action. I think Leupold turret caps and the Leupold (smaller) occular assembly are more attractive but maybe not $200+ worth. The gold bas-relief cape buffalo head and logo marking on the Nikon windage-adjust turret cap appears sort of cheesy to me. The view through the Nikon is very clear,  just a small bit of distortion around the edges of the image when set on 4x. Eye relief distance and eye box size work well for my eyes and the 4-inch eye relief rating seems about right. I hope enough eye relief for a 458 Lott! Subjectively, the view seems very close/identical to the view through my VX-3 1.75-6 with both set at 2.5x, at twilight, when looking at a dark brick wall in shadow. At 250 feet distance I can count the brick courses with both scopes. Two eyes open shooting should be no problem with the scope set on 1x: Nikon's website states this is a true 1x scope, where the 30mm tube versions are 1.1x. If I can find my optic test charts I'll attempt a real resolution test. Weight of the Nikon is a little more than a comparable VX-3 at 12.16 oz. vs. 9.3 oz for the Leupold, inconsequential when mounting on a 10 lbs.+ 458 Lott. Finally, it came with Nikon flip-open lense covers. I will post a picture of the rig once I get the scope mounted. More specs are at:
 
 
and
 
 
I hope to get to the range Saturday morning to test the scope/rifle/shooter combination and some handloads I am putting together, as well as some commercial (Hornady) full-house (2300 FPS) 500-grain DGX ammunition I got on sale. I'll report back next week how the scope performs, if the Lott doesn't hurt me too badly to type... Humph!
 
Good shooting, y'all!
 
Texas
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote danjojoUSMC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/03/2009 at 15:55
Look forward to seeing how it does.  Seems like a really good deal.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucytuma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/03/2009 at 16:45
Hope she holds up, please keep us informed.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote boliodogs Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/03/2009 at 17:02
I have the same scope and I love it. It is not on a rifle yet so I hope your African holds up on your 458 Lott. I agree the eye relief is 4 inches and more than almost any other scope of this type. I think the 1 power is a true 1 power.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chris Farris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/03/2009 at 21:00
When I read the title of this thread I thought Kickboxer shot another scope.  Shocked
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/03/2009 at 21:02
Originally posted by danjojoUSMC danjojoUSMC wrote:

Look forward to seeing how it does.  Seems like a really good deal.

i wanna see how it does too, if you have good luck i may have to get one for my .375
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote martin3175 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/04/2009 at 06:51
Interested in seeing how it holds up ... photos????
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Texas Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/05/2009 at 10:16
Howdy boys and girls,
 
Well, I most likely have destroyed this Nikon "African" scope with the Lott. I was at the range last Friday testing a new load for whitetails (hah! 350 TSX @ about 2800 fps mv - yeah, hang on tight - you may feel a little pressure!) and the scope started refusing to respond to adjustments. As soon as I can, I am gonna put the boresighter on the rifle and see if the reticle will move back to the center of the adjustments. The reticle didn't fall down or anything, though.
 
This rifle is a really accurate rifle. It easily shoots one (big) ragged hole groups with the 350 TSXs at 100 yards. I just need to get the hole closer to the point of aim.
 
Guess I shoulda bought a Zeiss. If the Nikon is destroyed I am going after my VX-3 1.75-6 next. Shocked And I'll be testing Nikon CS.
 
I have no pics of this rig yet, been to busy reloading and shooting, getting ready for rifle season.
 
Good shooting!
 
Texas
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote brodeur272 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/05/2009 at 10:33
Be curious to hear how the bore sighting test comes out...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Black n Tan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/05/2009 at 15:48

I am curious how the VX-3 holds up. The CZ Lott is next on my list purchase, so you have my attention. I am kinda surprised the Nikon African didnt seem to hold up.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mike650 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/05/2009 at 15:56
Originally posted by Chris Farris Chris Farris wrote:

When I read the title of this thread I thought Kickboxer shot another scope.  Shocked



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote danjojoUSMC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/05/2009 at 15:58
Hope they take care of you Texas, I saw a couple posts recently around the web where Nikon completely replaced scopes within a couple weeks even when it was blatantly owner-mishandling.  Sounds 100x better than what the word was on past Nikon customer service.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/05/2009 at 18:32
Texas, you compared it to Leupold.  When I called Leupold and asked about a low power variable for .458 Lott, the CS rep said , "we don't have a variable scope that we recommend for .458 Lott".  I took that to mean just about every scope maker out there.  There are a couple of variables I would try, but they are not currently in production.  

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote John Barsness Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/05/2009 at 19:04
I  have heard, through a compamy that can measure the recoil of rifles pretty scientifically, that the .458 Lott has a higher "moment of recoil" than just about any other cartridge they've tested.  This means they are scope eaters.
 
I have also heard from Leupold that they do not recommend any variable scope on a .458 Lott. Which just shows once again that despite great progress, variables are not as tough as fixed power scopes.
 
I have shot a well-designed .458 Lott quite a bit with iron sights and full-power 500-grain loads and didn't find it all that obnoxious, though it did weigh 10 pounds. My own notion (based on some experience with various other .40+ calibers) is that if I ever owned a Lott I would just use it with irons. After all, it's meant for shooting really big stuff close up....
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Texas Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/05/2009 at 19:39
JB, I think you, Kickboxer and Leupold are probably correct about the Lott being a scope eater. Dang it. I may touch base with AHR and see what they have to say, too. The recoil with full-on 500 grain loads is pretty major. Although (like they all say), the scope was working fine until it quit... A shame, too, because the 350 TSX bullets really want to shoot!

I don't know, I have to mess around with it a little before I really know if the Nikon is done. If it is, I guess I won't kill the VX-3 after all because it is all zeroed in and mounted up in Talley rings as a backup for the 375 H&H. And deer rifle opener is just ahead.

Do y'all think an FX-3 6x would survive on the 458 Lott? That could be an option for deer and elk, but I don't want to buy one just to kill it!

Good shooting,

Texas
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/05/2009 at 19:44
I'll say again... I have a 4x Pentax Gameseeker, currently on my .458 WinMag, that was on the Lott for a couple hundred rounds... NO PROBLEMS.  I would probably suggest an IOR 4x hunting scope over the Pentax, but it has performed superbly.  "takes a kickin' and keep on tickin'...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ed Connelly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/05/2009 at 19:54
I LOVE THIS sh*t!!!  Bandito    I think ALL scopes should be tested by..........umm.....Kickboxer..and the 458 Lott........
 
 
Bucky            try the 50 year old Weavers...........Laugh
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/05/2009 at 19:57
Originally posted by Ed Connelly Ed Connelly wrote:

I LOVE THIS sh*t!!!  Bandito    I think ALL scopes should be tested by..........umm.....Kickboxer..and the 458 Lott........
 
 
Bucky            try the 50 year old Weavers...........Laugh
 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/05/2009 at 19:59
Originally posted by John Barsness John Barsness wrote:

I  have heard, through a compamy that can measure the recoil of rifles pretty scientifically, that the .458 Lott has a higher "moment of recoil" than just about any other cartridge they've tested.  This means they are scope eaters.
 
I have also heard from Leupold that they do not recommend any variable scope on a .458 Lott. Which just shows once again that despite great progress, variables are not as tough as fixed power scopes.
 
I have shot a well-designed .458 Lott quite a bit with iron sights and full-power 500-grain loads and didn't find it all that obnoxious, though it did weigh 10 pounds. My own notion (based on some experience with various other .40+ calibers) is that if I ever owned a Lott I would just use it with irons. After all, it's meant for shooting really big stuff close up....
You just convinced me... I am sticking with iron sights on my Lott.  It deserves it...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ed Connelly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/05/2009 at 20:09
" Absolutely..."  
 
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