mikeh416Rigby
.450 member
Reged: 24/02/03
Posts: 6051
Loc: The beautiful Oley Valley, PA....
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First the good news: I'm getting ready for my first Cape Buffalo hunt which will take place in August of '08. I'll be using a Ruger 77 in 416 Rigby with a Bushnell 3200 1.75 x 6 scope in Warne QD rings. I just got back from the range, and I shot 3 shot groups, with 3 different loads. Load 1 was loaded by a friend who does all of my reloading, and used the 410 grain Woodleigh Solid. Load 2 was Norma Factory Ammo using the 400 grain Swift A-frame, and load 3 was the Federal Factory load using the 400 grain Barnes TSX. All 9 shots were in one ragged hole that measured 1.1 inch, top to bottom, and 3/8 inch side to side. The solids all hit in the middle, the A-frames at the top of the group, and the TSXs on the bottom. All shots were off the bench, using Cabela's version of the lead sled, with a 25 pound bag of shot sitting on it. I couldn't be happier with the results.
Now the bad news: after testing for load accuracy, I decided to shoot a few rounds off hand, standing. I only fired 3 shots off hand, because on the second and third shots, I got wacked between the eyes with the scope. Fortunately, no blood was spilled, probably because the scope has a hard rubber ring around the rear of the tube, but I look like I got stung by a wasp - all swollen, and puffed up. I originally wanted to use a Leupold 1.75 x 6 x 32 scope, but it wouldn't fit in the rings. I need to find a different scope, because I'm afraid if I continue to use the Bushnell, I'll develope a nasty flinch. Any suggestions on what scope I should look at that will give me the eye relief I need?
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Rockdoc
.400 member
Reged: 07/12/06
Posts: 1213
Loc: NSW, Australia
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Mike
Try the offset rings at Ruger:
http://ruger.com/Firearms/FASRFACat?facode=10&type=Rifle
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Chris
Or do they offset the wrong way? Maybe some bridge mounts?
Edited by RockDoc (07/08/07 04:52 PM)
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Ripp
.577 member
Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA
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I have been shooting a .416 Remington for about 5 years..I have a Leupold 1 3/4 to 6 power Vari-X III scope on it. It works great, has survived 3 hunts in Africa and optically quality is quite good considering the price..I also have a 1 1/2 to 5 Vari-X III on my Sako .375 H&H..never a problem. I have Swarovski and Schmidt/Benders scopes as well... IMHO, quite frankly for the price, the old Leupolds are hard to beat for the money...I know there are those out there that will freak out when they read this, but this has been my experience..
Ripp
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ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..
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600JDJ
.275 member
Reged: 22/04/04
Posts: 73
Loc: Iowa, USA
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I agree with the Leupold 1.5-5 VarX III and its long eye relief. I use is on my 600JDJ and have over 300 rounds through it and have never been touch, and it moves a LOT  I will also put it on the 600ok if I put a scope on the receiver instead of the scout mount.
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Rockdoc
.400 member
Reged: 07/12/06
Posts: 1213
Loc: NSW, Australia
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Mike, Is the problem the scope or the rings position? I love the Leupold 1.5-5x but for some people rifles with standard rings won't let you put a variable far enough forward.
Regards, Chris
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mikeh416Rigby
.450 member
Reged: 24/02/03
Posts: 6051
Loc: The beautiful Oley Valley, PA....
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I think I have a triple whammy working against me on my set-up. First of all, the Warne QD rings, even though they are the medium height (according to the packaging) are higher than any setup I've ever used, and consequently, I can't get my cheek down on the stock. Instead my head is more upright than I like. Second, the eye relief on the Bushnell scope is only giving me slightly over 3 inches. Third, the position and spacing of the rings prevented me from using the Leupold 1.75 X 6 - it just wouldn't fit in the bases.
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Rockdoc
.400 member
Reged: 07/12/06
Posts: 1213
Loc: NSW, Australia
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Mike
Having the scope higher on the rifle (not designed to be that way)so you can't get you face down is more likely to belt the living daylights out of you! Is the LOP good for you on that rifle? A 1.5-5x Leupold would, IMHO, be perfect on a .416 Rigby. Can you try someone else's to get a feel for a different set-up? Looking at 600JDJ's rifle, you can see how far forward the ocular of the scope is, easy to do on a No.1, and a lovely No.1 it is too! Harder to do on a bolt rifle without bridge mts. Just checked my B&L Elite 3000 1.5-4.5 (on my .22) against the Leup 1-5-5x, the Leup will get the scope further forward, if your 3200 is like my 3000, and has about 4" eye relief.
Hope this helps, Chris
And by the way, there is no "Bad News" in your post. At least you are booked for August '08, not '07 
Edited by RockDoc (08/08/07 01:33 PM)
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taw1126
.333 member
Reged: 24/07/07
Posts: 290
Loc: Texas
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Not sure that it helps much, but the difference in Warne "medium" QD rings and Ruger factory "low" rings is over 1/8" (exactly 0.145" according to my most recent Brownells catalog). Although not as easy to remove and remount, you might want to take advantage of Ruger's free ring exchange program, and have them send you some factory "low" rings.
As already mentioned, it seems the Leupold 1.5-5x would allow the most mounting options since it doesn't have a belled objective lens.
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Ripp
.577 member
Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA
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Quote:
I think I have a triple whammy working against me on my set-up. First of all, the Warne QD rings, even though they are the medium height (according to the packaging) are higher than any setup I've ever used, and consequently, I can't get my cheek down on the stock. Instead my head is more upright than I like. Second, the eye relief on the Bushnell scope is only giving me slightly over 3 inches. Third, the position and spacing of the rings prevented me from using the Leupold 1.75 X 6 - it just wouldn't fit in the bases.
Mike
IMHO, I would get bases that will enable you to get your head in the proper position..You want that thing to operate like an extension of your body--My bases on my Sako were like that and I switched them to low bases and rings--works great--and on that rifle I used the Leupold III 1.5 t 5--great combo..plus the eye relief of the Leupold should work great on your gun..--to check out the fit call Leupold and talk to their tech's--they are more than willing to help out..good luck..
Ripp
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ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..
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mikeh416Rigby
.450 member
Reged: 24/02/03
Posts: 6051
Loc: The beautiful Oley Valley, PA....
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First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for their comments and ideas. I bought a Leupold 1.5 x 5, illuminated reticle, with a 30mm tube. I got rid of the Warne QD rings, and mounted it in Leupold Bases. This setup gives me a full 5 inches of eye relief. I took the rifle to the range this afternoon, and I must say that I'm very happy with the outcome. I can get my fat face down on the stock, and the rifle is much more comfortable to shoot now. I fired two, three shot groups after resighting, and 6 shots were in one ragged hole at 75 yards. I have the rifle hitting 1 inch high at that range.
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Ripp
.577 member
Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA
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Quote:
First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for their comments and ideas. I bought a Leupold 1.5 x 5, illuminated reticle, with a 30mm tube. I got rid of the Warne QD rings, and mounted it in Leupold Bases. This setup gives me a full 5 inches of eye relief. I took the rifle to the range this afternoon, and I must say that I'm very happy with the outcome. I can get my fat face down on the stock, and the rifle is much more comfortable to shoot now. I fired two, three shot groups after resighting, and 6 shots were in one ragged hole at 75 yards. I have the rifle hitting 1 inch high at that range.
Glad it worked out.. In my past trips I have had my .416 sighted in 1 inch high at 100 which worked very well--you will never take a shot much past that if ever and usually much closer--like 40 to 100 yards---some closer--some a bit further but not much..
I just read an article last week by Boddington who was also shooting a .416 in the Taylor persuasion--he stated he had his sighted in at 2" at 100--either way, with how you are shooting your within the "minute of buffalo" sighting game..
Where you going?? Who with ?? if you don't mind...just curious--I talked to a PH today who had just gotten in--their operation is 100% so far this year on Lion, buffalo and elephant.. really gets the blood boiling.. 
Ripp
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ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..
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mikeh416Rigby
.450 member
Reged: 24/02/03
Posts: 6051
Loc: The beautiful Oley Valley, PA....
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Thanks Ripp. I'll be hunting in the far eastern tip of the Caprivi Strip in Namibia with Vaughan Fulton. He told me that 100 yards would be a long shot for his area, and most are 60 yards or less. I hunted plains game with Vaughan two years ago, and found him to be one of the best PHs I've ever had the pleasure of hunting with. I found him to be extremely honest as well as extremely competent. I decided while I was hunting with him that he was the person I could trust with my life, so he was my logical (to me anyway) choice when it came to booking a hunt for dangerous game. His area has some tremendous Buffalo: not those with extreme spreads, but very heavy bosses, and spreads of up to 40 or 41 inches isn't unreasonable, with a little bit of luck. www.fultonclassicsafaris.com
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Rockdoc
.400 member
Reged: 07/12/06
Posts: 1213
Loc: NSW, Australia
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Mike, I'm glad to hear it all worked out, and so quickly. Please post some photos.
Best wishes,
Chris
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