Open sights or Scope on your Big Bore

[Redhawk1]

What do you prefer on your Big Bore?

I like the Scopes on mine, I have a Leupold VariXIII 1.5X5X20mm on my CZ 416 Rigby and a Leupold VXII 1X4X20mm on my Encore in 416 Rigby.  

[Thebear_78]

You didn't put both down as a choice.  I like to have both on a big bore.  All of my big game rifles except one has back up irons on it.  I like to put a backup peep on them over standard rifle sights.  The brockmans pop up peep and the NECG backup peep are both great sights that can be set up with quick detach rings to make the best of both worlds.  If I could only have one or the other I would probably go with a low power variable like a 1.5-5.

[CEJ1895]

Redhawk1 - I've got to agree with THEBEAR I like them both. As for your choice of scopes I'm also going with the Leupold VariXIII 1.5X5X20mm on mine. I'd like to put the 1.75x-6x on it but they don't make it in a gloss finish. What reticle did you get? I can't decide between the Duplex or the heavy Duplex style. CEJ...

[volshooter]

Shots around here on pig and bear are under 100 yards and most often their on the move. I like the speed of open sights in heavy woods. Jumped a meduim buck last month and got him about 50 feet away. I don't think I could have gotten a scope even on him that quick. Something else, I do use scopes if still or stand hunting but open for stalking/sneeking. I'm gonna be in some thick bush this weekend looking for hogs, I expect shots within 100 foot. Still undecided about which rifle to take, the new .458 WM or my Remington pump 12ga. with rifle sights.

Rick :roll:

[Redhawk1]

Redhawk1 - I've got to agree with THEBEAR I like them both. As for your choice of scopes I'm also going with the Leupold VariXIII 1.5X5X20mm on mine. I'd like to put the 1.75x-6x on it but they don't make it in a gloss finish. What reticle did you get? I can't decide between the Duplex or the heavy Duplex style. CEJ...

I went with the Duplex. I allows me to see more of what I am shooting at.  

[Redhawk1]

OK, I edited the poll.  

[Thebear_78]

Another option is a forward mounted scout scope.  I have really been impressed with the practicality of scout style scopes.  The scope that I went with on my 375 H&H was the leupold VXIII 1.5-5x20 with lighted reticle with the german #4 reticle.  The three heavy posts help with quick acquistion and the finer center allows accurate shooting out to any reasonable range.  Great scope for a big bore.

[Lawdog]

I prefer both scope and iron sights on my big gores.  Although I have higher magnification scopes on my .375 calibers but all the rest have Burris 1.75X-5X-32mm Safari model scopes, with the optional German 3P#4 reticle, mounted on them using QD mounts.  Lawdog
 

[DanP]

.375H&H -- 4x fixed power nikon monarch
.458 win mag -- 2-7x variable redfield widefield (WHY I did this is posted elsewhere on this site).
.458 lott -- open sights

Dan

[CEJ1895]

Redhawk1 wrote -

I went with the Duplex. I allows me to see more of what I am shooting at.

Thanks Redhawk1, I'll probably go with the duplex. LawDog, do the Burris Safari scopes require you to use a Ruger extended ring to fit on the RSM's? CEJ..

P.S. Just got the 375 H&H back from the gunsmith! Had him install a Kickeez pad, do a trigger job and install a NECG Ruger white bead replacement front sight. He did a great job ! Now all I need to do is find the time to load up some rounds and get to the range!

[jro45]

I have a Burris 23/4 on my Rem 416 , on my 375 H&H I have a 6x leupole
for shooting at 200 yds but i'm going to change that to a leupole  2x7 soon

[tanoose]

I plan to use a 1.75 x 6 leupold on a 458 Lott with quick releise tally rings. I like to walk up on any animal with iron sights. dangerous or not.

[corbanzo]

I go for the open sights, if I'm hunting something big enough that needs a really big gun, then I should be able to hit it with open sights, from a fair distance.  Plus if it is big and dangerous, I like fast reaction and sighting time.  I like scopes on the mid caliber rifles.....  where I believe shot placement has more importance.  I have large cal rifles to make large cal holes.

[Redhawk1]

I go for the open sights, if I'm hunting something big enough that needs a really big gun, then I should be able to hit it with open sights, from a fair distance.  Plus if it is big and dangerous, I like fast reaction and sighting time.  I like scopes on the mid caliber rifles.....  where I believe shot placement has more importance.  I have large cal rifles to make large cal holes.

I would have to say, shot placement on big and dangerous game is as important if not more than on other game. It almost sounds like you are depending on the large cal to make up for poor accuracy. Correct me if I am wrong. I also like to make large hole, but I want the shot placement to be right also.  

[jro45]

I agree big hole in the right spot for dangerous game.

[CEJ1895]

Redhawk1, jro45 - I couldn't agree more... I was watching the Dangerous Game hunting show on OLN last night - they were stalking elephant. They were both using open sighted rifles, the pro used a .500 and the hunter used a bolt in .458 Dakota, I think.  The bull saw them and charged and when they started shooting (hunter 1st, pro 2nd) they both hit too high on the forehead for a brain shot! Lucky for them the bull was stunned enough for them to get around him and finish him off with THREE more shots! If they hadn't stunned him they'd be dead. I would have expected the hunter to miss but the pro did too! at spitting distance.  "big hole in the right spot for dangerous game" is a very true statement!  CEJ...
P.S. The show was dedicated to a pro that was killed in April of 2005 by a charging elephant!