2-7 x 33 Redfield for .375H&H???

**Robert.375** · 23-04-2012, 12:21

Hi gents,

I need your advice for a new scope for my .375H&H.

I can buy a Redfield 2-7 x 33 but am not sure how it will handle the recoil of the .375...

I can buy an old Lynx 3-9 x 40 for the same price (R2000)...

I can buy a brand new Bushnell 3-9 x 40 from an Outfitter for R1000 only, but then I want to put the Bushnell on my .303 and rather put the Tasco 4X40(Japan made) on the .375... I dont think the Bushnell will last too long on the .375, but I could be wrong. Also not sure if putting a 20 year old Tasco on a .375 will be a good idea either. My experience with this particular Tasco is that it is very hard and sturdy.

I am leaning towards the Redfield to save on cost as opposed to Leupold of the same magnification. I also have to save on costs by NOT buying the Warne QD Mounts that I wanted to buy initially, instead I have a set of Tasco stud rings, so just need to buy a base and pay for fitting and columnation etc.

I DONT WANT TO AND I CANNOT SPEND MORE THAN R3000 FOR THE ENTIRE PROCESS. I do not have the luxury of buying whatever I want at whatever prices, in order to hunt with relative ease I have to budget carefully as scopes and hunting and fitting and accomodation fees are not so favourable as they used to be, I do not have thousands of thousands to spend on a scope. However, I stand by at least buying the best quality I can afford and will never skimp on quality just for one trip because I will pay for it later, so Redfield and other scopes of similar quality of around R2000 are in my league.

I need your advice on which one of the above options you think is best. I cannot pay more than R3000 for the scope and fitting. I need a decent scope that will not break after a few months(or years) on a .375.

Does anyone maybe have a scope for sale? One that can handle the .375 recoil and under R2000?

Your input is valued and appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

**driepootx** · 23-04-2012, 12:43

Try and buy a scope with a guarantee of replace or fix so that you can have a long service life with the surety of having it replaced when defective.

**Musgrave** · 23-04-2012, 13:06

Robert.375 - I know exactly how you feel. Budget? What budget?

My suggestion would be to look for a good condition second hand Leupold in the line of a VX2 2-7x33. You'll come away under R3k. The reason I suggest Leupold is as driepootx has said: full cover, lifetime transferable guarantee.

As for fitting, I suggest asking for help on this very forum. There are people here with all the knowledge and with the right tools that'll be able to assist.

**Messor** · 23-04-2012, 13:33

Redfield comes out of the same factory as Leupold, and carries the same guarantee.

**Robert.375** · 23-04-2012, 15:01

Thanks gents, keep it coming.

I have a few weeks to decide what I will ultimately do. I will look for something with a garuntee etc. The Redfield vs Leupold debate has been exhausted on this site before so i dont want to repeat that issue, I have read the other threads and have come to the conclusion that Redfield has the backing of Leupold as well as the same factory line etc and quality of materials but only that Redfield must in some way be slightly "cheaper" in every sense of the word because it costs less overall, I dont think they are worse than Leupold, I just dont think they are of exactly the same quality, doesnt matter because I think that difference is insignificant to my needs. I will take one without a doubt if I know it wont 'crack' under the .375 pressures, I think Redfield is quality.

**Pirate** · 24-04-2012, 09:13

Probably gonna be crucified by the "buy the most expensive scope you can afford"-brigade, but here goes...
The cost of optics lies in the lens coatings, NOT the mechanics or even the lenses themselves. Mechanics and Lenses easy to mass-produce, but getting the lens coatings just right involves some very specialised processes and quality control, because one is talking about thicknesses in the order of the wavelengths of light. From an operational and manufacturing viewpoint, there is no sense in mechanically building a more expensive scope "better" / "stronger" than a less expensive one, as (simplified) it implies having two production lines with different equipment and processes, opposed to two production lines with similar equipment and processes. The sum of he production costs in the first case will always be more than the sum of the productin costs in the second case.

Therefore. Get yourself a Nikon ProStaff 2-7x32 (R1300 from Safari and Outdoor). Nikon has a Lifetime Guarantee. They claim 98% light transmission (all depends on how you measure it!) but in the end you're not gonna use your 375 for for low-light sniping in the forest. Don't get the x40, I believe it's an overkill on a 375. But then: bite the bullet and INVEST in the Warne QD mounts. you'll love them on the 375, and one day when the finances get better, if you so feel, you can swop out the scope for a more expensive one (but I bet you wont!)

:- P

**414gates** · 24-04-2012, 10:14

You can get a new Leupold VX1 3-9x from VLT Arms in Pretoria , for R2100, if they still have stock.

**Robert.375** · 24-04-2012, 21:37

Ok, Called VLT Arms (bought my .303 there) and they have about half dozen of the Leupold VX1 3-9x in stock for R2100. They will not charge me for fitting and columnation, only for the base mount and the scope. My own gunshshop and gun club that I have been supporting for years will charge me R380 for fitting, columnation etc. So if I buy at VLT I will save R380 and stay well under R3000 as I will not be buying QD Mounts if I buy the Leupold, otherwise it will go over R3000.Checked the Nikon Pro Staff 2-7x before this thread and had considered it, and it sounds plausible about lens coating and garuntees being the key, so I will consider this also, but have not asked Safari yet about whether they charge for fitting etc, if they dont or at least have a decent fee then I will be able to buy the QD Mounts...My only concern is that the scope looks like it might take a beating on the .375, however looks are nothing in this game, I have never ever used Nikon so I am just going by what it looks like, it looks a bit more fragile...

**Pirate** · 25-04-2012, 06:52

If you get the QD mounts you do the fitting yourself... its laughably easy. If it was anything smaller than a 375 i'd have agreed to go for permanent mounts.

:- P

PS: While the 375 definitely kicks you harder than say a 308 would, the loading that breaks scopes are the high frequency content of the initial ignition shock, not the movement of the rifle that you feel. those initiak accelerations are VERY HIGH even for medium calibre rifles. the mechanical design of of the scopes are done to resist that loading and (perhaps non-intuitively) it may not be much higher on a 375 than on the hypothetical 308.

**Robert.375** · 25-04-2012, 21:54

Its narrowed down to three:

Nikon Pro Staff 2-7x32
Redfield Revolution 2-7x33
Leupold VX1 3-9x40

With the latter two I cannot afford the Warne QD set-up. So, the Nikon looking pretty inviting, I will also then be able to afford the whole Warne QD set-up and then maybe buy a 'better' scope later in life IF I'm not happy with it.

Bushnell and Tasco out of the question now.

Decisions decisions...

Thanks gentlemen, I will keep you in the loop on how it goes.