My Take On Dangerous Game Scopes

[@bentaylor216]

I found this very thought provoking having previously accepted the conventional wisdom. I also use a Blaser cam can attest to the reliability of their qd mounts.

[@paulsimmons5726]

Great video and quite informative! Especially about the QD type rings… I’ve had some issues with them but never a single problem with regular mounts. I’ve also never had a scope die while I was in the field, never known any of my friends to break their scopes either. I suppose there’s always that one guy who dropped his rifle from a tree stand but user error can’t be fixed, lol! Anyways, I enjoyed your video, thanks for sharing!

[@DeaconDoggie]

I have that exact Swarovski Z8i on my 270W Model 70. I use a Leupold 1.5-6x32 on my 416Rem. Never had a problem with 3 Cape Buffaloes.

[@Denner771]

Great job. I can easily hit out to 200 yds with a 1x6 Burris, especially on larger targets. A long range plains scope past 200 yds, may be better options.

[@hedge7743]

Another very helpful video, Mr. Glass. Also, Ill be glad to take that Leupold off your hands! Haha! Keep it up, Sir!

[@nathangemberling4037]

Phillip, great video on the subject. I like you, started with a low power variable leupold and while it was a good scope, it had measurable shortfalls with longer ranges.

[@JCZ_888]

At the little end of dangerous game cartridges, I have for my Blaser R8 9.3x62 barrel both an Aimpoint H2 red dot and a Zeiss Victory HT 2.5-10x50 (great glass). Being both on Blaser mounts they return to zero no problems.

[@johnt34aus]

I too love that Swaro Circle Dot Reticle! Its an electronic peep sight and therefore very fast. More or less magnification is a personal preference. Also some DGR calibres are more versatile than others and they shoukd be scoped accordingly or not scoped as appropriate - such as a PH's stopping rifles. Crocodile and leopard are quite specialised in the realm of DGR hunting so the equipment should suit the quarry. You are obviously a very experienced hunter but a newbie with a high mag scope could have it at the wrong magnification costing valuable time at the moment of truth My Swaro is only a 1-4 and FFP ( which I hated initially) but afterwards after using it in Africa on 3 buff is the only way to go IMHO provided the zoom factor dies not exceed 4x. In terms of QD rings have not had any issues with Talley's in terms of return to zero but do agree a Blaser like system or Mauser M03 and rail is the ultimate although the European mounts tend to be on the high side just a tad and super expensive!!!

[@neillmurchison5329]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences.

[@andyherzfeld9492]

I agree 100 percent on your wisdom on scopes. I have gone through all those dangerous game scope traditional and I prefer a 2x10 or a 3x9 even with a lighted reticle and good glass on my big guns.

[@MoN-fs8om]

Despite the title, this video is not about DGR scopes. The actual topic is mixed bag safari scopes. Just as DG hunting is a highly specialized endeavor, so are DG scopes. Given that DGRs, especially those used for elephants and many buffalo scenarios, are typically used inside 40 yards, wide field of view, unobstructed close in view of surrounding animals are the most important attributes. Anyone who needs more than 5-6x for shots out to 100 yards on the occasional buffalo is probably insufficiently familiar with his equipment. BTW I routinely use Warne lever QD rings and detach my scopes from the rifles for travel. Just as happened 2 weeks ago when I traveled to Zim for elephant, both scopes were dead on when replaced and checked on arrival. This has been my experience.

[@hansblitz7770]

GPO 1.5-9x44. Worth a look. Seems like it would be right up your alley. Fantastic, by my assessment.

[@hansblitz7770]

Needs to be under 2x on the low end. Illuminated reticle, absolutely, agreed. Bigger objective lens than the 24mm. Capped turrets. Finer center aiming point. Outside cross hairs can be thicker.

[@joefondren9755]

Thank you for a very interesting video. My own limited experience. Savage Scout rifle, 308 Winchester White Box FMJ, 2 1/2 X Fixed Leupold Scout Scope with about a nine-inch eye relief, on a bench with a Harris bi-pod, target was a green plastic washer the size of a quarter on poster paper. Through the 2 1/2X scope I could not even see the washer, but I knew where it was on the paper. Of the last five-shot group, four holes were touching and the fifth hole an inch away, and all about an inch left of the washer. Oh, and the target was at 200 yds. A fluke? Maybe. I don't expect anyone to take my word for it, but I was there and that's the best five-shot group of my 76 years. The point of this paragraph is to explain my belief in low-power fixed-power scopes. My present favorite is a 1970s era 4X Redfield Widefield on a 338 Win Mag Model 70.

[@GreenKnight1979]

The higher magnification helps when shooting from a rest, but in any scenario where the rifle is self supported like in standing or sitting, it becomes a hindrance. Even in self supported prone, I find one can make better groups in 3x rather than 6x or more because the wobble becomes more distracting at higher magnification.