Reeder Custom Guns - Extra parts can be good!

I have been toying with scopes lately. Just jostling them around and learning stuff. In a sober attempt to overscope my .416 Rigby it was a fun exercise. My .416 does not recoil that hard to begin with, and I'm shooting 325/375 gr. bullets at 2000 fps right now. I am astonished how factory "Safari" ammo is now $10 per shot! But considering the cost of an expedition who can complain.

The long BRNO (aka CZ 550) action holds some unique mounting issues. Luckily you can slide the front ring back a long ways on the dovetail. The front ring only pinches the dovetail whereas the rear is fixed. Typically CZ mounting rings are particularly expensive. Warne are some highly thought of and I have some Lynx steel rings. These are some Millett that I don't really like. Too many parts.

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I know Gary has had some retailing issues with Vortex brand but I found, as a consumer so far, that the scope was very crisp and the ample 4" eye relief was very good. Not a fan of the superfluous extra knob sticking out the port side. I do think other brands might transmit more light than this particular 4-16X 42mm. I've always favored Leupold for this trait. But I can complain about the subtleties on anything if given enough time.

I really feel on this type of "big" gun a 2-10X might be of better service for any setting on earth and still provide maximum advantage for extended reach in sighting. 10X seems more than adequate for 200 yd. shooting.

An interesting contrast at 50 yds. showing 1.5X vs 5X with the Leupold VX-III.
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The 4X Burris in the same setting. Not scientific but for goofing around.
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that means they gave away to the recoil... you better have good scope
My son and I both have Burris 1.5 x5 never a problem on his .450
when you finish and start shooting let us know how it goes

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On my forehead, can you? Lol Benching a .416 is always fun. Lots of silly videos on youtube with folks acting like the .416 is some cannon. I thought it was marginal as a charge stopper. With the hairy chested crowd anyway.

The break really tames it down as does the 4" shorter barrel.

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in camp. We had plans to bring out a dangerous game rifle and at dinner we asked them what they would carry for dangerous game up to Cape Buffalo and hippo (at the time Hippo wasn't included in the Big 7). Of the 4, 3 said the 416 Rigby as they didn't trust a cartridge with a belted case. After we got back we built the first of several African Classics in 416 Rigby, the first one being the gun that WB currently owns. Kase used it in Africa in '93 on several animals. With 400 grain solids or soft points at 2400, I wouldn't feel undergunned on any of the Big 7. My Cape 3 weeks ago was taken with the .458 Hornady DGX 400 grain soft point at 2000 fps. It dropped him at the shot. He struggled back up and I hit him again with the same load and he was down for the count. And the 416 Rigby 400 at 2400 has more punch than my 450 GNR. Bill Firman's elephant was taken with the 416 GNR and a 400 grain solid in an Encore handgun. So the 416 Rigby loaded up to around 2400 fps will do it all.

And WB doesn't think the 416 Rigby will give him a third eyebrow. Let him load 400 grain bullets up to 2400, put a 10X or 14X scope on there and he will see.

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quite a bit compared to a "big" fellow that puts up some resistance. But I'm not saying anything to jinx myself. Last loadings I did the 2400+ fps were reached in my Ruger Express with 24" barrel, same load ran a bit over 2200 fps in my BRNO at 18" of barrel. I used V1000 powder, good stuff. I'm now using IMR5010 and cast gas check bullets to target shoot. As always, Federal #215 caps to light everything off Rigby.

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quality issues with them. When we have a dozen customers come in the shop with defective Vortex scopes in a 2 month period, that tells me something. And it ain't "retailing issues".

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I truly respect that too. Your choice factors in several varied examples, I'm sure several scopes, which gives me pause recommending them, even though the single example I have seems OK.

With the concerns its reasonable to point out every man is on his own. Conceptually that seems at least one size too much for that type of rifle. Maybe a dedicated plains rig.

Do you think the 30mm tubes are a fad or here to stay?

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used the Tasco 3X with the small dot in a 30mm tube for years in our hunts up at Tellico junction. They were great scopes. Kase used one on his Dan Wesson in 445 Super Mag for years. If I see one on e-bay I buy it. There are 2 down sides to the 30mm scopes, one is the absence of rings from some makers. The other is that most 30mm scopes are European scopes and are high priced, in most cases out of the normal hunter's budget. They are also a bit bigger and add a bit of bulk to a rifle or handgun set up.

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On a number of TC barrels. All are 30mm and mostly in Warne Rings.

They have held up fine for 25 years. I take a lot of ribbing for my "cheap" scopes. But, just like Simmons, Ive never had one let me down. Cant say thst about Nikon or Leupold.

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had that line of "ProClass" that was 30mm and had the recticles etched on a glass lens rather than wires glued to rings inside, like most everyone else. It was a bit different but worked well. They even sold the scopes with rings to prevent the issues Gary mentioned.

I agree with the European influence. One can see 30mm tubes prevail in Euro scopes as to HUGE ocular lens like 56mm+! And $500 for a scope mounting system to Euro shooters is nothing. Some of the fancy steel rings for my BRNO are upwards of $375!

I can see the advantages of a 30mm tube being lots for mechanically rigid. If there is a light gathering advantage it's sure a plus if balanced with bulk. Interesting to take a fresh look, I was locked in the 80's in my optics mindset.

Extra parts can be good!

My son's .450 marlim has eaten "big " scopes

Been raining here, you can't wait for me to pop a knot

back in '92 Kase and I were in Africa and several PH's were

Mercifully us little guys get pushed back

Charge stoppers...start at 505 Gibbs & 600gr slugs

I don't have "retailing issues" with Vortex. I have

Just meant you decided not to sell them

30mm tubes have been around for many years. Kase and I

Ive got Tasco 3x and 7x ProClass pistol scopes...

Yeah I've got some of those too. Tasco

Hey, I sent you a box of stuff

LEUPOLD

Great! About time for another Goat visit.

I don't think she would even make any gravy.

Glad to see she's still fighting, I was hoping she was.