Sirs, in your experience, what would be a good period correct scope, with good eye relief, say, 1.5 to 6x, that would withstand the recoil of a 458 Win. Mag. ? The rifle was made in 1983.

Let me add, I currently have an old made in El Paso, TX Weaver, K 2.5 fixed with fine crosshair. It is 10 3/8" overall and has a 20mm objective lens, but I don't know if it will hold up to the recoil.

2.5 El Paso Weaver is a very good game scope. You may want to get the reticule changed Mine has a 4 moa Lee dot. Probably 90 % chance 80's Winchester would have carried a Weaver

Cheap enough used if the .458 knocks it apart you can buy another. My guess is it's stronger than the average modern Asian made scope.

Boats

I have found the ''old'' Leupold 3 power to be outstanding in this area... very good eye-relief, good field of view and very reliable under recoil. i understand their custom scope is making them again and would only assume they are as good as the old ones if not better optically. Good luck...

That would sort of depend when it decides to fail. At the range, fine, in the bush, not so fine.

Without the doubt the best scope for the money on large caliber heavy game rifle is Nikon 'Monarch' Safari 1,1-4x24.

The scopes mentioned so far are all good options. I would lean towards either the fixed 3x(now back in production and sold at SWFA)or the 4x leupold, depending on your tastes. These are newer scopes with better glass and coatings than the weaver.

If the scope needs to look 1983ish than an older 4x Leupold with the smaller objective and gloss finish should do the job and still be brighter than the weavers.

Good luck!

Hi:

Do not waste your time with an old Weaver! Get a modern good quality scope!

Good luck,

Franchi

Thanks for the suggestions. I probably should have waited until I knew I had the rifle before I asked this question. But now I have won it as the auction just ended. Gunbroker # 341673910. It is not a Winchester, but the next best thing I think, a Ruger 77 made in 1983. It is controlled round feed at least, as that is what I was wanting in a rifle of this caliber. I need to gat rings, but they are out there. Once I get the iron sights set ( would you men recommend 50yds, or 100yds ) I will put the scope on and sight it in. Then in the event of scope failure, for whatever reason, I still have iron sights.

My Weaver advice was for setting up a classic Winchester 458 with the correct period scope. Real dangerous game it's not what I would do, Rifle Scope or Caliber.

Boats

[quote=RedofTx]but the next best thing I think, a Ruger 77 made in 1983. It is controlled round feed at least, as that is what I was wanting in a rifle of this caliber. [/quote

I don't wish to disappoint you but if my memory serves me, the Ruger 77's made in 1983 are not true Controlled Round Feed actions. While they have the long Mauser type extractor the cartridge does not slide up under the rim of it and is captured when it leaves the magazine. The action also uses the Mauser type bolt release but it uses the REMINGTON 700 type button plunger ejector. It was the Ruger 77 MKII that became a true CRF. HTH Jerry

The Leupold Compact 2.5 X fixed power would be my recommendation. With the heavy duplex.

I think that they may call it the Ultralite now, instead of the Compact.

Great eye relief and field of view. Very reliable. Good, clear optics.

If it is long enough to fit between the rings, that is...

I have had a Lyman All American Perma-Center 2 1/2X scope on one of my .458's for over 40 years with no ill effects. I have had Lyman Alaskan All Weather 2 2/1X scopes on both my other .458 and my .450 Watts equally as long. No problems with either.

Red
I once had a #1 458 and now have 2 350 Rem Mag ^00 carbines. I also have a 2.5 Weaver that has been used on all three rifles with no problems. I think the recoil is much sharper with the 350 Rem. I also have one of the first $10 4x Tasco which the dealer said he would replace if I could shoot the cross hairs out of it. It is as clear as anything I own and still going. It also has been on all three rifles. I have always used Redfield bases and rings when possible so nothing moves. Ruger used the rings that came with the gun. I now have a Burris 4x12 compact on one of the 350s It has become one of my favorite cast bullet guns. Recoil no longer an issue. Scope is only as good as its service go with one you can get fixed. Have you considered a receiver sight?
Tom