Working up hunting loads: Score: 45/70 1, Burris Scope 0

[JimmyBigLoop]

Well, I've rattled my Burris Scope - I'll be sending it in for replacement, but I'm a bit disappointed - I thought they were supposed to be strong Scopes. (Mine is made off-shore, not in the USA...)
The shots that wounded, then killed my scope (vertical stringing followed by continual low shots until whatever came loose came loose inside) were 425gr GC @ ~1700 fps - frankly these kicked too hard for my liking anyways.
At 15' the chrony showed a string of shots that averaged 1678 fps with a StdDev of 31.07 fps with the high to lowest being over 50fps and most shots falling in the 1660-1685 area - grouping was as poor as expected with this kind of SD and eventually a broken scope...

I also confirmed the potency and SD of my excellent Wheel Weight Ranch Dog 350 GC load.
49gr of IMR3031 Set Deep and Crimped on Nose COAL 2.45"
Calc'd Muzzle Avg = 1810 fps
Chrony @15' Avg 1782 fps
Chrony StdDev = 13 fps!!
This is a sub 2 MOA load in my GBL and is going to be my #1 Moose Load this fall (I only got a calf tag in the draw) I should have no problem dropping a 400lb calf with it.

I also had luck (before the scope failure) with H335 and the Ranch Dog 425gr GC done up in WW.
45 gr of H335 Set Deep and Crimped on Nose COAL 2.45"
Calc'd Muzzle Velocity 1570 fps
Chrony @ 15' Avg 1547 fps
Chrony StdDev = 13.26 fps
Max Variation one oddball at 34fps - take it out and SD improves.

So, though my scope gave up the ghost my Chrony is working flawlessly. I did the calculations on the laptop, the chrony is fool-proof, it spits out a fps number and you write it down.
I hope Burris stands by their product.

[JimmyBigLoop]

(I have to seat the RD bullets deep as the tight throat in my GBL causes seriously dangerous problems when crimped on the crimp rings on RD bullets - so I have to seat deep start low and work up carefully)

[Rick R]

I've shot a lot of (100+) 430gr bullets @1,650fps thru my Guide Gun using Varget. So far the 2x Leupold pistol scope has held up just fine. The little rifle does kick just a bit with that load.

It gets shot a bunch more with a Lee 405gr over the same load as they hit within 2" of the 430gr zero at 50 yards and jolt quite a bit less.

[AccuRat]

Two words: Leupold.

While I don't have any Burris optics, I, too, wouldn't have thought that would happen. Please keep us posted as to whether Burris does indeed stand by their product....I know Leupold does....

[GAR]

I have never had a Burris come apart as of yet.
Have used them on a 7mm STW, 338mag and a 375 H&H mag.
Did have a Burris 4X fixed on the 375H&H that sheared the mounts,
cracked me in the eye brow (bled like a stuck pig!) and hit the ocular bell on the concreate
denting it. Mounted it on the 338 mag and it still works.
Have them on a couple of Ruger Redhawks also.

Oldest son stole my Burris Signature Safari scope and mounted it on his 1895GS and it is still holding up.
All my Burris's are older, discontinued models. Have nothing from the current line. Might be the reason.

Tom

[Frank V]

I think once you get the velocity up around 1600fps with a bullet of 400/450grs in a 95 you start getting recoil that is very heavy & probably hard on scopes. I know for me anyway once that velocity is reached it's not a lot of fun anymore, but for hunting I will do it.
Frank

[SeanT]

Two words: Leupold.

+1!

[Pumpkin Chucker]

I've shot hundreds of stout loads (525gr at 1550 fps, 425 at 1850 and 350 at 2050) through my Burris-equipped GBL with nary a problem from the Burris. Now the Weaver 63B mount is another kettle of fish - the front of it bent over the receiver towards the barrel. The only things saving my scope from being bent were the Burris Signature rings - they have plastic bushings in them which allowed the rings to separate to compensate for the bend. Mine was also Singapore-made but I sent it in to their Greeley, CO shop to have the hunting turrets changed out to tactical and the US shop performed a complete quality check.

[Crusty Deary Ol Coot]

+ about a dozen on Leupold.

Have a stack of targets fired in testing my RUGER #1S - 45/70 over three summers. Started out with a 355gr cast at up to 2500fps and the last two years a 465gr cast in the 1600 - 1700 fps range.

Is is not one of the real pricey Leupold, bought it used from a friend - 2X7.

If I had the $400+ bucks would buy another Leupold in the 1 to 5 power range.

This is not a heavy rifle, but the Leupold is doing great as is every other Leupold I own.

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[Oberhaz]

Two words: Leupold.

While I don't have any Burris optics, I, too, wouldn't have thought that would happen. Please keep us posted as to whether Burris does indeed stand by their product....I know Leupold does....

I thought Leupold was one word.