NF vs Meostar R2 on 375 H&H Build

[MrAKGuy]

Long time listener, first time caller. Thanks for all the learning so far.

Building a 375 H&H rifle for an upcoming Kodiak Brown Bear hunt while simultaneously hunting Sitka deer. Looking for versatility for DG and medium game out to 400 yards. I have no problem using a 375 H&H for medium game with the right cartridge. We can save that philosophical debate for another time. Narrowed it down to the following:

Nightforce NXS – 2.5-10x42mm
Meopta MeoStar R2 1.7-10x42 RD
Meopta MeoStar R2 2-12x50 RD

Can't go wrong with the NF and it's ability to hold zero but would like less than 2.5x. Leaning towards the MeoStar 2-12x50 to facilitate rangier shots. I'm not sure on the MeoStar's ability to hold zero and a 50mm lens is a tad big. Thoughts?

 

[TaperPin]

I’d probably go with the one that has the longest eye relief. The couple of 375’s that I’ve had would come close to reminding me how much eye relief is in the scope.

 

[lukebrowning]

None of the above. On a 375 and for your purpose I’m going 1x with long eye relief. 4x at 400 yards is fine, especially for a 375.

 

[JGRaider]

That Meopta R12 1.7-10x would be my first choice. It is superb and very tough.

 

[wysongdog]

Nf actar 1-8

 

[gbflyer]

Trijicon Accupoint 1-4. 30mm tube, tritium dot reticle of choice. Perfect Kodiak scope for .375.

 

[Tibodoe]

Definitely 1-4 or 1-6

 

[Samson7x]

Consider the NF 1-8? Gets you durability, 1x, and lightweight.

 

[FOS373]

I’m in a similar situation as you for a Kodiak bear and deer hunt next year with a 375 H&H. I mounted the NF 2.5-10 as I had one that was not being used. I also had a NF 1-4, but after talking to the outfitter, he did recommend the 2.5-10. After sighting it in, I took it out to 550 yards just to confirm; probably not something I would do in the field, but was just curious.

I never thought of mounting my ATACR 1-8 on it, but I don’t think it would be a bad idea if you went down that route. It’s not like you are counting ounces on a 375.

Hope you have a great time on that hunt!

 

[PlumberED]

I am curious what scope you decide to use on the 375 H&H. I want to put together a similar setup.

 

[TexianHussar]

Curious about your decision as well! I’ve got a 35 Whelen with the same use case a trying to find the best compromise between FOV at low power and magnification.

I’m between the Meopta 1.7-10x42 and a Swarovski 2-16x50. Only 3ft difference in FOV between the two, but the Swaro is a big scope for a “woods” rifle.

 

[SkunkCabbage]

Take the NXS with a close second of being a nx8 or ATACR 1-8
Just going to boil down to how much you want low power for anything closer range at the trade off of dialing/holding over at higher mags.

NXS is a bombproof little scope. I own a handful of them along with both 1-8s with the fx-DMX

 

[1000yards]

My 375 sees occasional use on hogs; mostly when someone wounds one here, I'll bring it with me when tracking.

First it had a Leupold VX6hd 1-6 but the low light performance was non existent. I've heard that's a problem with most LPVOs, maybe the atacr 1-8 is better -I don't know.

For awhile after that it had a bushnell elite 4500 2.5-10x40, which had huge eye relief but a pretty bad tunnel effect.

Now it has a credo 3-9. On paper the credo has a slightly better fov at 3x than the elite at 2.5x, in actual use it performs much better.

I don't know anything about bear hunting. But for me shooting hogs in very thick brush, as long as a scope is at 3x or less, then other factors are more important than lowest magnification. I.e. I'll take a 3x with thick reticle over a 1.5x with a thin reticle.