Can anyone recommend a scope for a Ruger No1 in this caliber that can take the pounding, or would I be better off with an aperture sight(NECG)? IMO, The factory sights just don't cut it.

See this thread:

http://www.shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=6872

I'll tell you what IMO is the perfect scope for this rifle. The Leupold VXIII 1.5-5x. You need eye releif and this scope has 5.3" of it on 1.5X and 3.7" on 5x. Also, this scope will not give you fit problems on either the No.1 or 77. No need for offset rings as you will have plenty of fore and aft adjustment. Lastly, it WILL hold up to the recoil.
I have this same scope on my .416 Rigby, .50 BP 700 ML, and 12 GA A-Bolt, and can pretty much guarentee you that you won't get a case of scope eye if you set it up properly.

Looks like a Vari XIII is in the works.Will the Ruger rings work or do I need something stronger? Loads will be 500gr pills @2300 fps give or take a few fps.

Your Ruger rings are certainly strong enough for the scope. As has been suggested here and elsewhere on the board, a very small application of rubber cement, Scotchcote or similar to the scope rings would be advisable to help in avoiding slippage of the scope. The heaviest thing I ever had a scope on was a Remington 870 Wingmaster shooting 3" mag slugs. Had a Redfield 1.75x5x20 scope. It stood up to the pounding and never slipped in the mounts.

Certainly be sure to ScotchKote the rings, lower half only. I could not get the scope to stay put on my .458 for love of Christ nor money until I used the ScotchKote. Hasn't budged since.

That scope may have to be pushed all the way up to the rear ring, in order for the front ring to have anything to grab on to, because the tube is fairly short. If so.... there's nowhere for it to go, so slipping won't be a problem. Fortunately the VX-III scopes have a lot of eye relief so mounting it as far forward as possible should not be a problem.

I'll take all the eye relief I can get. For some reason this gun has a nasty upward kick to it.( I guess 70+ ft.lbs. of recoil has to go somewhere) Other No 1's I've shot kicked straight back, but they were smaller caliber also. That's why I was considering aperture sights>

The 1.5x5 VX-III gives around 5 inches of eye relief. If that won't do it.... time for a scout scope!!!

If you want to scope a .458 lott...you would probably be hard pressed to beat the scope recommended.

Dont take this personal, its just my personal opinion and not the same as your opinion obviously, but I do gotta kinda question the idea of a scope on a fire arm of that caliber? Is this gun for shooting at the range or is it for hunting dangerous game? I'm kinda curious....

About 2/3 of the people I see with Marlin lever guns in 45/70 have them scoped...considering the Lott has a BIG advantage in range, it doesn't seem that out of place. Some folks just like the shooting big guns, and there is a lot more oportunity for non-dangerous game...some folks just have old-eyes...and some (myself included) find that a low powered scope isn't any measurably slower than iron (one of the nice things about the electroinc timers...you get to playing games like this).

8baller, if you're going to shoot pigs in low light or at night, it's a lot easier to use a scope.

Makes precise shot placement a lot easier too.

Nothing wrong with iron sights, but sometimes a scope is quite handy, even on a boomer!

I want argue the fact that precise shot placement is easier with a scope. Thats a fact indeed. Oh yeah a scope can be quiet handy indeed!

I am definitly a member of the "Go big, or stay home" crowd when it comes to power and caliber, so dont get me wrong. I guess thats just where I differ from everyone else here. To my way of thinking, (and its just my way of thinking guys), a .458 lott is an aweful lot of gun for hogs, deer and the like. Its very workable no doubt. Were I to add a .458 lott or .416 to the "inventory", and its tempting, it would be for game that can stomp me into the ground, eat me or other wise ruin my day. As such, I would veiw it as a dangerous game gun or stopping rifle where I need to put an animal down for the count right here right now. I can use open sights a lot more effectively in this mode of operation.

If I were going to scope such a rifle like I said, the scope recommended would sure be hard to beat. Its a great well made product, the magnification is reasonable, the eye relief is great, what more could you ask out of a piece of equipment?

8baller,

I'm just practicing on piggies with the .458. If we get overrun with Cape Buffalo in the near future, I'll be ready!

Well I wouldnt be beyond taking a big bore like that moose, or Brown bear hunting. Sure would be nice to hit Africa though for a Buff. One day I will hit the lottery and be able to spring for a trip like that. Figure the odds.....

I've had one of my Leupold 1.5x5s on a Ruger #1 re-chambered to .460 Weatherby. Used it on that for about 5 years regularly for Jack Rabbits, and ground squirrels. It worked great. I now have the same scope on one of my .45-70s. It's about 30 years old and going strong. I bought a few of that particular scope, after reading a scope report from African guides that rated the top scopes for their durability and eye relief. That Leupold won hands down. I have also had a half dozen scopes of other brands literaly come apart inside, and 2 blew out their objectice lens upon fireing heavy calibers with them. Those brands I give away if on a purchase I've made. I would also prefer an older Leupold to a brand new one.

Lap in the rings with the Brownell's kit. Clean everything with alcohol. Torque screws 20% over their reccommended torque setting.
Use BLUE LockTite on all screws after cleaning the threads w/ alcohol..------pruhdlr

I've got a Vari X 2 1-4 x20 on my M77mkII .416 Rigby and a Vari X III 1.5-5 x 20 as back up for that one if it breaks. It's been sitting on a shelf locked away the last three years.

Fome marmots to moose, the .416 benefits from a scope. It's fast and accurate. I also have a NECG peep for the Ruger. Used it on my Number 1 Tropical .375 H&H, Sure it makes a major improvement over the factory erar sight but its like looking through a hole in a wall because it's such a big blocky sight.

Scope tube length is something to watch. You might look into offset rings so your front ring won't be around the tube where the front lens sits. Either that or be very, very freaking careful when tightening your screws down.

If you prefer a fixed power scope vs variable, locate one of the older Leupold 3x fixed power scopes, they have plenty of eye relief, and 3x should be sufficient for a DGR. The Leupold 3x is a straight tube up front, so no problems should be encountered with ring placement?