Thread: Taking Bets on a Nikko Stirling

I just put a Japanese-made 1970's Nikko Stirling 4 x 40 scope on a 9.3x62. I am taking bets on how long it will last.

To put the recoil in perspective, 6 shots gave me a dark yellow bruise on my shoulder. Three shots blew the front sight hood off over my head into the grass. (This is thing you usually need a hammer to tap off.)

I have now put a recoil pad on the rifle. I dont have a scope long enough to fit the rifle except for this Nikko Stirling that I cant even remember where I got it from. Off some second hand rifle no doubt.

(.308 on left. 9.3 Mauser on right.)

If its a Gold Crown it'll be fine

loopy vx1 or freedom will fit it,pretty certain of that as they fit my long actions no trouble... that old nikko may surprise you,the japanese made ones were a great scope. I would move scope forward 5mm or so in mounts so its not up against bell.... and if you put one on each way they counteract the twist when you tighten them.

I did the warm water immersion test on the Nikko Stirling and it passed. We'll see if it shakes to peices or not. The scope is bright and sharp enough.

I have an old Weaver K4 steel tube here that would fit, but for the life of me I cant turn the eyepeice to focus it properly, seems to be seized. I have penetrating oil working on it now, which may be a bad idea on a scope, but its useless at the moment anyway.

Looks like 286 grain Norma or prvi

You might be disappointed at how well it lasts

My 9.3x62 likes every bullet I have ever tried
But mainly use 300 grain A Frames
I bet there are a lot of brand new scopes available in NZ that would not last one session

You know your bullets - handload with 286grain PPU, 57.5 grains of IMR4320.

I can feel the disappointment in this scope radiating back to me from the near future.

If it is one of the Japanese older ones I suspect it will last longer than your shoulder......If you want to really bugger up a scope, chuck it on an air rifle......The recoil jolt is what they are made for (or at least it was when they were making those ones....) but the vibrations form the springs will destroy most scopes very quickly.....

Enjoy your recoil fetish...I had a leaning towards that with a 375 H&H magnum single.......Loved shooting it...did not like the $9 a shot for factory though....especially as I would use a pack at the range each time..... Just cos why not...

I have a Japanese gold crown that came on a 6.5x55 M96 sportier back in the 90's . It went through all sorts of rifles up to a 44magnum and until recently resided on my 22.
It has never given trouble.

I have a VX3 2.5-8x36 on my 9.3x62 Husky, suits it perfectly I think.

Well, I belted that Nikko Stirling in the face thirteen times and it didn't flinch. Got it sighted in and fired a group to prove it. It adjusted correctly and did what I told it to do. The group wasnt much good, but then, I had a mild concussion myself by that stage. (Plus its a German picket post reticle, which I have never shot at targets before.)

I have got the open sights zeroed as well so I am good to go.

Jakewire I would like a Leupold like what you have on it - I have a low powered Weaver vairable but it cant be fitted back far enough on the rifle to see through it. It has a 14.5 inch length of pull. I have a Leupold M8 which would be perfect but it resides on my .30/06. I need another one.

I have no idea why I got the rifle really. Suppose I am going to have to go to Africa or Australia now.

Bit like my 416 that i got for the African dream 25 years ago.
it will only happen when I am to old to shoot it properly or when I when lotto

Originally Posted by csmiffy

Bit like my 416 that i got for the African dream 25 years ago.
it will only happen when I am to old to shoot it properly or when I when lotto

The joke is @csmiffy, I lived in Africa forever and never owned an "African"calibre.
Then I moved to NZ and now I own two of the classics : .375 H&H and 7x57.
Gotta have something to go rabbit hunting with

Something’s not right if you’re getting bruised..sometimes I use a PAST recoil pad just to ease things on the bench but never had bruising even with 416 Rigby…not being macho but shouldn’t be bruising you. The Leupy straight tube scopes are short but so long as you don’t overtighten the front ring can be set right back and with their long eye relief should accommodate a 14.5 LOP..

@JohnDuxbury
There is a thread or two on here re loading for the 9.3x2
I use 2209 but most others seem to use 2208
It's a very accurate cartridge, I'm using a 286 hornady bullet, travelling at a sedate pace some where below 2300fps
I'd change to 2208 but I have a limited supply and use what I have in another cartridge and 2209 is what I currently have the most of.

Yes, I have read them - I even know what your load is! Like you I only have little bit of 2208 left, enough to test one load only. I bought a tin of IMR4320 to use in my .308 because I cant find any 2208/Varget and now I find out that they have discontinued IMR4320....

I would try H4350 just for fun, I usually could compress the max of 67 grains, I have no trouble leaning on a load, but this 9.3x62 brass with the Lee dies that I have has low neck tension, and I cant keep a bullet in if heavily compressed.

I found some Nosler data for IMR4320, and have got 250 Accubonds shooting at an inch, but cant get a good load with this powder so far and the 286 grainers, which is what I really want.

Lack of powder availability is real problem now, I would get a tin of Varget, RE15 or RE17 for this cartridge if I could locate any.

Be very interesting to see how well the nikko stirling holds up. They're not exactly my first choice of scope but to be fair to them they do the job perfectly fine for a fairly large number of people while being affordable, until they decide to upgrade later down the track.