Scope Reliability

[CoElkHunter]

I second you don’t always have to pay big money for a good scope… In the 90s I bought a gimmicky Simmons ATV, which stood for all target variable rifle scope.

It has been dropped from halfway up a tree stand, falling over on hardwood floors, slipped going up creek banks, sat with it in the rain for hours… It has been abused.

After I don’t know how many rounds through my 280 and I guess close to 30 years now, it has never been adjusted one time. I want to say I paid less than $200 for it. And believe it or not it has pretty good glass.

Come to think of it I have several old Simmons scopes that have all been extremely reliable

I've had a 2.5x10x44 Simmons Aetec scope on my Browning A Bolt .338WM since '95. List price was $250 but I bought it new for $150. It's been through all manner of weather, bumped and scratched. I've loaned that rifle and scope out to my buddy on his two trips to Newfoundland and I took it to Africa once. Still is clear and has never lost its zero. I still have (now as a souvenir) a mid '70s 4x Bushnell that still held a zero on my Winchester M70 AFTER a horse stepped on it and sheared off the windage screw. I once fell from a standing position carrying a Rem 700 .300WM with an '09 3.5x10x50 Vortex Diamondback scope on it. The rifle landed six feet away on dirt and some small rocks and the elevation screw cap had a small divet in it. The scope still held a zero. Mid priced and mid quality scopes for their times, but I guess sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. LOL

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Thank you Michel.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

About scope durability, my champion is a Zeiss Diatal DA 4x32 wich I bought new in 1972, non centered N° 1 German reticle. Has been used, full of knocks and dents since then. Still cristal clear and in 100% working order. The main scope in my 7x57 Mauser-Werke 1935.

 

[meigsbucks]

For most of my shooting, I’ve used Leupolds. II started with a straight 4x back in the late 70’s that has been on a .338 mag, .375 HH, 7mm-08 and currently a .22. It looks like it has gone thru three world wars. Scratched, dented and chipped.
I also have a 2-7x Leupold that has been on a .338 since the early 80’s. It is only in slightly better shape than the aforementioned 4x. Both have slid down mountains, fallen from tree stands and been abused. Neither has lost lost zero. Also have a 1.5-5x on .458 Lott that has about 700+ rounds thru it and still going strong.
The only Leupold’s I’ve had issue with were: A new, out of the box that the power ring wouldn’t turn. Sent it in and had it back in a couple of weeks. The other was an old 3-9x VXII on a .30/06. I took a bad fall in Namibia and landed on the riffle. It started hitting 6” high, which cost me an heck of a springbok. After adjusting down, it still holds zero. 20+ Leupolds on rifles and handguns and never had another Leupold with an issue.
Have 3-9x Zeiss Conquest with a 1” tube on a .338 RUM. Approaching 1000 rds. No issues. I bought it on closeout and I wish I would have bought ten.

 

[Hififile324]

Great thread Tex .416. I live in Beaverton Oregon and did contract work at L & S. I was able to buy scopes at an employee price less than 1/2 off. I bought many, and several had issues. I have since switched to Tract Optics and Trijicon. I own several of those and not a single issue or failure of any kind. I also own Zeiss and Leica glass too.

Here is what I have learned from my friends and affiliates in the optics industry: The scopes that come from Japan specifically made at Kamakura Koki, and Light Optical Works aka LOW, make some of the most durable scopes in the world. They are made under contract for several of the scopes mentioned in this thread and badged for the specific manufacturer. Once you have been around the optics business for awhile you can learn to identify the scope manufacturer by inspecting the scope.

Here are some brands that have superb optical quality and the toughest mechanisms. Tract, Trijicon, Nightforce, Maven, Zeiss (Japan).

Also look at the Police department and Military scopes being used. You will see Nightforce, Trijicon for most applications. I'm retired from LE and Nightforce is commonly used, along with Trijicons, strictly because they don't break and are highly reliable.

 

[One Day...]

Is the best glass & best optical performance useful on a scope with broken mechanical components? NO...

Is a mechanically indestructible scope useful with coke-bottle-bottom lenses? NO...

Is a mechanically indestructible scope with best glass & best optical performance useful (to you) if you cannot afford it? NO...

There you have it, compromises, compromises, compromises...

>>> If you can afford mechanical near indestructibility and best glass & best optical performance, you are likely a Schmidt & Bender PM client and you spend $5,000++ on your scope. Great!​

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>>> If you cannot afford Schmidt & Bender PM, but still want mechanical near indestructibility and do not need 92% light transmission because you will clip on a night vision intensifier, you are likely a Nightforce, Leupold (military line), etc. client. Great! You will spend $2,000+.​

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>>> If you cannot afford Schmidt & Bender PM, and do not intend to rappel from an helicopter with your scope but care about first and last 15 minutes of shooting time, you are likely a Zeiss, Leica, Swarovski, etc. client. Great! You will spend $1,500 if a 6x zoom ratio is enough for you, or $3,000 if you absolutely need (?) a 8x zoom ratio.​

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>>> If you cannot afford Schmidt & Bender PM, and do not intend to rappel from an helicopter with your scope, and do not care all that much about first and last 15 minutes of shooting time, then the broad market is open to you. Great! You will spend less than $1,000.​

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>>> If you believe that Schmidt & Bender PM, Nightforce, Leupold (military line) mechanical reliability, and Schmidt & Bender, Zeiss, Leica, Swarovski, etc. light transmission are just a scam, you are likely a (pic your brand) customer. Great! You will spend less than $500.​

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>>> If you believe that there is out there $xxx (thousands) performance for $xx (hundreds), you are likely a (pic your brand) customer. Great! You will spend less than $500.​

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As to reliability, to circle back to the opening post, on one end anything made by man can break, and on the other end, when does reliability become impracticable, physically or financially?

And then, it is fully expected that everyone will passionately root for their own team (i.e. the brand of scope(s) that is sitting on their rifle(s)