Scope Reliability

[gbflyer]

Not a PH but I have carried scoped rifles extensively in some very wet weather. They bang around in airplanes and saltwater boats. I have returned 3 Leupolds that dial due to frozen or jerky adjustments. No fogging issues nor have I knocked the crosshairs out. I have never returned a capped adjustment knob Leupold, even after a sling stud pulled out and the rifle clattered down a rocky hillside. No real kickers, .338 Win mag max. I have had good experience with a Swaro 3-9x36 from the late 1980’s, Nightforce, Trijicon, and Sightron. I do check zeros on scopes, and yes the Leupolds and Swaro have drifted during travel but not enough to miss at a reasonable range. Nightforce and Trijicon don’t move, too soon to tell on the Sightrons. Oh yes I have also had problems with a fixed 16X SWFA SS that is bomb proof for everyone but me.

 

[62flint]

I have had good luck with scopes, vortex,leupold,nightforce and nikon. Knock on wood never had a real issue. Shot thousands of rounds with leupolds, traveled all over the world with a Mk4 . Banged them around,dropped them etc. Have not had a problem. I have a nikon slug hunter on a 20ga savage. Been a solid scope for years. Get it out in the fall shoot 3 shells to verify zero and go hunt. It bounces all around the farm in my gator during deer season.
The vortex scopes I have are the pst vipers on AR rifles. luckily they have been good.
My nightforces are on my longer range bolt guns. I went with the NXS and now NX8 just for the reputations of being solid. I didnt want to be away from home and have a issue. but they are heavy some what cumbersome and not a scope I would use for a close range fast shooting rifle.
My 375hh and 30-06 brush rifles both have low power leupolds. The 30-06 has a vari-x II that has held zero for quite a few years now.
Maybe I have been lucky, but I think the scopes made in the last decade or so have greatly improved over the previous ones.
I am sure there are some junk out there, you get what you pay for.

 

[michael458]

@michael458 Your advice you gave me years ago on the nikon 1-4 has held true on my 458 B&M. Wish I have bought a dozen when they were available. The one on my B&M I believe migrated to my wife's 338 from a temp borrow to I really like this scope. But I also like shooting my B&M with irons or a red dot.

Excellent Dave....... I ran into some issues with eyesight last May. I have Macular Degeneration in both eyes, get injections every two months. Last May, my Right eye started leaking, causing a gray blind spot in center of vision. It has cleared a good bit since, and I keep hoping, but I have not been able to see crosshairs in a scope since, and I can't see irons at all, or red dots or anything else. And damn I just can't learn to shoot left handed, my coordination is horrible and left right hand do not know what to do on the wrong side.......I have been experimenting with green lasers, and that has been successful very short range, 25 yds, and of course lasers have disadvantages outdoors, so somewhat limited. I can do some research on certain things with the lasers, so not totally out of the picture just yet. Of course handguns are easy, lasers, and for irons I can use the left eye no issues. This is not the first time with a leak and blind spot, but always in the past they cleared up completely within a couple of months...... we keep hoping this will clear as well, eventually.

Thanks for responding, that’s good information. I’ve kept my eyes peeled for the Nikon African 1-4 but you may have bought them all! There’s two 1-4 Nikons on eBay but not African, ones a Monarch and looks damaged like the rings tightened too much and crimped the scope tube and ones a BDC? Not sure the value of a BDC reticle on a 1-4.

Just before going completely WOKE, Nikon decided the "African" with the buffalo caps was just too much, so they stopped that, and just called it a Monarch, same scope, I have many of both. The big broad German Crosshairs is the one you want for Dangerous Game, quick to pick up, and easy to see. The BDC one is smaller crosshairs and not as easy to pick up, I have one that is tiny even in comparison to the normal BDC...... not sure what that is about. Keep looking, they will pop up on occasion, snatch it up if you can........ Also I have some of the shotgun Nikon scopes as well and they do very well in that role too........

 

[Nhoro]

In my time filming hunts, I saw 2 PH rifles hired to clients have scope problems. One was a leupold on a 300 h&h. It had been on the same rifle for years- 5 or 6 years. It was dropped on the hunt and then would not zero after that. Next was a Swarovski on a 375 h&h hired to clients. It was temperamental with electronic red dot and the vari power was gritty but it still held zero and worked. PH replaced it and sent the old one for service. My own scopes, I haven't had on fail. Have a nikko Sterling that has seen service on a 308 for 20 years +. Have a lynx that has evidence of a big hit before I got it- still working at 20 + years on my 30-06.

Seems to me the old fixed magnification scopes were more robust. Any engineer will tell you, the more moving parts, the more breakdown.

 

[BeeMaa]

If durability were my #1 concern it would be a Nightforce, S&B or Trijicon. These are the most durable scopes I've found but at the cost of being heavy.

If optical quality & lightweight performance were my #1 concern, it would be Swaro, Leica and Zeiss. These brands cover the upper echelon of optical quality, but their lightweight is in direct conflict with durability. That said, these scopes are up to the task for nearly all hunting duties. They are "sporting optics" scopes not designed for military use.

 

[fisherofmen]

Might want to check out Tract Optics. Their Toric 1-8 UHC looks like it could be a DG scope. Don't know about everyone else but my toric 2-10 has excellent glass and has held up well with everything from 338-06 to 280 AI. Don't have any big boomers yet but will have a 9.3x62 when my rebarrel job is finished.

 

[RLL]

You want to talk with @michael458 he has broken more than a few. Interesting what he uses.

Excellent Dave....... I ran into some issues with eyesight last May. I have Macular Degeneration in both eyes, get injections every two months. Last May, my Right eye started leaking, causing a gray blind spot in center of vision. It has cleared a good bit since, and I keep hoping, but I have not been able to see crosshairs in a scope since, and I can't see irons at all, or red dots or anything else. And damn I just can't learn to shoot left handed, my coordination is horrible and left right hand do not know what to do on the wrong side.......I have been experimenting with green lasers, and that has been successful very short range, 25 yds, and of course lasers have disadvantages outdoors, so somewhat limited. I can do some research on certain things with the lasers, so not totally out of the picture just yet. Of course handguns are easy, lasers, and for irons I can use the left eye no issues. This is not the first time with a leak and blind spot, but always in the past they cleared up completely within a couple of months...... we keep hoping this will clear as well, eventually.

Just before going completely WOKE, Nikon decided the "African" with the buffalo caps was just too much, so they stopped that, and just called it a Monarch, same scope, I have many of both. The big broad German Crosshairs is the one you want for Dangerous Game, quick to pick up, and easy to see. The BDC one is smaller crosshairs and not as easy to pick up, I have one that is tiny even in comparison to the normal BDC...... not sure what that is about. Keep looking, they will pop up on occasion, snatch it up if you can........ Also I have some of the shotgun Nikon scopes as well and they do very well in that role too........

Michael, Sorry to hear about your vision over the last year, man I really hope that clears up…

Since I’ve been shooting the 458B&M, I’ve had no issues with my Nikon or S&B on it and I’m pleased how they’ve held up with about 100 round on each.

Did you get any of the Nikons with illumination? I’m interested to hear how the electronics on those have held up. Not like I can find one anyhow right now…

 

[dlmac]

I have a couple Nikon African models that I thought I would sell......Now I am going to keep them. Used a budget scope for years and when it failed, I missed one of the best elk I have ever seen. One of the scopes that has served me well over the years is a steel v10 weaver from japan, it has been dropped and dented, still does the job on a 7 rem mag.

 

[Sideshow]

I have a couple Nikon African models that I thought I would sell......Now I am going to keep them. Used a budget scope for years and when it failed, I missed one of the best elk I have ever seen. One of the scopes that has served me well over the years is a steel v10 weaver from japan, it has been dropped and dented, still does the job on a 7 rem mag.

I’m feeling like the kid whose Santa Claus wish list came true. Managed to snag me a Nikon Monarch.
@michael458 sorry to hear about your eyes. My Dad has the same. It’s driving him up the wall as well, gives me the heebie-jeebies just thinking about the injections. Wishing you the best outcome. Cheers for your advice.

 

[michael458]

Did you get any of the Nikons with illumination?

No, never had one..... can't say anything about them........

I have a couple Nikon African models that I thought I would sell......Now I am going to keep them.

Smart. They served me to the extreme on heavy recoiling rifles. Would be hard to duplicate for all the features they offer, size, field of view, eye relief, cost, and of extreme importance, reliability. Yes, you might be able to buy that reliability at a cost in size and expense and possibly loss of other features.

As mentioned before, a couple of years ago I tried to see what might or might not work, even buying a 30mm Trijicon and a small Leupold..........Some comparisons......

Its not as apparent in photos, but the Trijicon is bulky........... The Leupold is perfect in size, but I just will never trust one again on a heavy hitter, sorry, but I have earned that. Love the little scope, ended up using it on a AR 15 358 MGP. Nice little rifle, no recoil.

I played a bit with the Vortex, hood size, good features...... the bell in front causes some limitations to mounting on some platforms, would have been better if it were a straight tube. Honestly, it never got a real workout on heavy hitters, so that is yet to be determined if it would hold up or not.....

The big ass Trijicon went on a 22 inch 458 Lott, on the bigger gun it is somewhat tolerable for size, and I would never take that to the field anyway........

28 big bores set up with Nikons...... and a few spares...... I think I am in good shape for DG Big Bore scope reliability...... especially currently with the eyesight issues...... good to go for a while...... No, none are for sale!!!!!! HEH..........

I’m feeling like the kid whose Santa Claus wish list came true. Managed to snag me a Nikon Monarch.
@michael458 sorry to hear about your eyes. My Dad has the same. It’s driving him up the wall as well, gives me the heebie-jeebies just thinking about the injections. Wishing you the best outcome. Cheers for your advice.

You have done well...............

I had it in the left eye in 2017 and started injections then, once a month for a long time....... then about 18 months later developed in the right eye as well, both wet version. I have had two episodes in the past with the right eye, and it always cleared in a couple of months. This time it has lasted since last May 2024, but it has improved, and I think it is very very slowly improving some. It really has shaken up my shooting world however, and many other issues, left eye is good, but have distortion in everything I do, like driving, that can be a challenge....... "Is that a Car ahead?"..... LOL and such as that............... Good heavens, if I was hunting I would not be able to tell the difference in an Impala or elephant at 50 yards............. LOL............We keep a positive attitude here most days anyway.......... Sometimes its a Bitch........Thanks to all for the support and kind words, We will Endeavor to Persevere..........

 

[Bandera]

So I have used, Leupold, Simmons, Tasco, Ziess, Meopta, Nikon, Triqicon, Vortex, ATN and Sight Mark.
I was given a Sight Mark night vision scope to test, it broke zeroing a 6.8 SPC.
Had a Meopta break twice, it was repaired twice. When I got it back it was sold.
A Tasco back in 1979 the scoped fogged up on an Elk hunt. In an attempt to clean it the cross hairs were broken. Sent it back and it was replaced. It is still hanging around.
One Ziess broke it was mounted on a 308. It was replaced and working.
The Vortex Razor top end magnification is 24. During a prairie dog shoot if found the scope to be pretty unusable when dialed up past 20 power. Long day of shooting and the clarity was not there.
This last weekend at the range the Marlin SBL which is wearing a long eye relief 2-7 Leupold was found to not be holding its zero. This set up took a pretty good whack from baggage handlers. The scope was off 20 clicks on sight in day when it went to South Africa.
I have 1-4 Nikon African on a Ruger No.1 458 WM, I have not shot it yet. The rifle is a recent purchase.
The 1-4 Triqicon is on a Ruger No.1 450-400 NE. So far no problems.
One the Leupolds a VX5 2-10 with 30mm tube is on a Ruger African in 375 Ruger. I have about 100 rounds through it with no issues.

 

[CamoManJ]

I just saw this post AFTER my WTB Nikon scope post, just my luck…I’ll keep trying, it’s been a few years, nothing yet. It also took a few years just get my hands on a B&M rifle…Great things are hard to come by, go figure. Thanks for the advice @michael458