Scope zero retention

[User00040]

Interesting.
You go along to any DSC1 shooting test, and lots of supposedly experienced stalkers will be telling you that they knocked their scope that very morning while getting their rifle out of the cabinet, which is why they've just failed! Yet on this thread, lots of experienced stalkers are saying that their scopes have survived all manner of abuse without any loss of zero
Ain't life a funny thing?

Would be interesting to see how many rifles and scopes stayed true after these tests.




I'd happily volounteer mine first, but everyone else would need to follow suit!

 

[NullMac]

Just watched an old video (fieldsports), out after CWD where PC checked his zero on paper before stalking. Found it a few clicks out on windage so adjusted it.

The common zero that is shifting is the shooter zero.

 

[Bowland blades]

Just watched an old video (fieldsports), out after CWD where PC checked his zero on paper before stalking. Found it a few clicks out on windage so adjusted it. In all the years I've stalked, after initial zero, I've never had a rifle loose zero. Tikka or Sako, Swarozski steel tubes with steel mounts are probably the reason. Used a M590 for maybe 25 years, had it bounce off the back or the quad once, land barrel first like a javelin before falling to the admittedly soft ground, but also had the same rifle combination rattle down my oak staircase. In all those years using the same ammo, I never had to adjust zero even after the mishaps.

I think sometimes people feel the need to check, shoot it a little different from last time in terms of hold and trigger pull etc., and therefore end up adjusting zero. A good quality scope, mounts and rifle should take some abuse, so no need to check too often. I wonder how many times zero is adjusted today, and adjusted back to where it came from on the next "check"

True but lots of little knocks can take any scope off , likwise changing tempratures , bigger knocks you didn't pick up as a change in zero but they mount up , mounts ( optilocs once came loose) and i only found it after a few shots , thank goodness they where not tough shots and nothing was wounded .

 

[gixer1]

I have been lucky enough to own a fair selection of scopes, everything from Hawke to Nikon, vortex, Leupold, Steiner, Docter, Zeiss, Swarovski, Nightforce…..and probably some I’ve forgotten.

I have also had rifles fall directly onto scopes out of vehicles etc.

The ones I have retained and trust in are the higher end items, they just work, and take a beating.

Anyone that thinks the same level of product testing goes into a Hawke that costs £100 as a Swarovski at £1800 is not thinking straight.

There seems to be an almost reverse snobbery on these things sometimes.

Call Swarovski and have a chat with their customer services people and they will happily bore you on the testing procedures they have and then try the same with Hawke….

I still use Hawke optics, they are really good for the price point but they can’t hold a candle to the top players, and don’t take anywhere near as much beating, the finish alone tells this story.

If I could spend one tenth and get the same quality…..I’d have far more pennies in my piggy bank! But alas, that is not the case.

 

[DVS1]

Watching the Night Force testing regime makes me wince everytime he whacks that objective bell

 

[gixer1]

Would be interesting to see how many rifles and scopes stayed true after these tests.




I'd happily volounteer mine first, but everyone else would need to follow suit!

So now that Nightforce has been tested in the vid - are you letting us chuck about your scope at the next shoot?

 

[gixer1]

Watching the Night Force testing regime makes me wince everytime he whacks that objective bell

I know right…. I remember reading somewhere in a Us mag about a Nightforce getting shot and still working - not sure how true it is…

 

[DVS1]

Yep remember the article, was a DMR in Iraq who took a bullet through the main tube just missing the turret housing and lecky tape covered the holes and apparently did indeed work

 

[gixer1]

Yep remember the article, was a DMR in Iraq who took a bullet through the main tube just missing the turret housing and lecky tape covered the holes and apparently did indeed work

That’s the one I was thinking of!

 

[gixer1]

And another story here -

Another Nightforce bullet hole story

www.m14forum.com

 

[DVS1]

That's the one I saw

 

[Steff]

One of the many, but very common, reasons for a scope to loose zero is mostly ignored. The fact that SFP reticles can shift their position on changing the magnification. Returning to previous mag setting will not necessarily cure this as this change is at random. Nobody wants to hear this but it's fact.

 

[Bowland blades]

One of the many, but very common, reasons for a scope to loose zero is mostly ignored. The fact that SFP reticles can shift their position on changing the magnification. Returning to previous mag setting will not necessarily cure this as this change is at random. Nobody wants to hear this but it's fact.

Hence most hunting spec S+Benders grow bigger fatter reticules as you wind the mag up , yet are legendary at holding zero.

 

[Scarpa]

I recently added a low mag illuminated Hawke Endurance scope to my 30-06 that usually has an older Kahles variable on it. I've been swapping them over at the range using the Sauer Hexalock quick release mounts and so far have had no shift in zero from either scope. The mounts seem to really keep their zero.