The place I love to hunt big mulies has the most treacherous ground I've ever hunted in my 60 yrs. of big game hunting. You learn to pay alot of attention to how well your feet stay put on the ground as you move. What happens is as you take a step, half way through it, the ground lets go under you. Sometimes you can catch yourself be finding something solid with the other foot, but sometimes it just can't be done. Every year I've hunted there, and that goes back to 1977, I've had at least one instance where I've hit the ground.
Not anything I'd ever do in the way of scope testing. It has just worked out that way.
Usually, I throw the rifle clear so I can use both hands to break the fall. Sometimes I haven't been able to do even that. But, usually I can. I have yet to injure myself much, but my poor rifles have taken a beating. So have the scopes on them.
What amazes me is how well they've held up. I have yet had to rezero any of them. Even my old 4X B&L, which came down on the front end of the scope survived. Loosend the frong ring on my Ruger rifle, but the scope was, and still is, fine.
The list is kind of extensive. My old M8, 4X has endured three hard falls. Once, when I tripped on a snag in Montana, the rifle was launched off of my shoulder. My newer FXII, 4X also had a similar shoulder height free fall.
Went down once with my old 3-9X33 Compact. The scope hit the ground hard on the windage adjustment side.
My old M8 6X42 and my newer FX3, 6X42 have also been so treated. Again, no damage, and no loss of zero.
The latest to survive my special "rock test" was my new 1.5-4X VX2 Scout Scope. I pushed the rifle away from me at chest height and it landed on it's left side. Nice ding on the scope's bell. But hold zero it did. Magnication change OK as well.
Want to know why I like Leupolds ? This is why. E

I have taken some spills over the years and was a little concerned about the Leupold holding zero, but they stayed dead on. Leupold's have always been known for being tough, but lately I have heard the new ones aren't holding up like the old models.

Did you shoot a big Mulie this year? I hope to make it out west one day to give it a try.

Dumped a 6x42mm objective-first on a rock in Wyoming in 2012. It hit HARD but the zero didn't shift-- sent Leupold an attaboy note when I got home.

"Usually, I throw the rifle clear so I can use both hands to break the fall"

My son did that ONCE when he was about 5 years old with a BB gun when he was crossing an irrigation ditch. After a scolding about how you handle a firearm, he never did that again. I can't imagine a place where you have to throw a rifle to break your fall. Most of the time if you carry it on the downhill side on a steep side slope your rifle will never hit the ground. They also make slings that carry the rifle right in the middle of your back so you can walk around hands free. There's got to be a better way than chucking your rifle when you start to fall.

If you insist on hunting that area and insist on chucking your rifle every time you fall, then hunt that area with only one rifle every time so all your rifles won't take a beating. If I had chucking it in mind every time I fell, I would hunt that area with the cheapest POS rifle I could find.

Just last year I took a tumble with a Leupold scoped rifle....

This...



Equaled this shift in POI....

Probably the rings!

Unfortunately, I have a twenty or so year-old Nikon that failed the" rock" test a couple of weeks ago. It could have been worse, as the rifle got beat up a lot worse than I did (and should have been). I probably will replace it with a Leupold, once the rifle gets a new crown and has some of the cosmetic damage cleaned up.

Actually, it's the mounting system that should get the credit.

Name a competing brand that has failed your "ROck Test"

have bounced a cameraland special zeiss 3.5x10 off some big rocks and its still right on !!!

I just am having a hard time seeing the time, balance, and awareness to throw your rifle during a fall. All I have time for is to try not to break my face or my legs...

Have you killed any big mulies there?

Tanner

That was one kooky statement by the OP for sure.

I've fallen while hunting, but never had the urge or time to throw my rifle. I've hunted with people that fell and never saw anyone throw their rifle either.

If one of my kids threw their rifle during a fall, I'd be pissed at them and let them know it.

Weird and stupid practice for sure.

I haven't hunted in some of the places mentioned above but I have fell down before. maybe I'm selfish but I'm normally trying to keep me from getting hurt.

Edit I've fell down more in Tennessee than anywhere else.

E's just tripping.

No falls happened here....

That's some gorgeous scenery, Greg. Thanks for posting those!

Sometimes I throw my rifle just for sport.

Me, I sacrifice my body to protect my rifle, not the other way around. Call me crazy, I'll heal, my rifle won't. I HATE dinking up my rifle!

I have fallen a number of times in tough country, while hunting over many years.

I have never smashed a scope, but have dinged myself up a little. I have thrown a chainsaw after tripping, but will NEVER throw my rifles. I turn to protect them.

I heal, they don't.

All of the four year old mulies I've killed have been there.
Look fellas, I hunt there all by myself. Often, there is no one around. There is no cell phone coverage. Yeah, I should get SPOT, etc. But the bottom line is that if I get injuried, I have to get myself out. I have lots of rifles, but just one me.
I've done this alot.... The ground is typically covered with loose rock. Remember, 3.5 inches of rain per year. Lots of cactus, etc.
I learned to break a fall years ago as a member of a judo team. Brown Belts learn to fall by having the Black Belts throw them, time after time. You learn to fall correctly, or you get hurt......
Like big mulies ? I've seen and even shot at some real nice ones. Try 30 plus, and 34 plus twice. Then there was the book head that myself and two other hunters shot at and missed.
Saw a picture, taken by remote camera over a water source of one that I'm convinced would go 44 inches plus.
BTW, the one I wounded and lost two years ago is still out there. Found his tracks in four different spots, but none of them fresh enough to track.... E

Maybe it's because your scope really didn't pass the "rock test"...

Just kidding...but I couldn't resist.

How the [bleep] do you miss so much?

I use a walking stick. Do you work for Leupold?

I've fallen a bunch of times over the years while deer hunting in the Catskills. With steep mountainsides covered in snow and ice it's pretty much inevitable. So far I've never thrown or dropped a rifle but if I figured I needed to to keep from injuring myself I would. Rifles are replaceable and I have a bunch.

Well, mine passed the cheek test this year. Slipped sideways and fell into the rut on a two track road. I use a Safari Sling, when I fell the butt of the rifle hit the ground and "levered" the scope right upside my head. It kinda' hurt and really pizzed me off. I saw stars..........


Casey

E, any thing you say about Leupold has to be taken with a grain of salt.

Actually, I've only missed that one. Then there is the one I hit and was unable to find two years ago. But, like I said, he survived.
The shooting is on running animals who are weaving through the cover in the wash bottoms, etc. You have little time to get on them and shoot. Ranges can be anywhere from 20-300 yds. E

I do to, it's made by Winchester, they call it a Featherweight I just shove the muzzle in the ground, I don't want to get the butt dirty, it might soil my perfect Kuiu camo getup!!!

Why on earth wouldn't you use the rifle and scope to actually break your own fall, rather than throw it?

I can replace any stuff, but I can't replace me. The rifle is a tool, and if I need a tool at that moment to break my fall, then the rifle is going to be used that way.

I took a tumble this year myself. My scope looked very similar, only the dents in the objective were dead center, top. I didn't get a shot at game that day, and switched out rifles for the next morning (I always take a spare). I sent the scope back to Leupold with full disclosure. They returned the scope as good as new, free of charge, and even paid the return shipping.

I'm gonna stay out of theme rocks from now on.

Elderly people seem to have the most problems with balance, (grin).

I... I resemble that remark ! E