No, you don't need detents for a scope to hold zero, but on a scope with detents, the detent is a substitute for the friction on an erector without detents. And if the detent does not hold, the zero will not hold. That is why some of the older friction (non-detent) erector scopes hold zero so well. There is enough friction on the adjusting screws to keep them from moving. RJ
And you know this how ? I just went in and checked a couple of my Leupolds. The detents seem plenty strong. I know they hold but it seems they're pretty stiff to rotate and may very well stay put without the liittle ball detent being there at all. These are VX-1 scopes and in previous generations were just friction adjustment. I haven't pulled them apart to look {and I'm not going to} but wouldn't be surprised if the only thing Leupold changed vs the old "clickless"models was to add the little detent ball/spring and gear and the rest is the same as before.
