Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics ? for Mule Deer - scope durability

MD,

I just read your article on scope durability. Is the VX-3 line included in the "mid range variables" that you wouldn't install on a 338WM or 375 Ruger?

No, I'd certainly mount a VX-3 on one of those.

But then I'd run at least a couple of boxes of ammo through the rifle, to make sure the scope was put together right at the factory.

Cool, thanks. Was worried for a little bit.

Good thing clearance pricing plus $100 rebate doesn't affect their build quality.

I have been happy with the VX3 2.5-8 but now wonder, after the discussion on the Petzal thread, what Leupold (etc?) with 30 mm would be better, without a lot of "tactical" gingerbread such as roadmap reticles.

Where can I find the article on scope durability?

and the Petzal thread??

Thanks

Petzal thread is here:
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/10944784/David_E._Petzal#Post10944784

Thank you. Still looking for Mule Deers reliability article?

Just listened to a POD talk with Leupold's President and Marketing Dir (I think...). They mentioned a test where each rifle scope is submitted to 10,000 shots on a 6lb 375H&H during initial testing. That's pretty stout!

163bc,

It's in the April GUNS magazine, which can be read on-line on their website.

Thank you

Repeating myself from another thread, but I had excellent results on my Sako 338 with a VX-R. It performed perfectly. There were no problems whatsoever with the scope. I later came upon a deal with a Schmidt and Bender scope that I could not pass up. Both have performed very well on the rifle, but the Schmidt provides a better image at last light.

Actually, it's a machine that duplicates the 375 level of recoil for those tests if I'm not mistaken. I seem to have read that before.

Yes, it duplicates it. Apparently to great detail to include barrel rise during the shot. It can be reprogrammed to simulate about any other rifle if they are testing long term reliability to a particular application.

Mule Deer, Read the article on scope reliability in Guns magazine. Excellent article.

I run a VX-6 1.5x6 on my 375 H&H, it has served me well over 2 safaris and quite a bit of range time and practice.

I have a 7.5 lb 300 RUM that is a favorite rifle but has significant recoil. Based on your article it seems I should be thinking a Mark 4, Nightforce or similar tactical duty scope OR would a VX6 be in the same category. It is a hunting rifle for elk, moose bear etc. Thanks, 163bc

I may be one of the few that have not ever had a scope fail due to recoil. I have ran the zeiss conquest line really hard and never had a failure. Same thing with leupolds vx3.I pounded a 3-9x40 conquest on a 7lb custom 375 RUM and it always held zero. I've had these scopes on just about every caliber up to the 458 lott. Had great luck with the swaro z3's as well

I'm not into the big guns much anymore but the scopes listed above always did well

I did check out the Guns Magazine website, and could only find a test John did on the Nikon Monarch 3, they seem to
do very well. I did not want to pay to subscribe.

For those watching, I did buy Johns latest book on Optics,
"Modern Hunting Optics", it is a good resource, and I do
recommend the book.

My 300 RUM ate a Swarovski PH for supper one evening, costing me a chip shot at a 12 point whitetail pushing 165-170 B&C. It was returned to the factory for warranty repair and it was found that the spring responsible for holding the "east/west " adjustment in place had bit the dust. When calling to inquire about the repair process, the technician asked me (verbatim quote) "Lemme guess...it was a 300 RUM wasn't it?", later indicating that a significant percentage of their returns originate from that caliber.

After consulting with one of our more esteemed contributors here, I was advised to go with a Schmidt, which I have...and never looked back. I'm sure you'll be just fine with any Leupold as well. I have no more Swarovski scopes in inventory that's for sure.

I may go with a Schmidt Bender. I had one on it for a while and had it dialed in perfectly but as we rifle looneys are apt to do perfect wasn't good enough so I took it off n sold it to go with something a little lighter. Now back looking for something durable and stout !! Thanks

Farmboy,

Complete editions of GUNS are free on-line.

The line at the top of the home page starts, from left to right, with Home, Subscribe, Digital Version, etc. Click on Digital Version and you'll find a list of issues going back to 2009. Click on any of those and you can read them free.