Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Introduction, the new voice of Tract optics here on the Campfire

None of my physical scope failures happened while doing statistical analysis either.

Guys, As I am sure you can totally understand I have nothing to gain in this thread as Tract is an independent, direct to consumer brand. I have no opinion as I have never even seen one of their optics.

What I can tell you is that Brian, who is their new "voice of Tract optics here on the Campfire", is a long time friend of mine who is extremely qualified to comment on guns and optics. He is very knowledgeable and you can feel safe listening to what he has to say.

That might be a new one to use on the wife: "Honey, I'll be gone for the next few days in the mountains doing statistical analysis. It's extremely involved and time consuming, and I know you'd be bored out of your mind, so I'll soldier this one alone. Now, where did I put my rum....?"

I'm working on getting a scope for testing. I just started 2 weeks ago. From day one certain people have relentlessly attacked Tract. I can't do this overnight. The whole focus on this blog was a test from last year. I don't have the scope to examine it for defects. I'd like to do that first. These things take time. There are people here who are interested in Tract and are happy with theirs. At the same time individuals who don't own one or never plan on purchasing are just here to bash Tract and myself. Thats fine I'm used to the abuse after 17 years on the street. Let it go and move on to another forum. Maybe get out and shoot a little more instead of posting all the time. I'm not Doug. I'm just a dumb cop who isn't p.c. Tough to be neutral when others aren't.

Not all...

Really, that’s your take away?

I can’t tell you how disappointed I am to read this post. I hope the Jon’s have a chance to read this thread. What a wasted opportunity.

Really? You're surprised by bhoges' take away from his raucous welcome to the board? Really!? What else could have possibly been his take away? People demanding immediate testing and results. People slinging negative comments about bhoges because Trevor was a dip. People trashing Tract Optics in general with no real basis for it. I got the same impression bhoges got.

Exactly my take on the subject.

Your take away is quite amazing fir all the wrong reasons.

There have been lots of really charitable posts—generous on so many levels, in this and previous Tract threads. Not seeing that is tragic. None of these people owe Tract or Trevor or Brian Hoges anything. If it were me and my company, I’d be focused on cherishing all the great stuff folks have brought to these threads, not pissing and moaning about what they haven’t. Form didn’t need to put together that photo essay. His efforts weren’t driven by malice. It wasn’t about being evocative. It was about passion. These boards are full of enthusiasts, people who dig this stuff.

I have no issue with Form in the least. I just wish he used a Nighforce mount on the Tract when he tested it like the other scope. The drop test is the one I have an issue with. I'm looking forward to checking the scopes in question myself.

Actually, the current one was "tested" for a year and a half before the "purchase" was finalized, thanks for asking.

As for scopes, I had enough info gleaned from reviews by reliable folks to pique my interest in a Tract, and the combination of a good sale and a nice conversation with Jon Lacorte sealed the deal. My Tekoa's been on two rifles so far and has performed perfectly. The glass seems as good as any I've used and the reticle is a great design for hunting. I'm not crazy about the looks and it's a little long and heavy for a hunting scope. All things considered, the risk I took was worth taking, based on the historical failures of other hunting scopes in this price range ( I specifically exclude SWFAs from that category, because the reticle and form factor are unsuitable for my hunting use, no matter what others think), and on my experience chasing zeros on other hunting scopes, mostly Leupolds, for decades. I don't know how many scopes I'll be buying in the future, but if one of the Japanese Tracts fits my requirements, it'll be considered along with any others that do the same, and I'll have personal experience to base that consideration on. Don't care what others buy or why, but so far I have no reason to recommend against buying one of these.

Never went down the Daewoo road, but I could tell you a thing or two (none of it good) about Toyotas, Subarus, and at least one Ford!

Just talking with Jon about something that you might find interesting. He says there have been pretty much zero complaints with customers that have purchased scopes. Thats says something.

There have also been some aggressively argumentative posts and posts insisting that Brian begin testing immediately. One bad egg ruins the omelet, one bad apple ruins the bunch. Stick, when he was allowed to post in the optics forum was his usual blatant, nasty, insulting self. Thankfully Brian hasn't had to deal with him. But don't kid yourself; it ain't been all sunshine and roses with regard to posts directed at Brian or Tract. There have been some mean, insulting posts directed their way.

That’s fair enough. So apparently you saw the value in making sure your lady was going to work out for you, as much as possible, before marrying her.

I don’t see any hunting scope offerings that interest me, but I’m tempted to give a 30mm Toric a whirl, and thoroughly test it myself, if it wasn’t for the meager 20MRAD of total elevation travel. That’s a deal breaker for me.

Personally I think there are over-zealous people on both sides of this conversation. Critics who write off Tract as a company because of Trevor's actions, aren’t giving the business a fair shake. Likewise, the few guys who have tried one Tract scope, with what I consider minimal mechanical testing, saying or implying that Tract scopes are good to go, are giving them too much credit based on too short of a track record.

I’m sure the executives of Leupold would say the same thing. No matter how much integrity a business owner has, he will always be seen as biased regarding his own company and products.

Never-the-less, that’s a good sign. We’ll see if he can say the same thing once his scopes go mainstream, if that ever happens.

Maybe I missed it, but I have not seen this. What I have seen is a general attitude of people thinking that Brian should reserve judgment until thorough testing can be done.

I see how some people get to 10 -20-30 thousand posts now.Good god get a ffucking life.

I assume you're talking to me, in a passive aggressive way.

I don't know about you, but in the last few weeks I've put about 1300 CF rounds and about 1000 RF rounds downrange, competed in two PRS matches, gone to work, played with my kids, scouted my mountain hunting spots for Bighorn Sheep, and I took my 4 kids and my loving wife to church today. How's that for a life?

I should have been clearer. I included the Trevor era. He was bashed and abused by a few...needlessly so. Anyone, including me, can and should make their point without insulting the person or the product. Pointing out certain features, such as the Tract you were looking at that only had 20MRAD of elevation adjustment is helpful to the shooters here and to Tract. I'm not too alarmed by that, but I can agree that some of you guys are shooting farther than that would get you, so it is a deal breaker for you. I don't see that as a negative post. You simply made one of your parameters known. One Alaskan I know of would have then followed that with telling Trevor, or Brian, what a goat **** the Tract scope is. The second part of that (goat ****) is not a wanted or needed addition to the on-going conversation.