Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Fork me to tears.

As posted, it's more common than reported, some folks don't wanna talk about it, as said, due to "the elite " questioning, wanting pics etc, due to the drama surrounded by "failures" .... This is the www, folks lie, folks black their faces out on pics, and some experts ain't who they really think are.... Maybe some folks are a plug for a optics company with a motive... Who knows??? It does appear everyone's "failure" rate is quite different from each others, and folks are emotionally attached to optics....

Again, carry on....

+1 on the close up photos. Hoping that RiverRider can indulge us. Views of the thread engagement areas would be awesome.

Jason

I’m sure they will repair it.

Hey, I resemble that incinerator!

Hmmm, various opinions .... I'll bet my $259 on a SWFA FF any day! 5% vs 100%, that's easy money right there.

I'd indulge, but I doubt my photography skills would reveal much. I will say that it looks to me like the threads in the turret housing are not in great condition. Could be due to assembly errors in the factory of someone diddling with it...I have no way of knowing.

Hells bells, I could break an anvil w/ a rubber hammer. That is why I am trying the SWFA 3-9 HD. So far so good, I will check back in April after a year of abuse. I hope it survives because I really like it, and NFs are really pricey.


mike r

I have those junkie Leupolds that break all the time.

I'd imagine your photos would be fine. It'd be enlightening to see how many threads are in the saddle area, for example. For fans and naysayers alike.

I'd be really interested in some more pics as well, maybe showing the internals through that hole, and the bottom side of the turret. No worries on good camera skills, but bonus points if the pics are at least in focus.

I don't have any argument one way or another about quality of the scope, just interested in the construction and maybe details on what exactly failed. My career is partly in analyzing broken parts and figuring out why they failed, so this stuff is very interesting to me.

Aside from the pounding this scope would take from a lot of us, and without any quarter, if it was a Leupold. From what you described as the failure, reeks of the previous owner selling you a scope he tortured or abused.

The elevation turret coming off from contact when throwing your bolt, and you confirmed stripped threads, is enough proof that the original owner turned the turret past it’s stop point.

Some sellers will lie their ass off to sell an item...I too bought a barely used, like new SWFA 5-20x50 HD scope from another forum classified. When I got the scope, and finally took the time to thoroughly look it over, I discovered black particles inside the objective glass that were obvious and easy to see. I’m sure the seller knew they were there.

SWFA handled it fast and efficiently, just like Leupold will sometimes do. They shipped me a brand new scope. Your going to end up with a new SWFA...Mount your new glass and continue your test...Good luck to you...😎

Yeah, that's about what I expect. I think the threads in the turret housing were damaged. It's possible that it was an assembly error, but more likely not. I think the previous owner had installed some aftermarket elevation turret and screwed it up himself, but it's possible someone tried to force it beyond its limits. Hard to imagine such stupidity!

The scope should be in SWFA's hands, so I expect to find out something in a week or two. I'll follow up so everyone will know the outcome.

Maybe it’s time to put this scope integrity thing to rest...I’ve owed a pile of Leupolds and only had one fail requiring repair...Yes, I got miles behind a scope compared to some members here... I chose to switch to various other optics trying to find a scope that gave quality glass with solid repeatability at a price point that didn’t make my wallet cry or my darling wife bitch.

I bought a lot of scopes. Sig Tango 6....Sig Whiskey 5....Bushnell...
SWFA....S&B....March... Sightron...NF....Zeiss V6-V4 and...

I decided I could rummage around on the web and locate as new or barely used Nightforce and Schmidt-Bender scopes for about the same price I’d paid for my Leupold VX6’s.

As for Leupold, my main complaint has always been the lack of consistent tracking when dialing and the “Leupold Knock” on turrets in a superstition way to get the crosshairs to move or lock in...

I recently saw this behavior being used on a brand new Vortex Viper scope when the owner/shooter wasn’t seeing poi changes after dialing adjustments. The Vortex finally started tracking after repeatedly being smacked. But, the wasted ammo, and the shooter getting pounded from his lightweight, non-braked 300 Roy was frustrating...He wasn’t having fun! He was a solid shooter who was holding steady with each press of the trigger. He finally said after he achieved zero and had 6 rounds left from a box of 20 “What a piece of shít scope this is.” I just shook my head at the poor dude.

I’ve sold off all my big critter Leupolds...I’ve still have quite a few Leupold’s on my varmint rigs, but I don’t dial for small furs. Set and forget hasn’t been an issue, and my varmint rifles aren’t recoil monsters, whatever that really means for a scopes lifespan.

If a Leupold was to go down in the field on me while sluicing prairie dogs. It wouldn’t be the end of the world for me....I know, I know, I’d feel differently if I was $8k into a big fur hunt and I smoked a Leupold scope. BUT, thousands of hunters take their Leupolds into harsh conditions around the world where paying $8k dollars is like tip money to some compared to what they are paying for the hunt.

I like Nightforce scopes, a lot...I like SWFA scopes...I fück’n love my S&B pmii scope. The Zeiss V6 had amazing glass, but I traded it for a Remington SFII Sendero in 204 Ruger that shoots like a Sendero is supposed to...Good trade value in that Zeiss.😉

The point of this long post is....Leupold makes an attractive optic for a lot of people. And, Leupold owners worldwide have killed a butt-full of animals on every continent discovered by man. I could give half a hump what someone wants to run for a scope. It’s his cash. It’s his hunt...I don’t believe I’ve busted anybody’s balls about a scope unless they have asked for opinions or critique.

Leupold’s will kill shît - making someone very happy...Leupold’s will also break and then break someone’s heart. So, what??? I don’t care-and why should anyone else give a rip?

Until someone throws me a grand and half to buy a scope they want me to run...Their opinion doesn’t matter...Unless, I’m asking for opinions and assistance, which I have done many times....Then I want the truth, lies, and unvarnished opinions from all comers.

The Optic forum is one of the best sub-forums to get into a verbal brawl with people...I really don’t want it to change from an entertainment perspective, but, maybe just a little less butt-hurt over any beloved optic product. Just hang pics of dead critters with your chosen scope in the frame and laugh...It’s all good! Unless you’re running some POS bubble wrapped Chi-junk. Grins 😎

Didn't cost you a critter or your life. Send it in, it'll get fixed or replaced and life will roll on along. It's but one small rock upon the gravel road of life.

The first question, should always be, "Why do you want to sell it"? I'll bet that the previous owner screwed it up and dumped it on you. The few times that SWFA fails, it has to be kept in perspective with much more expensive scopes that fail. You cannot get a better deal on a great scope.

Dunno how people break scopes. Have mostly used scopes purchased cheap and had them overhauled, not a single issue with any of them. El Paso Weavers, Leupold, MVA, a Unertl and one other about a century or so old. Squint, boom, splat.

It was never my intention to knock SWFA scopes. They have a great reputation and I'm not one to try to change that. My thread was intended as nothing more than a "poor, poor pitiful me" lament.

I've used Leupold for many years and probably always will. They have their weaknesses, just like any product. The truth just is what it is, though. Tracking is their weakness...I've seen it myself, but for my purposes I can live with it. The good outweighs the bad in my world.

I am confident SWFA will take care of me. If the scope helps me identify a Leupold that isn't holding zero, then it will have served its purpose. If I ever decide to pursue long range precision, I'll have a suitable optic for that purpose.

That's all I have to say.

There is a vast mount of actual, in the field experience here at the 'fire, that is a fact. Some have much more experience than others and thats A-OK. I will preface by saying that I do like the SWFA scopes that I've used to learn the mil system, whack hogs and 'yotes, range time, etc. They have a well deserved reputation for not letting shooters and hunters down for sure.

It is interesting though, that the first thought (mine too I admit) from experienced guys is that in this particular example, the blame was place nearly 100% at the hands of the previous owner. I'd say that's very likely true. When we think back to the USED Tract scope test thread, where the particular scope was tossed and trashed about, the scope did fail you could say, and the blame was placed directly on the scope being a POS, Tract being a POS company, and they made POS scopes. No consideration was given to placing blame on the previous owners in that case. Just interesting to me, that's all.

How soft is that metal? Brass alloy?

This is the stuff that ruins hunts. X3 for me. Moved on to SWFA and Burris. Time will tell.