Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics The most recoil-proof rifle scope is...( enter your selection), and WHY?

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Nightforce


Each Nightforce scope was tested on a big bore range at ranges from 300 to 600 yards. Reticle graduations were found to be precise and the clicks repeatable.
Nightforce successfully met the challenge of building a compact high-performance scope that was rugged enough to not only stand up to extreme climatic conditions and weather, but to withstand the repeated recoil of the most powerful magnum rifles. Tests include submersion in 100 ft. of water for 24 horus, freezing in a box cooled to minus 80 degreees F, then heating within an hour to 250 degrees F. Every scope is subjected to being hammered forth and back in a recoil machine that delivers 1,250 Gs, simulating the pounding of magnum rifles. After a scope takes numerous hits, it should be good for thousands of rounds. I know of no other brand of scope that undergoes such drastic testing for ruggedness!

Nightfotce, S&B, etc or any brand that is designed and rated to stand up to a 50 BMG

I suspect we are all ill qualified to answer the question. Anecdotes are the best we can provide. I had a Simmons 2.5X shotgun scope on a Marlin Guide Gun 45-70. I paid $19.99 for it on closeout. I ran several hundred (not much in the grand scheme things) hot handloads through it without any hiccups. That rig was astonishingly accurate.

Add SWFA

Tasco Titan

Etc covers others. The NXS line are tested to plus and minus 1200 G's. Need the minus for rifles with muzzle brakes.

The new Leupold the military is using and Scenar Shooters is testing may be in this category. If so Leupold is only about 2 decades behind other manufacturers in producing top quality reliable scopes.

I am the original poster. I have never had a rifle scope fail for any reason, the again, I don't have true "heavy recoiling" guns. My current "big guns" are two bolt action rifles: JC Higgins model 50 (FN Mauser 98, with a long tube Leupold M8 4x, and a Win m70 Extreme Weather with a Leupold M8 3x).

I used to have a Marlin 1895 45-70, which had a newer (made in Japan) Weaver Classic 2.5x. I shot it about 200 rounds ( 405 grain jacketed, 50 grains IMR 3031 for an estimated MV of 1700(?) fps. Scope was/is fine, still have it. Weaver's website/promotions for the newer Japan-made Classics stated they were "designed to withstand 10,000 ( as in ten thousand) rounds of 375 H&H." If that is true, my Weaver 2.5x Classic Series scope has a lot of tread left on it.

My 378 Bee has broken 3 Leupolds 4.5-14 MK IV and a varix 3 3.5x10.

Now she wears a 2.5x10x40mm NF compact

I'm sure they're good too. I don't have experience with them but if S&B said it was suitable for .50 BMG I'd have no doubts.

When your leupolds died, did they all of a sudden quit holding zero, or was it when you were trying to adjust point of impact? I’m curious because I had a vari-x-III 3.5x10 fail on a 340wby after several decades, but only upon trying to adjust point of impact when changing loads. It had held zero for 20 years…. and might still be if I hadn’t started trying new loads (Weatherby discontinued the 210 partition loading and I started playing around with 225 accubonds and partitions.

After reading a few posts I see they didn't necessarily follow your request. So....

The toughest scope for me is a Leupold VX 2 1/2-8X32 handgun scope. I have no idea what design features made it so tough.

My Freedom Arms .454 broke about a dozen scopes, including the first Leupold VX 2 1/2-8X32 handgun scope. The better ones lasted about 300 rounds of full throttle loads; as did the first Leupold. Some didn't last for the first cylinder full. But the replacement lasted thousands of rounds; including one time when I tripped and the scope hit a rock. It didn't even change zero. I fired many sub 2" five shot groups at 100 yards so it was very easy to verify the zero didn't move.

I've had a Tasco on my bolt action 308 for about 20 years. Never had to adjust it. Killed many a deer. I also have a Trijicon. I've had terrible problems with Bushnell scopes and cheap Chinese scopes I put on 22 rifles.

My vote is for the Leupold LPS scope 3.5 x 14 x 50 Built like a tank when Leupold was trying to take over the European market. Glass was made by Leica. Have it on a 300 RUM and never had to move it after sighting in. I have several other rifles with LPS scopes on them. Glass is right there with Zeiss Divary The 300 RUM is shooting a 180 grain Nosler partition bullet at 3400 FPS. Recoil is pretty stout. Glass is very good for early morn and late eve shots. You can shoot while others are walking back to truck.

The groups went to crap and I could not sight the rifle in

Leupolds are meant to be adjusted.... one time and one time only

Wiser words have never been spoken/written here.

Fotis,

Would you mind sharing details on the total rifle weight, and loads, that killed those scopes?

Thanks,

Jason

Japanese Lazermark MK V about 8.5 lbs bare----(maybe 10 lbs all in with optics?)
dual recoil lugs both lugs bedded from the factory.
#3 contour WBY barrel.
WBY Muzzle break
260 Accubonds at 3100 fps
270 Hornady SP at 3100 fps
300 Hornady SPBT at 3050 fps
Leupold dual dovetail or QR bases/rings