Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Scope zero shift

Formidilosus, you bring up a good point, which begs the question, what options do we have for a scope that withstands hard use and is suitable in size/weight for a hunting rig?

Regarding the fixed power scopes, I regularly hear praise. However, my experience has forever scarred my thinking. The first scope I ever had break was a Leup fixed six. It happened shooting a light weight 338-06 at the range. A shot didn't hit paper and I started inspecting the rifle. It didn't take long to figure out, the scope sounded like a child's rattle toy. It should be noted that it was my first, and only, fixed power scope. First impressions are hard to break.

I get to see a few more rounds fired and the scopes used therein than the average bear in a year, and with variables the only ones I find suitably durable and reliable (with adjustments that work) are few and far between. For normal hunting rifles The Nightforce 2.5-10x32 and the SWFA SS 3-9x42mm are about it. The NightForce is about $1,300 and the SWFA 3-9x42 is under $600. Both weigh at or near 20 ounces. The weight doesn't bother me as there is no question whether they will work, stay zeroed, track reliably, or last.




That's not to say I don't have and use other variable scopes (I have this sick obsession with killing scopes... grin) and one of my most used rifles has a Leupold 3-9x40mm VX1 with M1 turrets. It works and tracks, however I expect it to go anytime and will replace it when it does. Anymore when I buy scopes for normal hunting rifles they are either the 2.5-10x32 NF, 3-9x42 SWFA SS, or Leupold fixed power scopes.

4 to 5 more ounces is but a small price to pay for knowing your kit will just work.






timbo762,

There is zero doubt in my experience that fixed power scopes have less issues with being knocked out of adjustment than variables. The only issues I have seen with Leupold fixed 6's is when people put the scope ring in the wrong location and crank down.

Rem 700 action
Talley LW
Leup 3.5-10x40 with M1's

This is a consistently accurate rifle (308 with #4 Krieger) and the scope has been reliable for many years.

Yesterday I was putting the rifle through the paces in preparation for hunting season. I started at 300 yards and shot a 5 shot group less than .75 MOA. Zero was perfect as it always has been, I've never had to re-adjust the scope. I wanted to shoot out to 600 yards and had to relocate to another range. There were several rifles tagging along and this rifle was laid in the back seat floorboard. Its usually a short, smooth ride but farm equipment had tore up the road and it was very rough. I assume the rifle was bouncing around significantly in the floor. There was a rub mark on the scope where it was in contact with the seat frame (wiped off, did not permanently mar scope).

I first shoot a 450 yard target and its a clean miss; shoot again and another clean miss. Neither were even close. Move to 100 yards and it hits nearly 6" off. Adjust scope, next shot drills the center out of the target. Its really to dark to shoot but I let three rounds fly at the 450 yard steel, all direct hits. Shot three 300 yard groups this morning and all were under .75 MOA and perfect zero (one group was actually .22 MOA).

The scope appears to be functioning appropriately.

The Talley LW ring screws were properly torqued when installed and were not loose. The rings do not appear to have any stress fractures. Based on the crosshair alignment it doesn't appear as if the scope slipped in the rings. I am assuming whatever moved was inside the scope.

Question: What caused the zero to change and should there be concern of future failure?

Tanner,

Thanks for jumping in. I was about to shoot you a PM asking your opinion on the SS.

John