Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Scope zero shift

5 oz doesn't bother me as much as the size. That thing is as big as my little 308.

i think my kidney is darn close to selling, should be enough for at least one 2.5-10x32 NF

John, what did you mount the 6x SWFA on? I've been eyeing that one for a while for hunting, but like ct, the size of those scopes turns me off for carrying around.

Bob has got it. Scope size, rings, bases, mounting, weight, etc.

IME quite a few of the scope issues are really ring and mount issues. Extreme light weight is awesome. But keep in mind it is also more fragile as a rule. Not in all cases, but most. I know that when I use super lightweight tents, backpacks, stoves, clothes, etc, that the pay off for the lightness is durability. And that's ok. Every choice has a consequence. It just means that my super light MH sleeping bag isn't going to be as durable as my Kifaru. It may only last a year or two of hard use before being worn out. But it may be worth it.

Tanner,

Haven't pulled the trigger on the SWFA 6x yet. Kinda want to put one on my .260, but I just can't see why a fixed 6 should be so dang big and heavy. That thing weighs nearly 1/4 pound more than my conquest 4.5-14, and more still than my 3-9. The 3-9 is at Zeiss having an elevation turret on it and a #4 reticle. Should be back next week. Gonna use that one for hunting and save the 4.5-14 for load development. Of course if one of my conquest pukes on me, I'm gonna wish I was carrying the extra 5 oz.

The S&B 10x that Pat uses is very appealing, but I like to shoot pigs and the small FOV of a fixed 10 at close range concerns me.

John

Re- SS 6x weight. Tube diameter, tube wall thickness, and everything inside is overbuilt. Size is because they took the 10x and just made it a 6x. I have a Leupold Mark 4 6x40 M3 and while a bit smaller, it is just as heavy.




It bothered me at first as it replaced an M8 6x36. However being able to just totally not worry about it and know that when I dialed a shot it was going to be there, soon made me forget all about the weight. The fixed power Ultra M3A and Mark 4 M3's are still probably the strongest most durable scopes ever made. That one was mounted on that rifle for over 4 years before the NF replaced it, and not once did I need to rezero or have a single round go anywhere other than where it should have. That scope has somewhere north of 30K rounds on it and is still the one I use for checking guns.

Formidilosus - Are any of the current production Leups worth a look?

For lightweight rifles the fixed powers are solid. I use quite a few of the 6x with M1 turrets for that. The fixed power MK 4's are fantastically solid but expensive considering the features. The locking turret, 34mm tubed 6.5-20x50, and the Mark 8's have been good as well.


The regular Leupold variables aren't bad per se, just not as good as other options when it comes to the LR game.


For hunting rifles typically the scopes I buy and use anymore are Leupold 6x36mm and 6x40mm for true lightweight rifles, and the NF 2.5-10x32mm and SWFA SS 3-9x42mm for everything else. And I snag the holy grail (Leupold MK4 6x40) when I can find them.

In my opinion the best choices in scopes if you just want them to work all the time-


Leupold fixed 6x



Leupold MARK 4 6x





Nightforce 2.5-10x32mm






SWFA SS 3-9x42mm

I hear ya on the Leup 6x. I've had a total of one. The insides completely let loose on the range before I could ever hunt it (on a lightweight 338-06). Its the only scope I've ever had to completely break like this, the parts were rattling around inside the scope. So I'm 0-1 on the Leup fixed 6 and its the worst failure I've ever had. First impressions are hard to kick.

As a side note, regarding your whitetails, apparently they all came from the same property and the gene pool is running thick. They all look alike, especially #2 and #3.

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I have sent multiple scopes back to Leupold. Either they actually fix them or the rough trip through the mail does.

Eddy, The scope was banged around causing a shift in zero. It is still tracking and holding zero fine (short of the beating that caused the shift). The question is, is the scope broken or in need of repair? My assumption is that the vibration was greater than the limits of a spring within spec, causing it to shift, and there is nothing wrong with the scope. Or, is this a sign of weakening springs and the need to replace them?

I hear you on the bad taste regarding the 6x. While not my experience at all, first impressions can be hard to change.



I doubt there is anything wrong with your scope. It probably just got bumped and is fine.



Re: Whitetails. #2 and #3 were from the same area. #1 was about 10 miles away.

This has been an interesting thread, got me to thinking about the money I have wasted on my pampered variable scopes that are very bright and clear and that I usually zero check every chance I get and well I just wonder sometimes why I am changing a few clicks here and there almost all the time.