How much "abuse" can a good scope take?

[AStone]

I'm seeking some very general guidelines and advice about how to best care for a scope. This one's mounted on a .22 LR rifle in what feels like a very good connection (more below).

Specifically, I'm curious about whether handling the gun by the scope will be deleterious to it. I'm not talking about regularly handling it, like carrying it, but in taking the receiver/barrel assembly out of the stock during take down and cleaning (which I just did to a new gun that it's on). I find that my hand just automatically wants to grab that "handle" on top to insure a safe grip. (I do not have a rifle stand.)

And -- again, in a general, not-expecting-precise-answers way, how much bumping can a well-mounted, well-made scope take. Obviously, I'm not talking about dropping it -- God forbid ever -- but falling over when propped up (yes, I know, don't let that happen) or an accident in the shop while taking it down.

Do those of you with scopes handle them with kid gloves, or no different than if your rifle wasn't scoped?
_______

Some background. Last Friday, I mounted a scope on a rifle for the first time in about 30 years. And by that, I mean I haven't used one since I was a kid. I had one then on a Remington Nylon 66 .22. Likewise, this one went on a Remington 597 HB (click on "22" in my sig line for that story).

The scope is a good one that I purchased 5 years ago for another rifle (that it never went onto; I sold the rifle recently): Leupold VX-1 2x7x28 mm, mounted directly to the groves in the receiver of the 597. (Had to remove the piccatiny rail for the narrow clamps, but I'm happy about that; resulted in a really low mount.)

Now, I want to make sure that I care for it well, since I'm used to handling rifles without scopes.

 

[taliv]

most of the high dollar scopes are not what you'd call fragile. however... you can pretty much count on shifting your zero slightly. .1 to .3 mils depending. it may also depend on the diameter of your tube. obviously, bigger is better. it will probably shift back when you let go, but maybe not to the exact spot

 

[AStone]

That makes good sense, Taliv. Thanks.

I predict I'm going to learn some good stuff in this thread.

 

[cdk8]

I have found that some of the .22 lr scopes sold as "rimfire scopes" are more fragile than scopes not designated for rimfire use only. Given there are some outstanding rimfire scopes for dirt cheap, I am guessing part of the reason is because they do not need to be constructed in a fashion to withstand high amounts of energy compared to the scope designed to live on top of a .338 Norma, for example. Still, even these more fragile scopes are reasonably durable. When taking out of the bag or doing cleaning, I put my hands on the scope and use it for leverage to move or balance the firearm. But I try not to ever place the full weight of the rifle under the scope while holding the rifle by the scope. This is not because of the scope, but rather the mounting hardware. The .22 I shoot most is a heavy rifle.

On the other end of the spectrum, I saw a VX-1 take a nasty fall on to concrete and the only damage was the scuffing of the finish. So based on what I saw, I believe the VX-1 is pretty beefy.

 

[AStone]

...they do not need to be constructed in a fashion to withstand high amounts of energy compared to the scope designed to live on top of a .338 Norma, for example

CDK, that's an excellent point. Makes good sense.

But so is your reassurance about VX-1 being quality scopes.

Thanks.

 

[Mike J]

AStone I have owned Tasco, Bushnell & Vortex scopes. I try to pay attention & avoid damaging them but I have had a rifle fall over & hit the scope. Unfortunately over the years this has happened to me more than once. If this happens I go shoot said rifle to make sure it is still "on" & the scope is undamaged. So far everything has survived but I try to avoid it happening.

 

[OpticsPlanet]

I'd personally feel uneasy about using the riflescope as a "handle", especially with exposed turrets. I had a Colt Match HBAR with a real carry handle, and never used the handle.

The beefing up in a riflescope is normally fofr one thing - recoil. Riflescopes for spring air rifles will be designed to survive recoil in both directions.

I don't worry about an occasional bump from top, sides, bottom or rear, but I do everything I can to avoid it.

If it takes a really good tumble - i bore sight to check.

Mark H.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

drop or knock over your rifle onto a hard surface and you will damage about any scope regardless of its cost. For sure you will loose zero mostly because of the mounts. I don't think carrying it as a handle would hurt a thing though.

 

[jmr40]

Some of the cheaper budget scopes can go bad with no warning. Some last for years. I don't trust them even though they do tend to work well enough for some. You just never know when it might fail.

Most of the stuff with a MSRP of $200 and up will be pretty tough, some brands such as Leupold have a well earned reputation. The Burris FF-II is a $200 scope with an excellent reputation for ruggedness and my 1st recommendation for someone on a tight budget.

In my experience the $300-$500 price range is the sweet spot for hunting scopes. There are a lot of rugged dependable scopes with good glass at that point. All are about the same quality if at equal price points and it comes down to which features most important to you.

I've used a lot of these scopes over the years and have found them to be every bit as dependable as iron sights, actually more so. I hunt in the rain, snow and in rugged country. I've taken some bad falls with rifles and even dropped a couple. Never had an issue with a scope. I have had front sight blades break and elevation bars go missing from rear sights on lever actions though.

 

[AStone]

I'm reading here, and appreciating all your input and opinions. Thanks.

 

[samweller]

Why would anyone carry a rifle by the scope?

 

[AStone]

I would not, as I said in my OP.

I'm curious about whether handling the gun by the scope will be deleterious to it. I'm not talking about regularly handling it, like carrying it, but in taking the receiver/barrel assembly out of the stock during take down and cleaning (which I just did to a new gun that it's on). I find that my hand just automatically wants to grab that "handle" on top to insure a safe grip. (I do not have a rifle stand.)

I think Lloyd was just saying it could be done without damage to the scope, but not really saying one should.

 

[Geno]

OP:

Here's a great video for durability. I wouldn't try this with a Tasco.

www (dot) youtube (dot) com/watch?v=JQRe_-fgmGQ

Geno

 

[Lloyd Smale]

once watched a you tube video of a couple reps from aimpoint that stood in a concrete parking lot about 30 yards apart. They had ars sighted in with comp 3s on them. They shot a target off hand at 50 yards 3 shots. Then took there aimpoints off (quick detach mounts) and skipped them across the concrete picked them up and skipped them back and remounted them and those aimpoints didn't loose zero. Pretty amazing.

 

[AStone]

Pretty amazing vid, Geno. Made me cringe a little to watch it.

 

[gamestalker]

I use good quality optics, and I'm also very hard on them.

I don't do it any more, but I used to carry my rifle by the scope tube, never had any issues with loosing zero, but that might have something to do with high quality rings and bases, and making sure they are lapped so they mate well against the tube.

I'm also clumsy and have dropped my rifles numerous times, and on only one occasion did it result in the scope getting knocked off zero, not by much though.

My primary trust in durable optics is Leupold. Mine have taken a beating, and they still deliver repeatable accuracy, and some are 30+ years old. I've had other optics though that didn't stand up to the field conditions though, they weren't Leupold.

GS

 

[Lloyd Smale]

I think if your scope changes zero because you carry your rifle using it as a handle that you should rethink what scopes on your gun! That was quite a testament to nightforce and also to the guy that built that tack driving gun! I don't think youd get away with that abuse with a Nikon prostaff or even as much as I like leupolds a vx1 leupold. You might not break the scope but my money is on a poi change.

 

[taliv]

search my posts here and you will see many pics of my schmidt & benders, nightforce, USOs, etc.

believe what you want, but i'm telling you it's easy to test for yourself. mount the gun in a vice and look through it at a target. have a friend push on the bell gently and watch the reticle move relative to the target. they will all do it because they will all flex.

carrying the gun by the scope is not something i would do no matter how much you paid for it

 

[bearcreek]

once watched a you tube video of a couple reps from aimpoint that stood in a concrete parking lot about 30 yards apart. They had ars sighted in with comp 3s on them. They shot a target off hand at 50 yards 3 shots. Then took there aimpoints off (quick detach mounts) and skipped them across the concrete picked them up and skipped them back and remounted them and those aimpoints didn't loose zero. Pretty amazing.

I believe it. My Comp M3 hasn't gotten treated quite that bad but it's been through hell compared to most people's hunting scopes.

 

[AStone]

Recursion post #3.

I predict I'm going to learn
some good stuff in this thread.

Current evidence (see the four posts above)
supports my prediction.

 

[eastbank]

i judge my hunting and target scopes not only by the abuse they may have to take, but also a biggy for me is how well the maker will service or replace it in a timley manner with out giving me a ration of s#it about how it was used. and for 50 years it has been leupold for me. i have sent other scopes in for repair over the years and no other makers have been as fast to repair or replace free of charge. i sent one scope in for a shifted retical and the maker refused to even accept it twice. eastbank.

 

[greyling22]

this video shows a leupold being strapped to a jackhammer for a while. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kazIla_eERg

and I've seen a another one where they tossed a rifle out of a deer stand a couple times and the scope held up. can't find that video though.

And I'm not trying to plug for leupold. most all the decent scopes are built and priced to a similar level.

 

[AStone]

Eastbank, very good point. Glad to hear Leupold is such a stand up company. Not surprised, but always good to hear positive stories.

Greyling, that's a great video. Thanks. That also says volumes, although admittedly it's a centerfire scope where as mine is rimfire. Still, I expect they put reasonable effort into making even a rimfire solid. I'll not try it on a jackhammer though.

Made me cringe a bit to see no lens covers, though, even with pebbles and pieces hitting it. Wonder if the glass was damaged.

 

[C.R.]

True story,we were deer hunting and one of the crew dropped his 30/06 it landed on the eye peice of his scope and bent it down tword the receiver he found a stick,bent it back up to where it looked straight tried it out and it was still on target. If I had not seen it myself I would not beleive it.

 

[d2wing]

I have had cheap scopes fail me, Bushnell and Simmons mostly, A few years ago my deer rifle with a Leupold on it fell out of my tree stand, I climbed down and quickly checked the bore sight. it looked good so I climbed back up. At last light I made a 400 yard shot on a nice 10 point buck. DRT. I have sighted in that rifle several times, zero never moves.