Question for those who have had scopes go bad

[Bullseye]

I know there are some folks in here who have had scopes go bad on their handcannons.  The only scope I know that I had go bad had the crosshairs turned and rattled.  I am assuming this is not always the case.  Can a scope appear fine but not be holding its point of impact?  If it is not holding its point of impact, does it just spray shots or does the group move.  I have been seeing some strange things on a Contender barrel and am trying to determine if it is shooter error or the scope before I change it with another.

[crawfish]

There are about a BAZILLION things that can go bad on a scope. They range to complete black out to stripped out adjustment controls. The easiest way to determine if you have scope problems is to replace it with a known good scope and see if you are still having the same problems or have Danal Boone shoot your Contender to see if he has the same problems. Then go from there.

[Hunter Mann]

Bullseye,

I am currently having what I would term scope problems. I have a relatively new Encore in .270 (purchased in June). Read about it in the, "Help With Encore .270" thread.

I have put probably 6 boxes of shells through it, and I still can't get it to be consistent.

The really odd thing is that as I dial up the power on the scope, the gun shoot higher. The point of impact actually changes (which is totally weird).

In my case, I am going to call Thompson (or email them) and reference the thread. That way they can get a good idea of what is going on and what others think, as well.

I will tell you to use a bench rest and try various ammo. This gun if tricky. Some ammo shoots well and some just doesn't pattern.

And I'd try swapping out the scopes, but the only other scope that will work on this is sitting on my deer rifle and all ready for the season.

Good Luck!

[Possum]

I had a Burris 3-12x on a 30.06 barrel and was having trouble getting a good group.  One would shoot high, the other low, then off to the side.  Like 6" groups.  Once and a while I would get something about 3".  In the rifle, the groups were 1"-1.5" consistantly.  Turns out the base was flexing and causing the scope to flex also.  Every shot gave it a new zero.  Even then it was adjustable.  When it finally went Kapooyey it locked in at 8" low @ 100yds and gave me the best groups I ever shot with it.  Then the adjustments were gone and the zoom ring would not turn.  My conclusion is that the scope was moving the whole time and it was not me or the reloads as evidenced by the great groups once it tore up.

Fixed it by getting a 7-hole mount by EABCO.  Two additional holes drilled up front with a 7th in the middle of the base at the front.   I'd like to see if flex now!

[fyrepowrx]

i have managed to wreck a few scopes over the last few years, most have been problems with the reticle. in the last few month i had a crosshair fail on a leupold 2.5x scout,  the vertical crosshair broke away from the others at the center of the reticle. They fixed it free. A burris 3-9 compact did the same, and also it developed a crack in an internalens... they fixed the reticle but didnt repair the lens so back it went. Pistol scopes by simmons & Tasco also failed on a .44 mag, they didnt even try to repair them, they just sent me replacements... The reticle got knocked at about a 45-degree cant on the tasco, the simmons locked up and wouldnt adjust point of impact.

i noticed the burris was seeming to "double-group" with a series of shots... 2 or 3 in one spot, then 2 or 3 into another 4 inches away... the others just died with no warning. guess it depends on what is going on in there as to whether you get any warnings.. when in doubt i would try another scope just  to see if there is something wrong.

[sgtt]

It is not uncommon for the POI to change with variable power scopes.  I don't like them.  I still own several but, when I go to the woods 99% of the time it is with a fixed power.

[Keith L]

It is not uncommon for the POI to change with variable power scopes.  I don't like them.  I still own several but, when I go to the woods 99% of the time it is with a fixed power.

Why would you accept that as the norm?  I can't imagine anything more worthless than a variable power scope with a changing POI.  I have rarely come across this, and when I have the scope has gone back to be fixed.

[sgtt]

I didn't say it was the norm.  I have, however,  had it happen.  Fortunately it was at the range and not in the field.  The problem is that you don't know when or where it will happen.  It is just one more "variable" that I have chosen to eliminate from the equation.