shepherd scopes

[mtbugle]

pardon me if this has already been hashed out, but i didn't see any hits on search.  wondering what the quality is on these scopes.  I see $625 seems about price for older style hunting scope, and about $725 for newer varmint type.  Is the glass and dependability of these scopes worth this money.  unless they have a lock tight patent on that reticule it would seem some of the larger scope builders would start using that type of ranging and bullet drop reticule.  I like the idea and just got gameseeker for the bdc,and price. But the game size ranging would be nice too.  Thanks Don.

[sscoyote]

Although the guys that don't use them are usually very critical of them, those that have them love them. I don't think i've seen 1 bad response regarding that scope from those that use them.

Any ballistic reticle can very easily be applied as a rangefinding reticle as well, once the mathematics is applied correctly. That BDC is an excellent system with an extreme amount of flexibility for rangefinding.

[Luckyducker]

The few people that I have known that owned and used a Shepherd scope sent them back to the manufacturer for warranty because after the rifle the scope was mounted on was fired some they wouldn't hold zero.  I don't think I ever heard of one that came back fixed.  A co-worker friend of mine that I sometimes shoot with had one laying on the bench in his barn that he had returned under warranty but it didn't fix it so he just threw it aside and bought another scope.  He also told me that a couple of the other guys that he elk hunts with bought Shepherds too and they wouldn't hold zero either and none of them are using the Shepherds now. 

[sscoyote]

Yep, 1 thing about Shepherd is they do get bad publicity. Do a search over at 24hourcampfire, and longrangehunting.com and u will see more of both good and bad comments. Take a good look tho at the bad comments--most of them have to do with the reticle not zeroing precisely to the cartridge's trajectory. This is gonna be the same regardless of which generic ballistic reticle u get. Don't expect it to zero perfectly, especially when u get beyond 500-600 yds. when meteorologic changes begin to  affect the bullet's trajectory significantly. And u can forget about the reticle-rangefinding qualities of any reticle beyond 400-500 yds. or so. It'll always be better than guessing, but not accurate enuf to get u withing 20-30 yds. of true distance all the time. The MOA. or inch per hundred yd. system that they have in some of  their reticles will be more accurate once it's understood and applied properly, tho still lacking in accuracy at long-range on tgts. of varying dimension.

I've not seen any comments on the reticle not holding zero tho, that i remember. Probably so, i had that problem with an old Redfield i owned way back when, and other problems with a few other name-brand scopes. Had a buddy that had to send back a VariX-III awhile back because it wouldn't track correctly. It came back fixed. so...?? As in most purchases in this world--u pay money and take chances.

[Terbltim]

Is there anything "new" to report about the Shepherd Scopes?
I am considering putting on a M1A that I like to use for hunting.
I have almost zero expectation of shooting at anything beyond 600-yds (my experience level from Hi-Power shooting.)
I like the ring-reticle idea.
Like I asked, any new information or more recent experiences to share on this?

[diggler1833]

The only "new" thing is that there are more new scopes that are better out there now.

[valvesinmyhead]

Better at what? Range finding? Maybe if you stay at the same power. POA on a shepherd stays the same from 3-10 power. Plus if your scope some how loses zero you can see it with a Shepherd. That has never happened to me. I seen a scope that was bent from dropping on some rocks and the scope still held zero. I own four Shepherd scopes. V1A, P3, P22 MAG., P22 LR. The only improvement needed is a little more eye relief. My P3 is 20 years so I would like to get a new one but it still works.
Terbltim PM me with any ?s. With a .223 55gr bullet at 3240 fps you will be on at 600yds. I can get 5" groups with my 22lr at 200yds using Fed Auto Match ammo on a calm day.

[nomosendero]

Yep, 1 thing about Shepherd is they do get bad publicity. Do a search over at 24hourcampfire, and longrangehunting.com and u will see more of both good and bad comments. Take a good look tho at the bad comments--most of them have to do with the reticle not zeroing precisely to the cartridge's trajectory. This is gonna be the same regardless of which generic ballistic reticle u get. Don't expect it to zero perfectly, especially when u get beyond 500-600 yds. when meteorologic changes begin to  affect the bullet's trajectory significantly. And u can forget about the reticle-rangefinding qualities of any reticle beyond 400-500 yds. or so. It'll always be better than guessing, but not accurate enuf to get u withing 20-30 yds. of true distance all the time. The MOA. or inch per hundred yd. system that they have in some of  their reticles will be more accurate once it's understood and applied properly, tho still lacking in accuracy at long-range on tgts. of varying dimension.

I've not seen any comments on the reticle not holding zero tho, that i remember. Probably so, i had that problem with an old Redfield i owned way back when, and other problems with a few other name-brand scopes. Had a buddy that had to send back a VariX-III awhile back because it wouldn't track correctly. It came back fixed. so...?? As in most purchases in this world--u pay money and take chances.

I am one of those who actually used one & the reticle did not hold. I am in reference to the primary reticle. After a few shots, it would shift & then the 2 reticles did not "overlay". It is true that I could still look at the other reticle, but that was not acceptable to me. At the same time a friend bought 1 & he had reticle problems as well. Yet another friend bought one & it worked fine. Shepherd said to send it in, but I sold the gun/scope combo. I decided that 2 out of 3 was bad no matter what Meatloaf said & have not tried one since.
In fairness, this was in the early 90's & since several years have passed I hope some of these quality issues have passed. It was a great concept & ahead of it's time, but I would have to have real PROOF that they have a more rugged scope now before I would go that direction, esp. considering the fact that a good rangefinder & a numberof good ranging reticles have given us many options.

[valvesinmyhead]

Early 90s. I can remember Shepherds saying that they were having some quality issues with the Japan manufactures. They would have fixed it for free and had it back pronto. My P3 is from the late 80s and it still works great.

[diggler1833]

Better at ranging, repeatability, reliability and glass quality...the boring stuff.  I'm not saying that they're bad, just not my cup of tea, and there definitely are better choices out there for optics...albeit most of them are at a higher price. 

I personally like dialing in elevation and windage, I feel that it is more exact than holding over.  Plus for darn near $700, I can get a real good down payment on a USO ST-10.

YMMV.

[valvesinmyhead]

A 10x fixed powered scope for $1900.00. Not my cup of tea.

[diggler1833]

Mine was under $900 after military discount.  But yes, they can get rather pricey.