Are External Turrets asking for trouble?

[flmason]

Was just thinking over the external turret thing... I'm wondering if they are more of a liability than anything else:

1) They are exposed... could get bumped and move your zero and you don't notice...

2) Constant use might wear some seals and let the nitrogen out?

Any thoughts?

[Lloyd Smale]

never gave me trouble but thinking on it ive never had one on a deer hunting gun, just varimit rifles and they dont take the abuse that a deer rifle can. I probably wouldnt want them on any gun i was going to scabbord

[flmason]

never gave me trouble but thinking on it ive never had one on a deer hunting gun, just varimit rifles and they dont take the abuse that a deer rifle can. I probably wouldnt want them on any gun i was going to scabbord

Might be a stupid question, but considering things like M-16s end up with exposed turret designs on them for battle... which has to be abusive... what do those guys do about it? I mean, I guess you could duct tape the turrents... but what good are they, right? Might as well have caps... yet there they are in military usage.

[Empty Quiver]

I believe it would depend somewhat on how easily the knobs turn.


The power knob on my VXII is pretty danged tight, enough so I sent it in. They disassembled it lubed it sent it back with a note saying that's the way it is supposed to be. I'm sure not worried about that thing changing on its own accord.


I picked up a new Nikon M223 1-4 last weekend. I sure hope it isn't an issue. Planned on a like type Leupold AR 1-4, last minute I decided the turrets might be nice, and brought the Nikon home. Hope it was the right choice, I will soon know.

[Bugflipper]

The ones I have; after sighting in you take them off and reset to 0 and reinstall. I've never had one turn and screw up the zero. No doubt I wouldn't want one if I abused the rifle and knocked it around a lot. Just seems more apt to damage than one with covered turrets. I could see a fellow carrying one behind a seat not in a case screwing one up.

[flmason]

The ones I have; after sighting in you take them off and reset to 0 and reinstall. I've never had one turn and screw up the zero. No doubt I wouldn't want one if I abused the rifle and knocked it around a lot. Just seems more apt to damage than one with covered turrets. I could see a fellow carrying one behind a seat not in a case screwing one up.

Yes, I agree, seems that way. I tend to baby my guns anyway. Even the milsurps. I favor the tough guns but, tend to want them to last forever and be passed down. I wouldn't be stuffing a rifle behind a truck seat unprotected, even my old Mosin. I consider them lifetime+ investments in all reality.

But you know, real field conditions can fustigate all that. How many field guns don't take a knock here or there?

BTW, what's the car in the avatar? Look really sharp.

[Bugflipper]

Thanks, it's a 34 chevy 3 window coupe. Nothing special, just a 60's style build with a 348 chevy engine and a 4 spd. Been working on a little T-bucket, making it into a little low street rod instead of the traditional sit up high style. Steering woes are giving me a fit so I took a break and am finishing up a couple of early scouts for other folks. Will be back on the T in a couple of weeks so no doubt my patience will be wore thin with it again shortly. 


On the scope I bet if you dropped one on the turret, you would be in for some trouble. Odds are dropping a normal one would end your hunt as well, just maybe not break it. IMHO it's better to go with a manufacturer that will honor a no fault warranty. Funny thing, we will spend 30k plus on a new car with a 5 year warranty, being fine with that and demand a lifetime warranty on a scope well under a thousand.

[flmason]

Thanks, it's a 34 chevy 3 window coupe. Nothing special, just a 60's style build with a 348 chevy engine and a 4 spd. Been working on a little T-bucket, making it into a little low street rod instead of the traditional sit up high style. Steering woes are giving me a fit so I took a break and am finishing up a couple of early scouts for other folks. Will be back on the T in a couple of weeks so no doubt my patience will be wore thin with it again shortly. 


On the scope I bet if you dropped one on the turret, you would be in for some trouble. Odds are dropping a normal one would end your hunt as well, just maybe not break it. IMHO it's better to go with a manufacturer that will honor a no fault warranty. Funny thing, we will spend 30k plus on a new car with a 5 year warranty, being fine with that and demand a lifetime warranty on a scope well under a thousand.

I hear that. If break it and it's my fault, I'm going to call that warranty work. OTOH, if I *had* to... like I was broke and I was using to put meat on the table... might reneg on that. But generally, nah... I know when it's me and when it's the product.