Casey Napier
Well-Known Member
Anybody using the Shepherd scopes? If so, how do you like them? I am considering one for my 7MM Ultra Mag. Any info would be helpful.
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RidgeRooster
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RidgeRooster
Shepherd Scopes?
- Thread starter Casey Napier
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LiveEye
Active Member
Well.... Here is a comment by well known Gale McMillan on Shepard. I'm not defending Shepherd per say, but just say'in
He had quite an extensive backgorund in such things. He was only 69 when he passed on but wow what a background!
From: Gale McMillan <[email protected]>
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Shepherd scopes
Date: 8 May 1999 08:12:59 -0400
There are numerous opinions of the Shepherd scope floating around. Some
founded I am sure and some far from the truth. As a manufacture in the
firearms industry I long ago learned that it is impossible to satisfy 100
% of the public with any thing. You could give away 20 dollar gold pieces
and there would be some who complain that they were too heavy! The
Shepherd scope is a unique scope patent that has a reticule on both the
first and second focal plane. This approach cures several problems inherent
in all other scope design. It allows for positive one shot zero. Allows
you to click off and return to original zero with no chance of getting
lost. The ranging system , while I feel is a little too busy for my likes
is fool proof and works as well as any I have used. It is a series of progressively
smaller circles. I wont go in to the use of the range finder but I have
talked to military snipers who evaluated them and loved the ranging system.
The scope is made by the best house in Japan and I have watched them being
made and I will say that their quality is equal to any other high quality
Japanese import such as the best B&L that are made on the same line. The
lens are equally high quality multi layer coating, equal to or superior
to any coming out of the orient. The Shepherd company is a small good old
boy company and Dan treats people like he wants to be treated. Having said
all the above I will say that I have no part of that business but have
watched it since it came into the market and am aware of growing pains
he had when working with some of the less reputable Japans firms before
going with LOW . In this time of imports chasing the cheap labor of China
and Korea you have to consider the Shepherd one of the best buys coming
out of the orient.
Gale McMillan
Here is the McMillan's family home page of businesses. The McMillan Family Home page
More on Mr. McMillan:
Gale McMillan, hit bull's eye in work, life
By John Stanley
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 15, 2000
Accuracy was his goal.
The kind of accuracy that allows shooters to place five shots from a high-caliber rifle within a quarter-inch of each other at 100 yards.
And that's the kind of accuracy Gale McMillan delivered.
The longtime Phoenix resident was a mechanical genius who could visualize a new design, then build it from scratch. His company supplied sniper rifles for the FBI, Navy SEALs and the Army's Special Forces, as well as for police units around the country. Competition shooters treasure McMillan rifles for their extraordinary accuracy.
Though he built a multimillion-dollar company from a shoestring, McMillan was an unassuming, down-to-earth guy, generous with his time and always willing to share his expertise with others.
Gale Alvin McMillan died May 29 of bladder cancer. He was 69.
In the late 1950s, McMillan began to compete in local ''benchrest'' shooting competitions where the goal is extreme accuracy. Wanting to improve his scores, he went to gunsmithing school and soon was crafting remarkably accurate rifles. He won the 1960 California State Championship with a .222-caliber rifle he built himself.
McMillan was in the Air Force for 20 years, serving in Oklahoma, Texas, Japan, California, Alaska and New Mexico. He retired from the military in 1968 and moved to Phoenix, where he went to work for Motorola as an engineering technician.
Wooden rifle stocks expand and contract slightly under varying weather conditions, degrading the accuracy of competition shooters' finely tuned rifles. McMillan wondered what he could do about it.
McMillan made his first stocks in 1972 but business was so slow he had to go back to work at Motorola. Soon, however, the military, impressed by the durability and accuracy of the rifles with fiberglass stocks, placed several large orders and the success of the company was assured.
McMillan, who was always more interested in solving technical problems than running a business, sold the company in 1987.
Looking for a new challenge he founded the McMillan Optical Gunsight Co. and tackled the problem of night-vision scopes.
Using a hacksaw, he shaped the pieces he needed and created a rifle scope that could be used both day and night.
Though his workshop was a jumble of tools and sketches, McMillan was a craftsman who was revered throughout the shooting world.
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Stormrider
Well-Known Member
I have one. Actually I have a couple. I've got a 22 rimfire scope that I use a lot and another that I used for big game. I've used the 22 a lot more. It works as advertised and the glass is not the best but is very good. The big game scope, I broke and am in the process of sending back.
I spent about 2 hours with Dan Shepherd at his house last week. Dan is a hoot to listen to and he likes to talk. I even got to hold and look through the original prototype scope that Dan built which is nothing like the finished product.
Shepherd is truly a "mom & pop"(as Dan calls it) business, if you call Shepherd Enterprise you will either get Dan or a member of his immediate family on the phone. At one time these scopes were assembled in the USA by Dan himself but now are assembled in Japan.
The biggest advantage to a Shepherd scope is that since you have a reticle on the first and second focal plane if there is a shift in either reticle you will know because the two reticles will not be lined up any longer.
My brother has 3 Shepherd scopes, I don't have any but I may get one in the future mostly because Dan is such a character and I would rather support him than some big company.
THE ONLY RANGE FINDING SCOPE THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE 3 HANDS TO OPERATE
James
Shepherd is truly a "mom & pop"(as Dan calls it) business, if you call Shepherd Enterprise you will either get Dan or a member of his immediate family on the phone. At one time these scopes were assembled in the USA by Dan himself but now are assembled in Japan.
The biggest advantage to a Shepherd scope is that since you have a reticle on the first and second focal plane if there is a shift in either reticle you will know because the two reticles will not be lined up any longer.
My brother has 3 Shepherd scopes, I don't have any but I may get one in the future mostly because Dan is such a character and I would rather support him than some big company.
THE ONLY RANGE FINDING SCOPE THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE 3 HANDS TO OPERATE
James
Nomosendero
Well-Known Member
I had one in the early 90's, so I hope that they are more rugged now. When I bought one, 2 of my friends also ordered one. With my scope the secondary
reticle would move from time to time. Dan offered to fix it, but I wound up trading the entire rig off. One of my friend's scope messed up & he sent it in.
I know Meatloaf said that 2 out of 3 ain't bad, but I don't think he was talking about scopes. I have decided to go another direction. I do like the concept alot & like others have said the optics were good, but not top of the line. I think it would have been great if he had sold his patent to a quality scope company. However, if someone knows for sure the scopes are more rugged now, tell us about it!!!
reticle would move from time to time. Dan offered to fix it, but I wound up trading the entire rig off. One of my friend's scope messed up & he sent it in.
I know Meatloaf said that 2 out of 3 ain't bad, but I don't think he was talking about scopes. I have decided to go another direction. I do like the concept alot & like others have said the optics were good, but not top of the line. I think it would have been great if he had sold his patent to a quality scope company. However, if someone knows for sure the scopes are more rugged now, tell us about it!!!
Shepherd scope
After you look at the homepage for the specs and then go to Midway and see that the 3X10 is $629 I will make your day and tell you that I have a 3X9 available for $375 shipped in the USA. The new ones are 3X10 but mine is a bit older and is a 3X9 but the reticule is the same as on the homepage. My glass is beautifully clear, don't know what the other guys are complaining about saying the glass is not excellent. I may have just gotten a great one. I use Leupold and Zeiss so I believe I have a basis for comparison on the merits of clear glass. Let me know if you are interested. Regards...g
After you look at the homepage for the specs and then go to Midway and see that the 3X10 is $629 I will make your day and tell you that I have a 3X9 available for $375 shipped in the USA. The new ones are 3X10 but mine is a bit older and is a 3X9 but the reticule is the same as on the homepage. My glass is beautifully clear, don't know what the other guys are complaining about saying the glass is not excellent. I may have just gotten a great one. I use Leupold and Zeiss so I believe I have a basis for comparison on the merits of clear glass. Let me know if you are interested. Regards...g
I don't recall the time frame but several years ago there was a problem that has been fixed. The objective bell is threaded and is supposed to be welded on also. The company that was putting the scopes together neglected to do the welding, that company no longer assembles the scopes so if that was the problem with your scope then it has been fixed.
I don't have a dog in this hunt, just passing on what Dan told me.
James
Nomosendero
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info, things change & sometimes for the better.
mabell
Member
shepard scopes
I have a shepard on a browning 1885 chambered for 7stw. I watched their adds. for 2 years before I got to see one of their scopes. I bought this one in 96 or 97 and I am happy with it. before I had a leopold I do belive the leopold is a little bit better glass and better at low light I still have it on a 243. the shepard has always worked for me I have shot 8 whitetail at 700 to 900 yrds I dont have an open place longer than that or I would have tried it I did have a shot at a 5x5 elk one year but he was spooked by other hunters and when I saw him he was hauling the mail at about 650 yrds from left to right I had a good rest and watched he stopped right at the 1000 yrd mark I had all of these spots already ranged so I knew but I did not feel right so I did not shoot.I know elk are hard to put down when their spooked. hope this helps Patrick
I have a shepard on a browning 1885 chambered for 7stw. I watched their adds. for 2 years before I got to see one of their scopes. I bought this one in 96 or 97 and I am happy with it. before I had a leopold I do belive the leopold is a little bit better glass and better at low light I still have it on a 243. the shepard has always worked for me I have shot 8 whitetail at 700 to 900 yrds I dont have an open place longer than that or I would have tried it I did have a shot at a 5x5 elk one year but he was spooked by other hunters and when I saw him he was hauling the mail at about 650 yrds from left to right I had a good rest and watched he stopped right at the 1000 yrd mark I had all of these spots already ranged so I knew but I did not feel right so I did not shoot.I know elk are hard to put down when their spooked. hope this helps Patrick
