scope lost zero when maxed out

[Iden]

I have a mark 4 and maxed my elevation today. In doing so it completely threw my zero off by about 7 1/2 moa. Has anybody had this happen? Should I send the scope in to get fixed? If I dont send it in can the scope be trusted? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[FearNoWind]

I assume your "mark 4" is a Leupold Mark IV. Any time my scope looses its zero it goes back to the manufacturer for a tune up. While you're waiting for the repaired/inspected scope to return home, pick up a good 20 moa base for that rifle. Careful not to crank too hard on the ends of the turret adjustments limiters.

 

[Iden]

Yah I mean leupold IV. And I didnt crank hard on the end at all. Just started to feel resistance so I stopped. No excess force was applied. FearNoWind what was the turn around time on a shipped scope?

 

[lancetkenyon]

30 clicks is a lot to lose. You either spun the turret without actually adjusting elevation, or damaged something internally.

Did you reset zero and try a tracking test afterwards? I have heard of people spinning the turret with no damage to internals, but have never had it happen myself on a scope. I have maxed out my Leupold 6.5-20, Vortex Viper HS, Steiner T5Xi, and Kahles K624i with no ill effects.

 

[Iden]

I have not had a chance to re zero and do a tracking test. I dont think that I spun the turret because it was making clicks according to the turret markings. That was my thought as how much it changed my zero leads me to think that something internally broke.

 

[yobuck]

The knobs will still turn and make noise even when nothing is happening internally.
Id just go shoot the gun. Chances are everything will be ok.

 

[dragman]

send it back, then when it comes back from leupold fixed post it for sale and replace it with a NF

Sorry couldn't help my self. honestly once is enough when it comes to scope failures.

 

[bigngreen]

send it back, then when it comes back from leupold fixed post it for sale and replace it with a NF

Sorry couldn't help my self. honestly once is enough when it comes to scope failures.

+1 Don't have a Leupold left personally because of the turrets.

 

[Canadian Bushman]

Dont know how much you (OP) understands about optics, but inside the scope body there is an erector tube which contains the lens that your reticle is engraved on among a few others.

This erector tube is located by the elevation and windage turrets and a spring intended to keep the erector tube firmly against the turret's base.

Sometimes when max-ed out this spring can fatigue ( the most common occurrence of a pretty long list ) and the scope may never operate to its fullest potential.

This is why i would strongly suggest letting the manufacturer review and or repair the optic.

Nightforce is very good at building optics that dont allow the user to reach this point, without purposeful intent, and their springs are incredibly durable.

 

[FearNoWind]

... FearNoWind what was the turn around time on a shipped scope?

Turn around time will vary, I'm sure. But my experience for a reticle change out was about two weeks.

 

[Iden]

Thanks for all the advice. I am gunna send the scope in for inspection. I have a buddy thats interested in a trade. The mark 4 for a VXIII. Any thoughts on these scopes??? I know ninightforce is better but this is convinant. Or would u all recommend just selling it and saving for the nightforce?

 

[Pdvdh]

Scope failures can be very aggravating, particularly the scopes that suffer a slow death. A guy can burn a lot of time trying to figure out why a rifle is acting up when a rifle scope begins to fail internally. Of course it's most aggravating when a sick scope causes a poor hit on a game animal.

If I have a scope fail, I'd like it to completely fall apart instantly, making the diagnosis very straightforward. The scope failures that have caused me the most aggravation are the slow but steady scope deaths, where the shifting reticle/lens begins to cause surprising and unexplainable changes in POIs, and the adjustment turrets become inconsistent and unreliable. 3-shot groups from a proven load that grow in size over time have been the harbingers of a failed scope for me with two different scopes.

A progressively failing rifle scope can cause a guy to hate life. The repair/replacement warranty will not mean near as much after a bad scope caused an unexpected shift in POI and a poorly hit animal.

I can usually recognize the hunters who have experienced the aggravation of failing rifle scopes. They're the ones that place more value on purchasing a scope with a low failure rate in the first place, rather than purchasing a scope primarily due to an outstanding reputation for warranty repair/replacement work.

 

[Canadian Bushman]

Phowrath,

Can i ask you to disclose the rifle scops that failed on you?
If not publicly than in a PM?

 

[Iden]

+1 Id like to know also???