Recoil proof scopes

[stubshaft]

Two and a half months ago I bought a Weaver 2X EER scope to use on one of my 500 S&W barrels.  Three weeks ago it would no longer hold parallax (after only 475 rounds) and I sent it off to Weaver for warranty repair.  I remounted one of my Leupold MX8-2X EER's and took it to the range and shot it over the preceeding weeks.  Today on round 117 (about 550 cumulative) it too will no longer hold parallax.  It is going back tomorrow.  My problem is that I am waiting for a 50 Alaskan barrel for my Encore and the recoil is more "energetic" than the 500 Mag.  Does anyone have any ideas of a scope that may hold up to the recoil?  or is the Leupold breaking only a random coincidence?

[Graybeard]

I'm not at all sure what defect you are referring to as "won't hold parallax".

I will say tho that the vast majority of scope failures are due to improper mounting and I'd bet money that if you had a Leupold 2X die on you that you do not have them properly mounted. Either use Burris Signature rings or lap whatever else you have. If you don't then expect scopes to continue to fail.

[Grumulkin]

I've had my travails with scopes and scope mounts on both a 460 S&W Magnum and 500 S&W Magnum.  Scopes that have malfunctioned include:

1.  A Bushnell Trophy scope.  Bushnell wouldn't fix or replace it saying it had "been abused."
2.  Two T/C "Recoil Proof" scopes both of which were promptly replaced by T/C with new scopes.
3.  A Leupold 2.5-8X VX III (fixed with no hassle by Leupold).

As far as the improper mounting theory goes I would say yes and no.  Before I got in know, I used stuff like Thompson/Center's Duo-Rings which support the scope in only 2 places.  This is fine with low recoil rounds but not with the 460 & 500 S&W Mags.  The scopes weren't improperly mounted but the mounting wasn't sufficient for these high recoil rounds.  All the mounts I used prior to going to SSK Industries' T'SOB mounts shot loose and the scopes, prior to using this mount with 4 rings always moved under recoil unless the scope was mounted with the turret against the front ring.

The scope failure with the Leupold 2.5-8X VX III was with the scope mounted in a 4 ring T'SOB mount on my 460 S&W Mag. and the mount, rings and scope had all been installed by SSK Industries.  So, if that scope was improperly mounted, the mounting was done by J. D. Jones or his employes at SSK Industries.

I also had SSK Industries install a Leupold 2.5-8X VX III scope on my 500 S&W Mag. barrel in their 4 ring T'SOB mount.  Prior to the use of this scope and mount, the accuracy was mediocre.  Following the installation of this scope, I magically started getting 1 to 1.5 inch 3 shot groups at 100 yards off the bench.

Some may not know the reason S&W used a gain twist barrel (starting at 1:100 and going to 1:20 at the muzzle) on their 460 S&W Magnum barrels.  It was because the torque without the gain twist was too hard on scopes.  Obviously, T/C barrels don't have gain twist barrels and I'm not sure anyone makes scopes that will stand up long term to 460 & 500 S&W Mag. recoil.  Something like a red dot or EOTech might stand up to recoil better but you can't get the accuracy with them that you can with a good scope.  I would say, go with a scope made by a company who will fix or replace it when it breaks and expect to have some scope malfunctions until someone makes a more durable handgun scope.

[Ladobe]

GB is spot on as usual about the mounting, although not all so called recoil proof scopes will stand up to a handcannon.   The Burris rings save some folks, but knowing how and actually lapping rings is something few folks seem to go the extra on.    Since both scopes have fixed parallax, I assume you mean you've shot the innards loose.    

What I found many years ago and stuck with on most my handcannons was the TPC scopes (1.5-4X, 4X & 6X).   JDJ's, Super Bower's and an Encore 416 Rigby never hurt any of them, and a couple on 375JDJ's saw thousands of full house loads.   The TPC is a long discontinued model sadly, but I stock piled them while they could still be found.    It pays to plan ahead.  

  

[yooper77]

I have a T/C 2.5-7x28mm Illuminated reticle scope on my 12" T/C Encore 454 Casull factory barrel.

I had SSKIndustries.com shorten & re-crown my 15" barrel to 12" and install a 3 ring T'SOB mount.  I haven’t had any problems, but if I do I am completely covered under warranty.

yooper77

[Noreaster]

GB give alittle more detail about proper mounting. I've killed a couple of my scopes with to many turnes of the allen wrench. . What do you mean by lap.


Hey stubshaft you've got an awesome ammo budget!

[stubshaft]

Scope base is a 6 hole MGM steel mount with 3 steel Burris rings.  Parallax is the condition of being set for one focal length.  If you place your crosshairs at a set distance (50yds.) on a rest and move you head either verticall or horizontally the crosshairs should not move.  Unless you have an adjustable objective ALL scopes are set at a prescribed distance.  In this case the scope went from zero crosshair movement at 50yds to two and a half feet of movement just by moving me head around.  A sure indication that something had shifted inside it.

[Graybeard]

Heavy recoil and heavy scopes are a poor match as the inertia of the scope when the gun fires is just too great at times for the scope to take and still hold together inside. Thus light scopes like fixed power Leupold and others are a real help in staying in one piece.

If you use rings that are not lapped using a lap bar to get a minimum of 80% preferrably more contact and that have been correctly aligned first using an alignment bar then you put a great strain on the scope tube. Tightening the rings too much can also damage the scope. Use the torque recommended by the ring manufacturer or scope manufacturer.

I don't have time or space to fully explain how to lap rings. But basically get alignment bars and first make sure the rings are aligned as closely as possible then use a properly fitted steel lap bar and fine grit compound and lap the rings for 80% to 90% or so surface contact. They can also be reamed.

[Hairtrigger]

I put a TC 2-7X scope on my Ruger in 454 mainly to see if it would handle the recoil.
I was pleasantly suprised the scope never failed

[Noreaster]

GB thanks for the info. Sounds easier to just get the Burris signature rings. I've been looking around and there aren't many fixed powered scopes out there anymore, at least not as common as variable. I used to have a 2.5 power on my muzzeloader back in the day and it never failed.

[stubshaft]

Hey stubshaft you've got an awesome ammo budget!

I go through about 70lbs of lead a month just casting for my big bores.  If I didn't cast I wouldn't be able to shoot!

The price of factory is insane and here in Hawaii we always get hit with a shipping surcharge (another way of making more profit from us poor slobs).

[expeditionx]

The burris signature rings are a great idea. That is all I use for rings anymore.
No lapping necessary and the inserts not only protect your scope but can raise or lower
elevation by switching inserts.