Rifle Scopes March scopes durability?

[thefitter]

I have been reading quite a few threads on the March scopes. Lots of information and opinions but not much on durability.

I'm contemplating a FX FFP 5-40x56 for this short, light weight 7mm RSAUM build I'm putting together. How rugged are is the March "Tactical" line? I have 3 S&Bs. How does March stand up?

Thanks

 

[kristian55]

I have been reading quite a few threads on the March scopes. Lots of information and opinions but not much on durability.

I'm contemplating a FX FFP 5-40x56 for this short, light weight 7mm RSAUM build I'm putting together. How rugged are is the March "Tactical" line? I have 3 S&Bs. How does March stand up?

Thanks

"7mm RSAUM build"-without problems,FX FFP 5-40x56 -an excellent choice for short and long distances.
5x-actually you can work at a distance of 3.0-3.5 meters.

 

[thefitter]

"7mm RSAUM build"-without problems,FX FFP 5-40x56 -an excellent choice for short and long distances.
5x-actually you can work at a distance of 3.0-3.5 meters.

Thanks. The question was how durable and rugged the scopes were constructed.

 

[Goin'Hot]

I've been cranking on the knobs of my 3-24 for the last year. Return to zero without issue. I've not dropped the scope off a building to test it's physical durability so, I can't comment on that.

 

[thefitter]

I've been cranking on the knobs of my 3-24 for the last year. Return to zero without issue. I've not dropped the scope off a building to test it's physical durability so, I can't comment on that.

Would you mind?

 

[kristian55]

Thanks. The question was how durable and rugged the scopes were constructed.

Speaking about the caliber - it is safe to .50cal..
Speaking about crash test USO or ELCAN-I did not do,sure, that it is not worse.

 

[sib1948]

My 3-24 and 5-40 are rock solid with 5 year warranty-better than S&B's 2 year joke. Plus Kelby has said he would back it up further. You should search and read Fireguyty's review. He beat the shit out of his for a year without issues. Ilya has also done a few comparisons against other premium scopes. My only connection with Kelby's was buying the 2 scopes from them. The scopes kinda sell themselves. Hope this helps!

PS-Should be OK on 50 cal, but would ask Kelby.

 

[thefitter]

My 3-24 and 5-40 are rock solid with 5 year warranty-better than S&B's 2 year joke. Plus Kelby has said he would back it up further. You should search and read Fireguyty's review. He beat the shit out of his for a year without issues. Ilya has also done a few comparisons against other premium scopes. My only connection with Kelby's was buying the 2 scopes from them. The scopes kinda sell themselves. Hope this helps!

PS-Should be OK on 50 cal, but would ask Kelby.

Yeah I read that review, thanks.

 

[sib1948]

Yesterday out at range with my son and RW Snyder Rem 700 5r with 22" 1:11 twist and March 3-24 42mm. We both shot 0.5 MOA at 100 yds. Then after 6 clicks shot 100% 10 rounds each on 6" steel disc. Then 8 more clicks shot 12" steel chickens 18 out of 20. Then to 500 meters (~550 yards) I forget the number of additional clicks, 24" steel square, 35 out of 40 hits mostly near center. Wind was ~8 mph from rear, occasionally switching to left rear and 84F about 1490 altitude. Too much fun to be legal!!!

 

[The Revenge]

I'm also looking at that Ffp 5-40 for my 300wm. That or a US Optic. Can't decide. Friend of mine got the march 8-80 for his 50.

 

[sulcop96]

All this March talk and I just picked up a Nightforce F1.... wish I had waited.

Sully

 

[rlsmith1]

This must be what time travel feels like.

No one has seemed to have any issues until the last post in 2013; are these scopes still deemed durable? Their incredible mag range and light weight would lead me to believe they had to sacrifice somewhere.

Really interested in their March Compact and March-F scopes for those that have experience.

 

[rnlzkbrs]

From https://marchscopes.com/news/5512/ :

The internal diameter of the 30mm tube and 34mm tube are the same at March Scopes.
They are both 26mm. The walls of the 34mm tubes are 4mm thick.
As we prioritize the durability of the scope, our 34mm body tube is simply just to make the scope extra strong.

 

[rlsmith1]

Their Compact and F scopes are still 30mm and are very light so I curious what the durability is of those. Vortex claims rugged durability but everyone knows about their awesome warranty service for a reason.

 

[TacticalPlinker]

I read somewhere that March epoxies some of the internals to the main tube. Wonder if anybody heard about that....

Check this link from FB . Scroll down for discussion on tube strength...




TP....

 

[Denys]

Their Compact and F scopes are still 30mm and are very light so I curious what the durability is of those. Vortex claims rugged durability but everyone knows about their awesome warranty service for a reason.

From what I understand, March makes all of its riflescopes the same way. They start from bar stock aluminum (and a special kind of aluminum) and then they machine the metal down to form the body. They do not extrude or shape the aluminum, it's all machined. All the March scopes with 56mm objective lenses have 34mm tubes, with 4mm walls. All the 52mm and smaller objectives are 30mm tubes with 2mm walls, (pretty much a standard). There are two exceptions to this: The 4.5-28X52 and the Genesis 4-40X52 have 34mm bodies with 4mm walls.

Deon uses argon instead of nitrogen to replace the air in the riflescope. As for the weight savings, these are achieved through engineering, some would say OVER-engineering.

 

[rlsmith1]

Thanks guys, they look great on paper for sure! I had not seen that FB post so thanks for sharing. I also did not realize the 52mm models have the larger 34mm tube as this D24V52FML has a stated 30mm.

Any first hand accounts of these scope's durability? They seem to check a ton of boxes and I'm wondering why they aren't more popular? Eyebox?

 

[Denys]

Thanks guys, they look great on paper for sure! I had not seen that FB post so thanks for sharing. I also did not realize the 52mm models have the larger 34mm tube as this D24V52FML has a stated 30mm.

Any first hand accounts of these scope's durability? They seem to check a ton of boxes and I'm wondering why they aren't more popular? Eyebox?

As I stated earlier, only 2 scopes with 52mm objectives have a 34mm tube: the new 4.5-28x52 and the Genesis 4-40x52. All other 52mm or smaller have 30mm tubes.

 

[White Mamba]

Ive used them hunting for a few years . Long drives on 4x4 washboard, different countries, rain, river trips, bangs and small falls. All good so far

 

[TacticalPlinker]

Thanks guys, they look great on paper for sure! I had not seen that FB post so thanks for sharing. I also did not realize the 52mm models have the larger 34mm tube as this D24V52FML has a stated 30mm.

Any first hand accounts of these scope's durability? They seem to check a ton of boxes and I'm wondering why they aren't more popular? Eyebox?

I'm taking a guess based upon their lack of marketing as per their own admittance these scopes are popular only by word of mouth. Since it appears they established themselves with the benchrest crowd you could see how it takes a while to get out to the other disciplines.

 

[Heffo]

I own 2 March scopes. The 5-40x56 amd the 3-24x42. Haven’t missed a beat, I have the MML reticle with floating dot. Love it. Our distributor here in Australia (1 of 3 worldwide for March) doesn’t sell shit....if he doesn’t like it he won’t sell it. Eg won’t sell the 5-42 March as is unusable past 30x. March are all handmade. Aren’t popular as aren’t hyped up like others. Glass is as good as any of the others. Cheers

 

[Pete B]

I own 2 March scopes. The 5-40x56 amd the 3-24x42. Haven’t missed a beat, I have the MML reticle with floating dot. Love it. Our distributor here in Australia (1 of 3 worldwide for March) doesn’t sell shit....if he doesn’t like it he won’t sell it. Eg won’t sell the 5-42 March as is unusable past 30x. March are all handmade. Aren’t popular as aren’t hyped up like others. Glass is as good as any of the others. Cheers

Mate, I believe the issue with the 5x42 was the IQ when it was maxed out in elevation. Had one, the fact that I would have never used it near the max elevation...... So I honestly was not aware of the fault until inform by the dealer. I found nothing wrong with anything regarding the magnification.
YMMV
Regards
Pete

 

[Clearlight]

I have two 5 - 40’s that have been 100% reliable. The one in pics below is nearly
a decade old, has won more local and State comps than I can remember, and has
been dropped a few times. Tracking and RTZ is better than I can measure, even
after years of poor treatment. Thanks to Gary Costello in the UK for the nifty
parallax/focus sprocket, and Stuart Elliott at BRT in Aus for the heads up about
these excellent optics. And thanks to Mr Shimizu San and his team for their old
school zen dedication and precision.

It’s spent time on everything from a springer air rifle, through unbraked 300 WM,
to 416 cal. Zero issues, it just works. I switched from favouring Hensoldt, (work
related emotional attachment) to mostly March, am now happily running 5 of their
products.

 

[Denys]

I have two 5 - 40’s that have been 100% reliable. The one in pics below is nearly
a decade old, has won more local and State comps than I can remember, and has
been dropped a few times. Tracking and RTZ is better than I can measure, even
after years of poor treatment. Thanks to Gary Costello in the UK for the nifty
parallax/focus sprocket, and Stuart Elliott at BRT in Aus for the heads up about
these excellent optics. And thanks to Mr Shimizu San and his team for their old
school zen dedication and precision.

It’s spent time on everything from a springer air rifle, through unbraked 300 WM,
to 416 cal. Zero issues, it just works. I switched from favouring Hensoldt, (work
related emotional attachment) to mostly March, am now happily running 5 of their
products.

I like the 5-40X56, it's an amazing scope and built like an Abrams tank. Yours looks like it been through the battle of 73 Easting and kept on going.

I bought my first March in 2013, a 5-50X56 and it spent the next 7 years on my F-TR match rifles through over a 100 matches including Worlds, Nationals, State and local matches, and the incidents along the way.

I like your gizmo on the side focus, I use the March big wheel. Gary does come up with neat devices and add-on for the March scopes. I have some of his "old-people" windage knobs on my 5-50X56 and my 10-60X56 HM.

 

[Denys]

I own 2 March scopes. The 5-40x56 amd the 3-24x42. Haven’t missed a beat, I have the MML reticle with floating dot. Love it. Our distributor here in Australia (1 of 3 worldwide for March) doesn’t sell shit....if he doesn’t like it he won’t sell it. Eg won’t sell the 5-42 March as is unusable past 30x. March are all handmade. Aren’t popular as aren’t hyped up like others. Glass is as good as any of the others. Cheers

I have met Stuart a few times and I have great respect for him regarding his knowledge of riflescopes. I also appreciate his thoughts on the 5-52X56 HM. If my memory is correct, I believe he didn't like the fact this scope has huge range of elevation adjustment but that the IQ will start to suffer when you get to the extreme in elevation and you have to adjust the side focus more to compensate. If my memory is incorrect, I blame advancing age, society and global warming.

It is my understanding this degradation of IQ and need to fiddle with the side focus more, will occur with any scope when it gets to such adjustment ranges but then again, the vast majority of scopes can't even get anywhere near those numbers. Add to this, the wide angle eyepiece with its wider view than a regular riflescope.

March has this page in their support area, about this very situation:
How-to-adjust-5-42.pdf (marchscopes.com)

The 5-42X56 has 140 MOA (40 MIL) of adjustment range, whereas the other March scopes with similar 34mm tubes have about 60 MOA (17MIL).

If you intend to spend a lot of time at the edge of adjustment with a 5-42X56, you should really use a canted rail and step down from the extreme setting. I always strive to stay as near the center of the range for the very best IQ. So in my March-X 10-60X56 HM installed on my F-TR rifle, I have it set with a combination of 20MOA canted rail and Burris XTR rings to have it very close to center for 1000 yard zero, where this rifle is used 95% of the time.

 

[Heffo]

Mate, I believe the issue with the 5x42 was the IQ when it was maxed out in elevation. Had one, the fact that I would have never used it near the max elevation...... So I honestly was not aware of the fault until inform by the dealer. I found nothing wrong with anything regarding the magnification.
YMMV
Regards
Pete

I have met Stuart a few times and I have great respect for him regarding his knowledge of riflescopes. I also appreciate his thoughts on the 5-52X56 HM. If my memory is correct, I believe he didn't like the fact this scope has huge range of elevation adjustment but that the IQ will start to suffer when you get to the extreme in elevation and you have to adjust the side focus more to compensate. If my memory is incorrect, I blame advancing age, society and global warming.

It is my understanding this degradation of IQ and need to fiddle with the side focus more, will occur with any scope when it gets to such adjustment ranges but then again, the vast majority of scopes can't even get anywhere near those numbers. Add to this, the wide angle eyepiece with its wider view than a regular riflescope.

March has this page in their support area, about this very situation:
How-to-adjust-5-42.pdf (marchscopes.com)

The 5-42X56 has 140 MOA (40 MIL) of adjustment range, whereas the other March scopes with similar 34mm tubes have about 60 MOA (17MIL).

If you intend to spend a lot of time at the edge of adjustment with a 5-42X56, you should really use a canted rail and step down from the extreme setting. I always strive to stay as near the center of the range for the very best IQ. So in my March-X 10-60X56 HM installed on my F-TR rifle, I have it set with a combination of 20MOA canted rail and Burris XTR rings to have it very close to center for 1000 yard zero, where this rifle is used 95% of the time.

Gents I stand corrected. Thank you. Yes was to do with elevation maxed out and then high mag range combined. Not something I’d ever have to worry about. He just thought they were pushing boundaries a little far. Oops sorry for getting off track on original topic. Cheers.