Rifle Scopes Scope for great grandson

[BugSniper]

Which one should I buy, given I'm 33?

rephrased: Is there a manufacturer that could reasonably, or actually does, claim their current stuff is gonna hold up for 50+ years? Are there components/materials or methods that should obviously be avoided if an hierloom scope is the, ahem, objective?

Basically I'd love to be able to own a serious, serious optic, but that wouldn't sit right unless it was something I wanted to hand down as a complete family treasure of a firearm. There's a big difference between 5 yrs, 10yrs, and 50yrs when it comes to decomposition, and I don't see alot of these little plastic and rubber pieces doing well. The finish that works for a few years may pit and flake in another 20. So does anyone focus on unrelenting endurance vs just stunning quality for today?

 

[BigBrother]

Re: Scope for great grandson

I think you're much better off going with one with a lifetime warranty than one that will guaranteed make it the long haul. Trying to get a product that will run well 20 years from now is a one in a thousand gamble. But buying a scope with a "fix it or replace forever, regardless of owner" policy is a much better bet. Leupold, Nikon, I think USO and Nightforce all come to mind. Let them worry about rubber gaskets, not you

 

[CanPopper]

Re: Scope for great grandson

Lifetime warranties are great. I got my Leupy VX3 LRT off the estate of a guy. Then I sent it in to Leupold to get the reticle changed to TMR and the eyepiece threads replaced so I could use the Leupold metal lens covers.

If you are serious about a truly "last forever" type scope, I would say get a fixed power scope from one of the manufacturers who built their scopes like tanks. Nightforce and USO comes to mind. Preferably, you don't want parallax adjustments either.

Remember, fewer moving parts = fewer parts that can break.

 

[BigBrother]

Re: Scope for great grandson

Also, not to sound like a dick, but why is it so important to build a heirloom, given this specific market and how the technology is developing?

1. Scopes are not going to get worse, they're only going to get better.

2. The whole market you're dealing with on this forum (tactical) is essentially rough-built, application-specific gear. What I mean by that is, there is very little chance that the types of scopes we look at will become "collector" items, because they aren't built with delicate, artistic features in mind. By rough-built, I mean they're practical and built to be roughened up, not placed in display cabinets like so many German and Italian shotguns. Take a look at gunbroker and search all, sorted by price. Yeah, those things go for more than some homes.

My point being, there is *nothing* intrinsic in a modern SWS or its optic that I can see appreciating with age. In this specific market, the only thing that could do that is a limited supply (like the original USMC Unertls), but anything you're going to buy from a mfr. is not from limited military stock, so that's out the window.

My point is, rather than treating this like a 1957 Bel Air, you should look at it more like a 1957 tractor. Very few (if any) are going to be actively seeking it out in the future, as all the tractors today are, I can only assume, uniformly better in nearly every way.

Make sense?

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: Scope for great grandson

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BigBrother</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The whole market you're dealing with on this forum (tactical) is essentially rough-built, application-specific gear. What I mean by that is, there is very little chance that the types of scopes we look at will become "collector" items, because they aren't built with delicate, artistic features in mind. By rough-built, I mean they're practical and built to be roughened up, not placed in display cabinets like so many German and Italian shotguns. Take a look at gunbroker and search all, sorted by price. Yeah, those things go for more than some homes.
</div></div>

Priced an old school Lyman or Unertl lately?

However it's generally not about "value" of the monetary kind. I don't value my grandfathers M1 Garand because it's unique, valuable, or in perfect condition (because it's none of those). I value it because of what it is, who he is, and that he cared enough about me to give it to me.

More than likely my grandchildren will still be shooting my SN-3 when I am long in the grave. Hopefully USO will continue on and be able to service it.

 

[BigBrother]

Re: Scope for great grandson

Yeah, not to turn this into a big philosophy debate, but I guess I never placed enough value in material positions with respect to people to see it that way. This is why I jumped to rarity and financial value as the important factors if building an heirloom.

To me, the lessons learned, dialog had, and time spent are what's important. A bunch of metal and glass? Meh.

But, that's just me

 

[okiefired]

Re: Scope for great grandson

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BigBrother</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Also, not to sound like a dick, but why is it so important to build a heirloom, given this specific market and how the technology is developing?

1. Scopes are not going to get worse, they're only going to get better.

2. The whole market you're dealing with on this forum (tactical) is essentially rough-built, application-specific gear. What I mean by that is, there is very little chance that the types of scopes we look at will become "collector" items, because they aren't built with delicate, artistic features in mind. By rough-built, I mean they're practical and built to be roughened up, not placed in display cabinets like so many German and Italian shotguns. Take a look at gunbroker and search all, sorted by price. Yeah, those things go for more than some homes.

My point being, there is *nothing* intrinsic in a modern SWS or its optic that I can see appreciating with age. In this specific market, the only thing that could do that is a limited supply (like the original USMC Unertls), but anything you're going to buy from a mfr. is not from limited military stock, so that's out the window.

My point is, rather than treating this like a 1957 Bel Air, you should look at it more like a 1957 tractor. Very few (if any) are going to be actively seeking it out in the future, as all the tractors today are, I can only assume, uniformly better in nearly every way.

Make sense?
</div></div>

Makes a little sence but not with that example. Tractor collecting is very big now. Try and buy a 50's model John Deere right now. It will bring way more than it did new. I thing quality firearms are an excellent investment.

okie

 

[BigBrother]

Re: Scope for great grandson

Heh, tells you about how much I know tractors. Alright, 1950s forklift. Better ?

 

[okiefired]

Re: Scope for great grandson

Yeah, thats better. If its not a John Deere.

okie