What happened to Butler Creek!

[RTO]

I as well as most people I know have always purchased and relied on Butler Creek flip up covers to protect my investments in glass. In the past they have always worked well and reliable. I recently purchased 4 as well as a friend of mine purchased 2 totally seperate distributors and different dates. I purchased objective covers and eye covers. None of the objective covers would close, the eye covers would have to be mashed to the point you need to take the other hand and pry it open while pressing the button with the other. The objective covers wouldnt even come close to closing.
I called Butler Creek, they said sorry and we will send you a RMA. I said great then I asked will the new ones be going out right away? They said no they will have a tech look at them and it should be between 4-6 weeks. This is unacceptable to me. Granted these are like 20.00 for the pair. But the point is for 6 of 6 total between mine and my buddies all not working and they want to drag their feet for 4-6 weeks. Sorry Butler Creek you will not get any more of my business.
Anyone else been having issues with the new covers?


Im wondering if their mold has just become worn. I mean the objective covers arent even close. The numbers match for the cover and the part that slides over objective so I know that is right but we are talking about a gap that 2 layers of electrical tape and it still doesnt even start to catch. So much for what used to be a good product.

 

[CoCaDoRi]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

I too had similar problems.. i measured my optics with a micrometer and selected the advised size ...2 of the 6 were not even close...

Maybe they have outsourced to someone across the pond...

 

[RTO]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

makes you wonder, I measured right but the flip lids that closed to their own plastic wouldnt even close. They were so far off that they wouldnt even try to grab even after putting layers of electical tape inside it to build it up.

 

[jcfd2201]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

I had a similar problem with fit too. I recently broke one of the newer sets right at the hinge. The older ones seem to be more "rubberized" plastic than the newer ones making them a bit more durable.

 

[Iloveguns]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jcfd2201</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I had a similar problem with fit too. I recently broke one of the newer sets right at the hinge. The older ones seem to be more "rubberized" plastic than the newer ones making them a bit more durable. </div></div>

I to have broken two at the hinge one was brand new out of the box not one day. The other was only a month old. I no longer use there covers as well.

 

[RTO]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

Its sad to see that I am not the only one with this problem. It is frustrating that what was once a great product has cheapened for whatever reason. Personally I wouldnt mind paying a little more for a good product, instead they decide to keep the price the same and reduce the quality. Sorry to see you guys are having the same issue. I was really hoping maybe this was just a bad batch.

 

[tigerhawk]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

I have had trouble with the new ones too. They will not stay closed most of the time. Seems to be a size issue too. I am looking for another company for lens covers.

 

[High Binder]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

Sizing sucks, quality sucks. I'm sick of them always breaking. Wish there was a better option.

 

[KHOOKS]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

Guys you may want to check out the polar caps made by Weaver. They come with a changeable lens covers and seem to be maded a little better than the Bulter creek ones.

http://www.brownells.com/1/1/24016-polar-cap-polar-cap-size-g-1-50-1-54-od-range-weaver.html

 

[patriotoutlaw]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

junk...

 

[High Binder]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KHOOKS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Guys you may want to check out the polar caps made by Weaver. They come with a changeable lens covers and seem to be maded a little better than the Bulter creek ones.

http://www.brownells.com/1/1/24016-polar-cap-polar-cap-size-g-1-50-1-54-od-range-weaver.html </div></div>

Anyone have experience with these?

 

[Rookie]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

Got some covers from USOptics with my last purchase. Seem to be similar in design to Butler Creek but much better made.

B.C. seems to have turned to crap.

 

[onechance]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

I orderd 4 sets for my NF scopes 5.5-22x56's and all worked just fine size 18 and 51. Could it be particular sizes that are screwed up?

 

[Shortdraw]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

New ones are brittle junk plastic. I have old sets that are still working perfectly after 10+ years of hunting use. No excuse to put out crap that breaks on the first use. Somebody PLEASE make quality aluminum ones that don't say Leupold on them.

 

[Kells81]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mnshortdraw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">New ones are brittle junk plastic. I have old sets that are still working perfectly after 10+ years of hunting use. No excuse to put out crap that breaks on the first use. Somebody PLEASE make quality aluminum ones that don't say Leupold on them. </div></div>

You can knock the leup but the aluminum covers they have are nice. Every leup scope I have gotten from SO has came with them free and they are worth every penny at that price.

 

[freedive10]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

I just stopped buying them after the last three would not stay shut and broke in a matter of a week. What ever happened to American Made Dependability!?

 

[tactic-als]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

When an issue like this arises....I'm betting that American Made Dependability has turned into Chinese/Foreign Made Crap. If anyone knows for a fact that these are still made here, then I'm wrong. But when a company's once good product is consistently bad...you know the answer.

 

[ORD]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tactic-als</div><div class="ubbcode-body">When an issue like this arises....I'm betting that American Made Dependability has turned into Chinese/Foreign Made Crap.</div></div>

This is my understanding of what has taken place with BC in the last several months (or more), but I have not got anything to confirm that "fact" other than the wild and highly exaggerated Internet rumor mill. Whatever the reason, the quality certainly doesn't appear to be up to what it once was in my experience. I'm pretty well done with BC until I hear that things have changed/returned to normal.

 

[Mr Pink]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

im done with BC. the sizing never matches, and the break so easily. im sick of buying several pairs, knowing that they will most likely break.

 

[Shortdraw]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Poke</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mnshortdraw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">New ones are brittle junk plastic. I have old sets that are still working perfectly after 10+ years of hunting use. No excuse to put out crap that breaks on the first use. Somebody PLEASE make quality aluminum ones that don't say Leupold on them. </div></div>

You can knock the leup but the aluminum covers they have are nice. Every leup scope I have gotten from SO has came with them free and they are worth every penny at that price. </div></div>
Not knocking Leupold, I like their scopes and really like their flip caps. I want a company to make caps like theirs that fit other brands of scopes. Machined aluminum with magnets to hold them shut. I would pay $100 for a beefy set.

 

[fw707]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: High Binder</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KHOOKS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Guys you may want to check out the polar caps made by Weaver. They come with a changeable lens covers and seem to be maded a little better than the Bulter creek ones.

http://www.brownells.com/1/1/24016-polar-cap-polar-cap-size-g-1-50-1-54-od-range-weaver.html </div></div>

Anyone have experience with these? </div></div>

Those are the caps that come with NF 2.5-10x32 scopes.
They're not what you'd expect from NF, but they work OK. Sometimes the release button has to be manually pulled out for them to snap closed, but they open just fine and protect the glass.

 

[bowhuntr09]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

I have broken every one I own at the hinge. Local shop sells them for $6 so I just replace them as needed. They do not hold up well at all though. Must be their way to boost sales. ;-)

 

[RTO]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

Well this is a good oportunity for someone to start a company with a Quality product. Id pay a little more for a quality American made product.

 

[RTO]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

Another thing I noticed is that Bushnell now owns Butler Creek. Have they always owned them or is that something new that maybe related to the reduced quality? Anyone have any insight?

 

[Powder_Burns]

Re: What happened to Butler Creek!

I ditched the flip-ups when they started flipping up by themselves. Went back to the bikini covers that came with my Zeiss scope. The latest rage now is scopecoat, neoprene socks that go over your scope. I'm ordering 2 pairs in, the butler creek bikinis seem to be as reliable and durable as their flip-ups.