Rifle Scopes Why such poor warranties on scope electronics?

[cuz]

Hello all, I'm new here but have been reading a bunch over the past week researching a new scope purchase. I'm looking for a 1-6x or 1-8x scope for my rifle. Some of the better quality manufacturers have models approaching $2500-$3000. At this price point I'd expect a lifetime no BS warranty like Burris and Vortex offer, but what I'm finding is that they all seem to have lifetime warranties on the scope, but only 2-5 year warranties on the electronics. This really bugs me because I won't shoot it much and would hate to have it break on its 6th range trip which may be 10 years after I bought it. Am I missing something here??

Besides Burris and Vortex, does any other manufacturer offer a lifetime no BS warranty on their scopes that includes electronics?

Thanks,
Cuz.



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[hamstur]

Consumer electronics are sensitive & pricey instruments prone to eventually need maintenance, fail or become obsolete. No brand of TV, computer, stereo, etc comes with a lifetime warranty.

Consider Vortex the exception not the norm. The norm is in fact 1-5 years. If that's what you expect, then buy Vortex.

 

[Fursniper]

Yep, go Vortex, their 1-6 is a very nice scope. I sure am curious though why you want illumination on that kind of scope that may only get used so infrequently.

 

[cuz]

Yep, go Vortex, their 1-6 is a very nice scope. I sure am curious though why you want illumination on that kind of scope that may only get used so infrequently.

Well that's easy to answer, because I don't have a clue about rifles or scopes. My only current experience is with red dots at sub 100 yards with ARs and PCCs. I recently put a 4-16x44 non illuminated scope on a rifle and found it was too much magnification for me. It was too hard to get/stay in the eye box. I'm guessing that with less magnification and illumination the scope will be easier to use. Since I'm not a "rifle or scope" guy I'm having a hard time rationalizing the cost of some good quality scopes. I am currently considering the Vortex PST Gen II 1-6x but want to wait for more reviews before buying. It certainly seems like the best value at $700.

Thanks.



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[Fursniper]

Well that's easy to answer, because I don't have a clue about rifles or scopes. My only current experience is with red dots at sub 100 yards with ARs and PCCs. I recently put a 4-16x44 non illuminated scope on a rifle and found it was too much magnification for me. It was too hard to get/stay in the eye box. I'm guessing that with less magnification and illumination the scope will be easier to use. Since I'm not a "rifle or scope" guy I'm having a hard time rationalizing the cost of some good quality scopes. I am currently considering the Vortex PST Gen II 1-6x but want to wait for more reviews before buying. It certainly seems like the best value at $700.

Thanks.



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Ok, with the exception of multigun competition, anticipated self-defense situations and low light hunting, frankly, illumination is not needed in a scope for accuracy. It can help with very fast target aquisition at close quarters but that doesn't sound like the type of use you are looking for to me. Since your concern seems to be the warranty period for illumination, I'd suggest dropping the illumination requirement. Choose your scope based on the quality & price you are looking for with a reticle you like that will work for your intended purpose. It may end up coming with illumination or not depending on your other choices but I wouldn't overly concern yourself with it. If you end up with illumination anyway, considering your infrequent use I would remove the battery between uses to avoid damage from the battery. I've had several illuminated scopes of many types for many years, never had one go bad. Considering your occasional use, there are more better valued scopes than $2500-3000! I have not personally used the PST you are considering but do use the gen II razor 1-6 which is a fine scope. Probably more scope than you need however. If possible, try to get behind a few if you can, maybe at you local range or from friends. There are plenty of choices for decently priced 1-6 optics out there. The 1-8x scopes tend to be quite a bit more expensive. Suggest you look at some 2-10's as well.

 

[SubOptimal]

If you think like a cat, you will only hunt in the hours just around dawn and dusk. They don't have reticles but have eyes that are adapted by eons of evolution to see better in that lighting. The single most important thing is to make out your target, secondary is seeing the reticle. In fact, you don't really need the reticle at all, ever hear of a ghost ring sight?
People here tend to obsess about stacking bullets one on top of the other and/or hitting small targets at ridiculous ranges compared to what a hunter typically encounters. Not a thing wrong with that, in fact, it is a lot of fun.
If you want to minimize electronics and still get an illuminated reticle, look at the Trijicon line of scopes that use refracted available light and some radiation glow to illuminate their reticles. They have one that has a vertical post and a single cross hair and the light is adjusted by opening and closing an aperture on the body of the scope. The radiation does decay over the years with 5 years being about the useful life. You can then send in the scope to have the post replaced. If there is some light available, the post still glows enough to be useful. I put one of those on my AR when I first got it. I have since switched to an Aimpoint Comp M4 and have zero problems with it. A new battery every couple of years, leave the thing on and I have no problem out to 300 yards or so.

 

[EGwhisper]

If you think like a cat, you will only hunt in the hours just around dawn and dusk. They don't have reticles but have eyes that are adapted by eons of evolution to see better in that lighting. The single most important thing is to make out your target, secondary is seeing the reticle. In fact, you don't really need the reticle at all, ever hear of a ghost ring sight?
People here tend to obsess about stacking bullets one on top of the other and/or hitting small targets at ridiculous ranges compared to what a hunter typically encounters. Not a thing wrong with that, in fact, it is a lot of fun.
If you want to minimize electronics and still get an illuminated reticle, look at the Trijicon line of scopes that use refracted available light and some radiation glow to illuminate their reticles. They have one that has a vertical post and a single cross hair and the light is adjusted by opening and closing an aperture on the body of the scope. The radiation does decay over the years with 5 years being about the useful life. You can then send in the scope to have the post replaced. If there is some light available, the post still glows enough to be useful. I put one of those on my AR when I first got it. I have since switched to an Aimpoint Comp M4 and have zero problems with it. A new battery every couple of years, leave the thing on and I have no problem out to 300 yards or so.

So your alternative to buying equipment that helps target in darkness is: mutate to have oval pupils, and develop the tapetum lucidum . How about purchasing an aimpoint t1 with a ten year warranty for $600? That's $60/year for the best cqb/home defense optic going right now.

Compare to a vortex spark. I'd rather have the best optic available to me at the time, than to have an airsoft toy with an unlimited warranty that is hard to see out of. There are more important things than a warranty.

 

[Bulldog Firearms]

Something that's rarely mentioned, I would suspect most defense style scenarios for non-LEO types, the sights are probably not used at all whatever they may be due to how close and how fast things occur in those types of situations. That's not to say that purchasing quality is a bad idea. Good tools always make a job easier.