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Scopes these days…?

Scopes these days…?
« on: November 25, 2024, 01:00:53 PM »
I am starting to get a bit frustrated with the optics companies and rifle scopes.

You can get any scope you want these days as long as it is matte finish with ballistic turrets (sarcasm).

Why don’t they manufacture silver finish scopes, gloss finish scopes, and just a ballistic reticle these days? I realize that most ballistic reticles are only good out to ~ 500 yards, but that covers around 98% of shots taken.

Additionally…you don’t always have time to range an animal and adjust the elevation turret. Game animals generally don’t stick around long.

These optics companies need to go back and diversify their product lineup again.
JK

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Re: Scopes these days…?
« Reply #1 on: November 25, 2024, 01:11:37 PM »
I guess they make what sells. The ballistic turrets are not for a hunting rifle,IMO. I don't even have them on my 15lb. single shot fixed muzzle braked 338 Lapua Mag! As far as ranging goes, I would range by trees or bushes when bow hunting as soon as I got into an unfamilliar stand.  That might work for a rifle from a stand,not so much on a stalk.  :)

Re: Scopes these days…?
« Reply #2 on: November 25, 2024, 01:50:25 PM »
I’ll certainly buy that matte scopes with turrets are what is selling, but the prices on the used market for gloss and silver scopes would indicate at least some demand.

Even a limited production run of silver and gloss 3-9X and 4-12X scopes would sell pretty well, I believe.
JK

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Re: Scopes these days…?
« Reply #3 on: November 25, 2024, 05:12:40 PM »
     
I am starting to get a bit frustrated with the optics companies and rifle scopes.
You can get any scope you want these days as long as it is matte finish with ballistic turrets (sarcasm).Why don’t they manufacture silver finish scopes, gloss finish scopes, and just a ballistic reticle these days? I realize that most ballistic reticles are only good out to ~ 500 yards, but that covers around 98% of shots taken. Additionally…you don’t always have time to range an animal and adjust the elevation turret. Game animals generally don’t stick around long.
These optics companies need to go back and diversify their product lineup again.
       I also agree. The top optic companies seem to have made a choice to cater to all the new trends as far as rifle styles. The military style firearms are selling big across the country, they have even made  in-roads to the hunting community . The optics companies, like Grouch says, are gonna produce what sells. Most big companies do. Swarovski, Leupold, and Zeiss, don’t often look back when the iron is hot. Its like beautiful Weatherby wood stocks are no longer economical or appealing to  the last three generations of rifle customers. Weatherby won’t look for AAA+ wood for stocks or do retro runs, (specials) its just not profitable any more. Its gonna take companies like Vortex or Bushnell that make good economical optics to pick up the ball and run with it. But first there has to be a demand.jmo   
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Re: Scopes these days…?
« Reply #4 on: November 25, 2024, 06:11:43 PM »
Again, I'll suggest that Adam seriously consider reestablishing the Weatherby Imperial line of scopes. These could be from Leupold, Vortec, Burris or even possible Maven or Tract. Again, equip them for hunters not 1,000 yard target shooters. And with finishes that mirror the rifles he makes. I bet he would be surprised at the response. Matching rings and bases would be frosting on the cake.
« Last Edit: December 01, 2024, 08:38:39 PM by Dino82520 »

eford

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Re: Scopes these days…?
« Reply #5 on: November 26, 2024, 05:15:28 AM »
Several years ago I tried to find a glossy scope for a Mark V Deluxe. Needless to say, the choices were non-existent for new scopes. (You usually don’t know what you’re getting with a used scope.) A glossy line of Leupold’s or Vortex’s would sell, in my humble opinion.
The trend of long range shooting with gizmos and complicated reticles and turrets is strong. Not everyone is trying to ring spell at 1,000 yards plus so if scope builders would stick with affordable, reliable “low tech” scopes I think their base would respond with good sales.
I know of two, easy to use reticles with hold over points——-the Leupold Creedmoor (formerly the Long Range) and the Vortex Dead Hold. The Dead Hold closely resembles the former Nikon BDC reticle which was great. The Creedmoor is only on one current Leupold scope but it a great choice for the average person.
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Re: Scopes these days…?
« Reply #6 on: November 26, 2024, 08:06:07 AM »
I have one Weatherby deluxe that a glossy scope would look good on. It currently has a Nikon scope on it. After that rifle, none I have are stainless or glossy finished. I am not in the market for any glossy or stainless scopes until that Nikon crashes.  ;D

Re: Scopes these days…?
« Reply #7 on: November 26, 2024, 09:42:32 AM »
I agree with pretty much everything said already in this thread. I too have grumbled about this for years. To me, it's similar to finding new rifles with wood stocks in stores. The tactical uber-lightweight 1000 yard plastic sniper "hunting" rifle is what they're making most of the scopes for today. Barf
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Re: Scopes these days…?
« Reply #8 on: November 26, 2024, 11:23:04 AM »
If you want them,you can get them on ebay and gunbroker.Used gloss are decently priced compared to new.I buy Leupold because of their warranty.If I buy one that doesn't work,I send it in.I usually will have them put Target turrets on while its there.Sure it takes some time,but after a while you get all your glossy rifles scoped with gloss scopes.
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Re: Scopes these days…?
« Reply #9 on: November 26, 2024, 02:46:33 PM »
I think the comments here are pretty much spot on. They build what sells. I'd say the matte finishes are driven by the fact that most rifles these days have matte finish barrels and receivers. Additionally, originally reflection reduction (to not spook animals), plus it has to be cheaper to do a matte finish (even ceracoat) than a highly polished blued finish. It's always about the money, isn't it? Those glossy scope bodies were more attractive.
Come and take it.

Re: Scopes these days…?
« Reply #10 on: December 01, 2024, 05:07:56 PM »
everyone has good points imo,  we are a dying breed the kids today can't even make change without an electronic  cash register do it for them,  so why would we expect the younger generations to have the same tastes than we do. 
« Last Edit: December 01, 2024, 05:10:05 PM by zoniezonie »

Re: Scopes these days…?
« Reply #11 on: December 02, 2024, 06:31:59 AM »
I agree with everything stated above, but I think there is an opportunity for an optics company to capture some market share by offering some different finishes. Heck…they could even just do a limited number of scopes each year…a “special run”.

I realize gloss scopes are a dying breed…I understand that. There is still demand for them, however.

There is still a ton of stainless rifles and “silver finish” Cerakote rifles being sold, yet VERY FEW silver finish scope options.

Looking at the used scope market and the prices, I can tell there is market demand.
JK

Re: Scopes these days…?
« Reply #12 on: December 02, 2024, 07:29:09 AM »
Quote
everyone has good points imo,  we are a dying breed the kids today can't even make change without an electronic  cash register do it for them,  so why would we expect the younger generations to have the same tastes than we do.
The young set has no appreciation for the aesthetics and heirloom value of highly polished blued finishes mounted in a beautiful wood stock (like the MK-V Deluxe). I have to state that as much as I love those gloss finishes, there are rifles that I would still buy a matte finish scope for (like an AR or Precision Rifle, for example). It sure would be nice to still have finish options though.
Come and take it.

Re: Scopes these days…?
« Reply #13 on: December 03, 2024, 11:21:53 AM »
I'm definately old school when it comes to rifles with walnut stocks and high gloss blued metal, but two of my now favorite rifles have plastic stocks and matte finish scopes.

When I bought my .300 Weatherby about 15 years ago, it was a Vanguard with a matte finish in a glossy, but plain walnut stock.  Before I ever fired it, I ordered a AA Fancy Feather Crotch semi inleted walnut blank from Richards and finished and hand checkered it into beautiful stock.  But it really hurt to take it out in foul weather, so my 7mm RM Remington 700 in it's Remington plastic stock became my foul weather rifle that I used on more, and especially international hunts where wet weather could be expected.

I have a couple of other Wby Vanguards, a .223 and a .308 Win, with matte finished stainless metal, in Griptonite plastic stocks.  These are my weekly take to the range practice rifles and I like to feel of the Griptonite stocks.

Then a couple of years ago I saw an add for 2 long action Vanguard Griptonite stocks, so I bought them and made a foul weather stock for my .300 Wby with one, and I altered the other one to fit on my Rem 700 7mm RM barrel and action.

My .300 Wby Vanguard with it's Fancy walnut stock...


And in it's Griptonite stock...


And my 7mm RM Rem 700 in it's Griptonite stock...


I have Leupold variable CDL scopes on most of my hunting rifles.  When hunting I have the scope's power set to the lowest level and the CDL zero set at 100 or 200 yds.  That way all I have to do is aim and shoot at any animal closer than 200 yds, and usually if the animal is farther away than 200 yds, it's probably not spooked, and I'll have time to range the distance and adjust the scope for that distance.


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danno50

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Re: Scopes these days…?
« Reply #14 on: December 03, 2024, 01:08:14 PM »
       Nice set up’s on all 3 rifles, regardless of scope finish. 
DosEquisShooter