Scope Loses Zero - Is it broken?

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ianmcdz

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Hopefully this isn't a stupid question -

Lets say I put a NCstar scope on an M14. Lets say this scope did not hold it's zero - in fact the zero would move 6-7 inches @ 100 yards.

If I took this NC star scope and put it on a 10/22 - would it still loose it's zero or would it at least hold it better?

Basically I am wondering if something mechanical breaks in the scope when a zero is lost in a high recoil situation, or if it would just be slipping... and would be fine in a lower recoil situation.

If there is no certain answer what would be more likely?
 
If you put an NCstar on an M14 (aka 'scopesmasher), it will destroyed in short order.

Putting a broken scope on a .22 will not make the scope work properly again. It's broken. Good luck!
 
canucklehead said:
If you put an NCstar on an M14 (aka 'scopesmasher), it will destroyed in short order.

Putting a broken scope on a .22 will not make the scope work properly again. It's broken. Good luck!
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How about a tasco or low end Bushnell? My point is if it looses it's zero what causes this (mechanically)? And is it permanent or just cause by the rifle it's on?
If possible I'm really looking for a more descriptive answer..... or a link to the thread that answers my question (the search function hates me).
 
ianmcdz said:
How about a tasco or low end Bushnell? My point is if it looses it's zero what causes this (mechanically)? And is it permanent or just cause by the rifle it's on?
If possible I'm really looking for a more descriptive answer..... or a link to the thread that answers my question (the search function hates me).
Click to expand...

something is moving inside the scope that shouldn't. Its broke.

NormB
 
ianmcdz said:
How about a tasco or low end Bushnell? My point is if it looses it's zero what causes this (mechanically)? And is it permanent or just cause by the rifle it's on?
If possible I'm really looking for a more descriptive answer..... or a link to the thread that answers my question (the search function hates me).
Click to expand...

You didn't learn your lesson yet? Cheap optics are expensive.
 
I see what you're getting act. Listen to these guys, buy quality! To answer your question it could be either. The pane of glass the crosshair is ethced on could have just slipped as it is held there by friction (turning the knobs overcomes this friction to move the pane of glass). Or something could have broke. Won't know until you try it.
 
ianmcdz said:
Hopefully this isn't a stupid question -

Lets say I put a NCstar scope on an M14. Lets say this scope did not hold it's zero - in fact the zero would move 6-7 inches @ 100 yards.

If I took this NC star scope and put it on a 10/22 - would it still loose it's zero or would it at least hold it better?

Basically I am wondering if something mechanical breaks in the scope when a zero is lost in a high recoil situation, or if it would just be slipping... and would be fine in a lower recoil situation.

If there is no certain answer what would be more likely?
Click to expand...

My answer would be to try it and see.
I have experimented with two Tasco's that would jump the zero at 180 gr 2600 fps recoil levels, yet they adjust fine and hold zero on a Brno. 22 lr.
 
I put a NcStar scope on a M14 and destroyed it in short order. I then put a Bushnell 3200 on it and discovered after a few boxes of cartridges it was shifting around a bit too. I now have a Falcon Menace on it but haven’t shot the rifle yet with that scope.

I put the 3200 on a 270 Winchester and it seems to be holding zero. The trouble with doing this is that it’s on one of my hunting rifles and I would have to shoot it a lot before I trust the scope again.

And to be honest I don’t know if I’ll ever truly trust that 3200 again, I’ll always be suspicious of it and worry about it. I should probably take it off and put it on a .22

Don’t put cheap optics on rifles, it just doesn’t pay, pocket book wise or piece of mind wise.
 
Norton said:
I put a NcStar scope on a M14 and destroyed it in short order. I then put a Bushnell 3200 on it and discovered after a few boxes of cartridges it was shifting around a bit too. I now have a Falcon Menace on it but haven’t shot the rifle yet with that scope.

I put the 3200 on a 270 Winchester and it seems to be holding zero. The trouble with doing this is that it’s on one of my hunting rifles and I would have to shoot it a lot before I trust the scope again.

And to be honest I don’t know if I’ll ever truly trust that 3200 again, I’ll always be suspicious of it and worry about it. I should probably take it off and put it on a .22

Don’t put cheap optics on rifles, it just doesn’t pay, pocket book wise or piece of mind wise.
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I'd be wary of the mount on your m14. A real (non knock-off) 3200 should handle anything an m14 can dish out.
 
Thanks! This is The kind of discussion I was hoping for. Some very helpful comments here.


Norton said:
I put a NcStar scope on a M14 and destroyed it in short order. I then put a Bushnell 3200 on it and discovered after a few boxes of cartridges it was shifting around a bit too. I now have a Falcon Menace on it but haven’t shot the rifle yet with that scope.

I put the 3200 on a 270 Winchester and it seems to be holding zero. The trouble with doing this is that it’s on one of my hunting rifles and I would have to shoot it a lot before I trust the scope again.

And to be honest I don’t know if I’ll ever truly trust that 3200 again, I’ll always be suspicious of it and worry about it. I should probably take it off and put it on a .22

Don’t put cheap optics on rifles, it just doesn’t pay, pocket book wise or piece of mind wise.
Click to expand...
 
Surely this is an anomaly, and NC star will have it repaired, or a new, more robust scope to you under warranty within a week or two...
 
tactical870 said:
I'd be wary of the mount on your m14. A real (non knock-off) 3200 should handle anything an m14 can dish out.
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Fair enough.
It may actually end up being an issue with my rings.
If POI shifts around with the Falcon Menace scope I will replace my rings and will be pleased to know the 3200 isn’t damaged. Would be a bit of a shame though, the rings cost $200 with the 30mm to 1 inch optional inserts.

I have a Sadlak Airborne mount on my M14 with Arms #22 throw lever rings. I removed the mount and reinstalled it after the 3200 shifted POI. Everything seemed just fine with the mount leaving me to think that the issue lies with the scope or maybe the detachable throw lever rings I’m using. There is some forward/rearward movement to the rings on the rail before the levers are locked down.

Maybe I didn’t have the rings installed correctly when I mounted the 3200 scope allowing them to move back and forth slightly. This time I installed the rings with the front ring pushed forward and the rear ring pushed back before locking them down to try and eliminate the possibility of movement.
As awesome as those rings look on the rifle I wish I had never bought them, should have went with TPS rings or something similar.
 
To the OP, I wouldn't put an NC star scope on anything more than a .22.

The M14 is rough on scopes to say the least. If you want to scope it, get one quality scope and be done with it. I'm talking minimum a Bushnell 3200, more if you can afford it. Putting cheap scopes on it will cost you in the long run.
 
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