I started a thread about transporting my rifles on my motorcycle a while back. I would be looking at 70 to 90 miles one way to the range so slung on my back is not an option. That being said the suspension on my bike is much harsher that that on a car or truck. Would the bouncing and jarring from (our wonderfully smooth) roads here in Ontario damage a scope? Would it be better to transport them vertically as opposed to horizontally, the scope optics being built for shocks along the axis of the tube. Also would an airgun scope be better suited to the task? Seeing as they are built for the double rebound of a spring?
How tough are scopes?
- Thread starter alaus24
- Start date
I carrey mine on a front mounted gun boot on my dirt bike and i havn't had a problem with it yet. its a leopold vx II so that might have somthing to do with it. As far as the position they are in i don''t think it would really matter that much. You might experiance problems with cheeper scopes though.
alaus24,
The biggest thing is that your mounting system is that the weight of the scope isn't supporting rifle on the bumps. Users of gun-boots are often guilty of this. They shove the rifle into the case until the scope bottoms in the case and the muzzle doesn't. Every bump is taken directly on the scope tube, and includes the weight of the rifle for momentum. That's like dropping a ten pound weight on your scope over and over. Results are predictable.
Since you mentioned air rifle scopes, I'll throw this out. Contrary to common belief every Leupold scope made, from cheapest to most expensive is rated for use on air-rifles. Those that they specifically class as air-rifle scopes are because of the ability to focus to the shorter distances the pellet guns are used at, not because of durability. I can't think of any other manufacturer that can make that claim.
So should you use a air-rifle scope? If you have a Leupold, you already are.
The biggest thing is that your mounting system is that the weight of the scope isn't supporting rifle on the bumps. Users of gun-boots are often guilty of this. They shove the rifle into the case until the scope bottoms in the case and the muzzle doesn't. Every bump is taken directly on the scope tube, and includes the weight of the rifle for momentum. That's like dropping a ten pound weight on your scope over and over. Results are predictable.
Since you mentioned air rifle scopes, I'll throw this out. Contrary to common belief every Leupold scope made, from cheapest to most expensive is rated for use on air-rifles. Those that they specifically class as air-rifle scopes are because of the ability to focus to the shorter distances the pellet guns are used at, not because of durability. I can't think of any other manufacturer that can make that claim.
So should you use a air-rifle scope? If you have a Leupold, you already are.
[/QOUTE]Since you mentioned air rifle scopes, I'll throw this out. Contrary to common belief every Leupold scope made, from cheapest to most expensive is rated for use on air-rifles. Those that they specifically class as air-rifle scopes are because of the ability to focus to the shorter distances the pellet guns are used at, not because of durability. I can't think of any other manufacturer that can make that claim.
So should you use a air-rifle scope? If you have a Leupold, you already are.[/QUOTE]
Source? if true this would be pretty cool!!!
I'd lose thats crappy bushnell and put one of my Leupys on my HW97 air-rifle
Mad Mikey.
So should you use a air-rifle scope? If you have a Leupold, you already are.[/QUOTE]
Source? if true this would be pretty cool!!!
I'd lose thats crappy bushnell and put one of my Leupys on my HW97 air-rifle Mad Mikey.
How's this, from Leupold's site?
The Leupold Answer Guide
What Scopes are Recommended for Air Gun use?
All Leupold scopes will withstand the spring recoil of air guns. Leupold's EFR (Extended Focus Range) scopes will focus down to 10 meters, and out to infinity. Leupold offers two models in EFR, the 6.5-20x40 EFR and the 3-9x33 EFR. Leupold's Custom Shop also offers parallax changes to most Leupold scopes for a charge of $15.00 plus $15.00 shipping and handling. Having the parallax changed can allow the user to focus the scope down to very close distances for air gun applications.
The Leupold Answer Guide
What Scopes are Recommended for Air Gun use?
All Leupold scopes will withstand the spring recoil of air guns. Leupold's EFR (Extended Focus Range) scopes will focus down to 10 meters, and out to infinity. Leupold offers two models in EFR, the 6.5-20x40 EFR and the 3-9x33 EFR. Leupold's Custom Shop also offers parallax changes to most Leupold scopes for a charge of $15.00 plus $15.00 shipping and handling. Having the parallax changed can allow the user to focus the scope down to very close distances for air gun applications.
I would be carrying the guns in a rectangular (double) hard case. They would be in foam. It sounds to me that I could therefore strap them onto my rear carrier with a ratchet strap and bungies using a cable lock to keep it locked to the bike. cool!! I won't have to manufacture some kind of rig to fit my saddle bag rails. Who Hoo!! 55mpg out to the range.
