Is a great warranty always enough?

Description:

Erector-tube problems are the bane of modern riflescopes. Some brands are better than others but having a mini-me suspended inside makes almost all modern scopes vulnerable.

As Mr Morsby says*, the service from the maker and its Australian agent was impressive - and we can all gain some comfort from his report.

But is that great service always enough?

If your scope breaks down in the middle of an important competition, your day may be done.

If the scope on the big rifle you've taken to Africa packs up, it may cost you a fine trophy and huge trophy fee - or even your life.

As John Barsness says in the second excerpt**, recoil will destroy any scope (though he failed to recognise that older technologies were by design much tougher).

Carrying a spare scope is a good idea but the moment you know you need it could be too late to even whip off the old one.

Yes, a well-known modern scope maker has already used this angle to advertise its products - and it does have a good reputation for reliability. However, it also uses a long, brassy, articulated erector tube, at least five or 10 times the mass of a traditional erector cell. So, never mind the advertiser's puff - look at the physics!

'LIGHT AT THE START OF THE TUNNEL - Are rifle scopes off the rails?' traces the descent of modern riflescopes from their golden age after WWII to the dubious 'advances' of today.

The $20 price, plus $4.30 postage, NOW includes 24 pages of additional information to be sent by email; other options with additions printed $30-$45. Despite increased postal charges and heavier packages, these prices are not being lifted.

NB: the reticle shown h/w is a digital representation of a cover with drawn reticle (with all the trimmings, $45).

*In a letter published in 'Australian Shooter', Dec 2022.
**From 'Optics for the Hunter' Safari Press 1999, as underlined and sent to Sam Mann by an American reader of 'Light at the Start of the Tunnel'.
Both pieces are shown here "for review".