Any one carry a back up scope/optic on backcountry hunt?

[Spence1875]

Just curios, was thinking about a back up Aimpoint micro on a low Qd pic rail mount. Only ways a few ounces, sight in at 100 or 200 with 2 moa dot good to 300 easy. I have never had an optic go down on hunt yet but have had several crap out on the range and one at a dog town.
Just interested in your thoughts?

Happy New Year all. Spence

 

[skierhs]

I have a NF 7-35 F1 in a spur mount which can accommodate putting an aim point micro style sight on the rings. I’ve thought about doing it for super up close shots but never have pulled the trigger on one. As for use as a backup if my NF goes down it has never crossed my mind due to not needing to add any more extra weight. I’ve taken some hard hits on that scope and it hasn’t broken yet so if it does go down in the woods, I am likely in a lot more trouble than the scope going down.

 

[rayporter]

i carried a spare my first 2 hunts but after that we figured if the scope could not take it we needed new optics. until last year i always had irons to fall back on. the irons wont do me much good now as i cant see them.

 

[MThoundhunter]

Never heard of someone bringing an extra scope, the one on your gun should be reliable enough.

 

[5 shot group]

A good scope can take more abuse then you think.

 

[wildwilderness]

Where do you draw the line on back up stuff? I have friends who carry twice as much weight “just in case” while the other extreme is a la Ueli Steck (who died).

after a few back pack hunts I tend for the best gear with no backups. Now Base camp/road hunts I may throw in some extra emergency/comfort stuff.

 

[22lr]

My Winchester 70 has a scope on Leupold QD. Can detach and still use (albiet you can barely see em over the mounts) the iron sites. I was nervous for awhile, but my gun has taken some pretty good smacks and has yet to lose zero in the field.

I just had a Diamondback for this last season, but it worked like a champ on 2 trips this year. For this coming year I'm switching to a PST (just wanted the better glass and reticle) and adding a scope cover to help protect it, but thats about it.

 

[mt100gr.]

I don't carry a spare and likely never will. If I ever have a scope shit the bed on a hunt it will only become evident with a missed shot or multiple misses. I try to set my equipment up as stout and reliable as is possible and I do trust it enough to shoot even if it takes a whack. (Unless the prick literally falls off!!) If I have a wreck then I will concede that I did something incorrectly.

Only once have I mangled a scope on a hunt, and that was packing out my camp, a boned out deer and the head and cape - in that context I was more worried about my arse not becoming hamburger at the bottom. It actually held a decent zero but my scope looked pretty sad after that fall/slide/roll.

 

[Decker9]

Iv often thought about some kind of lighter weight iron sights on my backpack rifle as a backup.

 

[TREE ‘EM]

Most of my rifles have sights and a scope in QD mounts.

I haven’t had a scope fail in the field but I have been in snow and rain that made my scope useless.

 

[Marbles]

If you shoot a light weight scope like some of the Leopold's or the Swaro Z3 I can see that. Or if you carry a high x scope and might need to follow a bear into the alders. I can also see it if you are using something mechanized to get to a base camp on an expensive hunt (but in that case bring an actual scope or a second rifle or find out if your guide will have a back up on hand).

Personally, I prefer the weight of reliable equipment and don't carry many backups. That said, I really wish rifles still came with iron sights and I want to install irons on mine. It is a comfort thing and I recognize that it contradicts what I just wrote. So, if it makes you feel better, throw it in there and see how many seasons you find it worth packing.

 

[manitou1]

I do take a spare (identical) rifle with identical set up/cartridge and leave it at a friends. After driving 18 hrs and planning all year I figured it is easy insurance. Never needed it, but it's there if it is.