How many have missed animals due to a failed scope?

Have you missed an animal due to a defective scope?

  • Yes

    Votes: 57 47.5%

  • No

    Votes: 63 52.5%
  • Total voters
    120
I know I have made a bad shot from losing zero, liver shot a buck a few years ago, ended up shooting him 4 times not understanding what was going on. The last shot I decided to shoot him in the neck to get him dead and that shot ended up being a good shot behind the shoulder, other 3 were back. Luckily I had some room to see him after the initial shot, if he was on the edge of brush, it would have been a tough deal

Was shooting about 4” right and a little high at 100yds when I was able to shoot. That was a vx3 with a cds elevation I never used, but man that scope really robbed confidence

I don’t think it ever stayed zeroed. Had a fixed 4 I used for a short while that was seemingly solid, but that was the only leupold that I have had that didn’t lose zero often. Usually not a bunch, but always 1-2” in some direction (never long periods between checking)
 
I have twice. Once with a vortex diamondback, and the other time was with a leupold VX-3. The diamondback was a scope failure, couldn’t get it rezeroed afterwards, the leupold sits on my .22 now. Since switching to a Nightforce SHV and Warne rings the only time I’ve had to rezero is when I put on a suppressor.
 
robby denning said:
Interesting POLL

To my knowledge, it has never happened. And there’s been more than a few animals I’ve missed and then I went back and checked my rifle and it was fine.

I love all the drop testing going on around here, but it’s not made me paranoid enough to switch scopes yet ( don’t hate me Form)

So I answered your POLL as no.

However, I did witness it happen with a friend once, it was back in 2004 so I can’t remember what scope it was but he always had great gear so it was a good brand name scope (whatever that means by today’s standards lol ). Missed a buck and when we checked zero he was off at least the width of an 8 inch diameter quakie at 100 yards.
Click to expand...

And yet @The Guide didn't giggle when you said 'no'.

I must've really missed him off one day...
 
If scope mounts count then yes. I kept asking people why Chinese scopes are worse and everyone always told me quality but could never explain what was poor quality. So, I decided to try it. After a full summer of frustrated shooting where every once in a while the zero would shift I thought I finally figured out that I had must have forgotten to tighten the scope mount.........

A few weeks later I had a pronghorn at 200 yards and completely missed it. After being super pissed off I drove 2.5 hours to my home range and found out my zero was 12" low. I looked down and realized the paint was literally peeling off of the mounts and could see where the paint had rubbed on the scope as it slid. Never again will I get Chinese mounts.
 
My first hunting rifle was a 30-06 with a Simmons. Took it to the range to sight in. First shot. Second Shot. Third shot...and the reticle disappeared into a pile in the bottom of the scope.

Seen others have reticles tilt, scopes fog out, and even a turret pop off and into pieces.

But mostly, a lot of scope problems are the shooter. Second most common I've seen is the mounting of the scope.
 
I have never missed an animal due to a scope failure, but I am obsessive about checking my gear before, during, and after hunts. I always have a backup too. My primary moose rifle took a good hit one evening while getting in the boat last year. I carried my backup until I could verify zero (it was fine). I still missed my moose, but that was because I suck, not my equipment.

I am as obsessive as I am because of my uncle. He missed a BOAL due to a scope failure, so he drilled it into me to always check.
 
Have had two scope failures. One a swfa fixed 10x on a 50 bmg. Made it 45 shots and then the reticle came loose.
Vortex crossfire was dropped and then complete miss of two deer. When back to the range it was 2+ feet low at 100. Very suspect.
 
I've had scopes go out of zero from my own fault while hiking. Also have had rings come loose. I now re-torque before every trip. I have also switched to different brands of scopes for anything that involves hiking. The scopes that came out of zero... only came out from my own fault. They were excellent and accurate ... I am just a clutz
 
I learned one thing from reading this thread. I'll probably never own a Vortex scope. I'm primarily a Zeiss and Swaro guy, and those brands have never let me down.

I do have a Vortex Razer HD spotter, and it's been fine with use and abuse.
 
When I was 15 I bought a used Remington 700 BDL in 30-06. It had a Burris 3x9 scope on it. That first hunt in the cold and snow the scope fogged up on me. I didn't notice until I brought the gun to my shoulder for a shot at an elk. I didn't shoot so wasn't a miss, but it was a missed opportunity on what should have been an easy shot. Removed the scope in camp and successfully used the iron sights later that hunt.
 
Reading this thread it seems that a full 50% of people that hunt have had a scope failure that caused a miss or wound. I'm throwing all my scopes in the garbage and ordering up buckhorn rear and hooded gold bead fronts for every rifle I own. Just need to get a sawzall out to cut my front dovetails.
 
Simmons whitetail after riding in a padded case on back of a 4 wheeler. I was low 18” and rt 6”. Lots of variables could have influenced the issue, scope seemed to be the easiest fix.
 
I didn't lose it, but I fell hard elk hunting and never checked the scope. Next weekend I was shooting a whitetail doe, missed 4 times at 200 yards, last shot just happened to hit center mass. I have no idea why she just stood there, bullets were hitting all over.

I was like, that was weird, I don't usually miss. I kinda tried to wiggle the scope and it rotated....rings were loose. Whoops.
 
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