Q&A for Minox ZP5 5-25x56mm THLR scope

[rbutcher1234]

Jake, that email address might be a dead end.

View attachment 1011579

Got the same auto email.

 

[RockAndSage]

What if the oil is some kind of agent they dunk it in to test for gas leaks when a scope is checked in for a fogging claim?

Scopes generally use greases to lubricate the moving parts internally. Think of grease like a sponge - a matrix carrying oils and additives, that will generally stay stuck to surfaces under movement, even vertical surfaces. Press the sponge a little, and a little oil is released within the sponge's materials to lubricate the moving parts. That oil is also carrying additives, like molybdenum in moly greases. When the work is done, the oils generally get sucked back up into the carrier sponge over time. That stuff also acts like a sealant, keeping the oils from drying out and oxidizing, generally over the course of years. It's also why many scopes get stiff in the cold, especially extreme cold - the grease isn't well chosen for those temps and that application.

A big caveat to grease is that if it is applied excessively, especially if there is an air bubble or there's a blob of it that's got external folds, the oils can leak out of it a little, and run out of those bubbles and folds. That's what I suspect happened with that scope - improperly and excessively applied grease, leaking a little of its oils.

 

[RockAndSage]

Got word from my Blaser rep
They are aware and up to speed on the individual issues we are seeing and have asked me to have you guys contact them for warranty work. Warranty work will happen in Germany, but will be done expeditiously; they will not wait for a pile of scopes, they will be shipped out as they come in.

Contact info is
[email protected]
210-377-2527

As always, I am here to middleman if needed
Per Blaser, these are all brand new scopes and not returns or QC rejects ; just old inventory so it seems..
My interpretation is they are ready and extremely willing to help, If you have not checked out your scope yet - Please do and check in with Blaser if you are unhappy or weary in any way.

In conclusion, if anyone needs anything else from me - don't hesitate to shoot me a PM

Not to be combative, but that is a very high failure rate for a bunch of randomly selected scopes that have just been in inventory. Seriously - should we also expect a high failure rate for the entire production of these scopes if they sit for years without being used at all?

Very happy to hear they're extremely willing to help - but this failure rate is just way too high for it just to be "old inventory".

Thank you for helping us out with this. It's appreciated, and any capability you or the company have to help shepherd our scopes through this process, is also appreciated. You will get attention in ways we just can't expect to, as individual end-users.

 

[EuroOptic]

Jake, that email address might be a dead end.

View attachment 1011579

I believe the emails all go into a general sales box. He should be tracking on them and will get back to you, if he does not - let me know.

 

[Nine Banger]

Got the same auto email.

I talked to Kevin.

He said put a note in there with what the issue is, contact info, etc. and get it to that address in TX and they will take it from there.

 

[rbutcher1234]

Not to be combative, but that is a very high failure rate for a bunch of randomly selected scopes that have just been in inventory. Seriously - should we also expect a high failure rate for the entire production of these scopes if they sit for years without being used at all?

Very happy to hear they're extremely willing to help - but this failure rate is just way too high for it just to be "old inventory".

Thank you for helping us out with this. It's appreciated, and any capability you or the company have to help shepherd our scopes through this process, is also appreciated. You will get attention in ways we just can't expect to, as individual end-users.

Concerningly high failure rate out of the box for scopes that have passed lots of abuse otherwise.

 

[schmidty3]

Scopes generally use greases to lubricate the moving parts internally. Think of grease like a sponge - a matrix carrying oils and additives, that will generally stay stuck to surfaces under movement, even vertical surfaces. Press the sponge a little, and a little oil is released within the sponge's materials to lubricate the moving parts. That oil is also carrying additives, like molybdenum in moly greases. When the work is done, the oils generally get sucked back up into the carrier sponge over time. That stuff also acts like a sealant, keeping the oils from drying out and oxidizing, generally over the course of years. It's also why many scopes get stiff in the cold, especially extreme cold - the grease isn't well chosen for those temps and that application.

A big caveat to grease is that if it is applied excessively, especially if there is an air bubble or there's a blob of it that's got external folds, the oils can leak out of it a little, and run out of those bubbles and folds. That's what I suspect happened with that scope - improperly and excessively applied grease, leaking a little of its oils.

Gotta keep the seals drying out! The man was certainly heavy handed with it though. The question is, what sort of testing should I do on the scope to ensure that its not my "transmission" leaking like an old ram truck?

 

[RockAndSage]

Gotta keep the seals drying out! The man was certainly heavy handed with it though. The question is, what sort of testing should I do on the scope to ensure that its not my "transmission" leaking like an old ram truck?

If that stuff is getting outside the scope, it's probably flowing inside it too. Would definitely send it to Blaser/Minox.

 

[Nine Banger]

Thanks for pushing on this, Jake.

Now the next crap shoot is can they fix them, if so how long will they sit in Germany and then will they be satisfactory upon return?

 

[schmidty3]

If that stuff is getting outside the scope, it's probably flowing inside it too. Would definitely send it to Blaser/Minox.

I'll see how it goes this weekend at the shoot. I'll probably send them an email just to see what they think about that amount of juice.

 

[EuroOptic]

Thanks for pushing on this, Jake.

Now the next crap shoot is can they fix them, if so how long will they sit in Germany and then will they be satisfactory upon return?

View attachment 1011599

Blaser is usually pretty quick on turnaround for repairs

 

[Nine Banger]

I'll probably send them an email just to see what they think about that amount of juice.

New conspiracy theory:

Dude that installed the parralax devices backwards had Jersey Mikes for lunch and worked on yours during his lunch break.

 

[schmidty3]

New conspiracy theory:

Dude that installed the parralax devices backwards had Jersey Mikes for lunch and worked on yours during his lunch break.

A lil too much hefeweizen and schnitzel in any case

 

[hibernation]

View attachment 1011560
Ideally in one of these two spots.
That's where bone/nerves/bloodvessels meet and you kill fast.

Where the jaw meets the ear or exit the bullet 1/3 up from the FRONT side of the leg (if you don't see the bone through the fur)

This is great stuff, thanks. To make sure I'm understanding that body shot correctly from more quartering angles - are you still trying to impact bone at the base of the shoulderblade? Or more, slip it between and get the arterial / nerve bundle?

 

[Nine Banger]

Passing this along for anyone that's reading my stuff and not emailing them on their own.

Here's the form that goes in the box.

Weekly shipments to Germany...

 

[THLR]

are you still trying to impact bone at the base of the shoulderblade?

As far as I understand your question - yes.

Quartering from behind (regardless of above or below) - avoid diaphrame, bullet goes in roughly in line with heart and punches bone out

Quartering from front - reverse, onnthe bone and through heart/lungs going out.