Scope carry?

[Newtosavage]

Not going to lie, that was pretty bad ass. Just don't know why you would do it... I'm with the OP that my optics should be able to handle some pounding, but that also doesn't mean I am going to intentionally beat on them. Still going to try and baby them, but I like all my stuff to stay in pristine condition (although that never seems to happen). That's just my OCD kicking in though...

I just don't see how carrying a 6.5 lb. rifle by the scope is beating on it, but we all have our comfort levels. I just had no idea how delicate some guys think their scope/mount combo is. Especially considering what happens every time they pull the trigger.

 

[Newtosavage]

IMO its not about the strength of the scope, its about moving the scope position relative to the rifle. I could carry a rifle by a solid bar of steel in some scope rings and make it move. In no way shape or form is your scope mechanically attached to your rifle, it is clamped and being held by friction and friction only. 4 tiny little 6-32 or 8-40 screws from your bases to your rifle and 4-8 of the same holding your rings together don't inspire any sort of physical confidence as a Nightforce scope does. Shoot some of those screws with a shotgun...

Okay. If you don't want to carry your rifle that way, then by all means don't!

If I had ever had my setup lose zero, I might question scope carry, but I haven't, so I don't.

 

[ChrisAU]

No matter how strong a scope is, it is the most fragile piece of a rifle. Its akin to carrying a newborn baby around by the head...yeah the body is only 6 lbs, and the neck is designed to hold that weight. I'm now picturing someone carrying rifle by the scope in their right hand and palming a newborn's head with their left. I'm not sure which to yell at them about first. Work is slowwww today lol.

 

[JohnJohnson]

If I could get my hand between my action and my scope I'd feel like I've mounted my scope too high and need to get lower rings. I don't have a strong opinion on the subject but for anyone using that method of carry I would just say to make sure the mounts are properly torqued and of good quality. Shouldn't be a big deal but some hunters do use crappy mounts which likely can't take much abuse, especially vertically split rings. I use loctited picatinny rails with ARC M10 rings so it wouldn't be an issue, just not something I have an interest in doing.

 

[gearjunkie]

I don't use a sling but I also do not carry the rifle by the scope when I am walking. However for glassing I have a clip on my belt and zipties on my scope that result in a loop. I basically "holster" my rile in a horizontal position when I am stopped glassing. I have very sloped shoulders that I cannot keep a sling on no matter what. I tried glassing with a sling and it was miserable in the steep terrain I hunt in. I always ended up with the gun in the crook of my elbow. I have found the clip and zip ties work great for me. I have been trying to think of better ways to carry and glass with my rifle and have not come up with it yet.

 

[Newtosavage]

No matter how strong a scope is, it is the most fragile piece of a rifle. Its akin to carrying a newborn baby around by the head...yeah the body is only 6 lbs, and the neck is designed to hold that weight. I'm now picturing someone carrying rifle by the scope in their right hand and palming a newborn's head with their left. I'm not sure which to yell at them about first. Work is slowwww today lol.

I am beginning to understand how OCD some guys are about their scopes. I'm not hating at all, but I just don't feel the same way. I really have never been given a reason to believe my scopes or mounts are not up to the task. Maybe if my rifles weighed 10+ lbs, but then I wouldn't be carrying them in my hands if they did. I'd make my son carry them for me.

 

[Newtosavage]

If I could get my hand between my action and my scope I'd feel like I've mounted my scope too high and need to get lower rings. I don't have a strong opinion on the subject but for anyone using that method of carry I would just say to make sure the mounts are properly torqued and of good quality. Shouldn't be a big deal but some hunters do use crappy mounts which likely can't take much abuse, especially vertically split rings. I use loctited picatinny rails with ARC M10 rings so it wouldn't be an issue, just not something I have an interest in doing.

It's all about the comb rise on the stock and the shape/size of a person's face. Medium Talley rings put the scope in a perfect position on my Bansner synthetic stock. So my fingers fit just fine between the scope and the bolt on the Howa action. The Tikka frustrated with the side ejection port and lower rings due to the lower comb height.

 

[WCB]

To each their own. I feel more well balanced with my rifle in my hand than slung over my shoulder. And I'm not buying the "I can get it off my shoulder as fast as you can from the hand" argument. Sorry. Been there, done that. In E. Texas, you might get 3 seconds to get off a shot at a deer that is about to bolt. I don't need to spend those three seconds getting my rifle off my shoulder, not to mention all the extra movement associated with that.

BTW, all my rifles have slings on them. Paracord slings that weigh an ounce or two, but they are there if I really need them. Honestly, I use my sling around camp or when I'm around people, because it puts them at ease when I sling my rifle.

As for glassing, have you ever tried cradling your rifle in your forearm and using the recoil pad to stabilize your binoculars? Works great. It's like having image stabilization built in to your bins. Try it sometime.

I agree to each their own...never said yours was wrong just stated why I don't.

Glassing I just grab each side of my hat bill for stabilization. If any more is needed l'll find a tree or sit down to glass. As you mentioned in another post...I hunt a lot of heavy brush areas (Central MN deer hunting and grouse hunting in in 3-6 year old poplar tree stands) and If I'm in a situation like that I'm carrying my gun in both hands ready for a shot or under the action.

I'm with you on the scope damage issue people brought up. Just carrying it shouldn't do a thing if it is obviously of any quality. Scopes are not eggs but also are not indestructible as the two extremes think. they are all somewhere in the middle. I view my guns and optics as tools and use them as intended but also protect them from misuse and unneeded wear.

Good hunting to ya!

 

[Newtosavage]

I don't use a sling but I also do not carry the rifle by the scope when I am walking. However for glassing I have a clip on my belt and zipties on my scope that result in a loop. I basically "holster" my rile in a horizontal position when I am stopped glassing. I have very sloped shoulders that I cannot keep a sling on no matter what. I tried glassing with a sling and it was miserable in the steep terrain I hunt in. I always ended up with the gun in the crook of my elbow. I have found the clip and zip ties work great for me. I have been trying to think of better ways to carry and glass with my rifle and have not come up with it yet.

I also have sloped shoulders and slings don't tend to stay on well, but that's one reason I use the paracord sling - it fits next to the shoulder strap on my pack, and that helps keep the sling in place.

Try the cradle carry with your rifle and rest your binoculars on your recoil pad. Then you can give up the zipties.

 

[gearjunkie]

I also have sloped shoulders and slings don't tend to stay on well, but that's one reason I use the paracord sling - it fits next to the shoulder strap on my pack, and that helps keep the sling in place.

Try the cradle carry with your rifle and rest your binoculars on your recoil pad. Then you can give up the zipties.

I would like to hear further how you do this im not quite pictuing it in my head.

I have grown to love my clip and zipties. It makes me completely hands free. The rifle literally rests right where my hand naturally falls its like unholstering my pistol. I hunt with a ruger american compact so its only around 37 inches long. Where I hunt I need to be able to move alot sometimes looking almost vertically above or below while glassing. I find that having the rifle completely secure in the clip is awesome.

 

[rob86jeep]

I think you're asking the wrong question. It shouldn't be why shouldn't you carry the rifle by the scope, but why should you? A scope was designed to take certain forces from the rifle and from normal wear and tear when handling the gun, setting it down, or potentially dropping it. A good scope should retain zero through all that. Carrying the gun by the scope is asking it to do something it likely wasn't designed/engineered to do. I would assume any good scope will still take that extra abuse just fine, but for how long? Why subject your weapon system to extra strain it wasn't originally designed for and when it's not necessary as there are other (just as affective) ways to carry it.

I don't baby my gear, but I also don't treat it badly on purpose (by badly I mean doing something it wasn't designed for). Now, I wouldn't hesitate to pick my gun up by the scope or carry it by the scope if the situation warranted it.

Think of it this way...Would you purposefully lay your gun down scope first on a bunch of sharp rocks? I bet it could handle it just fine but that doesn't mean it should be your normal SOP.

 

[Lawnboi]

I’d agree with most in this thread that the scope is the most prone to failure item on your rifle. So much so that I purposely carry a heavy scope on my hunting gun for the sole purpose of being more durable. That and I prefer rails, and heavier rings. I want my system to be just fine if I take a spill.

I don’t carry my rifle by the scope cause it’s not comfortable for me. Even if it was I would not. I agree that a touch scope, and tough mounts should take to, but why when I can just hang onto the gun.

 

[Jimss]

I still can't get past the fact that it would be nearly impossible to still hunt all day and glass effectively when carrying a rifle in your hands. If the wind is blowing or you are hiking super steep, rough terrain how the heck are you going to be able to steady a rifle plus binos while standing? Around 90% of the time I also have a backpack on my back. I can't imagine still hunting for 10 to 12 hours for days and days trying to stand up to glass while holding a rifle plus binos plus backpack. My arms, back, and shoulders would be totally wore out. There is no way I would be able to hold the rifle plus binos steady! You must be a brute to do this....and I can usually run guys into the ground!

 

[mt100gr.]

I think I may have hit on a sensitive topic for some folks. At least, I can't believe how fragile some people think their optics system is. If I thought my optics were that fragile, I'd only use iron sights. LOL.

mt100gr. - do you think this is video is BS?

And what do you think happens to a scope mounted to a .300 Win Mag when you pull the trigger?

I have to say, I think most torture tests are silly. Especially since the advent of YouTube.

To your question - a scope on a 300 win mag undergoes punishment and forces it was DESIGNED to withstand.

I don't disagree that the balance and ergonomics of a round handle are comfortable. I have worked with metals enough though, to understand how seemingly insignificant leverage can transfer forces in ways that aren't immediately obvious.

 

[Newtosavage]

I still can't get past the fact that it would be nearly impossible to still hunt all day and glass effectively when carrying a rifle in your hands. If the wind is blowing or you are hiking super steep, rough terrain how the heck are you going to be able to steady a rifle plus binos while standing? Around 90% of the time I also have a backpack on my back. I can't imagine still hunting for 10 to 12 hours for days and days trying to stand up to glass while holding a rifle plus binos plus backpack. My arms, back, and shoulders would be totally wore out. There is no way I would be able to hold the rifle plus binos steady! You must be a brute to do this....and I can usually run guys into the ground!

Just did it yesterday. Packed my camp in on an 8 mile loop and hunted all day with my rifle in my hands. No way would I have gotten through the underbrush where I went with a slung rifle. Only time I slung it was when there were some other folks nearby on a trail or near camp, so they would feel better.

As for steadying binos, I already explained the method. Pack on. Works great.

I'm absolutely not a brute, which is why I do this. I already have 35# on my pack. I don't want to add another 7 lbs. to one shoulder. Since my hip belt carries most of the weight of my pack, there probably isn't 7 lbs. on each shoulder already, from the pack. So that would be like doubling the weight on a single shoulder. No thanks. Remember, my rifles weigh less than 7 lbs.

 

[Newtosavage]

I think you're asking the wrong question. It shouldn't be why shouldn't you carry the rifle by the scope, but why should you? A scope was designed to take certain forces from the rifle and from normal wear and tear when handling the gun, setting it down, or potentially dropping it. A good scope should retain zero through all that. Carrying the gun by the scope is asking it to do something it likely wasn't designed/engineered to do. I would assume any good scope will still take that extra abuse just fine, but for how long? Why subject your weapon system to extra strain it wasn't originally designed for and when it's not necessary as there are other (just as affective) ways to carry it.

I don't baby my gear, but I also don't treat it badly on purpose (by badly I mean doing something it wasn't designed for). Now, I wouldn't hesitate to pick my gun up by the scope or carry it by the scope if the situation warranted it.

Think of it this way...Would you purposefully lay your gun down scope first on a bunch of sharp rocks? I bet it could handle it just fine but that doesn't mean it should be your normal SOP.

Your sharp rock analogy doesn't work. My fingers aren't sharp rocks.

Again, what is the amount of force it takes to bend an aluminum tube supported 6" apart? I would bet in the hundreds of pounds. Asked another way, are you honestly suggesting I could - with my own fingers - bend a 1" aluminum tube supported 6" apart? I can tell you right now there is no way I could do that even if I ate my wheaties.

Some of you guys think your scopes are made of eggshells or something. I just don't get it. I figured guys would question the mounts, not suggest that carrying a 6.5# rifle (actually 5.7 lbs of rifle without the scope) would somehow do permanent damage to a 1" aluminum tube across a 6" span. Holy cow. I think I need to do a Mythbusters test on this now.

 

[Newtosavage]

I don’t carry my rifle by the scope cause it’s not comfortable for me. Even if it was I would not. I agree that a touch scope, and tough mounts should take to, but why when I can just hang onto the gun.

Because my rifle balances very well under my scope, and I have less fatigue in my hands and wrists because they are in a more natural position to carry the weight.

 

[ChrisAU]

Just did it yesterday. Packed my camp in on an 8 mile loop and hunted all day with my rifle in my hands. No way would I have gotten through the underbrush where I went with a slung rifle. Only time I slung it was when there were some other folks nearby on a trail or near camp, so they would feel better.

As for steadying binos, I already explained the method. Pack on. Works great.

I'm absolutely not a brute, which is why I do this. I already have 35# on my pack. I don't want to add another 7 lbs. to one shoulder. Since my hip belt carries most of the weight of my pack, there probably isn't 7 lbs. on each shoulder already, from the pack. So that would be like doubling the weight on a single shoulder. No thanks. Remember, my rifles weigh less than 7 lbs.

What party of your body do you think is supporting your rifle weight when carried in hand?

 

[Newtosavage]

What party of your body do you think is supporting your rifle weight when carried in hand?

(sigh)

I'm just saying carrying the rifle in my hands is more comfortable and less fatiguing to me, than slung on my shoulder. And if you carry it by the stock, you have to bend your wrist around the scope to carry it. That's where the added fatigue comes in.

Why do I get the feeling the rifle scope police are about to bust down my front door and confiscate my rifle scopes for alleged abuse? LOL

I feel like I've upset the force somehow by suggesting that 7 lbs isn't enough to bend a 1" tube across a 6" span, and that it's easier, faster and less hassle in the brush to carry my rifle in my hands than slung.

My apolgies for even suggesting such a thing. LOL

At this point, I'm sure that not even a mythbusters episode would convince some of you guys.

 

[Randle]

So what happens when you fall? You need your hands, drop the rifle? so you can catch yourself., use the rifle and scope to catch yourself smashing into the ground?
Pass slings are to handy. I use a safari sling