Rokslide Team,
Out of interest in digging into some dogma and bro science surrounding scopes, I asked multiple well-known manufacturers whether they recommended these practices. When I was learning to hunt, I still remember my uncle bringing a small plastic mallet to the range to "settle in" scope adjustments-needless to say, times have changed, and the majority of scopes work well until you start subjecting them to impacts. Hopefully, this helps the newer rokslide folks who are just joining.
Below is the exact prompt I sent them and their replies with names and phone numbers XXXX’d out. I have not altered the content of their responses; I have only adjusted the spacing and font to make it play nice with the forum threads. I was impressed by the level of responsiveness from all the companies except HAWKE, which did not respond.
I reached out to the following scope makers:
Swarovski
Leupold
Vortex
Nightforce
Burris
Trijicon
Hawke – No Reply
“SCOPE MYTHBUSTING
Scope Break-in – I heard on a podcast that a Leupold representative recommended putting a scope through the full range of elevation and windage 20-30 times to help break in the adjustment mechanisms, remove any memory in the leaf springs, and spread internal lubrication across the internal parts.
-From the perspective of an optics maker, is there any benefit to this practice?
A few well-known competitive shooters recommend adjusting elevation and windage past the setting, then returning to the desired setting to make all final adjustments clockwise. The idea here is that the elevation or windage adjustment system is pushing positively against the erector tube and thus the adjustment is more repeatable.
-Is there any benefit to this practice?
Final question: Is there any benefit to backing off the elevation and windage dials when leaving scopes and rifles in the safe for extended periods of time? This assumes that the user is counting the clicks and revolutions and will return the rifle to zero before using it again. The idea is that releasing tension on the erector spring or springs can potentially increase reliability.
-Based on your experience and the materials you use in your erector springs, is there any benefit to this practice?”
SWAROVSKI’s ANSWER
XXXXX,
No, no need for break in
Everyone has their rituals and superstitions that feel like science. Like wearing your favorite shirt on game day.
and dialing back from one direction or another only really matters if you maxed out your range of adjustment and are either fully stretching or compressing a coil.
Regards,
XXXXXX XXXXXX
Customer Service
Swarovski Optik North America Ltd.
2 Slater Road
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920
United States
Tel. +1 800 426 xxxx
END SWAROVSKI ANSWER
LEUPOLD REPLY
XXXXX,
1) Both adjustments index on a pivot seat that has lubricant, and in practical terms the more the adjustments are used the better they become as that pivot seat is being polished. I do exactly this with every new scope before I mount them (although about 10 times clockwise/counter-clockwise from stop to stop, not 30) and have gotten excellent performance out of my scope.
2) What is described here is an exercise to defeat backlash in a scope, which has been engineered out of scopes for at least a couple of decades now. Old habits seem to linger.
3) Would it be helpful? Yes, but the benefit would be minimal according to our engineers so as to be not measurable. It becomes a question of effort vs reward to quote "This assumes that the user is counting the clicks and revolutions and will return the rifle to zero before using it again."
Regards,
XXXX
END LEUPOLD REPLY
NIGHTFORCE OPTICS REPLY
Hello XXXXX,
Thank you for contacting Nightforce Optics.
Those are some very good questions, and I can address each of them as they relate to Nightforce Optics. Please understand that these answers will be as they relate to Nightforce scopes, and are not universally true about all optics.
Scope break-in - While this may be a useful practice with some optics, Nightforce scopes do not require a break-in. Our turrets are hand-burnished, which essentially means that they are pre-broken-in and thread surfaces are perfectly mated to each other. In addition, our patented spring design does not take a set or need any sort of break-in. Great care is taken to provide perfect tracking performance out of the box.
Adjusting past target and back - This is also not necessary with a Nightforce scope, as our turrets are hand burnished to eliminate backlash. While this may be a good practice with some optics, it is not necessary with a Nightforce scope.
Backing off dials to store - This again may be good advice for some scopes, to prevent springs from taking a set. However, Nightforce scopes use a patented spring technology that does not take a set and can be stored at any dialed setting without compromising the integrity of the spring.
In short, you do not need to take any of these precautions when using a Nightforce scope, because they are engineered to address the issues that would necessitate such practices. In addition, we subject our scopes to an exhaustive battery of tests before leaving the factory to ensure proper tracking, travel, click value, reticle alignment, impact resistance, etc. I hope that this helps to answer your questions.
Please let us know if you have any other questions.
Respectfully,
XXXXX
Customer Experience
Nightforce Optics
336 Hazen Lane, Orofino, Idaho 83544
(208) 476-xxxx EXT. X
(208) 476-xxxx f
[email protected]
www.nightforceoptics.com
END NIGHTFORCE OPTICS REPLY
VORTEX OPTICS REPLY
Hello XXXXX, and thank you for reaching out to Vortex Optics!
Tried giving you a call, but got your voicemail - Feel free to give me a call back at your convenience as I believe this may be more beneficial to further discuss over the phone. You can contact me directly at 608-602-XXXX.
Generally speaking, a "break-in" process shouldn't be needed, but it certainly wouldn't hurt in any way to do so. Any of our optics essentially have gone through this process when they're checked and inspected when we're checking turret travel & accuracy. However, it is a mechanical instrument with a variety of moving parts - erector spring, erector gimbal, turret screws, turret pads, etc. and if sitting in product packaging for an extended period of time after manufacturing before being mounted on a rifle, zeroed, and utilized does hold some merit.
Same applies to dialing turrets beyond your intended adjustments for elevation and windage. An optic is designed to be dialed to your corresponding adjustment, but it should be repeatable each and every time. If it is needing to be consistently be dialed beyond your intended adjustment this could indicate some other factors affecting the optic to do so. Often, improper mounting would cause issues symptomatic of this due to scope mounts secured around the scope tube creating an impingement internally leading to erratic or slow tracking, or a mechanical issue not allowing it to track true, which could be due to a variety of factors if mechanical function is impaired. Potentially a bent turret screw, turret pad needing to be repolished, or an erector spring needing to be resecured to name a few.
Lastly, there would be no need to dialing your adjustments to back off the erector spring. Technically, no matter where you're dialed to in the travel counter tension is applied via the erector spring to the erector. To a degree it's slightly less depending where you're dialed in the travel and becomes more compressed while dialing upwards & leftwards. However, from a mechanical standpoint the basic movements and mechanism of a riflescope system are all the same - of course, there are differences due to overall design and features of a specific mechanical system - but it is designed work in this fashion. Plus, could lead to forgetting what your return adjustment is for each optic/rifle setup leading to an additional range trip to recover you zero.
If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out!
Best regards,
XXXXX XXXXXX
Vortex Optics | Sales & Technical
One Vortex Drive
Barneveld, WI 53507
800.426.xxxx ext. xxxx
END VORTEX OPTICS REPLY
Out of interest in digging into some dogma and bro science surrounding scopes, I asked multiple well-known manufacturers whether they recommended these practices. When I was learning to hunt, I still remember my uncle bringing a small plastic mallet to the range to "settle in" scope adjustments-needless to say, times have changed, and the majority of scopes work well until you start subjecting them to impacts. Hopefully, this helps the newer rokslide folks who are just joining.
Below is the exact prompt I sent them and their replies with names and phone numbers XXXX’d out. I have not altered the content of their responses; I have only adjusted the spacing and font to make it play nice with the forum threads. I was impressed by the level of responsiveness from all the companies except HAWKE, which did not respond.
I reached out to the following scope makers:
Swarovski
Leupold
Vortex
Nightforce
Burris
Trijicon
Hawke – No Reply
“SCOPE MYTHBUSTING
Scope Break-in – I heard on a podcast that a Leupold representative recommended putting a scope through the full range of elevation and windage 20-30 times to help break in the adjustment mechanisms, remove any memory in the leaf springs, and spread internal lubrication across the internal parts.
-From the perspective of an optics maker, is there any benefit to this practice?
A few well-known competitive shooters recommend adjusting elevation and windage past the setting, then returning to the desired setting to make all final adjustments clockwise. The idea here is that the elevation or windage adjustment system is pushing positively against the erector tube and thus the adjustment is more repeatable.
-Is there any benefit to this practice?
Final question: Is there any benefit to backing off the elevation and windage dials when leaving scopes and rifles in the safe for extended periods of time? This assumes that the user is counting the clicks and revolutions and will return the rifle to zero before using it again. The idea is that releasing tension on the erector spring or springs can potentially increase reliability.
-Based on your experience and the materials you use in your erector springs, is there any benefit to this practice?”
SWAROVSKI’s ANSWER
XXXXX,
No, no need for break in
Everyone has their rituals and superstitions that feel like science. Like wearing your favorite shirt on game day.
and dialing back from one direction or another only really matters if you maxed out your range of adjustment and are either fully stretching or compressing a coil.
Regards,
XXXXXX XXXXXX
Customer Service
Swarovski Optik North America Ltd.
2 Slater Road
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920
United States
Tel. +1 800 426 xxxx
END SWAROVSKI ANSWER
LEUPOLD REPLY
XXXXX,
1) Both adjustments index on a pivot seat that has lubricant, and in practical terms the more the adjustments are used the better they become as that pivot seat is being polished. I do exactly this with every new scope before I mount them (although about 10 times clockwise/counter-clockwise from stop to stop, not 30) and have gotten excellent performance out of my scope.
2) What is described here is an exercise to defeat backlash in a scope, which has been engineered out of scopes for at least a couple of decades now. Old habits seem to linger.
3) Would it be helpful? Yes, but the benefit would be minimal according to our engineers so as to be not measurable. It becomes a question of effort vs reward to quote "This assumes that the user is counting the clicks and revolutions and will return the rifle to zero before using it again."
Regards,
XXXX
END LEUPOLD REPLY
NIGHTFORCE OPTICS REPLY
Hello XXXXX,
Thank you for contacting Nightforce Optics.
Those are some very good questions, and I can address each of them as they relate to Nightforce Optics. Please understand that these answers will be as they relate to Nightforce scopes, and are not universally true about all optics.
Scope break-in - While this may be a useful practice with some optics, Nightforce scopes do not require a break-in. Our turrets are hand-burnished, which essentially means that they are pre-broken-in and thread surfaces are perfectly mated to each other. In addition, our patented spring design does not take a set or need any sort of break-in. Great care is taken to provide perfect tracking performance out of the box.
Adjusting past target and back - This is also not necessary with a Nightforce scope, as our turrets are hand burnished to eliminate backlash. While this may be a good practice with some optics, it is not necessary with a Nightforce scope.
Backing off dials to store - This again may be good advice for some scopes, to prevent springs from taking a set. However, Nightforce scopes use a patented spring technology that does not take a set and can be stored at any dialed setting without compromising the integrity of the spring.
In short, you do not need to take any of these precautions when using a Nightforce scope, because they are engineered to address the issues that would necessitate such practices. In addition, we subject our scopes to an exhaustive battery of tests before leaving the factory to ensure proper tracking, travel, click value, reticle alignment, impact resistance, etc. I hope that this helps to answer your questions.
Please let us know if you have any other questions.
Respectfully,
XXXXX
Customer Experience
Nightforce Optics
336 Hazen Lane, Orofino, Idaho 83544
(208) 476-xxxx EXT. X
(208) 476-xxxx f
[email protected]
www.nightforceoptics.com
END NIGHTFORCE OPTICS REPLY
VORTEX OPTICS REPLY
Hello XXXXX, and thank you for reaching out to Vortex Optics!
Tried giving you a call, but got your voicemail - Feel free to give me a call back at your convenience as I believe this may be more beneficial to further discuss over the phone. You can contact me directly at 608-602-XXXX.
Generally speaking, a "break-in" process shouldn't be needed, but it certainly wouldn't hurt in any way to do so. Any of our optics essentially have gone through this process when they're checked and inspected when we're checking turret travel & accuracy. However, it is a mechanical instrument with a variety of moving parts - erector spring, erector gimbal, turret screws, turret pads, etc. and if sitting in product packaging for an extended period of time after manufacturing before being mounted on a rifle, zeroed, and utilized does hold some merit.
Same applies to dialing turrets beyond your intended adjustments for elevation and windage. An optic is designed to be dialed to your corresponding adjustment, but it should be repeatable each and every time. If it is needing to be consistently be dialed beyond your intended adjustment this could indicate some other factors affecting the optic to do so. Often, improper mounting would cause issues symptomatic of this due to scope mounts secured around the scope tube creating an impingement internally leading to erratic or slow tracking, or a mechanical issue not allowing it to track true, which could be due to a variety of factors if mechanical function is impaired. Potentially a bent turret screw, turret pad needing to be repolished, or an erector spring needing to be resecured to name a few.
Lastly, there would be no need to dialing your adjustments to back off the erector spring. Technically, no matter where you're dialed to in the travel counter tension is applied via the erector spring to the erector. To a degree it's slightly less depending where you're dialed in the travel and becomes more compressed while dialing upwards & leftwards. However, from a mechanical standpoint the basic movements and mechanism of a riflescope system are all the same - of course, there are differences due to overall design and features of a specific mechanical system - but it is designed work in this fashion. Plus, could lead to forgetting what your return adjustment is for each optic/rifle setup leading to an additional range trip to recover you zero.
If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out!
Best regards,
XXXXX XXXXXX
Vortex Optics | Sales & Technical
One Vortex Drive
Barneveld, WI 53507
800.426.xxxx ext. xxxx
END VORTEX OPTICS REPLY
