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tahqua
MODERATOR Have You Driven A Ford Lately? Joined: March/27/2006 Location: Michigan, USA Status: Offline Points: 9042 |
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Also, the large objective scopes that have to be mounted high have a greater moment of inertia around the ring base interface. The whole system, high mounts and heavy scopes are a bad combination on heavy kicking guns. |
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Jon A
Optics Journeyman Joined: March/14/2008 Location: Everett, WA Status: Offline Points: 670 |
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A heavier scope will certainly put more stress on the mounts holding all else equal.
Though the thought that more weight in and of itself in a scope means the scope will be less durable (especially with respect to recoil) is false but unfortunately this "wive's tale" has reached mythical status. When broad generalizations are used to compare specific items, misinformation unsues. Where the weight is added is just as important as how much weight was added to a given scope design. Increase wall thickness of the tube and it will be heavier. Increase the diameter of the tube and the scope will be heavier. Replace plastic and aluminum parts on the inside with steel and the scope will get heavier. Add another erector spring, use a heavier duty erector springs and the scope will get heavier. Etc, etc,... To think any of that makes the scope less durable with respect to recoil is silly. And yet there are those who will put a scope on a scale and think they can then tell you how it's going to be destroyed by recoil more quickly by the reading on the scale alone. The generalization is often true, of course, which is probably why some believe so strongly in it--noting that a little cheap brand X scope holds up better than a big giant high magnification cheap brand X scope and applying that universally. You sure can make a scope weaker by adding weight--make it longer (often a given with higher magnification), make the ocular/objective assemblies bigger and heavier without adding strength in the middle, add features like a side focus but build them poorly, etc.... In short, it's not as simple as a number on a scale. One needs to use his brain and find out where the weight went. But regardless, the heavier the scope the better mounts it will require. |
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Dale Clifford
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: July/04/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5087 |
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lower mass anything will have lower inertial moments--- high school physics, -- the weakness of the four mounting screws, peening of lugs on both mounts and rings have been gone over in this forum 100's of times, nothing new here. |
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Graysteel
Optics Apprentice Joined: October/02/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 200 |
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Not to add fuel to the fire, but I am a little dubious about finding value in comparing scope weights. I have seen many more scopes damaged from being dropped or bumped than I have ever seen damaged from recoil. Sure if you have a very specific application that requires a scope be a specific weight then give it some consideration, other than that, the variances don't seem to make enough difference to really worry about.
While it is true that heavier scopes can be hard mounts, the answer is easy... use durable mounts. My two cents is use decent grade military style mounts and you won't have a problem. If you can't use military style mounts, then use all steel mounts with largest diameter mounting screws you can find and you shouldn't have any problems. Other helpful tricks are with all else being equal pick the mount with the largest bearing/friction surface (widest width) and use a coating of loctite on all bearing/friction surfaces. |
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