When you discover the scoped failed, you..........

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High Plains

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About 10 years ago I was going to the range when my Enfield 25-06 Rem toppled over and hit a concrete floor. Later at the range I made a few clicks to get the point of impact where it needed to be. A few weeks later it needed more clicks to be on target. I thought nothing of it.
When firearms season for deer rolled around I did not verify the scope setting before opening day. A big, mature 10-point buck presented himself and my first shot missed. I heard the bullet hit the dirt terrace the buck stood on. Ditto for the second shot, despite holding higher. The buck and the other deer were not annoyed by the thumping sounds. By now real frustration hit me, so holding even higher I shot a third time. This time the bullet wizzed over him and he took off. I was befuddled and put the rifle away.
A few weeks later I shot at 100 yards with the same ammo and fouled bore. The bullet strike was 18” left and low. Multiply that error by 2.5 or 3 times and it’s not wonder I missed the buck. I tossed the scope.
Since that frustrating time, I have never gone afield without verifying the scope. I have also been more keen about scopes losing their settings when they were spot on.
A few years later, a backup rifle with a confirmed scope took a fall. Later, I checked it and there was no change to the point of impact. That proved to me the Redfield scopes are tough. (Too bad Leupold stopped making them.) The same scope was on my 257 Wby when I shot a buck in a snowstorm at 380 yards.
 
My predator rifle gets daily use, (just wear and tear, not shooting) and I find myself rechecking zero, every three or four months, just to be sure. And yeah, it's a bit of a PITA, babying the rifle and scope thru the bush, and keeping it from falling and dropping. somehow, I always thought a rifle was a little tougher, than a hard bump, or one drop, on a hard surface.

Oh, well.
 
I thought my scope had broken when I missed two deer a few years ago, but it turned out a Ruger scope ring had come loose, then re-stuck itself just out of the groove. I missed it when I checked the rifle over (but never did a pre-season shoot). I actually found it when I was cleaning the rifle days later. When I picked it up I pressed on the scope slightly and it made a definite CLICK then the ring was loose. I couldn't believe it. That rifle still holds a 150yd zero, and I learned to not accept last minute hunting invites without enough time to shoot your rifle.
 
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