Simmons Aetec Broke

[Huntin'Gun]

I have a Simmons Aetec 2.8-10X44 Gloss. I am the first owner of it, and did not buy it used.
I took it to the range last week. It is mounted on a .308 Norma Mag. Previously it was mounted on a 30-06 and never gave any problems. In fact I've been very happy with it. Until today.
I noticed that the reticle was a little fuzzy, but I didn't pay it much attention. Then after another shot, the whole picture became fuzzy, smaller, and the reticle was less fuzzy. When I move the focus I can make the picture clear, but the reticle is so blurry it is almost invisible. When I adjust the focus the other way the reticle becomes clear and true, but the picture is very fuzzy and too small.

This happened at about the 50th round through it. About 500 rounds went through when on the .30-06

Bushnell now owns the Simmons brand, so I sent it in to them last Tuesday. It was never mistreated, so I'm hoping for a warranty repair/replacement. I've yet to hear back from them.

Just thought I'd let others know that the Aetec can't handle magnum recoil.

I'll let you know how the customer service turns out.

 

[Maverick223]

Sounds like you reticle popped out...I would invest in something a little better like a Nikon (good stuff at a manageable price).

 

[Huntin'Gun]

I agree that the Nikons are better scopes. Actually, until last week i'd have said they were on par with each other. Not any more. I have a couple Nikon Buckmasters, and they haven't given me any trouble. The thing is, I think the .308 Norma looks best with a gloss finish. It's a sporterized brazilian mauser I had rechambered to 308 Norma [when I bought it it was a .30-06]. The nice blued steel and good wood look classic, and to my eye that says to compliment it with a classic gloss scope. The nikons are only matte. I was thinking of getting a Leupold VX-1 in gloss. Should be durable enough to handle the recoil. And Leupold always stand behind their products. We'll see if Bushnell does.

 

[Maverick223]

Forget about the VX-I (and II)...they are sub-par IMO...the VX-III is also available in a gloss finish and has pretty good optical characteristics, however I can't blame you for not wanting to pay for it...I wouldn't either. It is overpriced in my (less than humble) opinion. Bushnell Elite 3200 is available in gloss and should be around the $200.00USD (about $240CAD IIRC), it is a pretty good deal for what you get. I think it is pretty close to the Leupy at half the price.

 

[Runningman]

My own experience is 300 magnums are hard on scopes, much more so than 30-06s. I broken a few scopes on various 300 magnums over the years. All of them that broke did so within 200 rounds. So far knock on wood I've never broke a Leupold scope. Got one that is on my 375 H&H that I bought new in 1974 been on 4 different rifles.