It’s almost inevitable that something is going to happen to your scope if you are really putting it through its paces. Whether it is for hunting or competition shooting, your scope is probably going to suffer a few bumps and bruises along the way.
We see it all the time at Mid-Atlantic Rimfire Series matches. So here are some of the best brands that provide rugged scopes and helpful warranties to make sure your choice for an optic can stand the test of time.
Good Scope Brands
Scopes can and do break from time to time. I know because I recently damaged one of my own when I knocked it over onto hard concrete. It landed on one of the scope turrets. In this case, I was using an Athlon scope, and they were able to get me a new optic within a week.
That is what you are looking for when it comes to brands. First, you want someone that makes a reliable scope that has a proven track record. Second, you want a brand that has good customer service and provides a generous warranty. Lots of brands are doing that right now, from Athlon and Vortex to Leupold, U.S. Optics, and Zero Compromise Optic.
Quality matters. But dropping even a high-end optic on concrete is a sure way to damage any scope.
What’s a Reliable Warranty?
Listen to the customers. If you search around for a quality scope, you are sure to find plenty of chatter online about how well a scope performs. But you are also going to find out what past customers think of the company itself.
If the company says it has a rock-solid warranty, that is a great start. If previous customers are posting that they had to use that warranty and got quick responses and good service from the company, that is even better.
I highly recommend you ensure the optic you get has a warranty and comes from a reputable manufacturer. That can mean you are spending more on the scope, but it is worth every penny if you intend to put that optic to heavy use.
Obviously, you shouldn’t intentionally abuse your scope. But a good warranty is going to cover the normal types of issues that happen with optics. It should cover any manufacturing defaults and, ideally, have some form of replacement or repair plan.
Don’t assume this only applies to the big manufacturers. Smaller companies like Tract offer quality and a reliable warranty. If the scope is good enough to put on a rifle you use for precision shooting, it should be good enough to backup with a warranty. It’s as simple as that.
