American made scopes?

[A7Dave]

Wow! Thanks for all the great input. My start on this thread was with the idea of giving my money to the company that employs skilled American workers. No offense to the rest of the world, but I am tired of some companies representing themselves as producing an American product, but actually having outsourced the entire operation.
I drive a Chevy truck and a Honda. Both were "assembled" in the US. Just have to check the VIN to see if it is US or not. Some "US" cars are not made in the US at all. Companies can do what they want, but don't hang the flag on something not made here.
Most of what you guys have written follows what I have heard in the past. Almost no,high end) optic grade glass is made here, but is imported. No big deal, but you do want to know what you're getting. I bought a cheapo Cabela's Pine Ridge tube a few years ago. I don't think it was even made on planet earth. The elevation and windage adjustments worked opposite to what was indicated!
Still, I wish that the companies would clearly label where there products are mostly made. If Leupold makes low end scopes elsewhere, tell me. If the high end scopes are made here, tell me so I can make a decision and spend a few extra bucks to support local jobs!

Good shooting.

 

[billmo]

Dave, I'm afraid that all of the supposedly high quality tubes will have glass and probably some other parts that are not made here. It is sad that America has had some sorry leadership thru the years past and sold ourselves short. The fact of the matter is we have been priced out of the market. But, on the other hand just how good is our quality anymore. For instance, in 2006 I bought a new Silverado truck. A piece of junk from every angle. Took GM to court under the lemon law. They paid me $ 4,000.00 to go lay down somewhere and hush. They could have fixed the truck for less money I suppose. Still driving a piece junk til I got a chance to trade it for a 2007 Toyota. Best truck I ever ownwd in my life and I'm 53 years old. Point is the pride of high quality and workmanship is gone. Sad, but true. Best Regards, Bill

 

[Gman]

I've been looking to buy a good scope and was looking at a NightForce at a local store. Call me ignorant/naive, but I was shocked to see on the bottom of the scope: "Made in Japan." Guess I was wrong. I was under the impression that they were made in the US. Now I'm wondering, are Leupold scopes made in America? I looked through a nice Zeiss Conquest that said "Assembled in America."

I'm willing to pay the extra bucks for a NightForce if it is made here, but not if Leupold is made here and Nightforce isn't. I'd like the chance to pay for an American product. IF it exists!

Anyone know who makes what where?

Thanks to all.

Dave

I am of the same opinion, I would prefer to support an OEM company than someone who is simply outsourcing or private labeling someone elses products. I knew Nightforce scopes 14 years ago when they were called "Lightforce" at that time the scopes were being built by Hakko in Japan as the "Superb Series" and rebadged as "Lightforce" for the US,Canada and Australia, they were a decent scope then as they are today but heavy built and solid, but overpriced as far as I'm concerned, they should not be sold at the same price point as a Leupold MK4 or Schmidt & Bender. My money will be spent on an OEM scope before I dump my cash on a rebadge. The OEM's are the ones that have done the R & D and vested greatly in bringing technology to the market, they are the true inovators and we should support them if we want them to be around in the years to come, they have a reputation to uphold, the Nightforces, Bushnells, Tascos and a plethora of others do nothing but shop around for who will give them the best price point, they are only a name on someone elses product. Now a Nightforce or any other name on that scope at $600-$800 is where they should be at, Actually Hakko should be selling their scope direct as far as I'm concerned,if they are still making the NIghtforce) but they have never been able to penetrate the North American market, strange! Actually they all have a market share but it's getting that you don't know what you have anymore just like the machine tool market you see two lathes in opposite ends of the country with very similar features but they have different names, which one is better!
That's where we are at today with most things coming out of hte orient.
JMHO
bigbull

Many believe the NF not only has better glass than the Mark 4, but is built with stronger components as well.,thicker scope tube, heavier springs, stronger turrets, etc.) If the Navy SEALS are using the NXS models, that ought to tell you something.

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

Never doubted you Spotcheck. Just find it curious that the scope itself and the box both say Made in Japan if final assembly is done here. May be based on parts count as computers are if you're selling them to the US Government. At least it doesn't say made in China... yet.

No offense taken You're probably right about the labeling.

_

I just heard some interesting news that came out of Nightforce! New stuff to be announced at the Shot Show - possibly a first focal plane ranging reticle and a zero stop elevation turret for the tactical boys. Also rumors of a low profile 44mm objective model, but I think that one is just wishful thinking.

_

For those who commented about S&B - some of the S&B PMII models are being imported from Germany unassembled and completed by Premier Reticles in Winchester, VA. S&B makes an excellent scope, but feature for feature they will cost you almost twice the price of an equivalent NF. Are they worth that much more? I suppose that's up to the individual. At this time my budget restricts me to NF.

_

Also - I presently own five "real" Leupold MK4's and have had four more in the past. While they're good scopes they're in NO WAY equal to NF!!! Leupold has pretty much let their competition overtake them over the past few years. Let's hope that their new MK5 lineup,to be announced at the Shot Show) will put them back on top. I'm looking forward to it. JMHO

_

As a closing note - here's a great example of good ol' American products: If you purchased a GM vehicle manufactured in 2003 or earlier with their highly touted "On-Star" system be prepared to kiss its communication feature goodbye. You've had five years worth of this overpriced option, but it's going away as of February 2008 because it's an analog based system and cannot be upgraded to the new digital foremat that takes over in Feb.

I try to buy American whenever I can, but I'm not going to bend over and take it where the sun don't shine in order to brag about my patriotism. I owe it to myself and my family to buy the best product possible for my money. And that's just how it is!!!

Rant over.

 

[Dave223]

I'll take the Nightforce any day. They had one at the show which is a cut away display model, sliced right down the middle, and it's impressive to handle it. There is a photo of it in their brochure.
You know the feeling when you hold something of quality, right? Go and pick up your custom rifle and there it is. Scopes are the same.

Dave

 

[Preacher]

I had to go check all 8 of my Nightforces,2,NXS-6,BR's) and they all do say "Made in Japan" But I know for a fact that they are assembled in Idaho by American workers
and work better than any other scope I have owned.....
On a few of my rifles I have beat them up a lot and they still held zero's.
I don't really care if they were made by little gay boys in Bangladesh they are still a heck of a scope....

 

[mysticplayer]

Leupold has been outsourcing their lenses for decades. I have a Guns and Ammo article from the 80's with a factory tour which states clearly all their lenses come from overseas.

The big issue is 'domestic content'. This allows companies to lable'Made in USA' even though some/many of the parts come from Global suppliers.

Lenses are dominated by the Asian factories. Some of the top Japanese houses have set up factories in China and the Phillipines to make the best lenses in the world. Many Euro scopes source from Asia too.

Remember, China/Phillipines has all of the newest factories built to the same specs as in Europe or Japan. They just have done it at 1/3 the costs.

Much of the scope tubes are made in China. Why a number of big name clones can exist so cheaply. Yes, the Mk4 is cloned to no end. Makes you wonder how they got the design specs?

A top of the line CNC machine run by an Asian or an American stil produces the same product. China now leads the world in Robotic manf. Yep, your Chevy might very well be built with Chinese robotics.

China is rapidly becoming the world's largest consumer of quality aluminum alloys. So no wonder that is where much of the tubes are sourced there.

At the end, domestic content allows any company to lable based on US import/export rules. Why you can have an import Caddy and a domestic Honda.

Many scope companies outsource various parts but keep the content/assembly high enough to legally call their product domestic. Others can't be bothered and go for the better margins.

The jobs left a very long time ago and aren't returning anytime soon. Ah, capitalism....

Jerry

 

[2506]

I got blew away in October when I saw a big box that had held many dozen Bushnell scopes come into a friends sporting goods store and it had made in Vietnam printed in big black letters down the side.

 

[Clark]

I have also obsessed over which scopes are made in the U.S.

What we really want is a good scope, and the "made in USA" was just an indicator.

If there are 100 scope brands all made in 3 factories, they are playing a shell game of names to play us for more profit.

If we could really compare, our costs and their profits would go down.

Here are some scope comparisons:

http://www.6mmbr.com/optics.html
http://www.realguns.com/archives/126.htm

Do you have any other scope comparisons?