March vs. Nightforce Repeatability and Reliability

[dkhunt14]

If you had 4 March's fail Steve, this is very uncommon. I not saying that they don't fail, but it's among the most reliable scopes as far as BR goes. Leups on the other hand, well lets just say that I've see 2 more this year fail on people that I shoot against which makes it 10 that I've see fail since I first started shooting in 2013. I wouldn't give you a plug nickel for a Leup Comp scope. I've have been told by a dozen people that I shoot against that their 15-55 NF comps have given up on them. One of the guy's had to send his back twice within 3 seasons. The only scope that I've never heard anyone bad mouth has been the Valdada 36. I've owned 3 of them, still have one left and I think they are fantastic scopes. I'm sorry you had such bad luck with your Marches. I have 5 left and I haven't had a lick of trouble with any of them.

There is a difference in shooting a PPC or a 300 WSM in terms of being hard on a scope. The 1000 yard BR guys use a brake also which doesn't help any scope. Matt

 

[JimPag]

There is a difference in shooting a PPC or a 300 WSM in terms of being hard on a scope. The 1000 yard BR guys use a brake also which doesn't help any scope. Matt

Put 2 exact scopes on a 300 WSM and an airgun and see which one will do a scope in first. It sure won't be the WSM.

 

[LHSmith]

Interesting comments about scopes. I bought a number of Leupolds through the years in a variety of models and eventually all have to be sent back for repair. I mentioned in a defunct BBs that I was having issues and got roasted and condemned for being an idiot until a big sporting goods store in Montana mentioned the most scopes being returned for warranty were Leupold and then the tone changed.

IMHO that goes to the point of Leupold's lifelong reputation of being very generous to customers on warranty repair. I've been using and purchasing shooting optics since 1966 and have used most of the popular US owned brands producing hunting scopes. Most other companies were constantly under new ownership -at times without a repair center- or had poor repair turnaround times. Sales people knew this fact and used it as a selling point to influence a higher dollar purchase. No one wants to send an optic for repair when you have no idea when it will come back. Many customers took advantage of Leupold's generosity and sent their scopes in just "to get them checked out" for the mere cost of postage. For me Leupold has an excellent track record and in the 5% of the scopes purchased I have returned for repair -including 2 LCS models- the scopes were returned problem free - or - in 2 cases replaced with a newer model. FWIW, the LCS's have ridden 1000x more miles and fired 1000's more rounds than any of my hunting scopes- they simply see a lot more use.

 

[JimPag]

IMHO that goes to the point of Leupold's lifelong reputation of being very generous to customers on warranty repair. I've been using and purchasing shooting optics since 1966 and have used most of the popular US owned brands producing hunting scopes. Most other companies were constantly under new ownership -at times without a repair center- or had poor repair turnaround times. Sales people knew this fact and used it as a selling point to influence a higher dollar purchase. No one wants to send an optic for repair when you have no idea when it will come back. Many customers took advantage of Leupold's generosity and sent their scopes in just "to get them checked out" for the mere cost of postage. For me Leupold has an excellent track record and in the 5% of the scopes purchased I have returned for repair -including 2 LCS models- the scopes were returned problem free - or - in 2 cases replaced with a newer model. FWIW, the LCS's have ridden 1000x more miles and fired 1000's more rounds than any of my hunting scopes- they simply see a lot more use.

Well Lamar. I know that Leupold has a fantastic warranty. The fact is that if I drive 1800 miles for a match and my Leupold Comp fails me at that match, do u think I give a rat's ass about their warranty at that point? I mean no matter what brand of scope I use will fail at some point but seeing for myself 10 failures at the range by other fellow shooters, I am not going to put any Leup on any of my rifles and go compete with it. I have NO FAITH in Leupold scopes for competition purposes. If you don't have faith in your equipment you might as well stay home. I have faith in their hunting scopes though.

 

[Killick]

Now I'm looking at the March 48x52 fixed. What appeals to me is March's reputation for quality and the simplicity of a fixed scope. I shot sling for years and did quite well with a 24x fixed Weaver at 1K yds. so I'm not put off by the lack of power adjustability. Less to go wrong, fewer lenses in the way of the X ring and superior March optics...I could cozy up to that.

 

[Killick]

...ya, and @$800 less than the 10-60. Ockham's razor is kicking in.

 

[Steveb]

Yes, I am going to be talking to Jay at the next match about that March also. I like the idea of a large tube fixed power with great optics. Would be interesting to try and see how it holds up.

 

[JimPag]

Yes, I am going to be talking to Jay at the next match about that March also. I like the idea of a large tube fixed power with great optics. Would be interesting to try and see how it holds up.

I've been using a HM 48x since April of this year and it has worked very well for me.

 

[ohiodan]

I have 2 NF scopes, a Vortex Golden Eagle, and a March 5-50. They all work very well, each have certain features I prefer over another but they all work very well. Bottom line is that in order of importance for F/TR it is:
1, Tracking/repeatability
2, Weight
3, Warranty
4, Price

Dan P.