Tucker Conversion vs. frozen reticles.

[Ross308]

Been having some trouble keeping my scopes zeroed in. This includes my Leupolds as well as the cheaper brands. Judging by the amount of sight in time and oh s---s during the shoots, I'm probably not the only one. Some of the people I shoot with have the Tucker Conversions and are happy with them. That might be the way to go, but then I hear the frozen reticle is better. Don't even know what that is. Is there somebody with exp. with both that can high light the pros and cons? It would seem that the frozen reticle would need external adjustments. Any input is appreciated. Thanks.
Dan R.

 

[GSPV]

A Tucker conversion is a screw thar locks the tube that has the reticle against its stops. You loosen the screw, make your adjustment using the scope's turrets, then lock it back.

A frozen scope has that tube locked into place. It might be epoxied in place depending on who does it. You have to have windage and elevation adjustment in the mounts/rings ala the old Unertl scopes.

 

[butchlambert]

Doesn't Cecil Tucker's conversion have an additional spring? It still allows you to adjust the scope. The so called frozen scopes require external adjustments.

 

[SmokinJoe]

Butch, I had Cecil do his conversion on all 7 of my LCS scopes after both Henry & I lost control inside about 3 of them each several years ago. The Tuckerizing does seem to make them very solid. IIRC, Cecil puts o-rings in the erctor assembly to keep everything snug, and replaces the leaf springs with the 45 degree coil spring. This conversion does not offer any way to lock the scope unless he has a mod I've never seen. I think the feature GSPV is thinking of was on a Burris series of hunting scopes, maybe I'm wrong though. The Tuckerizing has gotten rid of any tracking/reliability problems I was having with my score shooting rifles. If you are only shooting group, then the frozen reticle approach may be better; I think it does lock down once you get it zeroed.

 

[GSPV]

Not sure, Butch. I might have my "conversions" confused. One that I saw has a delrin screw. Another that I see has a housing with a spring that augments the internal spring. I may have Cecil's confused with another job.

I do know that all NightForce benchrest models, not sure about others, have a housing right there. I assume that it has a spring inside.

 

[GSPV]

If you slide about half way down, this page http://6mmbr.websitetoolbox.com/post/March-Scopes-1941828?trail=16 has a picture of the Bukys external adjustable mount/rings used with frozen scopes.

If you slide to the bottom of this one, http://www.6mmbr.com/brschool.html , you see another way of locking up a scope. It's between the adjustment turrets and the ocular end. It's like a girdle or something on the outside.

 

[butchlambert]

Joe,
You are correct.

 

[swampshooter]

My Leupold 36x has little brass locking screws on the adjustment turret that tighten everything in place. Leupold told me it was a Tucker conversion. I bought the scope used and the guy I bought it from also claimed it was a Tucker conversion. It seems to reliably lock the adjustments in place.

 

[GSPV]

This thread has a picture

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3795728.0

 

[GSPV]

Some more info. Guess you can tell it's a slow day at work.

http://benchrest.com/showthread.php?68670-Tucker-Conversion

 

[butchlambert]

Swampshooter,
If yours looks like the photos of Mark's, it is probably a Tucker. If it looks different, it probably isn't.

 

[dave7mm]

Butch,

I just got a 20 year old 36x B&L back from Mr. Tucker.
It had opened up on me years ago on my PPC.A rifle that would agg in sub .2s started shooting .45s. I put all my short range stuff up years ago.And went woodchuck hunting.
Well I started shooting again.

It has the housing mounted at a 45 opposite to both turrets and it has a locking screw in the center.
Mr. Tucker upgraded his conversion with the "lock" which he didnt do years ago.
He told me that you can use the lock or not.If you do, just be sire to unlock it before you make any adjustment.
I have yet to get it mounted up and give it a go.


dave

 

[Ross308]

Thanks for all the feed back. Seems as if the Tucker would be the way to go at this time. Maybe later I'll try a different method. I didn't know there were so many people working on the same problem. 'Course it is one of the most exasperating things that can happen during a shoot. Makes me wonder why they don't build a really good bench rest scope for external adjustment only. Thanks again for all the input.
Dan R.

 

[butchlambert]

Dave,
Didn't know that Cecil made a change. If he did your work I'm sure it is great.

 

[expiper]

Butch,,,,I have a cupla old Leu 36's that Cecil did several yrs ago and they have the usual non adj bracket on the side,,,however aprox 3 yrs ago he did a scope for a shootin buddy here and it has the "NEW" tower on the side with a lil' nylon locking screw as a part of it!!!,,,and it can be snugged up after scope adj is done!!,,,I think it can be left "loose" if you want,,,Cecil does excellent work((as you know--just reashuering others who dont know of Cecil and his skills))....this new scope holds its zero as well as the older ones...Roger

 

[swampshooter]

Butch, I have locking screws in the same location, but they are smaller and made of brass.

 

[butchlambert]

Swampshooter,
He may have changed his method as I stated a couple post ago. I have had several of Cecil's conversions and all of them looked like the silver 36x pictured above.