Thus far I’ve seen videos showing three precision rifle competition shooters pick up their rifles by the scopes to move them to a different firing position. And if someone like offgrid says he’s personally aware of damage to a scope having occurred, I believe it. Every time: Obviously not. Every scope: Perhaps not. Factors vary, but something to be avoided? In my opinion, yes.

I’m certainly no expert. But the instructors at Sig Academy just went over this in the modern sporting rifle class I took. They said a properly mounted scope would not be affected. He mentioned this when picking up his MCX by the scope. He described the internals of the scope and as long as adjustment covers were in place no problem iirc.

quote:

Originally posted by frayedends:
But the instructors at Sig Academy just went over this in the modern sporting rifle class I took.

Thanks for that.

It’s interesting that the issue would have been addressed there because other than the one comment I described in my first post, it’s not something I had thought about or seen questioned before. Coincidence, or something in the air? How did the subject come up? Did a student ask a question, or was it just something the instructor raised?

Again, though, the potential for problems would obviously vary based on the hardware involved. I wouldn’t hesitate in the slightest to pick up one of my ARs by its Aimpoint CompML3, but I definitely wouldn’t pick up my Winchester model 52 by the Redfield 3200, and especially not by its objective bell.

It was in the classroom and the instructor was discussing optics. He had picked up his MCX by the scope multiple times and so he just told us about it. Basically as he picked it up he said, “By the way you may see me picking this up by the scope...”

Don’t quote me but I believe he said basically that the tube that gets adjusted is inside the exterior tube and unless adjustment controls are exposed you can’t mess that up. He said if it’s not mounted properly you could shift it but still not mess with internals. He also described how they are built tough for military. Of course I suppose it depends on the quality of the scope.

Appreciate the explanation.
Now I’ll have to ponder that, and perhaps one of our authorities on scopesights will comment.

Without being an authority myself, it seems to me that affecting the internal mechanism would be only one consideration. I would think that if the outer tube were bent at all that it would change the position of the lenses and possibly cause misalignment and/or compromise the seals. I don’t believe I’d want any of those things to happen.

I grew up reading the Matt Helm books by Donald Hamilton. In those books Hamilton stated that once a rifle was "married" to the scope they were to never be parted and great care must be taken to not disturb that union. So, I am going to state that you should NEVER EVER carry a rifle by the scope.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Scooter123,

Like my late father in law used to say .." You CAN , but you MAY NOT ."

Donald Hamilton was more knowledgeable about firearms than the vast majority of fiction writers, but that is just made up stuff.

I still wouldn't carry a rifle by the scope... except a Steyr AUG.
Actually, your sergeant will chew you out for carrying your AR or your FN by the handle. It's convenient but it isn't ready.

Just had a random thought.

I have a couple of handguns with red dot sights on them and I use the red dot to rack the slide.

You see instructors and top competition shooters doing that all the time on Gun TV.

Doesn't seem like it would be much different.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:
Doesn't seem like it would be much different.

You don’t see any difference in vulnerability to damage due to handling between a typical red dot sight of the sort used on handguns and high magnification variable power scopes typically used for long range precision shooting? Do you notice any differences in their designs?

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:
Doesn't seem like it would be much different.

You don’t see any difference in vulnerability to damage due to handling between a typical red dot sight of the sort used on handguns and high magnification variable power scopes typically used for long range precision shooting? Do you notice any differences in their designs?

Of course I do. Don't be ridiculous.

I don't see much difference in how robust the designs are and that's natural as they're made to function in similar environments and similar operating conditions.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:
I don't see much difference in how robust the designs are and that's natural as they're made to function in similar environments and similar operating conditions.

Rather than leave the impression that I just ignored those statements, I will just say they are two of the most amazing I have read here.