Originally Posted by
cayugad
that would have been my next question Sabotloader. As I have read some reports of how a lead sled (I really don't see why) will take out a scope. I had one scope blow out on me and that was a Bushnell Banner. It was not a high dollar scope by any means. But I purchased it for the eye relief. And after having it professionally mounted, it would drop cross hairs. I sent it back to Mid South USA and they gave me a refund. Of which I purchased a Nikon Pro Staff instead.
Originally Posted by
BarnesAddict
I would suggest, I'm pretty certain I know what I'm doing. I have numerous friends who shoot competition and are extremely well educated and versed in making barrels, building rifles, mounting scopes and extreme accuracy. A few of them are standing record holders in many forms of shooting, from .22 pistols and rifles, military pistols and rifles, muzzleloader shooters and BPCR shooters. A good friend I shoot with at times, also a winning record holding scope shooter, shoots some CF rifle at 100yds at a target the size of this: o using a 42x scope and a 6oz trigger. Two friends hold standing records with multiple firearm types. Everything from Camp Perry to Governor's Cup winners. Believe me when I say, I'm well taken care of when it comes to competition shooters that can educate.
Muzzle brakes can and many times will, change the POI, between with and without them. However, the muzzle brake has nothing to do with causing a scope to break and certainly none of mine. Tens of thousands of rifles are fitted with muzzle brakes.
I'll clear something up about past broken scopes. For instance the Nikon Monarch scopes I've busted, none of which a muzzle brake was involved. One has to understand that I put many thousands of rounds down range with those scopes. Not just 20-50 rounds a year, but up to 2,000 rounds a year. So in reality, the Nikons, although they were each repaired twice, held up pretty well come to think about it.
The VX6 was mounted correctly and held for over a 1,000 rounds before breaking the first time. The second time, with the best and strongest mount and rings Leupold makes, less than 100. Maybe it was "that" individual scope as the tech suggested at Leupold, but it failed the second time.
In relation to the "lead sled" query, yes Barnes they absolutely can and have caused scope failure. The execs at the big label scope manufacturers will deny it for some stupid reason. Can't figure out why they would but they do deny it. Scope reticles are designed to take a pretty good bit of energy and the newer designed "dual spring erectors" from Luepy and others can withstand some serious stuff. BUT, as Tom pointed out, they are directional. Unlike a shoulder, the lead sled will cause rebound energy effects well above what a scope is designed for. Seen a lot of stocks split because of those damn things too.
As far as Muzzle Brakes causing scope failure, I've heard that theory touted in some circles by some various "experts" but in all reality, I personally haven't experienced it with any of my rifles with brakes with several thousand rounds through them. Nor do I know anyone that has. Sometimes, a scope just decides to give up the ghost. I've seen scopes with thousands of rounds under them go haywire from a little bump on the side. Sometimes there just isn't an explanation other than chit happens.