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-   -   Death of a Super Sniper scope... (https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=351635)

EBR Works 10-11-2010 7:35 PM

Death of a Super Sniper scope...
 
I have had a Super Sniper 16x mounted on my Ferret50 for 16 months and put well over 1000 rounds of DTC through the gun. This past weekend the rear eye piece shattered during fire. :(

Glad I was wearing safety glasses!

I called SWFA this morning and they shippped a new one out to me immediately since it has a lifetime warranty. They told me to just ship the dead unit back when I receive the new one.

A+ for customer service!

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g3...o/7252293f.jpg

Joe 10-11-2010 7:51 PM

Scary! Glad you were wearing safety glasses.

Excellent customer service from swfa

Solidsnake87 10-11-2010 9:08 PM

Wow, when did they start doing the lifetime warranty? Glad to hear they replaced it.

CoyoteHunter555 10-11-2010 11:56 PM

That's pretty crazy looking. Glad you're getting a new scope and still have your eye! :chris:

wash 10-12-2010 1:51 PM

Wow.

A friend of mine has that 16x SS on his Serbu .50 BMG.

Was the glass ever scratched or any scope kisses?

Any symptoms before it popped (wandering zero, etc)?

brando 10-12-2010 2:02 PM

The warranty is almost a business necessity, otherwise there would be lots of pissed off customers. As far as I know, they're still the same cheap Japanese scopes they were years ago - not bad if you don't want to spend much and have some leeway in the quality/reliability department. There'll always be a market for them and having good customer service that will replace broken ones quickly sets them above some others.

Black Majik 10-12-2010 3:03 PM

Poor Ferret .50 now is glassless. I vote to have people shooting from the hip. :D

BamBam-31 10-12-2010 3:10 PM

Holy cow! Good thing you had safety glasses on, Mike. Looks like it could have been ugly. No lifetime warranties on eyeballs, eh? :eek:

EBR Works 10-12-2010 4:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wash (Post 5114105)

Was the glass ever scratched or any scope kisses?

Any symptoms before it popped (wandering zero, etc)?

No scratches or dings and never dropped.

The shot prior to the breakage was very low at 400 yards, which was unusual since it has always been right on at 400. I adjusted it up 2 clicks and it hit the target on the final shot.

I received the replacement scope today and it's already mounted and ready to zero this weekend...

yf19ex 10-14-2010 9:10 PM

My Super Sniper elevation turret broke 2 weeks ago. I have not call SWFA because one of my other friends who had a super sniper that had the exact same problem, was refused service and said the cost to fix the scope would be more than its worth, so he got a Leupold instead.

Although I want a 1k scope, funds are tight, but my rifle is out of commission until I get a new scope. This post gives me some hope. I just sent SWFA an email to see if they will repair or replace my old scope.

Divernhunter 10-14-2010 9:59 PM

One thought. 50bmg = Nightforce or at least a Leuopld(any Leupold will hold up)

Why risk an eye? or any other body part??

brando 10-15-2010 11:29 AM

I'm of the opinion that the mount is more important than the scope when it comes to the massive jarring effect of the .50BMG. The rifles we were issued in the 90s had a variety of mounts; some built like a tank, others built like they belonged on hunting rifles. Guess which ones caused problems?

EBR Works 10-15-2010 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brando (Post 5131777)
I'm of the opinion that the mount is more important than the scope when it comes to the massive jarring effect of the .50BMG. The rifles we were issued in the 90s had a variety of mounts; some built like a tank, others built like they belonged on hunting rifles. Guess which ones caused problems?

It is mounted in Badger Ordnance Max-50 steel rings that are built like a tank. The ring screws were all tight as well.

mrkubota 10-16-2010 8:15 AM

My early 20x SS (tasco) broke loose after 520rnds. The reticle rotated about 45deg and I could see glass shards in the tube, but it sure didn't crack the way this one did!

I did get some shot stringing just before it went out completely.

Here's a pic of the target I was shooting when it started to fail:
http://www.daplane.com/images/dlp100yd.jpg

Tasco repaired it under warranty for 25.00 shipping/insurance.

After repair, it's still working great on a Serbu heavy barrel DTC gun.

It did give me enough time to save up for the Nightforce I'm running on my BMG now..
I tried a Leupold Mk3 on it too, but the eye relief was too short for my liking!

Jon Se 10-16-2010 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yf19ex (Post 5129186)
My Super Sniper elevation turret broke 2 weeks ago. I have not call SWFA because one of my other friends who had a super sniper that had the exact same problem, was refused service and said the cost to fix the scope would be more than its worth, so he got a Leupold instead.

Although I want a 1k scope, funds are tight, but my rifle is out of commission until I get a new scope. This post gives me some hope. I just sent SWFA an email to see if they will repair or replace my old scope.

If you're refused service, post your problem and customer support experience over at http://www.opticstalk.com/ where you can leverage the public's support against SWFA. It seems like whoever makes a complaint there gets their problems resolved quickly. The site itself is owned and operated by SWFA and filled with members who tout the SS's durability and CS backup.

bcrich 10-16-2010 11:44 AM

Impactco, does the 16 power scope still have the correct accurate mildots as the 10x? you know how most variable scopes have to be adjusted to 10x to be correct! Glad all turned out good for you

EBR Works 10-16-2010 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcrich (Post 5137200)
Impactco, does the 16 power scope still have the correct accurate mildots as the 10x? you know how most variable scopes have to be adjusted to 10x to be correct! Glad all turned out good for you

Yes

rero360 10-16-2010 8:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcrich (Post 5137200)
Impactco, does the 16 power scope still have the correct accurate mildots as the 10x? you know how most variable scopes have to be adjusted to 10x to be correct! Glad all turned out good for you

depends on the manufacturer, some that I know have it set at the highest power, leupold being one. Then again, when one goes with a First Focal Plane optic that no longer is a concern.

CSACANNONEER 10-16-2010 8:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solidsnake87 (Post 5110728)
Wow, when did they start doing the lifetime warranty? Glad to hear they replaced it.

AFAIK, SSs have always had a lifetime warranty.

GW 10-16-2010 8:27 PM

Well you weren't hurt and you're getting a new scope for free
I guess that means you came out OK
BUT... Given what happened Are you going to trust that new scope?

EBR Works 10-16-2010 8:46 PM

I have no concerns about the new scope. I knew the first one would fail eventually. With a lifetime warranty, it's a non-issue.

EBR Works 11-05-2012 7:34 AM

The replacement unit failed yesterday after about 500 rounds. I was shooting at 600 yards and one shot went about 25' right of the target, which was a bit puzzling. On the next shot the windage knob ended up on the ground with the attachment threads torn out :

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g3...ps796ba140.jpg

Lifetime warranty to be tested again!
.
.
.
.
.
.

Manolito 11-05-2012 8:06 AM

There is something to learn from this thread.

Whiterabbit 11-05-2012 8:53 AM

I've learned I want to be in a place where I can shoot 500 rounds from a ferret50 in under two weeks.





:)

PolishMike 11-05-2012 9:01 AM

Wow, I will continue to use real quality optics...

EBR Works 11-05-2012 9:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whiterabbit (Post 9657662)
I've learned I want to be in a place where I can shoot 500 rounds from a ferret50 in under two weeks.





:)


Two years.

EBR Works 11-05-2012 9:05 AM

For a rental gun, the Super Sniper was fine for first time shooters tapping 400 yard steel. For competition, not so much. I'm going to order a first class optic since I intend to compete with the gun soon. New match 34" barrel coming.

BTW, I just received an RMA from SWFA for a replacement of the SS.

brando 11-05-2012 10:23 AM

Bottom line is you get what you pay for. Economy scopes are great for plinking, but you can't expect durability out of them.

Whiterabbit 11-05-2012 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EBR Works (Post 9657727)
Two years.

:o oops.

UserM4 11-11-2012 12:13 PM

Is this the current crop of "supposedly" highly touted SS scopes? If so, oh boy.

HK Dave 11-11-2012 4:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UserM4 (Post 9702982)
Is this the current crop of "supposedly" highly touted SS scopes? If so, oh boy.

You understand he's shooting the equivalent of 50BMG? The fact that a $300 scope stood up to 500 rounds of DTC is actually quite nice i think.

UserM4 11-11-2012 4:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HK Dave (Post 9704291)
You understand he's shooting the equivalent of 50BMG? The fact that a $300 scope stood up to 500 rounds of DTC is actually quite nice i think.

Apparently, these $300 scopes are nowhere near the quality levels of the new generation of high end Super Snipers. At least that's what I'm hoping for anyways. :p

wash 11-12-2012 7:21 PM

It would be interesting to hear if a failure analysis was done on these broken scopes.

I hope they are quality control failures rather than design failures because if it's bad design the scopes are just plain unsuitable for .50 BMG class rifles.

I suggest you not shoot .50 with your new replacement scope.

I'm not sure if there is anything cheaper than a Nightforce that is really .50 BMG proven.

HelmandHunter 11-22-2012 11:41 AM

Nightforce, S&B if you have really deep pockets

ar15barrels 11-22-2012 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HelmandHunter (Post 9772335)
Nightforce, S&B if you have really deep pockets

For durability, I would take a nightforce over an S&B every day of the week.
I have seen way too many S&B's die in matches.
There are a lot more night force scopes in use than S&B's, yet we see far fewer failures with nightforces.

Now for features, the S&B rock!
However, I think reliability is the single most important feature you want in a scope...


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