Can a high powered rifle physically break a scope?

Question

I've got a .338 lapua magnum, but can't afford a high end scope right now, so I bought a Barska scope for $125, and was told after, that this rifle may destroy the scope. If this may be true, should I return the scope and wait, even though I'm dying to put a couple rounds down range? or just try it and hope they will give my money back?

Answer 1

You might ... and you might shoot that Barska for years before the recoil breaks the reticals. I doubt you will break the seal on the tube with a .338 either... at least not before a whole lot of rounds go downrange.

Just how much will you shoot this beast? 20 rounds every fall to check zero?  If your shooting in competition I'd guess you wont shoot that scope enough to hurt it.

Scope price increases as the lens quality goes up... bright clear optics cost money in production.

Answer 2

Not likely. I had the same situation a long while back. I bought a Weatherby .300 Mag. and could not wait long enough to save for the quality lenses it deserved and slapped a cheap TASCO on it. I ended up hunting with that setup for about three years. It worked like a champ. I did finally get a great deal on a Leupold and put it on, but the original "cheapo" is still in good shape and on my HMR .17 for varmint hunting.  

Answer 3

if you spent that much on the rifle, you should spring for decent glass. a cheap scope may of may not hold up, but a nice one will last you a lifetime.

Answer 4

Its not going to break it off the rifle or have pieces falling off if that's what you mean.... But hi-power rifle will hammer on a cheap scope.... Its a bit of a gamble though... One of my Buddy's has a $99 tasco on his 300 winchester mag and it hasn't given him any problems in over 5 years.... On the other hand other friends of mine had there cheap scopes seals go bad (fogging them up) in as little as a few times out hunting and target shooting.....

If you can afford to lose $125 then take the risk.... If not then return it and get a better brand of scope.....

Answer 5

Yes it can.  It can jar everything lose so it doesn't hold its zero.  It won't physically break it.

H

Answer 6

it won't physically break it externally

what it will do is shake the scope hard enough that the crosshairs will move on you without you adjusting the turrets.

Basically eventually that 338 lapua will shake the internals of your scope loose.  Sure, those crosshairs might move only a little bit every shot, but they will move some.

It may last 10 rounds it may last 100, but I doubt it will last 300.

If you put it on a high recoiling rifle, and it breaks internally, why the heck do you think they will give you your money back? What you are doing to it is no different than beating it with a hammer then expecting them to give you your money back

Answer 7

As a basic rule of thumb, you should generally spend about half as much on your scope, base, and rings as you do on your rifle. I.e., a $100 scope with $1 rings on an $1600 M1A is going to give you nothing but trouble and frustration.

The .338 has quite a bit of recoil, and a cheap scope would go out of zero with every shot. Not to mention it may physically start to come apart from the abuse. Additionally, the .338 is such a long range round, that it completely warrants and would take advantage of even the most expensive scope you could buy. So don't be stingy when you do make your final purchase.

I'd say take it back, save your money, and get what you really want.

BTW, you are very lucky to have a rifle in .338 Lapua. It is a phenomenal round, and there aren't to many of them out there. Enjoy it!  

Answer 8

Cheap scopes are always a gamble, and Barska is a much bigger gamble than some others.

Personally I would get the low end Nikon before I'd spend $125 on a Barska.