Quote Originally Posted by jmoore View Post
All true, but I've seen many hunting scopes which have lost adjustment function, shift zero (up to 12 MOA) with power changes, have had lenses come adrift, fog internally, and have been bent. Variable power scopes seem particularly bad, and that apples to new stuff as well. Some don't hold zero with power changes even when new. And that's not just cheap stuff either. The old saw that your optic ought to cost as much or more than the rifle is not a bad guide, but I fought it for the longest time.
I've never spent much for a rifle scope. Half I have came with the rifle they are on, the Weaver being one of those, the rest are about the least expensive scope I could find at the time. Mostly due to economics I suppose. I purchased a Savage 99 30 years ago and put a $19.99 Bushnell Sportview 3-9 variable on it and it's been there ever since. I've carried that rifle long enough that the bluing is mostly gone from the receiver. The scope has one noticeable dent in it that I don't recall when or where occurred. The exterior logo fell off about 15 years ago and the internal rings showing which way to turn the adjustment screws both came loose many years ago. The scope however still works like the day I bought it. I haven't moved it more than 1 or 2 clicks in any direction at its annual sighting in for as long as I can remember. It has outlasted my eyes as I can no longer set it higher than 6 now because of my changing focus points.

I have seen scopes that have failed. I guess I've just been lucky myself.