A couple of days ago my friend called me and told me that he got bitten by his 3-9x leupold on the range. Made me wonder why is it that most of the serious bites I hear about ( Saeed'd friend in the 2005 DVD, Craig Boddington on his Nevada hunt years ago, now my friend) have leupolds involved. Why don't they put rubber ring on the occular bell to prevent that?

A couple of years ago I got hit by a bushnell on a .300 Weatherby rifle but the scope had a rubber protective ring on it so it didn't leave a lasting impression. I was wondering what other high end scopes offer that kind of protection? How about Zeiss Conquest? Burris?

I guess Leupold just isn't a high-end scope, but they do "bite"... .
Swarovski PH's not only have a padded ocular the Ocular lens actually moves inward when touched. Really saves the old eyebrows..........DJ

The only Burris scope I've got that doesn't have a rubber pad on the ocular is my 1.5-6 Signature which was bought in 92'. Jay

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Swarovski PH's not only have a padded ocular the Ocular lens actually moves inward when touched. Really saves the old eyebrows..........

They need that feature with the eye relief they offer

Well my old Pecar is steel, not even plastic.
But, as a sword scar was a badge of honour years ago, what better conversation starter than a Weatherby eyebrow?

If someone is getting hit from a scope with over 4" of eye relief (Leupold) then they either have poor form, or they are shooting at an extreme angle.

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Originally posted by dogcatcher223:
If someone is getting hit from a scope with over 4" of eye relief (Leupold) then they either have poor form, or they are shooting at an extreme angle.

You are right about that but in real life situation people do make mistakes and a half pint of lost blood is a big price for a small mistake. My point is why can't leupold make their scopes a bit safer by adding a two cent rubber pad on the ocular bell?

Can anyone tell me if the Zeiss conquest has that padding. I am yet to see a Zeiss at any store so I am in the dark about it.

Jay's response above suggests that Burris offers that protection. I might look at Burris as my next scope but would prefer Zeiss over it.

Zeiss scopes have padding and IMO enough eye relief (never ones wtih 90 mm). Have used before an older Zeiss with "only" 80 mm eyerelief on a .375 HH and I didn´t get a membership in the half moon club.

If someone is that worried about this why not just invest a couple bucks and put your own “cushion-cup†on the scope. Numerous companies sell rubber eyepieces, and it would be fairly simple to make your own if you’re too cheap to buy one!

Yes, the Conquests do have a rubber ring and the eye relief is such that you probably won't get hit anyway.

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Yes, the Conquests do have a rubber ring and the eye relief is such that you probably won't get hit anyway.

Correction one conquest model 3-9x40 has 4" of eye relief the rest are 3.5.

Having NEVER ever been scope bit, it is simply beyond my ability to comprehend how it can be done with a Leupold or any other scope (high or low end), with 4" of eye relief! I will admit that I don't have any of the great kickers, only 338 Win mag. on down to 17HMR. All are Leupolds except for two conquests and a Burris Fullfield. I guess until it happens to me, (knock on wood), I will simply not understand the process. Now if I were to shoot a kicker with one of those 2.9-3.3" eye relief scopes, all bets are off the table. By the way, they do make scopes that are absolutely fool proof to not give scope bite, but they mount a little further down the rifle; like half way. Good luck and I hope it isn't crow season. Doesn't taste very good going down raw. Just the way I SEE it. jp

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jfromswk:
Having NEVER ever been scope bit, it is simply beyond my ability to comprehend how it can be done with a Leupold or any other scope (high or low end), with 4" of eye relief!

I got hit once like I stated earlier by a very light weatherby .300 Mag. The reason was that the scope was at high magnification and I was trying to hit a target at the range. It was my friend's rifle so I was not very familiar with it. I later found out that the eye relief was not constant and I found myself creeping upto the scope to get a better picture. At the shot I got hit very hard right between the eyes.

The only thing that saved my precious blood was the rubber padding, and today I have no scar to show for my "honor"

I really do agree that it would be a good touch as well as being practical for the Leupold line to put a rubber eyecup on their scopes. I guess I do remember lying prone one time and shooting at an upward angle and just barely being touched. Never gave it much thought, but had it been a light-weight 300 anything, I would probably be a wiser man today; and moonie eyed too boot! Their R&D Dept. probably has this feature slated in for the 2012 shooting year. Gotta have something to look forward to. Some of the other good optic companies could put a little more eye-relief into their scopes also. Just the way I see it. jp

I think they are too busy making scopes with funny looking objective lenses so you can just ugly things to death.

Hate to break it to you guys, but Leupold does offer a rubber ring that you can install on the eyepiece. Most stores are offering them for free when you buy a Leupold. Lots of dealers are having promos with free items, and one of the choices is the rubber ring. Or you can buy one from Leupold for like $15 I believe.

If you are already payinf mucho dollars for a high end scope, why should you have to pay extra to make it right? Buy a Conquest.

I don't think you need the rubber ring to make it right. Like I said prior, if you are getting dinged by a Leupold, you don't know how to shoot.

Don't get me started on Zeiss. I ordered a Conquest and got a defective one. Sent it back, and they sent me another defective one. Finally asked for my money back. The optics are great, but i won't buy any until the quality control gets better.

My Burris Signatures all have the little rubber ring. Thank goodness, because god nows my 338/378 has tapped me a time or two... and then some. They quote 3" of eye relief but I believe that when they're fully cranked up to 24 power, it's less than that because you have to really climb up on them.

My SS has a rubber ring, and it sure is nice to have when your rifle reminds you to have better form next shot! Then again too, some of you might not consider the SS to be a high end scope!

Normally a good bash in the face is an extremely good training tool!

Met A guy at the range with two big round circles around his eyes that will last the rest of his life.I asked him what happen and he said it was from shooting his Weatherby.Scared the hell out of me.After seeing that I have second thoughts about buying a Weatherby,even if it had nothing to do with it.

I have a story like that. I have my wife with me at the range, she has never shot a rifle before. So, anyways, I am trying to get her to shoot my old 7mm which had a brake on it, shot like a 22. So anyways, this yahoo right next to us has a brandy new 338 RUM, and sits down to take his first shot. What does he do? he crosses his arms, gets up real close to the scope, steadies the butt with his left, and WHAMMO!!!

Guy gets up, blood SHOOTING from his wound all over the place. That was 2 years ago, and I still have not been able to get my wife to shoot a 243 that I bought for her. The guy actually had the nerve to offer me a shot. I think there was still matter hanging from the scope, kinda like when you hit a deer in yer car, and there is still parts hangin in the grill. The guy needed one of these!!

http://www.dvorakinstruments.com/

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Originally posted by Rick 0311:
Normally a good bash in the face is an extremely good training tool!

Well put, Rick! A friend of mine is a slow learner, he crowded the scope and underwent a nose job THREE times in one day! Actually, it improved his looks after the scab went away.

I'd rather never have hunted or shot a rifle then to get cut in the face.My father has got his hand split open fooling around with ammo while young and my granfather has lost a finger.Mothers side of the family wants nothing to do with guns.

I suppose that side of the family still drives, and ignores all the traffic mayhem?

No woman in my family drive.Driving is for men.You have a point about risk in automobiles,them being greater than anything else.

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Originally posted by shootaway:
No woman in my family drive.Driving is for men.You have a point about risk in automobiles,them being greater than anything else.

HUummmmmmmmmmmmmmm! I don't allow my wife outside, too much risk.

That would be my mother and grandmother.Don't have a wife beacause I am too handsome.Once overheard my grandmother in the kitchen listnening to a woman give her oppinion on a radio talk show.She said shut up bitch and go wash the dishes.

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Originally posted by shootaway:
Don't have a wife beacause I am too handsome..

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.Don't have a wife beacause I am too handsome.

I swear the more I read that the funnier it gets.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jfromswk:
Having NEVER ever been scope bit, it is simply beyond my ability to comprehend how it can be done with a Leupold or any other scope (high or low end), with 4" of eye relief!"

Well, my buddies and I all agree--there are two kinds of shooters--those who have been "scope bit" and those who are going to. Assuming they shoot long enough (and use scoped rifles).

Amen dustoffer! Guys who say they can't understand how you can get hit have either not hunted enough or never learned that sometimes you gotta crawl through the thorns and shoot crouched down sideways caddywhompus if that's what it takes to get what you're after.

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If someone is getting hit from a scope with over 4" of eye relief (Leupold) then they either have poor form, or they are shooting at an extreme angle.

Of course most leupold variables do not have over 4" of eye relief at all magnifications.At maximum magnifications they often have no more than 3.5".

People that shoulder their rifles like they would shoulder a shotgun can get bit by their scopes because their shooting style lets the rifle come back in recoil at their stationary face.

People who shoulder their rifles parallel across their chest, rather than at an angle, and assume a good spot weld (that’s what we called it in the Marines) don’t get bit by their scopes because their head (in contact with the shooting hand) recoils with the rifle.

Clark Campbell, in his book on 03 Springfields, refers to these as “Shotgunner style†and “Trained Rifleman style†respectively.

For any Daniel Boone’s out there that want to start telling me stories about how I’ve never hunted in the conditions you have, or had to shoot in a hurry, save the stories for people who don’t know any better and go out and buy all the padded eyepieces you need.

Rick , You hake a very good point. I've never heard it put that way before but it's right on. I've been tapped a time or two on the bench but never in the field and never a "Red Badge of Courage".

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Originally posted by Dr. Duc:
Rick , You hake a very good point. I've never heard it put that way before but it's right on. I've been tapped a time or two on the bench but never in the field and never a "Red Badge of Courage".

What using a spot weld does do, and I think this is why allot of people don’t use it, is it will give you a slightly numb lip after firing a bunch of rapid rounds because your upper gum line (just under your cheek bone) rests right on the back of your shooting thumb. I remember everyone in boot camp walking around looking like they had a chew stuck in their upper lip rather than the lower one.

You also need a much shorter LOP if you shoot with a spot weld... or a really long neck.

Numb lip?...busted eye brow?...I think I’ll take the numb lip!

My Sendero is the only rifle in 300winmag whose scope taps my eye when I use hot loads and feel a little lazy.Iwas thinking it does this because of the weight being unevenly distributed due to the heavy long barrel or a thicker muzzle crown or both.