I had a 1.5-6x42 S&B fail on me on a recent hunt. I could not turn the power down below 2.5! It seems to have jammed. The scope was still shooting bang on fortunately and I could turn it up to 6x if I wanted to.

Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem, as they are supposed to be the best scopes going! It was on my 375H&H.

is that a "failure?"

It still held zero and was usable through most of the power range

a failure to me means it cost you a shot on game

I am sorry I should have been more specific, I had a 23.678% failure. Has anyone had this percentage or greater failure??

LOL

i have been reading this and other forums since 2002. I could easily count the S&B "failure" posts on one hand and have room left over.

I would call mark cromwell AT S&B USA today or email him.

Schmidt & Bender, Inc.
741 Main Street
Claremont, NH 03743
U.S.A.
(800) 468-3450
(603) 287-4830
(603) 287-4832 fax
info@schmidtbender.com

THey have a new stateside repair facility.

How old is your scope?

I have heard of scopes gumming up, and the zoom becoming impossible to adjust. Mostly, this happens with old(er) scopes. I have one Swaro scope where the zoom adjustment is pretty stiff.

Assuming you have manipulated the scope, including the zoom adjustment, (just) before you left for your hunting trip, I have to say this problem is somewhat surprising. And yes, it is the first time I hear about this particular problem. But I guess all things mechanical can develop problems...

- mike

I guess it is a rare occurence! Thanks Patriot 76, scope is already on its way to S&B in the States.

Was the rear ring installed near the power knob? How much torque were applied to the ring screws?

I'd say that the scope did not fail, but rather an inconvience

I know a PH in Africa who bought a S&B and had nothing but problems with it. He sent it in for repair and when he got it back it still didn't function properly. He sent it back again and still not working. He paid a lot of money for it and thought he had a great scope. He was trying to decide which scope to buy when I left there. He won't have another S&B. Any company can make a lemon, but after multiple attempts to have it fixed, he still had a scope that was useless.

quote:

Originally posted by jwp475:
Was the rear ring installed near the power knob? How much torque were applied to the ring screws?

I'd say that the scope did not fail, but rather an inconvience

Well I would call it a failure myself, but potAto PotAHto....with that said, jwps's questions are good ones! I've seen problems generated by such many times.

quote:

Was the rear ring installed near the power knob? How much torque were applied to the ring screws?

BINGO!

The scope didn't fail - the rings did the deed. The rear rings are most probably too tight, OR the scope is set too far back in the rings (i.e., too close to the occular bell), OR out of alignment; bending the scope.

Therefore, restricting the operation of the power ring. The exact nomenclature escapes me at the moment but inside the rear of the scope is another tube (mainly brass) to adjust the power settings. If the outer tube & the inner tube are "squeezed" together - then the whole Works jams up.

Sometimes these tubes will free themselves when the ring pressure is loosened - other times they are so "squeezed" togther that they are fused together - now you got a problem.

Try backing the rear ring screws out just a c++t-hair at a time. This may solve your dilema. If the scope operates fully (complete power range) after that and is still tight in the rings, then this was the issue.

If not, you've either fuzed the tubes together or bent the scope due to other (mis-aligned rings, mounts & screw hole) issues.

quote:

Originally posted by Gerry:
The exact nomenclature escapes me at the moment but inside the rear of the scope is another tube (mainly brass) to adjust the power settings.

"Erector" tube??

I think that device is responsible for the vindage and elevation adjustment, though.

- mike

quote:

Originally posted by mho:

quote:

Originally posted by Gerry:
The exact nomenclature escapes me at the moment but inside the rear of the scope is another tube (mainly brass) to adjust the power settings.

"Erector" tube??

I think that device is responsible for the vindage and elevation adjustment, though.

- mike

Turning the turret moves the erector tube and changes point of impact

Nothing wrong with the rings they are opti locks, and nothing wrong with the fitting of them either, they have been on the gun for about 8 years! And been all over the world.

red,

O.K.

Then take the scope out of the rings and try the power ring - see if it functions fully.

It will be interesting to see what response you get from S&B.

what happened

btt

the OP sent me a PM explaining the ending of this story

"Thanks for asking they repaired it free of cost and sent it back. An internal screw had got loose and prevented the variable ring from moving! Guess it can happen to the best!"

quote:

Originally posted by PATRIOT76:
the OP sent me a PM explaining the ending of this story

"Thanks for asking they repaired it free of cost and sent it back. An internal screw had got loose and prevented the variable ring from moving! Guess it can happen to the best!"

Thanks for posting this. I own a SB and was watching this thread to see how they handled it.