New Scope - Brand Question

[RR 314]

Why even need anything to unscrew a battery cap. It's not like I've ever had one fall off. In all seriousness, can you think of one reason to have it? And for me, huge difference in the red dot. I always thought the red dot was fine until I saw others.

Unfortunately it is now seemingly required by US law to limit the access of toddlers/kids to evil batteries.

 

[roverandbrew]

I am happy with the Amplus 6 on my 375. Plains Game to Buffalo.

 

[migrabill]

Unfortunately it is now seemingly required by US law to limit the access of toddlers/kids to evil batteries.

None of my other scopes have it.

 

[Mark458]

Why even need anything to unscrew a battery cap. It's not like I've ever had one fall off. In all seriousness, can you think of one reason to have it? And for me, huge difference in the red dot. I always thought the red dot was fine until I saw others.

Out of curiosity I just tried to unscrew the cap without any tools at all. Came of just using fingernails in grooves. I've included pictures of both Leupold and Zeiss. Notice that the Zeiss has a groove on battery cap for screwdriver or whatever random tool you might have on hand. It can also be taken of just using your fingers same as the Leupold. I'm sure it's a safety issue as another poster referenced.

If you prefer the Zeiss then that's fine, but they both work fine for me. I primarily use Illuminated Reticle for buffalo. I've also used on a some other plains game. Works great on Sable.

 

[migrabill]

Out of curiosity I just tried to unscrew the cap without any tools at all. Came of just using fingernails in grooves. I've included pictures of both Leupold and Zeiss. Notice that the Zeiss has a groove on battery cap for screwdriver or whatever random tool you might have on hand. It can also be taken of just using your fingers same as the Leupold. I'm sure it's a safety issue as another poster referenced.

If you prefer the Zeiss then that's fine, but they both work fine for me. I primarily use Illuminated Reticle for buffalo. I've also used on a some other plains game. Works great on Sable. View attachment 778065

The Zeiss is meant to be unscrewed by hand. Maybe mine is just stiffer but I cannot BUDGE that leupold cap with my fingers. Trust me - I want to be able to do that. I need to be able to do that, but I cannot. To be honest it is hard for me to loosen all 4 of mine even with the tool. Again I ask,,, why.

 

[RR 314]

None of my other scopes have it.

Likely due to date of manufacture.

 

[deewayne2003]

I’ll take Leupold over vortex any day and I’ve never experienced any issues with Leupold that were not user error or the result of a catastrophic impact; regardless of cause Leupold came through.

I will concede the CDS dial on everything is bothersome.

As stated before by others, most scope issues are due to mounted errors.

Recently @Rare Breed posted about having difficulty getting a ring to turn in the mount of his new Rigby .404J…..

I was horrified at the number of people that told him to use the scope to turn the ring into place!

If ur not using an alignment and lapping bar to install your rings then your comments of scope issues are mute to me because you are likely the source of the issue.

Battery cap tool issue….. if children swallowing batteries was not an issue then why are manufacturers coating those batteries in a high bitter tasting compound as a preventative?

The last two packs of batteries I’ve ordered clearly stated this coating needs to be cleaned off the batteries with alcohol before installation.

 

[BAY]

Own six Leupolds. DG- LR applications. Fire dots and non. Never one problem. Shoot a lot. I’m a dialer so I like the CDS. Have a VX5 1-5 on a 404J. Fun to dial to 300 and ring steel on the first shot with that big boy.

 

[Tex .416]

Likely due to date of manufacture.

Correct.

Passage of a federal law known as “Reese’s Law” in 2022.

Reese’s Law - Guide to Button Cell Battery Safety Requirements

A guide to Reese's Law, covering its related standard (16 CFR Part 1263), performance, labeling, certification, and testing requirements

www.compliancegate.com

Here is a summary of the current US laws and regs for lithium ion batteries.

Lithium Battery Regulations and Standards in the US: An Overview

Guide to UL standards, CPSIA, Amazon requirements, lab testing, and certification for lithium battery products to the US.

www.compliancegate.com

 

[SCHUNTER73]

Appreciate the first hand experiences here, which exactly what I needed. I think I’m narrowed down to the Leupy vx5 2-10 (no CDS) or an Trijicon Accupoint 3-9 or 2.5 - 12. I think those are all 42mm scopes. As I mentioned before, this will likely not a a buffalo scope and I don’t need to dial this one. Basically looking for a rugged, reliable, set it and forget it scope. Trying to decide if I really care about a lighted reticle on this gun. I generally only use the firedot on my Leupold when hog hunting in the swamp at near dark or last light deer hunting.

 

[Mark458]

Own six Leupolds. DG- LR applications. Fire dots and non. Never one problem. Shoot a lot. I’m a dialer so I like the CDS. Have a VX5 1-5 on a 404J. Fun to dial to 300 and ring steel on the first shot with that big boy.

If I decide to go with one rifle, on my 404J, 416 Rigby, 458 Lott and 500J I have much lighter loads for plains game when the buffalo is in the salt. Point of impact ranges from 4 inch to 6.5 inch difference on those calibers. CDS makes it a simple turn on the dial to be right on target.

I don't switch bullets until I'm done with buffalo. If I encounter a big plains game animal I can't pass up while buffalo hunting then he gets the heavy bullet.

 

[migrabill]

Correct.

Passage of a federal law known as “Reese’s Law” in 2022.

Reese’s Law - Guide to Button Cell Battery Safety Requirements

A guide to Reese's Law, covering its related standard (16 CFR Part 1263), performance, labeling, certification, and testing requirements

www.compliancegate.com

Here is a summary of the current US laws and regs for lithium ion batteries.

Lithium Battery Regulations and Standards in the US: An Overview

Guide to UL standards, CPSIA, Amazon requirements, lab testing, and certification for lithium battery products to the US.

www.compliancegate.com

I have bought 3 Illuminated Zeiss Scopes in 2026. Caps screw right off.

 

[RR 314]

I have bought 3 Illuminated Zeiss Scopes in 2026. Caps screw right off.

Likely NOS.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I am in the process of shopping for a new scope for a 375HH. I have several Leupold scopes now, one being a VX5 with firedot on a 280ai that I really like. The firedot is great. I have also been interested in an Accupoint since their reputation for durability is very good. Another forum I belong to seems to have large contingent of folks with a tangible dislike for Leupold and regularly cite their failure rate and lack of reliability (not if, but when they fail). I have not had that experience with mine and have traveled with it by air, 4x4 and ATV without any issues. I have to admit it their thoughts have gotten in my head a bit. But, Leupold seems to have a very strong following here, particularly on DG rifles. It’s interesting to me that two hunting forums have such different opinions of the same product, although the product usage may be different. The other forum is primarily western hunting and maybe those guys are more of the long range types?

I would like to do a buffalo hunt one day, but not basing this purchase on that hunt. I can change the scope out when I make that trip if I feel so inclined. I have a tendency to “rabbit hole” myself when doing research. Not really a question per se, just through I would post what I noticed and see what this group had to say.

First some questions for you:
You say you want to hunt buffalo one day …
1) will you use this rifle/scope for PG before then?
2) do you have back-up irons?
3) how comfortable are you shooting lower powers like 1-2x per 100yds?
4) do you want illumination?
5) do you dial your range at all or are you comfortable with learning hold overs?
6) how are your eyes? More so, what’s your age and timeline for the buffalo hunt?
7) what’s your budget?

I agree with all the comments about the alignment bars, lapping as well, depending on the ring manufacturer. Better rings you can get away without them, and I’m not talking the $150-300 ones. I always lap my rings and use alignment bars.

For me personally my scope brands of choice are
1) Schmidt & Bender - Best Glass and durability - quite literally bomb proof
2) Swarovski - Glass quality on par with S&B but not the most durable (not designed for MIL/LE)
3) Leupold - this is the my bottom end option. Everything is VX5/VX6, older Mark4/6/8. I’ve also got some older Vari-X III’s that are Amazing
4) Night Force/Khales - specific applications where I want something more than a Leupold, more durable than a Swaro but don’t want to spend S&B money. Their optics are very tactical looking so I’m not a fan on hunting or DG rifles.
5) Trijicon/Aimpoint - Go to red dot optic

I own/have owned something from almost every other brand and presently still have Night Firce, Khales, Leica, Zeiss, B&L, Bushnell Elite Tacticals, Trijicon, and a couple of older Nikons. I’m one of the few people I know who’s warrantied a NF ATACR. I’ve warrantied VX5’s and a single VX6

My utility, do all M70 .375 wears a VX6 2-12 Fire Dot. It’s the first gun I grab for any Africa Trip/Hunt. I’ve never felt handicapped from sub 10yds to 400yds. Anything bigger than a 375 that has an optic is a 1-4, 1-6EE, or 1-8 type optic from S&B or Swaro. I also have another M70 375 wearing a Swaro 1.7-10 but never reach for it.

 

[Russ16]

The battery cap does not require the special tool that comes with it. An allen wrench or small screwdriver laid across the groves works just the same and I assume anyone would have that with them. That's one of the first things I tried when I got my first one. I don't even use the tool that comes with it.

Maybe it just works good with my eyes, but I can't see any big difference in the red dot on the Leupold and the Zeiss. I do have and use both.

Yeah I think my Swarovski is much more difficult to replace than the firedot.

 

[Mark458]

Yeah I think my Swarovski is much more difficult to replace than the firedot.

I'm not familiar with how they addressed this issue.

 

[Russ16]

I'm not familiar with how they addressed this issue.

I’m traveling right now but I’ll look again when I get home.I replaced the firedot last week with my fingers and I can’t do the Swarovski without the tool that comes with it.

 

[Rare Breed]

The best rifle scopes imo are Schmidt bender, and Swarovski. I have quite a few of both and there really is no comparison to all the others when it comes to glass and reliability. Leupolds reputation has been circling the bowl for a decade now, vortex has the best warranty in the business because you’re going to have to use it without a doubt, trijicon is good as long as you want some big baulky military looking scope on your safari rifle. With optics, you get what you pay for, there is no doubt about it from those of us who have used them all. Fact is most of the “newer” brands that have been hacking away at the long range crowd market share are just a brainchild of someone that has money and wants to have their own optics company to go along with whatever fad rifle company that has the most tv shows on how to shoot an antelope at 1000 yards. This forum isn’t that group of guys for the most part. We’re all a bunch of fanatics that shoot larger type safari caliber rifles operating in some of the harshest conditions in Africa. Most all the recent optic brand additions aren’t legacy optics companies that are skilled in building the finest optics in the world…..very few companies fit that bill. You could probably add zeiss to the list of the “best” but they started giving up market share a long time ago….when Swarovski really emerged commercially. I have also heard they may be merging their way out of the sport optics division.

My experience I use Leupold with red dot until I want to spend $2,000 plus for a scope as I def with both my Rigby HS in 9.3x62 and my BGR in 404J then Swaro all the way

 

[Tex .416]

I have bought 3 Illuminated Zeiss Scopes in 2026. Caps screw right off.

Nice.

The effective date for products with coin batteries is products manufactured or imported after March 19, 2024. There are some exemptions and potential work arounds depending on enforcement discretion, a company’s risk tolerance, and their lawyers’ interpretation of applicability and/or exemption of a particular product, and also some creative engineers to come up with compliant designs.

According to someone on another forum, an Arken scope he ordered was held up due to non-compliance, which Arken corrected.

 

[SStomcat]

If ur not using an alignment and lapping bar to install your rings then your comments of scope issues are mute to me because you are likely the source of the issue.

@deewayne2003 Regarding lapping there are some manufacturers like Talley who recommend against them. Their POV is it is finished using CNC machines and lapping may have some adverse effects. This is what I was told.So are you referring to some specific brand or in general?