I've put-off posting to this thread, because I recently received two new warranty replacement 6-24x50 Crossfire II scopes in exchange for two old 6-24 Crossfire scopes. Vortex received my scopes for service on Monday and I received the replacements on Friday of the same week via FedEx with a note that my old scopes were being replaced for internal mechanical problems. Wow--talk about great service! I have not had time to test the new scopes but I will do so soon and post the results here.
So even before I do any testing, I can report that, based on this experience, Vortex has the best warranty service in the business. I own dozens of scopes and I've paid anywhere from $30 to $2500 for them. I have more Vortex scopes than anything else--eight of them, including one Strikefire red dot sight. This was my first warranty return to Vortex and I returned the scopes because the reticles in them have always exhibited reticle image shift (POI shift) with AO adjustment. Even though the error was small, compared to other lower-priced scopes, I finally decided to return them to Vortex and see if they could do better. I've had extensive discussions with Vortex technical staff at SHOT show about this problem too. After my initial report to Vortex, the topic because a subject in a staff meeting, I was told, and Vortex admitted that the error can be a problem--particularly in AO scopes. I've found it to be a typically less severe problem in side adjust scopes too.
I have also returned scopes with this malady to BSA, Bushnell, UTG/Leapers, and Hawke. Sadly, Hawke was the ONLY manufacturer that did not address the problem at all. In fact, Hawke returned my two original scopes (exhibiting relatively high magnitudes of error), un-serviced, and included copies of its own inconsistent test data and report. Hawke completely denied that the problem existed in the scopes. For this reason, I no longer purchase Hawke scopes. BTW, I spent considerably time doing research in an optics lab in engineering grad school. My Masters degree thesis was titled, "A Microcomputer-Based Controller for a Liquid Crystal Lens." The lab had an automatically locking access doors and externally facing flashing red light, for when we powered-up our high power LASERs. The sign on the lab entrance warned, "Do not look at LASER beam with remaining good eye!" So although I've never had any relationship with the optics industry, I can still find my way around an optics bench.
Mel at Sniper Central now tests for this problem, but he tends to review higher end scopes. Nonetheless, Mel is one of the few people who is addressing this dirty little secret within the scope industry.
I don't have time to recount the entire history of my discovery so I will have to post links here, for anyone who is interested.
You can learn more about my initial discovery here:
<My initial discovery>
Please search for my comments (Calin Brabandt) in the following Sniper Central comment sections:
<Initial report to Sniper Central>
<Followup comment to Mel/Sniper Central>
Mel's recent scope reviews include the results of reticle shift testing. Here is his method:
<How We Test>
This is one of my favorite online forums, but I've not had time to post often. I hope you find this information to be useful.
-Cal
