Tale of 2 scope warranties.

[Bayman]

Not long ago I made a bone head move and tightened the ring caps on 2 scopes according to the ring manufacturer specs. It was too tight and left some minor bite marks in both scopes. One a Nikon 3-9x40 EFR that's on my Beeman RX1 and the other a Hawke 4-12x40ao Airmax.

I since incidentally had non related issues with both scopes. The Airmax only a couple of weeks old the reticle was canted. Not sure if it was rotating or it was received this way.

The Nikon had some aluminum looking powder on the backside of ocular lens. Probably from the erector tube rubbing because the vertical adjustment was nearly maxed out on a Magnum Springer. Really my fault for not adjusting the rifle to the optical center of the scope. Just the same it wasn't actually maxed out and it is an airgun rated scope

I dropped off both scopes on Monday. The Hawke with a prepaid label to UPS. The Nikon to Post Office costing me $16.17.

Today the following Thursday I received a shipment notification that my replacement scope from Hawke will be here tomorrow. That's 5 day turnaround. Nary a word about the ring marks.

The Nikon is due to be at the California service center on the 15th thanks to the speedy USPS. Let's see if the Nikon warranty runs as smooth.

Stay tuned.

[nced]

Not long ago I made a bone head move and tightened the ring caps on 2 scopes according to the ring manufacturer specs. It was too tight and left some minor bite marks in both scopes. One a Nikon 3-9x40 EFR that's on my Beeman RX1 and the other a Hawke 4-12x40ao Airmax.

I since incidentally had non related issues with both scopes. The Airmax only a couple of weeks old the reticle was canted. Not sure if it was rotating or it was received this way.

The Nikon had some aluminum looking powder on the backside of ocular lens. Probably from the erector tube rubbing because the vertical adjustment was nearly maxed out on a Magnum Springer. Really my fault for not adjusting the rifle to the optical center of the scope. Just the same it wasn't actually maxed out and it is an airgun rated scope

I dropped off both scopes on Monday. The Hawke with a prepaid label to UPS. The Nikon to Post Office costing me $16.17.

Today the following Thursday I received a shipment notification that my replacement scope from Hawke will be here tomorrow. That's 5 day turnaround. Nary a word about the ring marks.

The Nikon is due to be at the California service center on the 15th thanks to the speedy USPS. Let's see if the Nikon warranty runs as smooth.

Stay tuned.

Concerning scope tube marks, the only scope tube damage I've had using my usual 15inlbs of torque was damaging a 4-12x40 Vortex Diamondback and a 4-16x40 Center Point. Both scopes were damaged using 15 inlbs of top strap screw torque on the narrow top straps of the BKL two piece mounts..........

I've never had scope tube damage using cheap UTG mounts following their torque specs........


Even though the Weaver Quad Lock scope rings have narrow top straps similar to the BKL, I've also never had scope tube damage from the Weavers and the scopes didn't shift with only 10 inlbs torque. Problem is that the QuadLocks are only available for 1" tube scopes.........

[Bayman]

Not long ago I made a bone head move and tightened the ring caps on 2 scopes according to the ring manufacturer specs. It was too tight and left some minor bite marks in both scopes. One a Nikon 3-9x40 EFR that's on my Beeman RX1 and the other a Hawke 4-12x40ao Airmax.

I since incidentally had non related issues with both scopes. The Airmax only a couple of weeks old the reticle was canted. Not sure if it was rotating or it was received this way.

The Nikon had some aluminum looking powder on the backside of ocular lens. Probably from the erector tube rubbing because the vertical adjustment was nearly maxed out on a Magnum Springer. Really my fault for not adjusting the rifle to the optical center of the scope. Just the same it wasn't actually maxed out and it is an airgun rated scope

I dropped off both scopes on Monday. The Hawke with a prepaid label to UPS. The Nikon to Post Office costing me $16.17.

Today the following Thursday I received a shipment notification that my replacement scope from Hawke will be here tomorrow. That's 5 day turnaround. Nary a word about the ring marks.

The Nikon is due to be at the California service center on the 15th thanks to the speedy USPS. Let's see if the Nikon warranty runs as smooth.

Stay tuned.

Concerning scope tube marks, the only scope tube damage I've had using my usual 15inlbs of torque was damaging a 4-12x40 Vortex Diamondback and a 4-16x40 Center Point. Both scopes were damaged using 15 inlbs of top strap screw torque on the narrow top straps of the BKL two piece mounts..........

I've never had scope tube damage using cheap UTG mounts following their torque specs........


Even though the Weaver Quad Lock scope rings have narrow top straps similar to the BKL, I've also never had scope tube damage from the Weavers and the scopes didn't shift with only 10 inlbs torque. Problem is that the QuadLocks are only available for 1" tube scopes.........

Thanks for the pics Ed. You just persuaded me not to buy BKL rings to address another issue I'm having. It seems my dovetail mounts aren't centered on the bore causing lateral zeroing problems at close range. I have another post running on this optics forum regarding this issue. I guess I'll have to look at other solutions.
Thanks for taking the time to make a very educational reply

[Bayman]

On Oct 21st I got a Nikon Service Acknowledgement/Estimate email wit a way to go online and check the status of the repair. It initially showed "Basic Inspection & Cleaning Service" at no charge and no tracking number. On November 1st the online repair status showed the scope as being replaced but still no tracking number. I called Nikon and the agent said that it probably hasn't been shipped because they don't have a replacement in stock. I advised her that that EFR model has been discontinued and since I gotten the wrong model substitutions from Nikon twice before I asked her check on the status and confirm the replacement model. She said she would and get back to me. Today November 10th and no word back from Nikon and it still hasn't been shipped.

Recap
Monday October 7th both the Hawke and the Nikon were shipped back to them.

Hawke- they paid for the shipping
Nikon- I had to pay for the shipping

Friday October 11th I got a brand new replacement from Hawke

Oct 15th Nikon received the scope.

October 21st Nikon acknowledged receiving it

November 1st Nikon Service agent promised to get back to me with information regarding the replacement.

Today November 10th from Nikon, nothing but crickets.

[Yogi]

How can Nikon replace a discontinued scope?  Pity, everybody who had an EFR seems to really like them.
FWIW-A few years ago I asked Nikon if they would ever make the EFR with a ranging reticle, their response was, NEVER!

-Y

[Duckfish]

+1 for Hawke, if you send in a scope that is no longer made they send you the new upgrade n/c.

[JeffB1961]

always hear good stuff about hawke and their warranty . i've got a varmint 6-24x44 i'll be sending in this week . hawke already sent me the RMA# .

[nced]

+1 for Hawke, if you send in a scope that is no longer made they send you the new upgrade n/c.

Hawke has a great warranty which I've used more than a couple times!

The last warranty "repair" was for a 5-15x50 Hawke Panorama that "lost zero" and this is the note I emailed Hawke.......
"Minor Issue
* 5-15x50 Hawke Panorama #15140 has developed a “popping AO” when first turning but there is no “popping” till the beginning of the next shooting session.
Major Issue
* The scope developed a poi shifting issue during a field target match yesterday. All was fine till about 1/3rd way through the 72 shot match. Even aiming at killzones at my 30 yard zero distance the poi started “going wild” missing randomly as much as 2” off the aim point!
Conclusion
* The scope internals must have rattled loose.
Last night I tore down the .177 Beeman R9 for inspection and found that all internals were in perfect working order. The scope mounts never moved on the receiver dovetails or the scope moved in the rings. The R9 was tuned to shoot 7.9 grain CPLs at a tad over 12.5fpe (7.9 grain @ 850fps give or take a couple fps)
The current “failed Panorama” is a replacement “found in a warehouse” last year since the scope model has been discontinued. Both the original and replacement Panoramas developed the same failures mounted to a .177 HW95 or .177 Beeman R9 springer tuned to about 12.5fpe. Please reply with a RMA number."

After getting a RMA number the Panorama was mailed with the note that I didn't want another replacement from some warehouse! and mentioned that the 4-16x44 Airmax 30 Compact SF scope on their web site would be adequate, offering to pay the difference in the price between the scopes. A couple days after USPS tracking said that the Panorama was delivered to Hawke I called for a status update. Without mentioning any extra money I was told that the new scope was already shipped and no extra money was required! So far the 4-16x44 Airman Compact is working well so I'm hoping that it will hold up.

[Bayman]

Between my powder burners and air rifles I probably have 7 or 8 Nikons and about the same amount of Hawkes. I lost count, sorry. I think they both make great products for their price point. I've occasionally had to use the warranty on both and the information in this thread is very typical of the service from both companies. Fwiw the sampling of scopes I have from both companies are all what I would call low to mid priced ($100-$300) scopes. That said I still expect good customer service. I get satisfaction from both companies but dealing Nikon is much more arduous than Hawke. Something to think about if you're considering either.