Rifle Scopes Cat Tails

tucansam · Aug 23, 2013

I've seen some youtube videos of guys shooting competitions with cat tails on their scopes... and they literally "slam" the cat tail with the heel of their hand to jump from low power to high power in an instant. Presumably using the scope's adjustment ring's stop as, well, a stop. I would think there would be the potential to damage the scope with this technique. Am I incorrect?

I can see using a cat tail to get a better grip on the power ring, and then still slowly (or at least steadily) adjusting from there. Better grip with gloves, or in rain, etc.

Maybe I have the technique all wrong. I don't have one but I'm curious as to their use.

What is the preferred method?

OpticsPlanet · Aug 27, 2013

Sounds like a good way to test a warranty... I baby my equipment, apparently unnecessarily. I'm going to steal this from our own blog:

Speaking of hearts, both mine and Chase's skipped a beat near the end of the assembly process when the testing of the range of movement for the reticle occurred. I have a couple of EOTech's of my own, and while I know they are robust, I still take care when adjusting the windage and elevation, figuring the lighter my touch, the better. A sight was clamped into a special holder, a closed circuit camera swung into place behind it, and an image of the reticle appeared on a screen, superimposed over a grid pattern. The gentleman demonstrating the test picked up a tool, and applied it to the sight. I know it wasn't an impact wrench, but it sure sounded like one, and I wouldn't have been more surprised if it had been. The reticle tracked left to the edge of the grid and then to the right within a couple of seconds, and then the tool was reapplied and the test was repeated for the vertical travel. You could have knocked Chase and I over with a feather. It was like watching a speeding car slam on the brakes and screech to a halt inches from a puppy. A tiny, newborn puppy, whose eyes haven't opened. I was glad I had stopped in the restroom before the tour started. Lesson learned? You do not need to baby these optics.

The whole thing is here, if anyone is interested:

EOTech part 2 | Optics Blog

Point being, that I think the higher end optics can probably take the abuse you describe. It does make me wonder what would happen with a warranty claim if there was evidence that a cat tail had been mounted.

Mark H.

catswithguns · Aug 27, 2013

I would image most of those guys are shooting the OPM method.

tucansam · Aug 27, 2013

catswithguns said:
I would image most of those guys are shooting the OPM method.

What's this?

cramey74 · Aug 27, 2013

tucansam said:
What's this?

Other Peoples Money. You down wit' OPM?

tucansam · Aug 27, 2013

LOL. OK, I get it.

So to clarify, this is NOT the preferred method....

J Mack · Aug 27, 2013

OpticsPlanet said:
Point being, that I think the higher end optics can probably take the abuse you describe. It does make me wonder what would happen with a warranty claim if there was evidence that a cat tail had been mounted.

Mark H.

Vortex and SWFA offer their own version of the SwitchVeiw, you might see if they have had any related warranty claims.

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Soct · Aug 30, 2013

I would bet my Trijicon would hold up to me doing that with my cat tail. But I will never know, because I won't. I don't shoot OPM.

ORD · Aug 30, 2013

I've never (intentionally anyway) used the "grip it and rip it" method on the few cattails I have mounted on my scopes, but I'm betting that you'll eventually @#$% something up running one that hard (likely the scope before the cattail as they are fairly stout).

BFD711 · Aug 30, 2013

I wouldn't beat on my high priced equipment unnecessarily regardless of how robust it is. You're just asking for trouble to happen at the worst moment.

kansas · Aug 30, 2013

My 3gun scope is grip it and rip it. I've been buying burris and vortex and so far neither have left me worrying WTF. It's a tool. I'm going to use and abuse it. If its worn out when my son inherits it then he will know I had a hell of a good time

.

Soct · Aug 31, 2013

I'm a member of the buy something of quality and take care of it crowd.

RJN · Sep 1, 2013

The guys that run hard in the comps do all they can, without compromising safety, to shave a second off their time. This could translate to one more shot down range and maybe the difference between 1st and 5th. If it means 'using and abusing' their tools 'they git er done'.

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