So about two months ago I found a Benjamin Summit NP2 .22 online at a great price (new), only one left in stock and couldn't say no. While shopping for scopes, I decided to take one of the Discovery (VT-R 4-16x42) scopes that I had on a different NP rifle and transplant it onto the new Benjamin.
After three shots, this happened:
I was disappointed that it broke off. What was challenging is that the yardage hashes and hard-stops for parallax were both incorporated in the ring that popped off. Also disappointing is that it was originally epoxied into the parallax wheel with no hard location points to re-mount it without some trial and error. I had always worried that something on the inside of the scope might come apart from the NP and NP2 recoil... I never expected something on the outside to fall apart.
So, I contacted Discovery Optics and sent them the same photo as above. I explained to them that if I sent it to China for warranty, the shipping might cost me as much as a new scope. I asked them what my recourse was for warranty options.
Within one hour, I received a few emails from Discovery. Once they verified that I purchased it directly through their Amazon storefront, they informed me that they would be sending me a new scope ASAP. Minutes later, they sent me another email with a new order # and invoice, and about an hour later I received a tracking number. That was last Monday. Estimated delivery was Friday. It showed up a day early.
After opening it up, I noticed several things that seemed different. The model number is the same, but almost everything has changed slightly. The new one is shorter, lighter, slightly sleeker in some areas, etc. The new scope is on the right.
The first thing I looked at was the parallax. The new scope is machined all one-piece. Good. I can't help but think I wasn't the first guy who had the two-piece parallax wheel come apart on them.
The second glaring change from old-to-new, is that the minimum parallax cranks down to just above 5 yards. I tested it at 5 yards and this is indeed accurate.
I measured the common distances between hash-marks on both scopes from 10 yards to infinity, and there are definitely differences between them. They didn't just put extra space on the outer ring for the extra ~5 yard marks. The guts on the inside are definitely different. The outer diameter of the parallax ring is also about 2mm less than the old one.
The green-ish coatings on the 42mm objective lens look about the same between each other, but the coatings on the eyepieces are different. The old scope had the same green coating, but the new scope has both green and purple coatings that can be easily seen in the coating layers. The eyepiece of the new scope is also physically different. The glass just "looks" different and seems to have a little more relief. It is also a little more sleek and refined at the the end of the eyepiece with less aluminum had, although the machining in the adjustment ring for the eyepiece feels more tactile.
The markings and hashes on the scope, front to back have more contrast to them and appear sharper than the quality of the old scope.
After noticing that the overall machining of the entire scope was more refined than the old scope, I went to the turrets. Now, I had no problems with the "very similar looking" turrets on the old scope. But the turrets on this scope are indeed different as well. When operating them, the click-to-click movement is MUCH more tactile and precise than the turrets on the old scope. I took the re-zero-able turrets off and everything is o-ring sealed with nothing but solid brass and aluminum underneath. The machined ridges on the turrets themselves also have a more tactile/grip feel to them. Everything +1 over the original design.
The model # may be the same, but I could not find a single feature on this new "Gen 2" scope that had anything in common with the old scope. I suspect the 42mm objective glass may be the same, but everything else stops there. I don't have a scale precise enough to measure it, but the new scope is certainly a few ounces lighter.
Interestingly, I could not find any updated specs online for this scope (parallax, weight, pictures, etc), only the specs for the original scope are online, which suggests to me that this a very new version of this model. The coaster and manual that came in the box also listed several different models in the VT-R line that I didn't even know existed... probably 13 different models total.
I have ran about 100 shots through my NP2 with this new scope mounted to it, and so far it has been functioning 100%. Overall I was very pleased with their fast warranty response and I am very curious to see how well this one holds up to recoil.
PT
After three shots, this happened:
I was disappointed that it broke off. What was challenging is that the yardage hashes and hard-stops for parallax were both incorporated in the ring that popped off. Also disappointing is that it was originally epoxied into the parallax wheel with no hard location points to re-mount it without some trial and error. I had always worried that something on the inside of the scope might come apart from the NP and NP2 recoil... I never expected something on the outside to fall apart.
So, I contacted Discovery Optics and sent them the same photo as above. I explained to them that if I sent it to China for warranty, the shipping might cost me as much as a new scope. I asked them what my recourse was for warranty options.
Within one hour, I received a few emails from Discovery. Once they verified that I purchased it directly through their Amazon storefront, they informed me that they would be sending me a new scope ASAP. Minutes later, they sent me another email with a new order # and invoice, and about an hour later I received a tracking number. That was last Monday. Estimated delivery was Friday. It showed up a day early.
After opening it up, I noticed several things that seemed different. The model number is the same, but almost everything has changed slightly. The new one is shorter, lighter, slightly sleeker in some areas, etc. The new scope is on the right.
The first thing I looked at was the parallax. The new scope is machined all one-piece. Good. I can't help but think I wasn't the first guy who had the two-piece parallax wheel come apart on them.
The second glaring change from old-to-new, is that the minimum parallax cranks down to just above 5 yards. I tested it at 5 yards and this is indeed accurate.
I measured the common distances between hash-marks on both scopes from 10 yards to infinity, and there are definitely differences between them. They didn't just put extra space on the outer ring for the extra ~5 yard marks. The guts on the inside are definitely different. The outer diameter of the parallax ring is also about 2mm less than the old one.
The green-ish coatings on the 42mm objective lens look about the same between each other, but the coatings on the eyepieces are different. The old scope had the same green coating, but the new scope has both green and purple coatings that can be easily seen in the coating layers. The eyepiece of the new scope is also physically different. The glass just "looks" different and seems to have a little more relief. It is also a little more sleek and refined at the the end of the eyepiece with less aluminum had, although the machining in the adjustment ring for the eyepiece feels more tactile.
The markings and hashes on the scope, front to back have more contrast to them and appear sharper than the quality of the old scope.
After noticing that the overall machining of the entire scope was more refined than the old scope, I went to the turrets. Now, I had no problems with the "very similar looking" turrets on the old scope. But the turrets on this scope are indeed different as well. When operating them, the click-to-click movement is MUCH more tactile and precise than the turrets on the old scope. I took the re-zero-able turrets off and everything is o-ring sealed with nothing but solid brass and aluminum underneath. The machined ridges on the turrets themselves also have a more tactile/grip feel to them. Everything +1 over the original design.
The model # may be the same, but I could not find a single feature on this new "Gen 2" scope that had anything in common with the old scope. I suspect the 42mm objective glass may be the same, but everything else stops there. I don't have a scale precise enough to measure it, but the new scope is certainly a few ounces lighter.
Interestingly, I could not find any updated specs online for this scope (parallax, weight, pictures, etc), only the specs for the original scope are online, which suggests to me that this a very new version of this model. The coaster and manual that came in the box also listed several different models in the VT-R line that I didn't even know existed... probably 13 different models total.
I have ran about 100 shots through my NP2 with this new scope mounted to it, and so far it has been functioning 100%. Overall I was very pleased with their fast warranty response and I am very curious to see how well this one holds up to recoil.
PT
