I'm calling BS on scope damage

With over 1000 rounds from my springer (Weihrauch HW35) with an "unrated" scope (SWFA SS 10x42MMQ) and no ill effects, in fact no change at all, in the scope's performance, I'm ready to call BS on the whole "scope damage from springers" trope!

Can anyone here please offer a first person example of a scope that was damaged by a spring piston air rifle when properly mounted? I've asked similar questions before and heard anecdotal evidence. Please don't offer stories that you've read or been told-- only real instances of scopes that were damaged *by you* from being used on a spring piston air rifle.

I really want to know how many instances of damaged scopes have occurred on spring piston air rifles.

Thanks for for any real world experiences you many offer!
 
I had a bsa Supersport .177 that was rather hard on scopes. Tried one piece mounts, multiple different rings and nothing saved the unrated scopes. Leupold vx2 broke the reticle in 10 shots. Had a nice Japan Tasco that I am not sure if it was springer rated or not? It lasted a month. Finally based on advice put a bsa airgun scope on it and it lasted for 6 years.
 
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Well, it also looks like you bought yourself a tank of a scope. Just read a few articles where the authors torture tested that model of scope. Even though it doesn't say "air gun rated" it is tough. That scope was built to NATO specs. Granted that most of the testers used high power powder burners for their tests, but some of them were also dropping the scopes from 3 feet, dragging and kicking them around. The scope was generally abused beyond what any reasonable owner would do to them.
 
A host of very credible witnesses here! Thanks to all who replied. I retract my statement and stand corrected.

I did read that SWFA makes a rugged scope and even that the owner, Chris Farris, said the 10x42 SS can be mounted on springers (although I haven't seen this from him in writing firsthand). I've not seen anywhere that explicitly states the scope is rated for use on springers.

Of course, as others have pointed out, even though a scope may be rated for 50 BMG it does not necessarily mean that it's safe from damage on a spring piston air rifle.

I took a chance but so far so good. At the moment the scope is back on my PCP gun but based on my experience thus far I won't hesitate to put it back on the HW35 in the future.

 
The SWFA SS 10x42MMQ is springer rated and is one of the strongest if not the strongest scope you can get for the money. It was actually made for Military use. On top of that a fixed power scope will always be stronger than a variable zoom scope. I have heard stories of 2000$ plus scopes break in less than 5 shots with springers. 
 
There is nowhere near a myth about scopes being damaged by springers. Spring powered air rifles have a dual action recoil. The first recoil is actually a reverse recoil from the piston slamming forward and shocking in the opposite direction of firearm recoil. The second recoil is the normal recoil of the air blasting out of the barrel. What "airgun rated" typically means is that the scope has reinforced both directions. You will also find "shockproof" to be the same thing. If a scope says "shockproof" it doesn't have to list "airgun rated" anywhere.

It is becoming more common for scopes to provide that additional reinforcement as they tend to just last longer anyway. But there are still plenty of very expensive scopes that a springer can kill before you're sighted in.
 
"Lou"The SWFA SS 10x42MMQ is springer rated and is one of the strongest if not the strongest scope you can get for the money. It was actually made for Military use. On top of that a fixed power scope will always be stronger than a variable zoom scope. I have heard stories of 2000$ plus scopes break in less than 5 shots with springers.
That's one of the reasons I chose the fixed power scope-- that and the fact that it's a second focal plane scope.

it's definitely a great scope especially given the price, and no issues so far with use on my springer.
 
"Hotbrass"My RWS 48 . 177 ATE scopes. Get a magnum springer put a scope on it and you will be eating crow.
I have had an UTG swat, Mtc Mamba Lite and a cheap Walther scope on my Diana (rws) 350 magnum and they all survived. The bad thing with these rifles are the scope rails, they are made to hold diopter sights and not scopes, so it is essential to tighten the screws with loctite and check once in a while if they came loose. 
 
Crosman Vantage NP: killed FOUR (4) bundled CP 4x32 scopes within 1.5 years (broken reticles, which Crosman claimed were airgun rated, and could handle riding on the back of a .338 Lapua...talk about calling "BS"!). Same gun also murdered a CP 3-9x32 "upgrade scope", as well as the bundled 3-9AO scope that came on my Browning Leverage. Tried upgrade scope rings, as well as a one piece mount. The "scope killer" wasn't tamed until rebuilt an placed in a different stock. Has a UTG compact SWAT scope on it now for the last year plus with no problems (he said, knocking furiously on the table).
 
My Benjamin NP 22 ate a Weaver 16X, a old Redfield 3x9, and one other that I can't remember ...
It's not Bullpoop at all ! A guy told me about it and I replied ....You mean the Weaver scope offf my 257 Weatherby can't handle a pellet gun ??!!
Yep it lasted about 30 shots .
The SWFA SS scopes absolutely kick ass !! It's all I buy now , I have a 4-16 Aeon I been trying g to trade for another SS scope .