Nikon Prostaff Rimfire Problem

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  • Bertfish

    Throw bread on me
    Mar 13, 2013
    17,606
    White Marsh, MD
    Let me say first I am inexperienced with optics in general.

    Was given a brand new Nikon Prostaff Rimfire last Christmas 2019. It's the 4-12 power. Finally took it to SLCFSA after joining and have what I believe is a major issue.

    I read their instruction manual, nothing complex unless I missed something.

    I started at 50 yards, had it on paper and zeroed really easily. Was on 4X magnification.

    Wanted to try their BDC reticle (goes out to 150 yards) so I moved my target out to 150 yards and increased the magnification to 12X.

    First issue, the picture didn't change. You can twist the magnification dial all day and it never looks any different.

    Second issue. I had zeroed the rifle at 50. After attempting to increase the magnification at 150 yards the rifle shot literally 2' or so to the left. Cranking the wind age adjustment all the way wasn't even close to enough to correct it.

    I went back to shooting at 50 yards and was now inches off target and could not correct.

    Nothing appears to be loose. Mounts etc are tight.

    Sound like a bad scope to you all?
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,724
    Socialist State of Maryland
    I have read several reviews of loose reticles and adjusting rings that won't turn or don't do anything. I don't know what their warranty is these days but it sounds like something inside is not connected and needs to go back.
     

    Swaim13

    Active Member
    Jun 11, 2017
    327
    First, can you confirm that this is what you have:
    https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1016301263

    If it is this right scope, its a second focal plane scope which means the reticle will be the same size no matter what. Usually there will be a mark on the magnification ring indicating which power to be at for the reticle to work with a BDC.

    Second, you said this is on a RPR. Is the on the rimfire or centerfire model? The 22 or 17 HMR if its the rimfire one?
     

    Swaim13

    Active Member
    Jun 11, 2017
    327
    I also was wondering how was the wind?

    Did you adjust the scope turrets at 150 then come back to 50 and you were way off the target? What torque did you use when you put the scope into the rings?

    Sorry just trying to run down the list of items I would check.
     

    Bertfish

    Throw bread on me
    Mar 13, 2013
    17,606
    White Marsh, MD
    First, can you confirm that this is what you have:
    https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1016301263

    If it is this right scope, its a second focal plane scope which means the reticle will be the same size no matter what. Usually there will be a mark on the magnification ring indicating which power to be at for the reticle to work with a BDC.

    Second, you said this is on a RPR. Is the on the rimfire or centerfire model? The 22 or 17 HMR if its the rimfire one?

    Yes that is the scope

    Do not recall the torque I used. It wasn't in the book I think I found it online. What should it be?

    But shouldn't the view through the scope "zoom in" as I up the power? If not then what's the point?

    It is the .22LR

    I also was wondering how was the wind?

    Did you adjust the scope turrets at 150 then come back to 50 and you were way off the target? What torque did you use when you put the scope into the rings?

    Sorry just trying to run down the list of items I would check.

    Wind was gusty but I was shooting in between bursts. Still makes no sense how I zeroed perfectly at 50 then changed only the magnification and suddenly it was horribly off at 150 and 50 yards. I mean literally off by feet, only knew where it was hitting because I saw the dirty jump up
     

    Swaim13

    Active Member
    Jun 11, 2017
    327
    Yes that is the scope

    Do not recall the torque I used. It wasn't in the book I think I found it online. What should it be?

    But shouldn't the view through the scope "zoom in" as I up the power? If not then what's the point?

    It is the .22LR

    Wind was gusty but I was shooting in between bursts. Still makes no sense how I zeroed perfectly at 50 then changed only the magnification and suddenly it was horribly off at 150 and 50 yards. I mean literally off by feet, only knew where it was hitting because I saw the dirty jump up

    When you say zoom in, the scope magnification is not increasing when you turn the ring? if that's the case, its definitely broken and you should call Nikon. It should have a limited lifetime warranty. If the mag is increasing but the reticle stays the same, then its working as designed since its a second focal plane (SFP) scope. A first focal plane (FFP) scope will have the reticle change size as you change the magnification. This is typically found only in intermediate to higher end scopes. The SFP scopes are simpler to manufacture and if I remember correctly don't have some of the parallax concerns that FFP scopes have.

    What rings are you using? Typically the rings will have a torque spec. If you dont know, I would probably do 20-25 in lb since its a 22 with no recoil. For reference the vortex hunter rings spec 25-30 in lbs.

    If your mag ring is working, I would check your torque spec first, then re-zero the rifle. I would also check to see what magnification the reticle is supposed to be used at. The center cross hairs shouldn't move when you adjust the zoom, but to be safe, I would set the zoom, zero it, then shoot the farther distance, then come back to the closer distance and verify everything before you start playing with the zoom.

    What ammo are you using as well? Most of the competition guys are running standard velocity (less than 1080 fps) ammo so you dont have to deal with the rounds going transonic. The quality of ammo will also come into play when you start pushing out the distance.
     

    Bertfish

    Throw bread on me
    Mar 13, 2013
    17,606
    White Marsh, MD
    The image does nor change when I turn the magnification ring. Objects in view appear the same side no matter the magnification.

    Their book says the BDC is designed for using with 1600 FPS ammo so I'm using some Aguila match which runs at that speed.
     

    gwchem

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 18, 2014
    3,434
    SoMD
    The image does nor change when I turn the magnification ring. Objects in view appear the same side no matter the magnification.

    Their book says the BDC is designed for using with 1600 FPS ammo so I'm using some Aguila match which runs at that speed.

    Sounds broken. That's too bad about nikon no longer producing these. Maybe they have some old stock sitting around for warranty issues?
     

    Pinecone

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 4, 2013
    28,175
    Negative, 1600 FPS is what the book says at least

    Where are you finding 1600 fpr .22 rimfire ammo?

    Not any match ammo. It is all subsonic.

    Aguila Rifle Match is 1080.

    Standard High Velocity is about 1200 fps.

    Velocitor are 1435 fps

    Stingers are in the 1600 fps range.
     

    photoracer

    Competition Shooter
    Oct 22, 2010
    3,318
    West Virginia
    Any 22 match grade ammo is subsonic as in 1100 FPS or less. Ammo at hyper velocity, which is what 1600 FPS is, is only used for hunting. The very un- aerodynamic .22lr bullet is severely buffeted anytime it has to transition to subsonic from supersonic. This is common knowledge for rimfire precision shooters.
     

    midnightSGT

    Active Member
    Oct 17, 2013
    756
    Calvert County
    Nikon is out of the scope business. I sent them my sons 3x9x40 for repairs last week. They told me it cant be repaired. Then they sent me a store credit for 219 dollars to use at their store. I ended up getting a new pair of Binoculars.
     

    KRC

    Active Member
    Sep 30, 2018
    615
    Cecil County MD
    If you are not getting a change in image magnification, something is broken.

    However - the Aguila website shows "Supermaximum" hyper-velocity 22LR ammo available at 1700fps with 30gr. bullets. The ballistics of this ammo will be very different than even regular high velocity 38-40 gr. ammo. What grain bullets is your 1600fps ammo? (As there is no 150 yardage at the SLCFSA R3 range. How did you shoot this distance?) If you are using the R3 range, due to the land contour, almost any wind coming right to left up the side from the pond area is easily enough to drift 22LR ammo 2" or more left at 100 to 150 yards. You will need a dead calm day (haven't seen it there yet) to work out 22LR ballistics at distance.

    Personal opinion (and worth every cent paid): To shoot 22LR at 100-150 yards, especially on the R3 range at SLCFSA, and expect to be within "inches" without low wind (and/or windflags) you will likely need a very good shooting rifle (RPR?) and high quality (i.e. match - non-hyper velocity) ammo.
     

    Bertfish

    Throw bread on me
    Mar 13, 2013
    17,606
    White Marsh, MD
    Wanted to provide an update here

    Called Nikon, they confirmed the scope was broken and issued a return authorization no problem. Said they would evaluate.

    Got an email about a week later saying it would be repaired under warranty. Great!

    Just got an email. "Repair of the scope is not economical". Issued a $99 voucher for Nikon products only which is less than what I paid. Was not given the option to have the scope sent back to me or to make them repair it, they didn't even ask.

    So I bought a scope, they stopped making them, it was discovered to be broken, I paid to send it back to get fixed, then they threw it away and gave me a voucher to buy more of their products.

    Needless to say if someone wants to give me something less than $99 for a voucher I'm all ears as I won't be back to these jackasses again. I'll find a nice Vortex or something.
     

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