Strange thing happened with Dead Zone

[Montana Mark]

So anyway, had to get a new warantee Dead Zone scope because mine wasn’t holding zero/grouping. New scope holds zero and groups well. Interestingly, I had to turn the speed dial on the new scope to 330 to line up the distance reticles (whereas when I was using my sons Dead Zone, I had it set at 300). No biggy, the speed setting is not supposed to reflect real speed (with my heavy arrows, it should be shooting just shy of 300).

Was practicing my standing shooting yesterday. Was very pleased to have 3 shots in a row hit the bullseye (2” square piece of duct tape) at 50 yard standing. I was very excited to try and hit the bullseye with the fourth so I could take a picture of it and send it to my sons. The fourth shot hit 6” low! Went up to 20 yards and hit the center of the bullseye. Went back to 50 and had to dial the speed dial back to 300 to get shots lined up again. Grouping great at that speed setting at all yardages now.

The only thing I can think of is that something on the Dead Zone “settled in”? Made me think I might have tightened my rings too tight and made the variable power a little sticky?

Another strange thing happened. My new scope (was) very blurry when the reticle was focused and the reticle was blurry when the target was focused. (I just focused on the reticle and accepted having a blurry target.) Now, everything is clear! Both reticle and target are clear!

All this is very strange but I just pray that it stays good. I frankly don’t like the other available options. I like the size and variable power of the Dead Zone. The Nikon Bolt would be almost perfect for my bow (but I plan to use 30 yard zero for dear/elk season and not sure how the Bolt would line up whereas the variable power of the dead zone lines up). The compact Hawkes would be good but the minimalist in me doesn’t want a lighted reticle. I’m going to try to hang in with this Dead Zone for a while. Right now, it’s very clear and grouping well.

I’m setting up for a 15-20 yard shot on my neighborhood problem bear this spring (next week). I trust my scope for that. If I decide I can’t trust my dead zone by fall, I’ll get another scope. Here in the west, I can’t rely on having short range shots at deer. If I were an eastern hunter, I have the perfect scope in the safe. It’s a 1x4 Leopold but it’s on my “politically correct AR” (cool little Remington pump action 223 that takes AR mags). Don’t want to take it off the rifle because it belongs there and don’t want to resight it back on (I actually don’t like shooting guns because my ears are “tools of my trade”).

[Ferguson Outfitters]

Nikon Bolt or ACOG, but then again I seem to be nit-picky around here about dependability and simplicity of my killing hardware.

Maybe that comes from a lifetime of Military service.

[flightattendant100]

The Chinese scopes all work great...... until they don’t. Don’t you wish you could predict when that will happen. your Leupold is best choice by far. If I had an elk hunt riding on it I know what would be on my bow.

[Montana Mark]

You guys are right. I don’t give up easy but I think I’ve had it. I was just outside and as I was shooting, I kept having to creep up the speed dial back to 330 again. Scope still sort of clear though. Still zeroing at 20 yards. I have no idea what is going on with it. I’m going to get online and order a Nikon Bolt. I love simple things (that’s what attracted me to Excalibur). “Fixed 3 for me”. I like my rifle scope because it is a “fixed 6” (Burris fullfield). Simple and bombproof. The Nikon Bolt will be the crossbow equivalent. I’d rather put a piece of tape on my stock with yardages marked on it than deal with this. Besides, I suspect the Nikon will gather light better for my bear hunt.

[janesy]

I have 3 Nikon Bolts. You will be happy with them. They are also ultra light at 11 oz.

[Montana Mark]

Just ordered the Nikon and some rings. Can’t wait.

[flightattendant100]

Just ordered the Nikon and some rings. Can’t wait.

Good call. I hate to spend other people’s money, but you will be glad that you did.

[Ferguson Outfitters]

Mark, you can go to the spot on page and plug in your numbers. I choose the Barnett 18” bolt. The Nikon will match your setup pretty good

[Montana Mark]

Thanks Ferguson. I’ll do that when I get my scope. I think the Nikon Bolt will be the perfect scope for my bow.

[BrotherRon]

I put a Hawke XB30 Pro SR on mine last summer and am very pleased with it so far.

[Ferguson Outfitters]

I think if Nikon would come out with a version for faster bows like Trij’s ACOG did, they would take a bigger bite out of the market.

If you knock the glass out of those Deadzones, they make pretty good fishing weights.

[flightattendant100]

I think if Nikon would come out with a version for faster bows like Trij’s ACOG did, they would take a bigger bite out of the market.

If you knock the glass out of those Deadzones, they make pretty good fishing weights.

NAWWWW, they are heavy...but not that heavy!

[robertyb]

You could have gone to eBay and ordered a brand new Ravin 20 scope shipped for $90 from Dave at Wyverns. Great scopes they sy with a good speed ring. The guys on AT site are selling their Vortex XBRs and buying these scopes now.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ravin-R20-Crossbow-Scope-Illuminated-NEW/283432907293?hash=item41fdeaf21d:g:2J4AAOSwohVcPe0N

[Montana Mark]

The Dead Zone is blurry now, just as it was before. Now I know why it was clear for a day. My scope is clear at very low power and it gets blurry as I move it up. (It’s clear at 300 and blurry at 330 (and really blurry at 400).). Both the boys Dead Zones are that way too. (Their bows shoot around 300 so it’s clear for them.)

I actually figured out why I’m at 330 (versus 300 with my son’s scope). I was using a 30 yard zero with my sons scope (reaching out to 70) and I am using 20 yard zero now (setting up for a 20 yard shot on the bear). If I ever use the dead zone again, I’ll use a 30 yard zero and my scope will be dialed down to lowest (and clearest) power again.

For the life of me, I can’t figure out why my scope changed for a day.

Anyway, the Nikon Bolt (or Prostaff P3) is on its way and the Dead Zone will be in the box as a backup scope. Can’t wait to use the new scope.

Spring bear season starts tomorrow but I haven’t seen sign of him yet. Have a game cam keeping any eye out for me. I’ll take a stroll (with the crossbow) in the woods tomorrow after work to look for tracks (might need snowshoes-still lots of snow in the woods).

[Montana Mark]

Boy, now that I figured some of this out, I almost want to cancel my order on the Nikon and just use low (clear) power for my 20 yard bear shot. (Scope holds zero fine.) I know I would love the Nikon. But, if I have the same scope sighted in the same as my sons and I’m coaching them through a shot at a deer, I would give them the right advice. (If I was used to the Nikon I would get confused and tell them to “hold the 3rd circle on the top of the back” and screw them up.)