Why are there no gloss scopes anymore ?

Discuss firearm optics, sights, and scopes here (magnified, red-dot, iron sights, etc).
Post Reply
User avatar
Ballistic Therapy
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 1438
Joined: June 18th, 2018, 4:05 pm
Reputation: 2
Location: Pima County

Why are there no gloss scopes anymore ?

#1

Post by Ballistic Therapy »

I haven't bought a scope in quite awhile.
I have been looking for a low powered scope ( preferably a mini ) in a gloss finish.
It seams that they aren't made any more.
I went to several gun stores and could not find one gloss scope.
All I can find are Black , Matte , Camo and Bronze colored scopes.
I can find a few used ones , but nothing of quality that is new.

Doesn't anyone make a quality lower powered gloss scope any more ?

I won't even get into all the silly reticles their coming out with.
That is a topic all it's own.


User avatar
xerts1191
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 12215
Joined: May 28th, 2018, 7:25 pm
Reputation: 5
Location: Arizona

Re: Why are there no gloss scopes anymore ?

#2

Post by xerts1191 »

Not tacticool in todays Gun genre, may have to find you a good old used Weaver, Bushnell, or the like.
QuietM4
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 2125
Joined: May 15th, 2018, 8:36 pm
Reputation: 12
Location: Tempe

Re: Why are there no gloss scopes anymore ?

#3

Post by QuietM4 »

Same reason no one makes a gloss finish rifle. No gloss rifles = no need for gloss scopes.
User avatar
XJThrottle
ArizonaShooting.org Bronze Supporter
ArizonaShooting.org Bronze Supporter
Posts: 2882
Joined: June 26th, 2018, 5:43 pm
Reputation: 7
Location: Phoemex

Re: Why are there no gloss scopes anymore ?

#4

Post by XJThrottle »

A gloss bodied optic in practice isn't ideal. Kinda strange that it was the norm for so long.

Why the desire?
User avatar
Ballistic Therapy
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 1438
Joined: June 18th, 2018, 4:05 pm
Reputation: 2
Location: Pima County

Re: Why are there no gloss scopes anymore ?

#5

Post by Ballistic Therapy »

I guess I'm just old and don't care for all the subdued and camo gear everyone thinks they need.
All my guns are blue steel with wood and have gloss scopes on them.
I like it that way.

Personally , I think they don't make them any more because it is more expensive to make them in gloss.
That and everyone buys into the tacticool fad now days.
I don't blame them , go where the money is.

The same with plastic pistols.
They say they are just as good , Bla bla bla , but the main reason is that it is much cheaper to pour plastic into a mold than it is to machine a piece of steel.
It's all about money.
User avatar
kenpoprofessor
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 1969
Joined: July 22nd, 2018, 4:10 am
Reputation: 3
Location: Phoenix

Re: Why are there no gloss scopes anymore ?

#6

Post by kenpoprofessor »

Ballistic Therapy wrote: November 13th, 2022, 6:37 am I guess I'm just old and don't care for all the subdued and camo gear everyone thinks they need.
All my guns are blue steel with wood and have gloss scopes on them.
I like it that way.

Personally , I think they don't make them any more because it is more expensive to make them in gloss.
That and everyone buys into the tacticool fad now days.
I don't blame them , go where the money is.

The same with plastic pistols.
They say they are just as good , Bla bla bla , but the main reason is that it is much cheaper to pour plastic into a mold than it is to machine a piece of steel.
It's all about money.

Just because you think it's something, doesn't mean it is. Show the facts they're not as good, not your opinion.

Have a great, gun carryin', Kenpo day

Clyde
User avatar
Ballistic Therapy
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 1438
Joined: June 18th, 2018, 4:05 pm
Reputation: 2
Location: Pima County

Re: Why are there no gloss scopes anymore ?

#7

Post by Ballistic Therapy »

I know you are a plastic gun fan , but you will never convince me that plastic holds up better than steel.
User avatar
brandyspaw
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 264
Joined: May 18th, 2018, 8:50 pm
Reputation: 0
Location: East Valley

Re: Why are there no gloss scopes anymore ?

#8

Post by brandyspaw »

I don't have many old rifles anymore but the gloss finish scopes do look better on the older, high polish blued guns. For example, I still have one of the old Ruger M77RSI's which is the full stock Mannlicher style rifles. They were all short 18 1/2" barrels. So it has an older Burris Compact scope on it that matches the finish of the rifle and a newer scope would just look out of place on that old gun.

They aren't made anymore because most new guns are now matte finishes. However, some gun shows or gun shops with a lot of used stuff, will sometimes have used gloss finish scopes from makers such as Leupold, Burris, Bushnell. As a bonus, most of the older, gloss finish scopes by Leupold and Burris were better quality and totally USA made. Even the old Bushnell's were made in Japan.
User avatar
BigNate
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 647
Joined: July 5th, 2020, 5:56 pm
Reputation: 4
Location: Phoenix

Re: Why are there no gloss scopes anymore ?

#9

Post by BigNate »

Your thread made me go looking and I was surprised to find that Cerakote makes a gloss black finish. Maybe you get to buy a trendy new matte black scope and have someone (if it were me I'd go to We Plead the 2nd) Cerakote it gloss black... Seems kinda backwards - but hey - if it gets you where you want to be...

https://www.cerakote.com/project-galler ... s-in-h-109
User avatar
stomp442
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 115
Joined: October 22nd, 2018, 4:00 pm
Reputation: 1
Location: Safford
Contact:

Re: Why are there no gloss scopes anymore ?

#10

Post by stomp442 »

I would head to Ebay and find an old Redfield. I don't remember the name off hand but there is a company out there that will completely refurbish them if need be for a reasonable cost. I have bought a few Redfields off Ebay and they have all been good to me so far.
User avatar
Hprm1a
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 43
Joined: April 18th, 2021, 7:31 pm
Reputation: 0
Location: prescott

Re: Why are there no gloss scopes anymore ?

#11

Post by Hprm1a »

XJThrottle wrote: November 13th, 2022, 2:10 am A gloss bodied optic in practice isn't ideal.
This is the answer. It's not some kind of tacticool fashion conspiracy.
User avatar
Lucafu1
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 101
Joined: May 14th, 2018, 9:36 pm
Reputation: 0
Location: Tucson

Re: Why are there no gloss scopes anymore ?

#12

Post by Lucafu1 »

Ballistic Therapy wrote: November 13th, 2022, 8:47 am I know you are a plastic gun fan , but you will never convince me that plastic holds up better than steel.
It does when it comes to corrosion. They each have their own pros and cons. If steel had more pros there would be more steel guns out there.

Also some of those silly reticles can be and are very helpful.

As far as matte finish that is just the latest and greatest. In 20 years there will be something new and everyone who likes matte will be in the same boat.
Drmark
ArizonaShooting.org Silver Supporter
ArizonaShooting.org Silver Supporter
Posts: 528
Joined: May 25th, 2018, 6:37 pm
Reputation: 15
Location: Mesa

Re: Why are there no gloss scopes anymore ?

#13

Post by Drmark »

Lucafu1 wrote: January 6th, 2023, 11:53 am

As far as matte finish that is just the latest and greatest. In 20 years there will be something new and everyone who likes matte will be in the same boat.
20 years from now, the US will be a shithole with the rest of the World.
User avatar
Lucafu1
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 101
Joined: May 14th, 2018, 9:36 pm
Reputation: 0
Location: Tucson

Re: Why are there no gloss scopes anymore ?

#14

Post by Lucafu1 »

Drmark wrote: January 6th, 2023, 2:45 pm
Lucafu1 wrote: January 6th, 2023, 11:53 am

As far as matte finish that is just the latest and greatest. In 20 years there will be something new and everyone who likes matte will be in the same boat.
20 years from now, the US will be a shithole with the rest of the World.
Probably sooner the way its been going lately.
Post Reply