Bushnell 18-36x 50mm Sentry Spotting Scope, Black, Aluminum

Selected this spotting as my 10 year anniversary gift from my company. I've had this scope for several years. I've used it a few times. Optics are decent for a lower budget spotting scope. The scope has always been stored/transported to and from the range in the pelican style hard shell case it came in. Nice case. As I took the scope out of the case today, the front lens assembly literally fell off, separating the scope in two.

Pulled it out of the case, installed on the tripod, set it next to the gun, and it fell in half. Another shooter next to me thinks it was left in the truck to long and the heat caused it to come unglued?

I build my own telescopes. Since I have those skills it really saved my bacon when my scope broke in half while in the case. I don't know how it happened, I opened the case and two pieces came out instead of one. I put the pieces into the case, closed it, forgot about it. The other night I ran across them and with the help of JB Weld, joined the two pieces back together. Seems to function as intended. Poor QC. the second Sentry is sitting in front of me now. It needs a new eyepiece assembly, since it doesn't have the original. Can it be fixed? I think so, I like Bushnell objective lenses. They seem to be of fairly good quality and made of glass. Scope bodies appeared to be durable, but the metallic cases were obviously more robust than the current plastic. Still, for the money I can dink around all day with problems as long as I don't have anything else to do.

Let me say first that I received this particular spotting scope as a work anniversary gift option, so it was free... That said, as an entry level item it does what I hoped for. The magnification works well as I can plainly see a security cam on top of an office tower roughly 450yds out. The included stand is meant to sit with you on the shooting bench; it is sturdy/stable (metal construction w/ rubber feet) and easy to use, but only about 12" of height. Also the hard case it comes in is awesome! Eye relief is the only real sore point for me as there is none at all.