The Cheap riflescope debate
hello all, I know that this topic has been debated here before and the most popular response is that "you get what you pay for in a riflescope" and for YEARS i have lived by that by owning strictly Leupolds and a few burris/nikon scopes aswell But now I have been rethinking the whole idea of spending at least $200.00 on a good scope. over the years of going to public rifle ranges and meeting up with hunters in the field I have noticed that MOST average guys have Bushnell,simmons and tasco scopes on thier deer rifles.....the amount of scopes that would be labeled "good quality" by most are in the minority in the real world it seems, Heck...my closest hunting buddies have had Bushnell/simmons scopes on thier deer rifles for years, some over 15 years old and never an issue with them. My question is what is the REAL differences in the manufacturing process of a riflescopes such as the material of the internal adjustments and how the crosshairs are made and secured to the scope and an overall comparison of what makes a "hi-Price" scope
different from an average guys bushnell or simmons that comands the price? Is it just the fact that they are imported and made by cheap labor as oposed to a leupold or burris that are made Here and command higher labor costs? I know now that low cost scopes are not
Junk as most put it (myself included until recently) or MOST hunters/shooters would Not have them on thier rifles, your thoughts?
different from an average guys bushnell or simmons that comands the price? Is it just the fact that they are imported and made by cheap labor as oposed to a leupold or burris that are made Here and command higher labor costs? I know now that low cost scopes are not
Junk as most put it (myself included until recently) or MOST hunters/shooters would Not have them on thier rifles, your thoughts?
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remember my old signature,....[?]
"a great rifle with a junk scope,...is junk".
Your glass is far more advanced than your rifle. And in order to make that glass perfect, the labor intensity and component cost goes way up,...which means the price goes way up.
For you guys using cheap stuff,....try shooting a target for groups at 500-600yds over the coarse of a few hours,..and see what happens. They wander zero,..they cloud out under mirage, and if you want to "click to zero" at sevear ranges,..just try to find the same click value at those ranges after the first time.
Cheap scopes use plastic gears,...I don't trust anything plastic when it comes to accuracy. YMMV0 -
Nikon Monarch series is fun. During deer season, I've sat in the house and watched the deer that the hunters are not seeing. I watch them through the scope until the sun goes down. With a spotlight, I've watched deer run across the the field at night. Shot a couple of coyotes that my wife can't see with a naked eye. Cousin has watched a coyote chase a deer over 800 yards away in low light where we could see nothing with binoculars.
Full moon, snow, and good scope, you can see a lot at night.0 -
I don't have a whole lot of extra cash for hunting. So my only scope is a Tasco on a .356 calibre Winchester Model 94AE and I have never had any problem with it. (But I should add that I am basically hunting in the woods and have no serious need for optics for a super long shot.)
Some day, however, I would like to try a really fancy (read expensive) scope, just to see the difference. Who knows I might upgrade![:D]0 -
quote:Originally posted by JustC
remember my old signature,....[?]
"a great rifle with a junk scope,...is junk".
Your glass is far more advanced than your rifle. And in order to make that glass perfect, the labor intensity and component cost goes way up,...which means the price goes way up.
For you guys using cheap stuff,....try shooting a target for groups at 500-600yds over the coarse of a few hours,..and see what happens. They wander zero,..they cloud out under mirage, and if you want to "click to zero" at sevear ranges,..just try to find the same click value at those ranges after the first time.
Cheap scopes use plastic gears,...I don't trust anything plastic when it comes to accuracy. YMMV
If I was doing 500-600 yard shooting I probly would worry about useing a cheep scope.
I only use a scope while hunting and do not plan on ever takeing a shot at over 200 yards and would prefer to never take one over 150 yards.
The Simmons on my hunting rifle holds zero real well at that distance and has served me well.
Don't get me wrong! I am sure that the high dollar stuff is better than what I am useing.
All I am saying is what I am useing is working for me! And if it works it don't need to be fixed![;)]0 -
I've owned Bushnell, NcStar, Simmons, and BSA, all of which are low end scopes. With my Savage 30-06 and my BSA 3-12x50, I can make 1 inch groupings at 100 yards, and it's not even zeroed in. All I've done to it is bore-sight it. 0 -
i had a simmons 4x it worked great on my shotgun w/3in slugs my WASR10 just fine but i put it on my 308 temporarily not even a box and it was jacked over entirely 0 -
I think that "git_r_done" has said it best ... without a doubt there are much better scopes out there is your are willing to pay, but for the way most of us hunt (ie. not the super long shot) it just is not worth the extra coin for the scope.
I've kind of gotten tired of the old saying that get the best scope you can ... it's more important than the rifle ... because it is the weakest link even if you do have a good gun.
If you ask me ... the shooter without much practice is the weakest line!
Get a gun you feel comfortable with and put $50 - $100 buck into the scope and go sight it in right and practice.0 -
quote:Originally posted by deerhntr
hello all, I know that this topic has been debated here before and the most popular response is that "you get what you pay for in a riflescope" and for YEARS i have lived by that by owning strictly Leupolds and a few burris/nikon scopes aswell But now I have been rethinking the whole idea of spending at least $200.00 on a good scope. over the years of going to public rifle ranges and meeting up with hunters in the field I have noticed that MOST average guys have Bushnell,simmons and tasco scopes on thier deer rifles.....the amount of scopes that would be labeled "good quality" by most are in the minority in the real world it seems, Heck...my closest hunting buddies have had Bushnell/simmons scopes on thier deer rifles for years, some over 15 years old and never an issue with them. My question is what is the REAL differences in the manufacturing process of a riflescopes such as the material of the internal adjustments and how the crosshairs are made and secured to the scope and an overall comparison of what makes a "hi-Price" scope
different from an average guys bushnell or simmons that comands the price? Is it just the fact that they are imported and made by cheap labor as oposed to a leupold or burris that are made Here and command higher labor costs? I know now that low cost scopes are not
Junk as most put it (myself included until recently) or MOST hunters/shooters would Not have them on thier rifles, your thoughts?
What rifle are you contemplating scoping? Have you purchased a scope yet?0 -
if you only sight one in, and leave it alone I.E. not clicking to different distances, then you can get away with lower end. Also, if minute of deer is all you require, that makes it all the simpler.
I like to "click" to zero, and then back again. It verifies my drop charts or helps to re-run them with adjusted values until they are correct. But I'll try the shots in any range I can verify,..kinda where the "rush" is for me these days. 100-200yds is a meat-in-freezer shot,..the longer ones are more for satisfaction[:D] Short range is a standard field grade rifle,..long range is done with long range rigs. Different purposes equals diferent tools. I do however know how it feels to have a cheap scope fail DURING a hunt[:(!][:(!][V]
I have several aetec scopes that for the money, seem to be very well made, and allow a lot of light. I will change them out if/when they break. I also have several Bushnell trophys,...same deal with them.0 -
have had a simmons scope on my browning 7 mm for years. no problem
( 39.95 )0 -
[:D]quote:Originally posted by cartod
$50 scope on a 1500 dollar gun.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=76606137
looks like a tasco exp on it [:D]
I have used tasco all my life and have only one to fail me My 7mmm mag has had a tasco 3-9x44 tasco world class plus it was 130.00 back then ,for about 12 years on it and every year when I recheck the zero it takes one shot because its still on [:D][:D] now I have two leupole's on my encore bbl's and I have to say I can tell a dif. Will I rush out and buy a new leupole or other high end scope for the 7mm no not yet but give me a yaer or two [}:)][:D]0 -
Hunters have been using scopes or how many years, and until recently they were all of similar quality.
The you have to buy an expensive scope to get a good scope is a myth perpatrated by the ad people at the big expensive scope companies, I wouldent buy a scope over 100 let alone 200 dollars unless eather A my life depended on it or B my life depended on it...
Buy less scope buy more guns
For what some people pay for scopes I could buy 2 rifles.0 -
quote:Originally posted by redice
Hunters have been using scopes or how many years, and until recently they were all of similar quality.
The you have to buy an expensive scope to get a good scope is a myth perpatrated by the ad people at the big expensive scope companies, I wouldent buy a scope over 100 let alone 200 dollars unless eather A my life depended on it or B my life depended on it...
Buy less scope buy more guns
For what some people pay for scopes I could buy 2 rifles.
You do get what you pay for, go buy a a $100 tasco and you will maybe get $30 for it when you go to sell it. pay $250 for a scope (burris, leupold etc..) and you might get $275 when you go to sell it. PS dont get the tasco wet on a cold day. [;)]0
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