How many have gotten a 3x9 weaver on their scoped rifle purchase and then trusted it on their once a year moose hunt.i have not been that brave,mind you mine looked like I was viewing through a smoke screen.so who are those brave soles.i also remember one having a fair bit of noise when shaken.would of sent back for warranty but couldn't find one.
Weaver package scope and trust
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I've never hunted with one of those combos as I'm to much of an accuracy freak and a bit of an equipment, especially when it comes to optics, snob.
There was a time, in the distant past, when Weaver scopes were very highly regarded. I have a couple that are over 50 years old.
Steel Lites in 4x and 6x as well as one of the early 3x9 models with a ''wideview'' ocular lens.
They are virtually parallax free out to the distances I shoot and are sharp/clear.
When they were still manufactured in the US, they were an exceptional value. When they started manufacturing and assembling them offshore, everything went downhill to the point that internal components were made from inadequate plastic.
If your scope isn't clear, replace it. If you can't afford to replace it and if the rifle has open iron sights, use the iron sights.
It's a proven fact that open irons are as accurate as scopes, in practised hands, out to 100+yards. Depending on the shooter, much further.
There was a time, in the distant past, when Weaver scopes were very highly regarded. I have a couple that are over 50 years old.
Steel Lites in 4x and 6x as well as one of the early 3x9 models with a ''wideview'' ocular lens.
They are virtually parallax free out to the distances I shoot and are sharp/clear.
When they were still manufactured in the US, they were an exceptional value. When they started manufacturing and assembling them offshore, everything went downhill to the point that internal components were made from inadequate plastic.
If your scope isn't clear, replace it. If you can't afford to replace it and if the rifle has open iron sights, use the iron sights.
It's a proven fact that open irons are as accurate as scopes, in practised hands, out to 100+yards. Depending on the shooter, much further.
I think as a rule, the answer should be "no". If a new scope can be sold for -$100 in Canada, and a half-dozen entities between the manufacturer and the store you bought it from have made money on it along the way=chances are it started out as a $25 scope. It may still be a scope that gives you years of trouble-free service, but it might also let you down the first time you pull the trigger. We all have budget constraints, so I'm not being judge-y.
I think age and available time to shoot (+amount you shoot) are also factors. Even people who have never held a gun can tell the difference in quality between a cheap scope and even a half-decent one.
I think age and available time to shoot (+amount you shoot) are also factors. Even people who have never held a gun can tell the difference in quality between a cheap scope and even a half-decent one.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
OP - you asked about trust it on once a year moose hunt. If you have fired it 150 times previously, chances are great it will be fine for shot #151 and #152. If I have never fired it previously, or only fired it a few times to sight in - not sure there is any brand name that I would "trust". I just detest when stuff breaks when back in bush - warranty means nothing, then and there. So I prefer to have it break or screw up at shooting range, where is of less significance.
Most significant that I recall - a Parker Hale Supreme with new-to-me Bushnell scope that I was trying to sight in - shooting 3 shot groups. First several groups reacted appropriately - then bullet holes started to "walk" to the left at 100 yards - whether I adjusted turrets or not - by shot #15 - was completely off the paper target onto the backer. I suspect the bias spring inside either broke or became dislodged - I never did investigate that - it still as I brought it home about 3 or 4 years ago, is still in back of the cupboard, has never been fired since. It could have been the barrel warping from heat, could have been something broke or loose in the mounts - could be a number of things - but I was glad that it "died" there, not several miles from a road, in the bush, somewhere.
Most significant that I recall - a Parker Hale Supreme with new-to-me Bushnell scope that I was trying to sight in - shooting 3 shot groups. First several groups reacted appropriately - then bullet holes started to "walk" to the left at 100 yards - whether I adjusted turrets or not - by shot #15 - was completely off the paper target onto the backer. I suspect the bias spring inside either broke or became dislodged - I never did investigate that - it still as I brought it home about 3 or 4 years ago, is still in back of the cupboard, has never been fired since. It could have been the barrel warping from heat, could have been something broke or loose in the mounts - could be a number of things - but I was glad that it "died" there, not several miles from a road, in the bush, somewhere.
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I got a 7mm-08 with one on it. I was surprised how well i shot with that combo and pretty much left it as is, if it's not broke, don't fix it!
I did swap it out however after hunting with it. the low light performance was pretty bad. I could see a deer clearly with my eyes, clearly with my binoculars, but the cheap weaver scope was pretty damn dark and really tough to tell what was deer and what wasn't.
I've since replaced it with a bushnell elite 3200 i had and the weaver will hang around and eventually go on something that mostly gets shot at the range where it doesn't matter as much if it eventually starts to wander.
Personally if you're able to replace it with something better quality and not ruin a hunt, i would do it.
I did swap it out however after hunting with it. the low light performance was pretty bad. I could see a deer clearly with my eyes, clearly with my binoculars, but the cheap weaver scope was pretty damn dark and really tough to tell what was deer and what wasn't.
I've since replaced it with a bushnell elite 3200 i had and the weaver will hang around and eventually go on something that mostly gets shot at the range where it doesn't matter as much if it eventually starts to wander.
Personally if you're able to replace it with something better quality and not ruin a hunt, i would do it.
I got a scope on a savage rimfire,the base and rings were decent,the scope no.you couldn't get $25 for it on here.but I had a friend up north buy the savage 3006 package and he is using the scope for last 8 years.but I don't think it came with a weaver,not sure what it is.did savage put any half decent scope on there $600 3006 package.i can't see it for that price.but it is working for Him.
They usually come with Bushnell low end scopes, which are at the very least, adequate for shots on Deer out to 300yards.
My only concern with your scope would be the clarity issue you mentioned.
Agree. I've owned many of the older versions, and they were good scopes for the time. - dan
I always have a "kick around" scope which never sees more than a season or a hunt on a rifle - it's sole purpose is to provide optical sighting in case of unforseen circumstance. It's a fairly inexpensive Bushnell Legend 3-9x40 with an illuminated duplex reticle. So far I've had it on 2 rifles this past year (it's packed away waiting for the next gun through the door). I usually do an initial shoot with it in place before deciding if I want to get that one specific scope for the rifle or if I'm just going to send it on its way.
I've also used it to replace a package gun scope (Savage Axis) for a hunt so my brother-in-law could actually take a shot without losing his zero.
I've also used it to replace a package gun scope (Savage Axis) for a hunt so my brother-in-law could actually take a shot without losing his zero.
